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DATE/REPORT   TRACK LINK
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Mar 13      Buriram, Thailand
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Yamaha Once Again Sponsors True American Heroes Weekend May 13-14th 2016 Hosted By Kenny Roberts;Donates Bolt C-Spec Motorcycle To Benefit Auction
Modesto, CA - April 26, 2016 – For the fifth consecutive year, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is proud to sponsor the True American Heroes Weekend, a fundraising event held at Kenny Roberts’ legendary ranch in Modesto, California, to benefit “Welcome Home Heroes” and the Cpl. Michael D. Anderson Jr. Memorial Foundation.

Yamaha has also donated a brand-new Bolt C-Spec motorcycle to the True American Heroes Benefit Auction. The Bolt C-Spec is being customized into a Kenny Roberts flat-tracker tribute bike by Team Roberts, Jeff Palhegyi Design, and Roland Sands Design, with help from Öhlins USA, Two Brothers Racing, and Braap Shop Yamaha in Modesto, CA, and it will be the centerpiece item at the Action.Co-sponsoring the Fifth Annual True American Heroes Weekend is Wells Fargo, and the event will be attended by Wells Fargo Relationship Manager Paul Puma.

True American Heroes Benefit Dinner Featuring Special Guest Of Honor, Colonel Willard A “Willy” Buhl, USMC
The centerpiece of the Fifth Annual True American Heroes Weekend is the Benefit Dinner, which will be held on Friday, May 13 beginning at 4:00 PM at Kenny Roberts’ ranch and features Special Guest Of Honor, Colonel Willard A. “Willy” Buhl, USMC, former Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon and currently with the Wounded Warrior Battalion-West at Camp Pendleton, CA.

Also attending the Dinner will be Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts Junior, Kurtis Roberts, Mert Lawwill, Roland Sands, and Marty Smith, along with actress and number-one Kenny Roberts fan Bo Derek; actors R. Lee Ermey and Kevyn Major Howard, who starred in the blockbuster movie “Full Metal Jacket”; TV personality and American music executive Barry Weiss, star of A&E’s “Storage Wars”; Bruce Brown, producer, director, and narrator of the iconic 1971 Oscar-nominated film “On Any Sunday”; and several representatives of America’s military elite.

Seating for the True American Heroes Dinner is very limited, and tickets are $600 per person. To attend, call Michael Utt at 209-765-9317 or email your inquiry to Info@KennyRoberts.com or uttopia@me.com.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 1150 Ninth Street in Modesto is the official hotel of the Fifth Annual True American Heroes Weekend. To make room reservations, guests can call DoubleTree Central Reservations at 800-222-TREE, or call the hotel directly at 209-526-6000 and provide the three-letter code “KRW,” or ask for the Kenny Roberts Welcome Heroes Group Room Block.

Guests will be transported from The DoubleTree to the Roberts Ranch where they’ll get a personal tour of Kenny’s private museum located right at the ranch, followed by dinner catered by celebrated chef Alan Greeley, owner of The Golden Truffle in Costa Mesa, CA.

True American Heroes Benefit Auction
After the True American Heroes Dinner on Friday night, Justin Trick, Auctioneer, will conduct a live auction right at King Kenny’s ranch to benefit Welcome Home Heroes. Along with the brand-new Kenny Roberts-inspired, customized Bolt C-Spec up for bids, the Auction will also include Team Roberts memorabilia, other signed racing-related items, and lots of additional motorsports merchandise.

12th Annual Cpl. Michael D. Anderson, Jr. May Day Memorial Ride
As a special follow-up to the True American Heroes Dinner, the 12th Annual Cpl. Michael D. Anderson, Jr. May Day Memorial Ride will be held the next day on Saturday, May 14. Kenny Roberts and several other American motorcycle racing heroes are scheduled to ride in the event aboard motorcycles provided by Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. The ride is free and open to the public, and hundreds of Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen are expected to attend.

From its start in Modesto to its completion at Castle Airport in Atwater, CA, the Memorial Ride will be escorted by motorcycle units from the Modesto Police Department, the Stanislaus Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol, ensuring a safe and uninterrupted run through central California.
At the Memorial Ride’s Conclusion at Castle Airport, there will be a special Salute To Peacemakers, Peacekeepers and Protectors, along with live music, free food and drinks, a custom motorcycle display, and a display of military aircraft.

About Welcome Home Heroes
Welcome Home Heroes is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation organized to provide assistance to local Central California veterans of the U.S. military in their transition from active duty to private life. Last year, the True American Heroes Dinner and Cpl. Michael D. Anderson, Jr. Memorial Ride raised more than $130,000. Visit TrueAmericanHero.org or WelcomeHomeHeroes.org for more information.

American Motorcyclist Association Road Race Grand Championship Set For July 1-3 at Road America
PICKERINGTON, Ohio --  The country's top amateur road racers will compete to clinch American Motorcyclist Association National No. 1 plates at the 2016 AMA Road Race Grand Championship at Road America in Plymouth, Wis., on July 1-3.

"The AMA Road Race Grand Championship draws top amateur- and expert-licensed road racers throughout the nation every year," said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. "Competitors of various ages will face off in several classes, competing aboard machines from 125cc up to the Superbike level. Road America certainly will offer a unique challenge for all of our racers."

The AMA Road Race Grand Championship will run in combination with the American Sportbike Racing Association Team Challenge, ASRA Sprints, United States Grand Prix Riders' Union and Championship Cup Series regional races. Licensed amateur and expert road racers from various clubs and organizations are encouraged to compete. AMA pro-licensed road racers are not eligible.

"We feel incredibly honored to be hosting the AMA Road Race Grand Championship for the fifth year in a row," said ASRA President Kevin Elliott. "After successful events at Daytona, New Jersey Motorsports Park and twice at Virginia International Raceway, we are excited to bring this event to one of America's premier race tracks. This 4-mile road course has long been one of the finest facilities in any series, and it's only fitting that racers have the chance to earn AMA National Championships at Road America."

The country's top amateur racers will compete not only for AMA No. 1 plates, but also for the AMA Road Race Horizon Award, which is awarded to the rider showing the most promise for success in the professional ranks. Past winners of the AMA Road Race Horizon Award have included Xavier Zayat, Anthony Mazziotto III, Jason DiSalvo, Hayden Gillim, Jake Lewis, Ben Spies, Miles Thornton and Blake Young.

Other awards presented at the event include the AMA Road Race Youth Award, the AMA Road Race Top Novice Award and the AMA Road Race Vet/Senior Award.

"This event is a phenomenal showcase for any sportsman road racer," Elliott said. "To race at a great track against top notch competitors and have the chance to win an AMA National Championship, it just doesn't get any better than this."

For more information about this event and to sign up to race, see www.ASRAracing.com and www.CCSracing.us.

DRE 2016: The Ducati riding academy returns with Carlos Checa
  • Registration for track riding courses opens from 15 February at dre.ducati.com
• The most beautiful Ducati bikes and most exclusive Italian tracks for Ducati Riding Experience 2016
• A new “Champs Academy” on board the Ducati Panigale R
• Another new feature, the DRE Enduro: off-road riding courses with the Multistrada 1200 Enduro
Borgo Panigale, Bologna (Italy), 16 February 2016 – A true riding academy to suit every need and level, on board the most beautiful, exclusive and high performance Ducati bikes of course. Strengthened by the success and approval obtained in the last thirteen years of activity, the Ducati Riding Experience returns for 2016. Courses at the prestigious school can be booked via the website dre.ducati.com.
 
As DRE 2016 registration opens, Ducati offers another new feature, enriching the range of courses with the DRE Enduro, an authentic off-road riding school featuring the new Multistrada 1200 Enduro. A course designed for motorcyclists who want to perfect their technique to be able to take on any type of terrain. The Technical Director of this new DRE course is “dakarian” Beppe Gualini, who has vast off-road experience. The DRE Enduro school will be held at the Castello Nipozzano, the famous and historic estate owned by the Marquis Frescobaldi, a location that adds further appeal to this new Ducati initiative. Course dates, information and booking methods will be available from March at www.ducati.com.
 
The Ducati Riding Experience 2016 offers structured courses on track for every experience level, from the Intro and Precision courses, for those who want to perfect their road riding in absolute safety to the four track levels. Track Evo, Track Warm Up, Track Master and Champs Academy are the courses that take place on track, led by professional riders on board the most high performance Ducatis of all time.
 
For DRE 2016 Ducati has selected two of Italy’s most prestigious racetracks, such as the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli and the Mugello Circuit. Tracks that host such spectacular shows as the MotoGP and SBK races, where support and passion unite fans who come from all over the world to cheer on their heroes. Together the dream becomes a reality and participants in the 2016 Ducati Riding Experience can improve their riding style and technique at these iconic racetracks.
 
For the 2016 edition, Ducati has further improved the format of the track course to offer an even more exciting and educational experience by increasing the number of track sessions for the Track Master and Champs Academy courses. This, with the added value of World Champion Carlos Checa, who will guide Academy pupils on track.
In addition, during DRE 2016 days, those taking part in the Master and Academy courses will also be able to benefit from a data acquisition service, thanks to the DDA (Ducati Data Analyzer) mounted on all bikes used for courses. A specialist technician will be available to support participants.
 
On top of all this is a truly significant bike pool. The new Ducati bikes available to customers include the Panigale R, the supersport par excellence with its 205 hp for the Champs Academy. Synonymous with performance, style and technology, the 1299 Panigale S is the star of the Track Master course, while the 959 Panigale is the bike of choice for those on the Track Warm Up and Track Evo. For those who love to perfect their riding experience, both in terms of daily bike use and when embarking on short and long-range journeys, the DRE bike park for Precision courses includes the new Hypermotard 939 and Hyperstrada 939, as well as the ultimate naked, the Monster 1200 and 1200 R, another new feature for DRE 2016. On the Intro course, participants will ride the Monster 821, ideal for those who want to learn more about the world of biking or refine their riding style.
 
All participants in DRE 2016 can hire technical clothing to suit the particular course. Available for hire during the 2016 edition (subject to availability), and with a special design, is the D|air® Racing Ducati Corse leather suit with its sophisticated D|air® system, intelligent protection based on the airbag to ensure motorcyclists’ safety on track.
 
The DRE has always benefitted from a team of instructors madeup of expert riders who boast World, European and National titles. Confirmed for 2016 are: Carlos Checa (Superbike World Champion in 2011 with the Ducati 1198), Dario Marchetti (technical director and chief instructor, a very experienced rider), Michele Pirro (official Ducati Corse test rider for MotoGP since 2013 and Italian champion Superbike in 2015) and Argentinian Leandro Tati Mercado (2014 Superstock World Champion). Completing this prestigious list of highly-qualified instructors are Alessandro Valia (official Ducati test rider for production bikes since 2007), Michele Pirro (official Ducati Corse test rider for MotoGP since 2013, he takes part in various MotoGP races as a wildcard), Matteo Baiocco (official Ducati Corse test rider for the Panigale Superbike), Manuel Poggiali (125 World Champion in 2001 and 250 World Champion in 2003), Paolo Casoli (Supersport World Champion in 1997) and Andrew Pitt (Superbike World Championships in 2001 and 2003). These names to which we add other instructors of undeniable talent, will ensure that the DRE 2016 courses are exciting and educational for all the participants.
 
DRE 2016 Calendar
04, 05, 06 May - Mugello
06, 07, 08 June - Misano
05, 06, 07 September - Mugello Circuit
 
To register and receive more information about the courses and calendar: dre.ducati.com

World Ducati Week 2016: Set For July 1-3rd
 • From 1 to 3 July at the Marco Simoncelli Misano World Circuit
• Time to celebrate Ducati's 90th anniversary at the ninth edition of the WDW
• The WDW has always stood for motorcycles, riders, a racetrack and tons of passion
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 14 December 2015 – The event which Ducatisti from all around the world most look forward to is already on the agenda. From 1 to 3 July 2016 the international Ducati community in its entirety will be celebrating their shared passion for the Bologna-made bikes at the World Ducati Week to be held at the Marco Simoncelli Misano World Circuit.
 
The ninth edition of the WDW will provide the perfect opportunity to celebrate Ducati's 90th anniversary with fans and Ducatisti from all over the world. The Ducati story began on 4 July 1926 when the three brothers, Adriano, Bruno and Marcello Cavalieri Ducati, assisted by their father Antonio, founded the Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati company. Since then the Bologna-based firm, driven by its unique engineering talent, has created motorcycles of inimitable design and a strong sporting character.
 
In 2014 there was a record-breaking turn-out at the global Ducati gathering with over 65,000 attendees coming from five continents and as many as 56 countries from all over the world. Ducatisti joined the event from the USA, Europe, Australia, Russia and India as well as Brazil, China, Malaysia and even Gabon, Iceland and Nepal, all united by their passion for Ducati bikes. Only an event like this brings out the best of Desmodromic passion.
 
The multitude of participants expected at this edition will be able to see and try out the new models presented at EICMA including the XDiavel and the Multistrada 1200 Enduro. They will have a chance to chill out in the relaxed atmosphere of the Land of Joy within the Ducati Scrambler area and of course they'll also be able to have fun on the track with test rides and the Ducati Riding Experience. The Ducati MotoGP and Superbike riders will be present too, as will be the great passion and enjoyment which have characterised the WDW ever since the first edition held in 1998.
 
The countdown has already begun and over the next few months the programme will be available, together with detailed information on how to take part in World Ducati Week 2016, on the official website wdw.ducati.com.

Calendar of the World Superbike Championship
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April 2016 Page 1
World Superbike 2016 at Assen
MotoGP 2016 in Jerez Spain and Austin Texas
European Tony Elias Wins MotoAmerica 2016
AMA Superbike Kickoff at COTA
New 2016 Suzuki, Ducati Kawasaki Triumph
2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show
Fast Dates SBK Podium Kittens at 2015 Laguna Seca

Previous Week - More: Pit Lane News
New Model Sportbikes • Editorial Features: Pit Board

2016 Aragon SBK World Superbike Davies Ducati Double
2016 SBK World Superbike Season Opener Phillip Island
2015-2016 IMS International Motorcycle Shows
2016 Suzuki GSXR1000
2016 Ducati New Models
2016 MV Agusta 1000cc FV RC Homologation Superbike
Jorge Lorenzo - MotoGP World Champion Biography
Jonathan Rae - 2016 SBK World Superbike Champion
New 2016 Kawasaki ZX10 - New Bike for the SBK Champ
New 2016 Triumph Bonnevilles - More Watercooled Power
2015 MotoGP Valencia Season Finale - Lorenzo Crowned
2015 SBK World Superbike Qatar Season Final & Standings
Meet 2015 SBK World Superbike Champ Jonthan Rea
2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Season Finale
2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show - Complere Coverage
• Fast Dates SBK Calendar Kittens at Laguna Seca 2015
Laguna Seca SBK World and AMA Superbike
Ducati 1199R15 FastDates Review, Seup and Test
Honda RC213V Moto GP Streetbike Replica goes on sale
Victory Motorcycles Buys Brammo Electic - Races Isle of Man
Corsa Motoclassica 2015 Willow Springs Racway
SBK Superbike 2105 Media Guide - The Bikes, The Riders
MotoGP 2015 Season Preview - The Bikes and Riders
Ducati 1199R15 Homologation Superbike
• Is a New Organizer for AMA Pro Roadracing Enough?
• Dirt Track Girl! AMA Dirt Track Season Final with Shaya Texter
On Any Sunday - The Next Chapter - Movie Review
Polais Slingshot 3-Wheeler - Is it a Motorcycle or a Car?
MotoAmerica Group Takes Over AMA Pro Roadracing
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Kawasaki's Jonny Rea (1) leads the pack at Assen with team mate Sykes (66), Ducati's Davies (7) and Nicky hayden (69).

2015 FIM SBK Motul World Superbike Championship, Round 4 of 14 Assen


Jonthan Rea Does the Double TT at Assen, Hayden's First Podium
Assen, The Netherlands, April 15-17th, 2016 -The second 21-lap Assen race provided a double win for Jonathan Rea (KRT), with his team-mate Tom Sykes second this time out, as both riders continue to find success on the new model Ninja ZX-10R. The Sunday race was started in wet conditions but rapidly dried out, meaning all the riders pitted to change tyres at some stage.

Once again Rea proved to have the magic touch at Assen, winning his second race of the weekend, his 9th race in total at the Dutch track and his fifth race victory of the season in eight attempts. He now has a career total of 34 WorldSBK race wins, placing him a clear fourth in the all time race winners’ rankings.
 
At the start of the race, in fully wet track conditions, Sykes took the lead from his pole position grid placing. The changing weather and drying track surface saw him drop back and soon pit to change tyres but in the heat of the tyre change process he went out on intermediate tyres, not the front intermediate/rear slick he intended to use.
 
When Rea, who was one of six riders to lead the race at some stage as the competitors entered and left the pits at will, stopped for dry weather tyres he returned to the fray at strong pace, after finding the grip level for a lap. He and his team-mate Sykes, who had pitted for new rubber first, finally competed for the race win in the final laps.
 
Rea ran out the winner by 2.442 seconds, extending his championship lead in the process with his second double win of 2016.
 
Sykes’ intermediate rear tyre had an effect on the outcome of his race but in finishing second, after a day one crash and no score, the 2013 world champion recovered in great style and scored 20 highly valuable championship points.
 
In the overall championship table Rea leads by 45 points, from today’s race two fifth place rider Chaz Davies. Sykes is third overall, now 32 points ahead of the fourth place rider. Kawasaki leads the Manufacturers’ Standings by 44 points with the new model Ninja ZX-10R.


 
Jonathan Rea, “Our target this weekend was to increase our championship lead and we did that. I said to Pere my crew chief before the start of the race that the track should dry out pretty fast. We have had previous experiences like that. I have no idea why I go so well at Assen. It is nothing to do with the track itself. We got a double victory but it was not like Australia where I had more pace than the rest. We controlled the situations this weekend when we had to, we were calm and clever when we had to be, and as a team our strength shone through to get two strong results. We got the maximum from what we could achieve here so I am super, super, happy with that. Our stars aligned this weekend and it worked out, so I am just happy.”

Jonthan Rea action photo Assen 2016Rea (1) leads Ducati's Guigliano (34) who would crash out and Davies (7) midway in Race One.

World SBK Race One: Rae takes the Victory, Chaz Hangs close, Hayden's first podium
Saturday, 16 April 2016 - Kawasaki rider Jonathan Rea as won Race 1 at the TT Circuit Assen as he cements his place as second most successful rider at the Dutch track. Chaz Davies took a well-fought P2, and Honda rider and MotoGP Legend Nicky Hayden got to the WorldSBK podium for the first time.

After a great start for the front row, Tom Sykes lead from pole and was followed off the line by KRT teammate Jonathan Rea as both Kawasakis took off in the lead of the race. After a mistake by Sykes, Rea then passed the pole-sitter as the Ducati of Chaz Davies fought to catch the two, eventually getting past both as the lead group started to concertina.

Sykes was the first of the frontrunners to falter as the Kawasaki rider lost the front into T16, crashing out of the race but escaping unharmed. The group of Rea, Davies, van der Mark and Hayden was left out front in the race, with the Welshman heading the group.

Van der Mark, Davies and Rea fought for the lead in a spectacular showcase of WorldSBK, before the Dutchman sadly pushed too hard and lost his Honda, sliding out and leaving his rivals to a duel won by Rea. Honda teammate Nicky Hayden, after playing a patient game in P4, earnt his way to his first podium in World Superbike with a ride that shows he know has the measure of the Honda, and the Pirelli tyre.

MV Agusta recovered from disappointment in Aragón as Leon Camier fought his way back from being denied entry to Superpole 2 by finishing in an incredible P4, a great haul of points and show of pace from the Italian factory and a well deserved reward for the hard work put in by team and rider.

Pata Yamaha pairing Sylvain Guintoli and Alex Lowes suffered mixed fortunes in Tissot-Superpole and in Race 1, with the number 50 Yamaha of Guintoli starting from the front row and unfortunately ending his first Race in the Netherlands too early with a trip to the gravel. Teammate Lowes fought back from a crash in Superpole 2 to run in the top 6 before ending his race in P8.

BMW riders Markus Reiterberger and Jordi Torres, after graduating from Tissot-Superpole 1, both ran close together in the top ten until Reiterberger ran off track, leaving teammate Torres to take another top 5 finish as the flag fell, with the German recovering to an impressive 7th, just behind lead Aprilia Lorenzo Savadori. Savadori recorded his best career result to date by coming home P6 as the Noale factory continue to improve and the reigning STK1000 Cup winner continues to impress, and the Kawasakis of Roman Ramos and Lucas Mahias, replacing Sylvain Barrier, closed out a top ten in Race 1 in which every manufacturer was represented.

WorldSBK will be racing once again on Sunday at 13:00 local time (GMT +2), as van der Mark endeavours to take the same pace to the end of the race, and Rea aims for another double at the TT Circuit Assen.

WorldSBK Results Race 1- Complete Results Here
P1 - Jonathan Rea - Kawasaki Racing Team
P2 - Chaz Davies - Aruba.it Racing - Ducati +1.662
P3 - Nicky Hayden - Honda World Superbike Team +5.365

Assen SBK race one podium

Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team P1 - "The front group was good, because it was four guys and some typical Assen racing. I put my head down with a few laps to go. I mean Chaz (Davies) did a great job at the start because it is really hard to lead here with the wind. When I hit the front it was hard. I’m so, so happy because I feel like we’ve been on the back foot now since Aragon and even the start of the season. So to score 25 points here is great. I want to thank all the Dutch fans because they give me a great reception when I come here every year. Thanks also to my team for the hard work and for keeping my spirits up, because honestly after Aragon we felt a bit deep in the sea and now we feel like our heads are above water."

Chaz Davies, Aruba.it Racing - Ducati P2- “I finished the front tyre with about five laps to go. I was pushing and trying to manage it the best I could whilst I was leading and obviously Michael (van der Mark) hit the front, then Jonny (Rea) repassed him and I was prepared to get stuck in, but on the first corner of the last lap I tucked the front big time. I am so lucky to be standing here really, it just went and went and went, for what felt like a second and the bike gripped and then came back. At that point I just didn’t have a front tyre to attack in the last laps. But it’s 20 points and not so bad.”

Nicky Hayden, Honda World Superbike Team P3 - “It was a really fun race. It was really going into the unknown, we just had a couple of laps in the dry in qualifying. It was pretty intense off the grid but I got a great start and I was able to hang there. The other guys were a bit quicker than me but I thought maybe I was going to have something left at the end. Then Michael (van der Mark) crashed and I thought, you know what I should just take this podium, get these points, put them on the board and learn from it and hopefully put up a better fight tomorrow."

Race Two started in the rain with groved wet tires for wet track, but it quikly dried an the riders had to stop to change to dry slicks.

WorldSBK Race Two: Rea Completes the Pair as van der MarkExcites the Crowd
Sunday, 17 April 2016 - KRT rider Jonathan Rea took another incredible win in the Netherlands in Race 2 as a half-wet half-dry race saw tyre decisions play the key role. Joined on the podium by teammate Tom Sykes and local hero Michael van der Mark, Race 2 was characterized by nervous glances at the sky as the riders dealt their cards.

Sunday morning initially brought better weather to the TT Circuit Assen, with the sun breaking through the clouds to give the Dutch track a crisp, clear morning. With a lower breeze after the wind caused issues on Saturday, the race looked set to be in dry conditions, before a deluge interrupted World Supersport and saw a Wet Race declared for WorldSBK.

Assen race action 2016Exciting Race Two action after pit stops for a change to dry tires sees Chaz Davies going wide and Sam Lowes crashing out as Rea (1) dives inside with Sykes (66) and Van der Mark (60) in their battle for the lead.

With Sylvain Guintoli getting bogged down off the line, the two Kawasakis of Sykes and Rea took to the lead, with Chaz Davies’ Ducati and Michael van der Mark and Nicky Hayden’s Hondas in hot pursuit. As the conditions caused quick position changes, it was Milwaukee BMW rider Josh Brookes who emerged in the lead, with the damp conditions suiting the reigning BSB Champion.

Saturday podium finisher Nicky Hayden, reigning Champion Jonathan Rea and local hero Michael van der Mark were the challengers, before Rea and Sykes were the first of the frontrunners to dive into the pits for dry tyres as track conditions improved, followed by Van der Mark on the next lap.

As the pack started to shuffle after the tyre changes, Pedercini rider Lucas Mahias found himself at the head of the race, with KRT pairing Rea and Sykes hunting him down, followed by van der Mark. As dry tyres became necessary, reigning Champion Rea took control of the race once again to take another win in WorldSBK and increase his Championship lead. Teammate Tom Sykes made a well-timed tyre change to come home in P2 and recover some earlier lost ground, and Dutch rider Michael van der Mark remembered Saturday’s standing ovation after a crash and kept the Honda on the track to take another home podium, keeping his WorldSBK rostrum record at 75% at his home circuit.

2015 STK1000 winner Lorenzo Savadori was another superstar decision maker as the IodaRacing rider took his Aprilia to P4 and his best ever result, followed home by Ducati’s Chaz Davies, who was the lead bike for the Borgo Panigale factory once again. Honda rider Nicky Hayden, who had been challenging for the lead in the dry, came home sixth after waiting a little too long to change to slicks, mindful of the grey skies ahead.

Alex Lowes made up ground once again to end the race in P7 on his Pata Yamaha, in front of Davide Giugliano on the second Aruba.it Ducati. Leon Camier, after giving MV Agusta their best result of P4 in Race 1, again brought home a good haul of points in P9.

Xavi Forés crossed the line to complete the top ten after an impressive showing at the start of the race, in front of front row starter Guintoli on the second Pata Yamaha YZF R1, with the points scorers completed by Roman Ramos, Lucas Mahias and the BMWs of Karel Abraham and Jordi Torres. Josh Brookes, after leading and impressing in the difficult conditions, sadly crashed out and was unable to complete the race on his Milwaukee BMW, but will be encouraged by his incredible early pace.

Monster Girl team Kawaki Assen SBK World Superbike

WorldSBK is back on track at the mythical Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola at the end of April, for the cards to be dealt and played once again.

Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team P1 - “I just took my time at the beginning and just tried to stay in the group. I didn’t want to go too far in the front as I wanted to judge when the others were going into the pit. Then I took the decision to go in early and it was the perfect choice. We were so calm on the grid, so calm when the rain came and even the team asked me when we were making the pit stop, if I preferred the intermediate or the dry. So I said let’s go with the slicks and they put the slicks on. I just took my time then at the beginning, probably a bit too much, and then in the end I had a lot of time to play with. I was so, so happy to win a double here for my team. This gives us good momentum now for the next few races.”

Tom Sykes Kawasaki Racing Team P2 - “I think it was unbelievable pace we had, but it was a shame. We have a great wet system here in the Shark helmet and the initial plan was intermediate, then about two seconds late I decided on the slick. I just wasn’t able to get my Yorkshire tones through the Shark helmet to Marcel (Duinker). It’s a slight shame, second position is not too bad, but sure the slick tyre cost us the race win. We had fantastic pace, the bike was working really well, I just wasn’t able to get the power of the ZX-10R to the ground with the cut slicks. Considering yesterday though it was a big improvement and we certainly can build on this for the future now.”

Michael van der Mark Honda World Superbike Team P3 -  "It's just what we needed after Race 1, when I wanted to win so badly and crashed out of second, but I watched that race back already and I think it was so entertaining! Today was difficult. On Friday I crashed twice in the wet and I was proper scared to go out there. Today was such a weird race. I woke up this morning and the sun was shining and then it rained during the Supersport race. The track was drying, I was trying to take the lead and get away, but on the rain tyre it wasn’t possible and I didn’t feel safe. We had to go to slick tyres, I waited one lap, I went out of pit lane and the bike didn’t work for a couple of laps as the tyres needed to warm up. For me it was an amazing race after the disappointment yesterday. I wanted to win so badly yesterday and today I have taken third place in front of this amazing place and it is like a win!"

WorldSBK Race 2 - Complete World SBK Results Here
P1 - Jonathan Rea - Kawasaki Racing Team
P2 - Tom Sykes - Kawasaki Racing Team +2.442
P3 - Michael van der Mark - Honda World Superbike Team +15.189



WorldSSP: Smith Takes Victory as Assen Gets Wet
Red flagged and restarted race sees British 1-2 beat Sofuoglu over the line
Kyle Smith won the WorldSSP race at the TT Circuit Assen, with the podium completed by GRT rider Gino Rea and Puccetti reigning Champion Kenan Sofuoglu in incredibly difficult conditions.With the clouds battling the sun for supremacy and the harsh wind of Saturday replaced by a cooler breeze, Sunday seemed to promise better weather would hopefully hold out for the WorldSSP grid as they lined up for another battle.

It was Sofuoglu who got the best start, with PJ Jacobsen slotting into P2 off the second row, leaving poleman Krummenacher in P4 chasing the Triumph of Luke Stapleford. Cluzel began his fight back and was inside the top ten before a sudden deluge hit the track and the red flag came out.

With conditions suddenly treacherous, Jacobsen lost the front before slowing for the red flag and was given the task of pushing his damaged Honda back to the pits to see if it would make the restart. With a quick restart procedure and riders lining up on the grid for that restart in the order in which they saw the red flag, Jacobsen did manage to begin from P1 on the repaired Honda.

With a run off for Cluzel and Jacobsen encountering some smaller issues, it was Puccetti pairing of Krummenacher and Sofuoglu carefully heading the race as GRT rider Gino Rea fought to keep up with the pair on his MV Agusta, with Jacobsen, led by Smith, trying to get back in the podium fight.

Krummenacher suffered a run off at the final chicane that saw him out of podium contention, before Jacobsen lost the Honda in the treacherous conditions. The last lap battle to decide the podium conditions saw Brits Rea and Smith fight off reigning Champion Sofuoglu, with Kyle Smith crossing the line 0.8 seconds clear of Gino Rea to take the victory. Sofuoglu, locking out the podium in P3, gains another small margin of points on teammate Krummenacher, who came home fourth. Assen lap record holder Cluzel will be wanting to forget about the weekend after crossing the line in P18, the second title rival not adding to his Championship tally at Assen.

WorldSSP Race - Complete Results Here
P1 - Kyle Smith - CIA Landlord Insurance Honda
P2 - Gino Rea - GRT Racing Team +0.831
P3 - Kenan Sofuoglu - Kawasaki Puccetti Racing +2.424


Yamaha custom Kenny roberts

Yamaha Once Again Sponsors True American Heroes Weekend May 13-14th 2016
Hosted By Kenny Roberts;Donates Bolt C-Spec Motorcycle To Benefit Auction
Modesto, CA - April 26, 2016 – For the fifth consecutive year, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is proud to sponsor the True American Heroes Weekend, a fundraising event held at Kenny Roberts’ legendary ranch in Modesto, California, to benefit “Welcome Home Heroes” and the Cpl. Michael D. Anderson Jr. Memorial Foundation.

Yamaha has also donated a brand-new Bolt C-Spec motorcycle to the True American Heroes Benefit Auction. The Bolt C-Spec is being customized into a Kenny Roberts flat-tracker tribute bike by Team Roberts, Jeff Palhegyi Design, and Roland Sands Design, with help from Öhlins USA, Two Brothers Racing, and Braap Shop Yamaha in Modesto, CA, and it will be the centerpiece item at the Action.            < Additional Details in the Column at Left.


Jerez MotoGP podium 2016
A happy Valentino dominated in Spain this weekend on Lorenzo's (left) and Marquez's (right) home track at Jezerz.

2015 FIM MotoGP World Championship, Round 4 of 1 Gran Premio Red Bull de Espana

Rossi Kicks Butt on Marquez and Loreno's Home Turf
Jerez, Spain, Sunday April 24th 2016
- The Gran Premio Red Bull de España saw Valentino Rossi lead from start to finish, winning from Lorenzo and Marquez with ease. All weekend the leading three were in a league of their own. Rossi, Lorenzo and Marquez had filled the top three spots of almost every practice session and lined up next to each other on the front row of the grid. The three biggest names in MotoGP™ were alongside each other once more and everything in practice had indicated that there was almost nothing to choose between them. As is typical of the Spanish GP, the grid was packed with mechanics, guests and officials but the riders did their best to block it out and run through their race plans.

With all three on the same hard front and medium rear tyres, managing tyre life could very well decide the race but those concerns would come later. The sun beat down on the grid and getting into, and out of, Turn 1 quickly and safety was all any of the MotoGP™ riders were worrying about. Races can’t be won in the first corner, but they can certainly be lost. Right hands gripped throttles; riders leaned forward and tensed as the lights came on. Off the lights went, the crowd erupting into applause and cheers as Valentino Rossi made a great start to lead into Turn 1. But he wasn’t alone Jorge Lorenzo right behind with Repsol Honda Team duo Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa within touching distance.

Perhaps the best start of the race was from Pedrosa who quickly put his RC213V into third midway through the first lap. Across the line they went as the second lap began as the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP pair stretched their lead. Marquez attacked Pedrosa into Turn 6, running wide as his line was blocked. Through Turn 9 Lorenzo launched a similar attack on Rossi, the Italian holding off his teammate as the Hondas clawed back the gap with Marquez now in third.

Fans were transfixed on the leading four, few noticing the incredible start of Eugene Laverty (Aspar Team MotoGP) who was in eighth as the third lap began and the leading Independent Team rider. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) chased Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) for fifth with Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) on the tail of his Ducati. Dovizioso’s teammate, Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) was having a terrible race, dropping like a stone down to 14th in the opening laps.

Rossi MotoGP action jerez 2016

All of the leaders lapped in the mid 1’40s, Rossi trying to escape as Marquez looked for a way through on Lorenzo. His lead would soon be over half a second, Rossi upped his pace lap after lap and drew out hundredths of a second at each corner. Before long the gap was at a second, Valentino Rossi seemingly doing as his teammate had done so many times before and breaking the field early in the race. No matter what Lorenzo did he was unable to close in on Rossi nor shake off Marquez.

Disaster struck for Dovizioso on the tenth lap as yet again, through no fault of his own, his race came to an end. The factory Ducati rider was forced to sit up as his Desmosedici GP encountered a terminal issue, forcing him to ride back into the pits and once again make the long walk across the garage to spectate the race.

Rossi and his team had focused on race setting throughout the weekend, ‘The Doctor’s’ work paying off as the gap soon grew to over two seconds as no one was able to match his lap times. Behind him Lorenzo had his hands full fending off Marquez, the Repsol Honda rider not quite close enough to attack but able to apply ample pressure.

Overtakes were scarce at the front but the battle for seventh place produced some thrilling racing, Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) leading the group ahead of Laverty. Just behind them Andrea Iannone and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) pushed each other hard for 10th position, not what either rider wanted before the race. In front, Pedrosa had Aleix Espargaro to contend with, Pedrosa working hard to hold off the Suzuki man. Since his fifth in Austin, Espargaro has been in some of the best form of his career after a setup breakthrough.

With over half race distance gone, Lorenzo broke Marquez and opened up a one second lead on his fellow Spaniard. Marquez had chosen to run winglets on his Honda, which assisted with keeping the front end down but also ran the risk of overheating the front tyre over the race. With ten laps to go, Lorenzo hadn’t just broken Marquez but he also began to close in on Rossi. A gap that was once three seconds quickly dropped to two and that gap continued to fall by a couple of tenths a lap, would it be enough with eight laps remaining?

Jorge Lorenzo MotoGP  2016 action photo picture Yamaha

His chances of victory would fade as Rossi responded to Lorenzo’s increased pace and once again dropped into the low 1’41s. The gap would grow to over three seconds, Lorenzo unable to push any harder and settling to take valuable championship points. Marquez also continued to drop back, his chances of a home victory long gone as he found himself over five second behind Lorenzo.

After a terrible start to the race, Iannone set about making up for lost time and quickly got past Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and ran away with seventh place. This would be one of the last battles of the race as the field stretched out, only a handful of riders within a second of each other.

For the 113th time in his career and the 87th time in the premier class, Valentino Rossi pulled a wheelie across the line to celebrate victory. After the disappointment of Austin, the result is exactly what ‘The Doctor’ needed. Behind him Jorge Lorenzo took his 100th premier class podium finish and Marquez was able to keep the lead of the Championship, his lead reduced slightly to 17 points.

Pedrosa withstood Espargaro’s challenge to end in fourth ahead of the Spaniard.Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team), Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Eugene Laverty (Aspar Team MotoGP) and Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing) completed the top ten. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) crashed out of the race at Turn 11 after battling with Cal Crutchlow in the opening stages.

The Monster Energy Grand Prix de France will seem them do it all again for round five of the 2016 World Championship.
 Full MotoGP™ World Championship Results HERE.

MotoGP Results
1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 45'28.834
2 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 00'02.386
3 Marc Marquez Honda ESP 00'07.087
4 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 00'10.351
5 Aleix Espargaro Suzuki ESP 00'14.143
6 Maverick Viñales Suzuki ESP 00'16.772
7 Andrea Iannone Ducati ITA 00'26.277
8 Pol Espargaro Yamaha ESP 00'30.750
9 Eugene Laverty Ducati GBR 00'32.325
10 Hector Barbera Ducati ESP 00'32.624
11 Cal Crutchlow Honda GBR 00'38.497
12 Bradley Smith Yamaha GBR 00'39.669
13 Loris Baz Ducati FRA   00'45.227
14 Stefan Bradl Aprilia DEU 00'47.886
15 Yonny Hernandez Ducati COL 00'47.988
16 Michele Pirro Ducati ITA 00'49.414
17 Jack Miller Honda AUS 00'49.513
18 Tito Rabat Honda ESP 00'53.334
19 Scott Redding Ducati GBR01'05.555

Jorge Lorenzo MotoGP  2016 action photo picture Yamaha
Selfie time on the winners' podium! Marc Marquez took little notice of a number of falls behind, cruising to a fourth win in Texas ahead of Lorenzo and Iannone

2015 FIM MotoGP World Championship, Round 3 of 18 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas

Marquez Takes His 4th Austin Texas MotoGP Win
as Rossi falls to the wayside

Austin Texas, Sunday, 10 April 2016 - All eyes were on Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) as the MotoGP™ World Championship lined up at the head the grid for the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas. The Spaniard went into the race with a perfect record on America soil; winning every MotoGP™ race he had started in the United States. While Marquez was quietly confident, there were a number of riders who were looking to return to the front once more.
 
Amongst them was Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), the 2015 MotoGP™ World Champion having suffered an uncharacteristic crash during Warm Up. Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) was another ready to make an impact, having qualified fourth; he started in seventh after his penalty from the Argentina GP.
 
All of the factory Yamaha and Ducati riders opted for medium tyres front and rear while pole-man Marquez chose the soft front with medium rear. The Circuit of the Americas has always been a challenging circuit for tyres and all who lined up knew that their choice on the grid would make a significant difference.
 
Roaring off the line, Lorenzo grabbed the lead into Turn 1 but ran wide on exit, allowing Marquez to move ahead. The field all made it through the opening corners safe, Lorenzo in second with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) hot on his tail. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) also made a good start and used the power of the Ducati to slide into second down the back straight.
 
As Dovizioso came through, so too did Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar), the Spaniard finding himself in fourth at the start of the second lap after starting in ninth. Espargaro had gone against the norm and opted for soft front and rear, the extra grip giving him a clear advantage in the opening laps. For the third race in a row, Loris Baz (Avintia Racing) would crash at Turn 1.


Valentino (46) pressures Pedrosa (26) just before loosing the Yamaha's front end.
 
The third lap began with Rossi crashing out of the race at Turn 2, losing the front mid corner. All the while Marquez and Dovizioso ran away at the front, Lorenzo defending his third place position. For the first time in 25 races, Rossi failed to finish in the top five.
 
Marquez continued to hammer home his advantage, leading Dovizioso by a second midway through the fourth lap of the race. Action intensified further down the field as Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) attempted to make up for a poor start to the race, battling hard with Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich).
 
Lap after lap, Marquez extended his lead and after only five laps his fourth straight win in Texas looked certain. But the remaining two spots on the podium were wide open, Lorenzo getting past Dovizioso with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) waiting patiently behind.
 
After a strong start, Aleix Espargaro began to drop back and soon Andrea Iannone passed him.


 
Next it was Pedrosa's turn to loose the front end- was it the new Michelin tires again? At the start of the seventh lap Pedrosa (26) who was running behind Dovizioso (04) and Lorenzohad (99) a huge moment on the front end going into Turn 1, losing control of his Honda and ploughing into Dovizioso. For the second race in a row, another rider would take down Dovizioso. Pedrosa would be able to re-join, but Dovizioso’s race was over, the Italian leaving the circuit distraught but fortunately without major injury.


 
At Turn 11 on lap eight both Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) fell off as the crashing continued. Each was able to remount the race but the leading four now had huge gaps between them, separated by at least three seconds. All the falls had also promoted Iannone to a provisional podium in third place. The Team Suzuki Ecstar duo meanwhile continued to dice it out for fourth place, Viñales also running the softer rear but had opted for the medium front, which gave him increased braking stability.
 
Chaos unfolded behind, but Marquez remained cool, calm and collected as he upped his pace to the 2’04s, almost half a second faster than Lorenzo’s laps. Each lap saw Marquez set a new fastest lap of the race. None of the top three were able to make major progress on the rider ahead, unlike the Suzuki pair who continued to slug it out. Viñales would dive up the inside, only to have Espargaro come back past him soon after.
 
With ten laps to go, Dani Pedrosa would pull into the pits as his bike was too damaged to continue. In a true sign of sportsmanship, Pedrosa went to the box of Dovizioso to apologise for the incident and explain that it was not intentional.

Marquez Austin Texas MotoGP action photo picture
 
The rhythm of the race continued, Viñales now a second clear of his teammate as all of the top seven riders were spread out on track. Even though he was now over six seconds ahead of Lorenzo, Marquez’s pace remained over half a second faster as he asserted his dominance at the Circuit of the Americas with each lap.
 
As many had predicated, Marquez walked to victory and crossed the line 6.107s ahead of Jorge Lorenzo. For just the second time in his career, Lorenzo takes to the podium at COTA as he ended the race second. Andrea Iannone rounded out the podium with a safe ride to third place.
 
Maverick Viñales secured his best ever premier class finish with fourth ahead of his teammate Aleix Espargaro, a great day for Suzuki with a double top five. Scott Redding, Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Michele Pirro (Octo Pramac Yakhnich), Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing) and Stefan Bradl (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).
 
As the Championship returns to Europe, Marquez leads with 66 points a solid 21 points clear of Lorenzo in second. After failing to finish the Americas GP, Rossi slips to third with 33 championship points as clear gaps are already emerging.Marquex Austin MotoGP win photo

Marc Marquez 93 1st - “I’m very happy with how the whole weekend has gone. This is a circuit that I like, one of my favourite, but there were some unknowns here because just before the race we decided to run the soft front tyre. In the end the team advised me very well, because the change gave me the good feeling with the bike that I had partly lost in the warm-up. I have to thank them all, as well as the Michelin technician. When I asked, they told me that I would be okay for the first 12-15 laps, and then after that I would have to manage the situation more, which is exactly what happened. We’ve taken another victory here in Austin and are now on a run of four in a row, which is great. In addition, the joy of the team after we won illustrates everything we’re working on. In these first three races of the year, we’ve made good use of the situations that we’ve encountered.”

MotoGP Results - Complete Results Here
1 - Marc Marquez    (SPA)    HONDA    43'57.945
2 - Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) YAMAHA +6.107
3 - Andrea Iannone (ITA)    DUCATI + 10.947
 
Full MotoGP™ World Championship Results HERE.

Round 4 of the MotoGP™ World Championship takes place on the 24th of April at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España.

Iannone photo Crash
The week before in Argentina, Iannone (29) dives inside team mate Dovizioso (4) on the last lap and looses the front end, taking them both out and loosing Ducati two sure spots on the podium. Photo curtesy Gold & Goose.



Cameron Beaubier Moto America Grves yamaha Superbike photo 2107Defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier and his Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha R1 come into the 2016 series opener at Circuit of The Americas as the pre-race favorite. Photography by Brian J. Nelson.

2016 MotoAmerica AMA Superbike Championship, Preview

MotoAmerica Set To Kick Off Season At COTA
Titles Up For Grabs As New Season Gets Rolling

AUSTIN, TX, APR. 7 - With every new racing season comes high hopes brought about by cleanly wiped slates. Everyone starts anew: No one has any victories or championship points, nor have they suffered any missteps. And this is the only time all season that this is the case. By Sunday night, all that changes.

The historic 40th season of AMA Superbike racing will begin at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, April 8-10, with the first two races of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship taking place at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, in conjunction with the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas - round three of the MotoGP World Championship.

Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha's Cameron Beaubier leads the 29-strong entries in the Superbike class, the defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion heading to the Lone Star State fresh off his dominating performance in the recent test at COTA. Beaubier circulated well under his lap record of a season ago during the two-day test with a best lap of 2:08.764 (compared to his 2:09.653 that earned him pole position for last year's race). Thus he comes to COTA full of confidence.

"I'm pumped and ready to get going," Beaubier said on the eve of the first race weekend of a nine-round MotoAmerica season. "I've had a great off-season. We've done a fair amount of testing and I left the test here at COTA happy with our performance. We did some solid lap times and we're ready. I'm excited to get back to racing and being here in front of the MotoGP paddock and all our fans is a great place to get the season started."

The two men expected to be Beaubier's biggest hurdles in his attempt to win a second Superbike title are his Yamaha teammate Josh Hayes and Yoshimura Suzuki's Roger Hayden. Four-time Superbike Champion Hayes, who won 10 races last year in narrowly missing out in the title chase to Beaubier, struggled during the recent test. But not many believe those struggles will continue. Hayden, meanwhile, ended the test with the third fastest time as he chases a first-career Superbike title.

Several riders will make their MotoAmerica debut at COTA, including former Moto2 World Champion and MotoGP race winner Toni Elias, who is filling in for injured Jake Lewis on the second Yoshimura Suzuki. The Spaniard was impressive at the recent test and only Beaubier ended up going quicker.

Claudio Corti is another foreigner who will make his MotoAmerica debut this weekend in Texas, the Italian set to compete for the HSBK Aprilia team on a RSV4 RF.

South African Sheridan Morais, meanwhile, is back for more MotoAmerica action in 2016, but this year he'll be aboard a Yamaha on the Team Rabid Transit team after racing the HSBK Aprilia last season.

Among those moving up to Superbike for 2016 are Bobby Fong and David Anthony, the pair making up the Latus Motors Racing team on a set of new Superstock 1000-spec Kawasaki ZX-10Rs. Both Fong and Anthony competed in the Supersport class in 2015.

Jake Gagne, the 2015 Superstock 1000 Champion, makes the move to the Superbike class for 2016 aboard the Broaster Chicken/Roadrace Factory Yamaha YZF-R1. Kyle Wyman is another making the leap to Superbike and he'll do so on the Millennium Technologies/KWR Yamaha R1. Ditto for Josh Herrin and Hayden Gillim. Herrin, who finished second in the Supersport Championship last year, will ride a Superstock 100-spec Yamaha R1 for the Wheels In Motion/Meen Motorsports team; Gillim will be aboard a Superstock 1000-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the Cycle World Suzuki team.

MotoAmerica Supersport Champion JD Beach headlines the Supersport class for 2016 as he returns armed with the same Y.E.S./Graves Motorsports Yamaha R6 that he won the title on last year. Beach has put in the work during the off-season and says he's ready for the new year.

"We're here in Austin for round one and I'm looking forward to getting started," Beach said. "It's going to be a little bit harder this year because I have the number-one plate and it kind of puts a big target on my back, but we had a great off-season and I'm feeling really good. I can't wait to go racing."

In all, 13 riders will line up for the Supersport race at COTA with four manufacturers represented - Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and MV Agusta. Beach's main competition is likely to come from his teammate of last year Garrett Gerloff, the Texan having led the recent test at COTA on his Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha.

The M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki team is completely changed from last year and will get a spark from the addition of South African Cam Petersen, Frenchman Valentin Debise and former KTM Cup standout Xavier Zayat. Petersen competed in the class last year on a Yamaha with Debise set to make his MotoAmerica debut at COTA. Zayat moves up from the KTM RC Cup.

Also making his MotoAmerica debut in Supersport is Dakota Mamola, the son of Grand Prix legend Randy Mamola. Mamola joins last year's Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Richie Escalante in the HB Racing/Meen Motorsports team. Escalante suffered an off-season injury and won't return to action until Road Atlanta.

Joe Roberts is back for more on the Wheels In Motion/Meen Motorsports Yamaha, the 2015 Superstock 600 Champion moving to the Supersport class full time in 2016 after winning the first of two Supersport races in the season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park last year.

Benny Solis, meanwhile, will go to battle with the lone Honda in the pack at COTA, the Team H35 CBR600RR-mounted Californian hoping for a solid 2016 performance.

COTA Notes...
Josh Hayes will begin his 19th season of professional racing in 2016. Hayes has won 58 Superbike races and has earned 38 career pole positions in the premier class. He also has 80 total AMA class victories on his impressive resume.

Cameron Beaubier's 2015 Superbike title was his second as a professional (he won the Daytona SportBike - now Supersport - title in 2014). Beaubier won eight races en route to taking the championship last year, bringing his career total to 11 as he begins the 2016 season.
 
This is the second time that MotoAmerica will race at Circuit of The Americas. Josh Hayes and Cameron Beaubier split wins in the two Superbike races in 2015 with JD Beach winning the lone Supersport race, which was held in a driving rainstorm.
 
Cameron Beaubier earned pole position for last year's Superbike race at COTA with a best lap of 2:09.653. Beaubier lapped at a best of 2:08.764 to lead the test here a few weeks ago.

Garrett Gerloff was on pole for last year's Supersport race with a time of 2:13.420. Gerloff also led the test a few weeks ago with a very impressive 2:11.987.

In addition to getting their new motorcycles prepped and ready for this opening-round race weekend, the teams were also busy at the COTA test trying the latest spec tires from Dunlop. In addition to the slew of race-compound tires, teams and riders were also busy getting acquainted with the soft-compound Qualifying tires that will be used during Superpole in the Superbike class this year. This season marks the return of Qualifying tires, or what the teams and riders refer to simply as Q's, so many of the riders were unfamiliar with the extra grip the tires provide.

Because of that extra grip, the Qualifying tires allow the riders to do their fastest lap times. However, it's a double-edged sword: Since the tires are soft, they don't have much life and the riders need to come to grips (no pun intended) with the procedure. They basically have four laps to get the most out of the tire - two laps to get it to temperature, a hot lap to qualify, and another lap to get back to the paddock.

Roger hayden action photo Yoshimura Suzuki 2016
Roger Hayden is hoping to improve on his two third-place finishes from last year at COTA.

MotoAmerica is the new North American road racing series created in 2014. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com.

Tony Elias, Roger hayden, Yoshimuta Suzuki race action photo COTA
Spaniard Toni Elias (24) did the double in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship of Texas at COTA, beating his Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Roger Hayden (95) to the flag on Sunday. The pair were this close for most of the race. It was exciting racing, but with only 6 entires in the Superbike class, and the rest of the field made up of Superstock 1000 bikes, it was a disappointing kickoff to the 2nd year of the new MotoAmerica Championship in America. Particularly when the new series was promised to be a stepping stone for American riders to move-on to Europe, when instead, a washed up Europen rider came over to the USA and kicked their ass. Photography by Brian J. Nelson.

Elias Wins In MotoAmerica Debut At COTA
Former World Champion Leads Suzuki 1-2 In Opener in both Races
AUSTIN, TX, Saturday APR. 9th RACE ONE - Former Moto2 World Champion and MotoGP race winner Toni Elias made the most of his opportunity as a replacement rider on the Yoshimura Suzuki team today, the Spaniard riding to a maiden MotoAmerica victory in a red-flag interrupted season opener at Circuit of The Americas.

Elias was struggling in the opening portion of the race with a bad sensor on his GSX-R1000 (normally ridden by the injured Jake Lewis), but he more than made up for it after the red flag as he stormed to victory, holding off his temporary teammate Roger Hayden and Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha's Josh Hayes for a popular victory in front of his MotoGP friends, former teammates and mechanics.

For Hayden it was a reversal of fortune, his two-plus-second lead in race one going for naught when Kyle Wyman's motorcycle blew up on the backstraight, dropped oil and ultimately caught fire, bringing a stoppage to the race after four completed laps. When the race was re-started for a five-lap dash, Hayden lacked grip and found himself embroiled in a last-lap battle for second with Hayes and ultimately thwarting the Yamaha rider's attempt at a last-corner pass.

Fourth place went Broaster Chicken/Roadrace Factory's Jake Gagne with Latus Motors Racing's Bobby Fong impressive in his debut on the new Kawasaki ZX-10R, besting Wheels In Motion/Motosport.com/Meen Motorsports' Josh Herrin by just .054 of a second at the flag to win the Superstock 1000 category.

Yamahalube/Westby Racing's Josh Day was seventh and third Superstock 1000, some five seconds clear of MotoEverything/DieselOps Racing's Taylor Knapp. Team Rabid Transit's Sheridan Morais and TOBC Racing's Danny Eslick rounded out the top 10.

If Elias winning in his debut was big news, so too was the fact that 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier crashed out of the race while leading on just the second lap. The DNF puts the defending champion on his back foot going into tomorrow's race as he's 25 championship points down on Elias, 20 down on Hayden and 16 behind his teammate Hayes.

"I suffer a lot in the beginning of the first race," Elias said after victory. "I try to follow Roger (Hayden) and Cameron (Beaubier), but was impossible. First of all I thought it was a rear tire, maybe something was wrong. I couldn't control the rear slides. After two or three laps it start to lock on braking the rear wheel, go straight and (I make) many mistakes. I be lucky when I see the red flag because I go straight to them (the crew) and say, 'Something is wrong.' Yesterday was much more comfortable and it was not the tire, not the track. It was a little sensor that was broken and they finally find the problem and the second race the bike was perfect, just like yesterday. I had grip and it was controllable. I push a lot, but I had some attacks from Josh (Hayes), but I want to win. And finally we did it and I'm happy. I want to thank Yoshimura Suzuki for giving me this opportunity."

Garrett Gerloff followed up his his pole-earning performance of yesterday to win the opening round of the 2015 MotoAmerica Supersport Series, the Texan taking victory in his home race by 1.004 seconds over his teammate JD Beach, the defending series champion. The Y.E.S. Graves pairing were locked together for the entire race, but Beach could never find a way around his teammate.

Third place went to M4 Sportbike TrackGear.com Suzuki's Valentin Debise, the Frenchman impressing in his MotoAmerica debut. Debise barely beat Wheels in Motion/Motosport.com/Meen Motorsports' Joe Roberts to the line. Team H35's Benny Solis rounded out the top five on his Honda CBR600RR.

"I've been putting a lot of work in during the off-season and I don't want to be working my butt off for nothing, so I definitely wanted to win," Gerloff said. "It definitely made it special that it was at my home track and I have the Texas flag on the back of my helmet cause this is where I'm from and grew up. It's definitely really special."

Superbike Race One: 1. Toni Elias (Suzuki); 2. Roger Hayden (Suzuki); 3. Josh Hayes (Yamaha); 4. Jake Gagne (Yamaha); 5. Bobby Fong (Kawasaki); 6. Josh Herrin (Yamaha); 7. Joshua Day (Yamaha); 8. Taylor Knapp (Yamaha); 9. Sheridan Morais (Yamaha); 10. Danny Eslick (Yamaha).

Supersport Final: 1. Garrett Gerloff (Yamaha); 2. JD Beach (Yamaha); 3. Valentin Debise (Suzuki); 4. Joe Roberts (Yamaha); 5. Benny Solis (Honda); 6. Cameron Petersen (Suzuki); 7. Travis Wyman (Yamaha); 8. Dakota Mamola (Yamaha); 9. Jay Newton (Yamaha); 10. Kris Lillegard (MV Agusta).

Elias Again In MotoAmerica Superbike At COTA
AUSTIN, TX, Sunday APRIL 10th RACE TWO - Yoshimura Suzuki's fill-in rider Toni Elias was perfect over the course of the two MotoAmerica Superbike races at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, the Spaniard beating his teammate Roger Hayden to win his second race in two days on an overcast Sunday afternoon in Austin.
 
Elias kept his perfect MotoAmerica season intact, the former Moto2 World Champion and MotoGP race winner holding off a stalking Hayden for the majority of the 15 laps to ultimately win by a tad over four seconds once Hayden threw in the towel on the final lap.
 
"I'm not the King, just winning some races," Elias said after winning his second race in two days. "I'm happy and I'm satisfied. At the beginning of the race, I was a little bit worried. I didn't have a great, great feeling, but we start, I try to stay behind Roger (Hayden) and Cameron (Beaubier). Finally, I found myself again and try to go away but was impossible. Roger was there all the time. My rhythm was good, the tires were sliding a lot all the time, but I make one mistake and he passed me again. Finally, I could do what I wanted and take some gap, but only in the last three laps. I was at home (without a ride) and I cannot ask for more. It's amazing. It's perfect."
 
Third place went to four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, the Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha rider on the podium but disappointed at ending up almost 16 seconds behind Elias. Still, he fared better than his teammate Cameron Beaubier, the defending MotoAmerica Champion forced to charge his way through the pack to a fourth-place finish after an early off-track excursion.
 
Fifth place went to Latus Motors Kawasaki's Bobby Fong, the Californian again crossing the line as the top Superstock 1000 finisher. Fong held on to fourth for most of the race until being caught and passed by Beaubier.
 
"Pushing 110 percent and I know by the end of the race I couldn't do those times," Fong said. "We tried and I knew that I had a gap on the Superstock guys and I kept on seeing plus one, plus two on my board and then I heard an R1 behind me. I thought it was Josh Day or (Josh) Herrin trying to get by me and it was Cameron (Beaubier). I wasn't too worried after that. I was pretty thankful it was Cameron and not one of the Superstock guys."
 
Sixth place featured a titanic battle between Aprilia HSBK Racing's Claudio Corti, Wheels In Motion/Motosport.com/Meen Motorsports' Josh Herrin and TOBC's Danny Eslick. The three tussled for most of the race with the top spot being exchanged multiple times over the course of a lap. At the finish line it was Corti taking sixth with Herrin seventh and Eslick eighth. The trio was separated by just .197 of a second at the flag, and it was Corti and Herrin joining Fong on the Bazzaz Superstock 1000 podium.
 
Broaster Chicken/Roadrace Factory's Jake Gagne, who was fourth yesterday, struggled today and ended up ninth. MotoEverything/DieselOps Racing's Taylor Knapp rounded out the top 10 finishers.
 
If there was a question after his win yesterday of what Yoshimura Suzuki would do with Elias when Jake Lewis returns in a race or two from injury, the question now looms even larger. Elias is leading the 2016 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship by 10 points over Hayden, 50-40, as the series moves to Road Atlanta for two more races next weekend.
 
"Today was a really good race," Hayden said. "As soon as I got the holeshot my lap time was a low 10 and that's what I've been working hard on to try and get away. Toni came by me and the whole race was 9s, low 10s. His pace was incredible and the last couple of laps I was just sliding around a lot and he kinda got a little gap on me. I'm really happy for the team and they're working really hard and to sweep the weekend with qualifying first and second, first and second in both races... they deserve that. We've been getting our butts kicked pretty bad the last couple of years by Josh and Cam and it kind of feels good as a team to finally give them a little piece of the bad taste that we've been getting. We want to win just like those guys want to win, so it feels good, but I don't like getting second either and I want to win one of these. I'm doing all the right things and eventually it's going to happen."
 
A modest Elias knows that Road Atlanta might portray a different picture than the Circuit of The Americas.
 
"I see only videos - on-board cameras," Elias said of Road Atlanta, the site of round two of the MotoAmerica Championship. "Looks nice, but looks really difficult. I think I will see the reality of this championship and all these guys. It will not be like here, but it's a challenge for me and I have a lot of motivation to learn the track, the track conditions, learn about these guys and I'm happy to have this opportunity and then we will see if I continue or not."
 
Hayes sits third in the title chase with 32 points, 12 better than fourth-placed Gagne. Beaubier is fifth with 13 points - 37 points behind Elias.
 
"It was pretty crappy," Beaubier said of his weekend. "I haven't had a weekend like that in a long time. It's frustrating, really. One thing after another. Coming into this race, the team and I, everything was going so well. The tests in California and here both went really good, but for some reason this weekend we were just struggling. It was a weird, unlucky weekend. Yesterday I felt I had great pace and I could just go, and today I didn't have that feeling at all. I felt tight on the bike, then I had a front-brake issue. All that happened I think, I got a little air bubble in the line or something. I just went straight, the brake came back to the bar, and I went straight. But then I pumped them back up and they were perfect the rest of the race, completely fine. I haven't had a problem like that before. Super strange. I know how hard my guys work on the bikes and how much time they put in, and to have little things go wrong like that, it's unlucky, really unlucky. "
 
Fong has a perfect 50 points in the Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Championship, 14 clear of Herrin and 26 ahead of Knapp.
 
SUPERBIKE RACE 2: 1. Toni Elias (Suzuki); 2. Roger Hayden (Suzuki); 3. Josh Hayes (Yamaha); 4. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha); 5. Bobby Fong (Kawasaki); 6. Claudio Corti (Aprilia); 7. Josh Herrin (Yamaha); 8. Danny Eslick (Yamaha); 9. Jake Gagne (Yamaha); 10. Taylor Knapp (Yamaha).

SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Toni Elias (50/2 wins); 2. Roger Hayden (40); 3. Josh Hayes (32); 4. Jake Gagne (20); 5. Cameron Beaubier (13); 6. Chris Ulrich (4); 7. Ryan Jones (1).

BAZZAZ SUPERSTOCK 1000 CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Bobby Fong (50/2 wins); 2. Josh Herrin (36); 3. Taylor Knapp (24); 4. Danny Eslick (23); 5. Claudio Corti (20); 6. David Anthony (18); 7. Sheridan Morais (18); 8. Steve Rapp (17); 9. Josh Day (16); 10. Hayden Gillim (16).


2017 Suzuki GZX-R1000 Superbike photo
Suzuki has yet to reveal pricing, availability dates and if there are different models of the all new GSXR1000 modieled after their new MotoGP bike.This bike shown above features conventional non-resevoir front forks, bhile the bike describe in the press relases and shown in the studio pictures, has a Gold-anosized frok tubes with gas remote resevoirs.

Suzuki Next Generation 2016 GSX-R1000 -World-Beating Performance. Again.

Nov. 17, 2015 – It has been three decades, with more than a million editions sold, since the GSX-R line was born. And a decade and a half has elapsed since the first GSX-R1000 changed the open sportbike class forever. Now, the concept of the 6th-generation GSX-R1000 is redefining what it means to be The Top Performer. It embodies the life work and professional ambition of Suzuki engineers who are passionate about the GSX-R1000 and its place in motorcycle history. Men who love riding and racing, enthusiasts determined to restore the GSX-R1000 to its proper title of The King of Sportbikes. Know this: It is the most powerful, hardest-accelerating, cleanest-running GSX-R ever built.

It is also the lightest, the most compact, the most aerodynamic and the best-handling GSX-R1000 ever, with smoother throttle response and better combustion efficiency. It’s fitted with a supremely effective electronic engine management system that doesn’t require a degree in engineering to understand--and doesn’t need constant adjustment by a squad of computer technicians to work.

Above all, it is a GSX-R. By definition, it is built to run right and be reliable, and designed to help make each person fortunate enough to pilot the bike a better rider. By plan, it is engineered using experience gained during 30 Years of Domination in production-based Superbike, Superstock and Endurance races worldwide, combined with new proprietary technology developed in the MotoGP World Championship. CONTINUED HERE


MV AGUSTA Files for Protection to Restructure Its Debt
April 1st , 2016 - There were reports that MV Agusta, the motorcycle manufacturer with considerable amounts of motorsport heritage, had filed for bankruptcy in its country of origin, Italy. This however isn’t true as the manufacturer, in a press release, says that it is only restructuring its finances. Certain online reports suggest that MV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which is a type of bankruptcy that buys the company some time to turn its fortunes around, freezing loans and assessing and saving whatever positive assets might remain. This however was a certain website’s way of explaining to its American readers how the section works. MV, being an Italian company, doesn’t work according to the US bankruptcy laws.

The past two years have proved to be good for MV Agusta, with 25 per cent of the company being bought over by Mercedes-AMG, and with a claimed thirty per cent increase in international turnover. However, this hasn’t been enough to neutralise the debt that the Varese-based company is in.

In fact, this appears to be another low in a past that’s been peppered with highs and lows for the motorcycle maker once owned by Count Domenico Agusta. While they once won world championship titles under the Count’s supervision, the company wasn’t able to match the same quality in their production bikes, which in turn led to flagging sales. Although an attempt was made to revive the brand by Claudio Castiglioni, after which Harley-Davidson and Proton also tried to get the brand going, once again things didn’t quite go according to plan. MV Agusta today is once again in the hands of the Castiglioni family, with Claudio’s son Giovanni attempting to carry on his late father’s work. They have applied for insolvency and are currently looking to get more financiers on board. The company also plans to keep its R&D department in place and try and churn out motorcycles faster. It is also in the process of convincing Mercedes-AMG to increase its stake in the company and thereby pump in additional liquid cash. Mercedes-AMG currently hold a 25 per cent stake in MV Agusta.

MV Agusta is present in the Indian market through Moto Royale, a Kinetic Motors initiative. It is currently in the process of ramping up the number of dealerships as well as bringing in more models in the near future. When asked about the bankruptcy rumours, Ajinkya Firodia, MD of MV Agusta India, said that “MV Agusta has asked Moto Royale to inform any media that MV has not filed Chapter 11 or bankruptcy.”


Ducati XDiavel dragXter photo high resolution
Click for Larger View

Ducati Attends Motor Bike Expo of Verona
with the new 2016 XDiavel and All-New draXter Concept Bike

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 22 January 2016 - At the coming Motor Bike Expo of Verona January 22-24 Ducati will be exhibiting a further addition to its new for 2016 XDiavel cruiser world, the all-new draXter. This “concept bike” interprets the XDiavel world from a sports viewpoint. The project was developed by the Ducati Design Center's Advanced Design area, a section dedicated to exploring the future style and design concepts of Ducati motorcycles. This wild dragster inspired sports interpretation of the XDiavel world has been named the draXter

Their ideas and sketches have allowed the Ducati prototype department to come up with the draXter, starting from a standard production XDiavel. The beating heart of the draXter is that of an extreme dragster with premium racing componentry. This is particularly evident, for example, in the suspension and brakes, taken directly from the Panigale Superbike. This styling exercise has accentuated the lines and proportions of the XDiavel making them more extreme than ever and turning the draXter into a unique, breath-taking "racer".

The number 90 on the side of the Ducati draXter recalls the racing world, yet also pays homage to Ducati's 90th anniversary, being celebrated this year.



Triumph 2016 Thruxton Photos

Triumph Annouches an All-New 2016 Watercooled Retro Motorcycle Linuep
Highlighted by the New 120cc Thruxton and Thruxton R
      Click any Picture to Enlarge

November 1, 2015 - The Thruxton and Thruxton R are two of the five exciting motorcycles in the new 2016 Bonneville family - all with 100% authentic Bonneville character, truly modern capability and performance. Named after the legendary 500 mile Thruxton endurance race series and the Triumphs that dominated it, and which broke the first 100mph lap at the Isle of man TT, the Bonneville ‘Thruxton’ racers inspired a generation of teenage café racers and custom special builders.

The New Bonneville Model Line Up
Five all new Bonneville models - all with 100% authentic character, beautifully enhanced styling and truly modern performance. The Street Twin is our most contemporary, fun and accessible new Bonneville, powered by an all-new high torque 900cc engine. With its unique character, distinctive sound, stripped-back styling and dynamic riding experience, the new Street Twin is the perfect Bonneville for today’s rider and the perfect starting point for personalisation.

The timeless style and iconic character of the original 1959 model is reborn in the classy and authentic Bonneville T120 and effortless cool Bonneville T120 Black. Both crafted to the highest standard of detailing, quality and finish, and matched by the capability and performance of a truly modern classic. Powered by the all-new Bonneville 1200cc high torque engine, fed by beautiful, authentically styled, twin throttle bodies.

The new 1200cc Thruxton and Thruxton R are the real deal. With genuine poise, power and performance, they are the ultimate modern classic café racers. Both with beautifully imposing and authentic styling, they have the power, braking, performance and handling to live up to their legendary name.      Continued Here


New 2016 Kawasaki ZX10R photos and information

Kawasaki All New 2016 ZX10R
Successor to a 2-Time World Champion
- Complete Information and Photos


2016 LA Los AnglesCalendar Motorccyle Show event details

2016 LA Calendar Motorcyel Show returns to the Sagebrush Cantina on Saturday July 23rd
Mark your Caledar now to join us - More Information Here



Best of Show 2014 Image Vehicles2015 LA Calendar Best of Show winner Hiroyuki Hirata with Calendar Kittens Sara, Apple, Helena and Alena.

Builder Hiroyuki Hirata returns from Japan to take his 2nd Best of Show with "Zero Fighter"
2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle & Calendar Girl Music Show

The Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas, CA, Saturday July 25th 2015 - The 2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show continued its now 24- year tradition as the premier outdoor streetbike event in America as it rocked the legendary Los Angeles biker hangout and party zone, the Sagebrush Cantina in beautiful downtown Calabasas, California. Featured were top Celebrity Custom Bike Builders from across the globe competitiing in the Calendar Bike Building Championship, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, Calendar Girl Music live performances, and an incredibly delicious Sagebrush Cantina Taco Lunch Buffet included with admission. The Calendar Motorcycle Show again benefited the American Cancer Society with a portion of each Admission Ticket being donated to help find a cure.    

                                                      COMPLETE 2015 LA CALENDAR BIKE SHOW COVERAGE HERE


Sara Vyvus Ducati

Now in the Calendar Bike Garage...   The World's Coolest Naked Ducati!
Beauitful FastDates.com Calendar Kitten Sara takes us for a ride on the world's most exotic and expensive Ducati streetbike
ever - a $110,000 Vyrus NCR 983 Superleggera in the Calendar Bike Garage and in Members Corner.

David BeckhamTriumph motorcycle

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David Beckham's Amazon Triumph Scrambler build by legenday Calendar Bike Builder Rickard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, photographed with Calendar Kitten and Penthouse Pet Aleska in BIG full screen saver size photos.

David Beckham stars in OUTLAWS - a Belstaff Triumph Movie Short

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Now in the Calendar Bike Garage...     Sam Kao's LA Calendar Show Winner
Beauitful FastDates.com SBK World Superbike Calendar Kitten Petra looks fantastic with Samuel Kao's JSK Desgn Sportster
featured in the Calendar Bike Garage / Members Corner and in the new 2016 Iron & Lace Calendar

Samuel Kao BMW 90T Custom

Now in the Calendar Bike Garage...
Samuel Kao's Calendar Bike Show class winning BMW R 90T Bar Hopper with beauitful FastDates.com SBK World Superbike Calendar Kitten Sara featured in the Calendar Bike Garage / Members Corner and in the new 2016 Iron & Lace Calendar



Edelweiss Motorcyle Tours - Paris to Omaha

New Edelweiss Motorcycle Tour - From Paris to Omaha, France
Experience the ultimate tour cocktail: rich culture, great landscapes, picturesque villages and superb riding from Paris, the city of love, to the beaches of Brittany and Normandy. You can also join FastDates.com Editor Jim Gianatsis on the August 10-20th 2015 Tour.

Is there a more exciting city than Paris in which to start a tour? You will have the opportunity to visit all of the important sites this city is justly famous for. Backcountry roads will take you to great cultural locations, such as the renowned Châteaux of the Loire Valley. “End of Earth“ – that’s what the Romans called the western tip of the peninsula of Brittany. We will ride all the way to the end, exploring amazing coastal roads, small villages and beautiful beaches all along the way.

It is certainly one of the most diverse landscapes in France, offering rock cliffs and dunes on the seaside, and moors further inland. Beaches in the area are less populated than elsewhere and are counted amongst the most beautiful in France. History in the region can be traced back to 700,000 years ago and includes the ancient megalithic cultures and the Celtic tribal territories that existed before Roman rule. Today, numerous standing stones and monoliths testify to the rich and lengthy history of the region. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont Saint-Michel is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular sites in France (and all of Europe, for that matter). A monastery and surrounding ancient village are nestled on a small rock off the mainland.

You will see beaches renowned for the military operations that occurred there, one of which is Omaha beach, and the vast war cemeteries, last resting places for thousands of soldiers. More beautiful coastal rides and interesting cities, such as Honfleur and Rouen, will complete our amazing tour, with Paris as our final destination. For complete Pricing, Bikes, and Booking Information visit the Edelweiss Website Here -

Edelweiss World Motorcycle Tours


New "Hitting The Apex" MotoGP Movie Trailer
Exciting new MotoGP Documentary Movie by Mark Neale and narrated by Brad Pit. Watch the trailer for Hitting the Apex, Mark Neale’s documentary that follows the battle for MotoGP supremacy between drivers Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Simoncelli and Marc Marquez. The film is narrated by Brad Pitt and features exclusive footage and interviews. Hitting the Apex is in cinemas from September 2 and available on DVD and Blu-Ray from September 7th, 2015.

Buy it now on DVD - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00RCOXUYK/fastdatescomcale


Ducati Corse World Superbike Book


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These SBK Yearbooks are the Best Books Ever about World Superbike. They feature wesome color photography of the riders, bike and racing action. The feature a deailed revue of the past season in pictures and stactics, awith a detailed look at the bikes and riders.

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Jorge Lorenzo teams up with Ducati in MotoGP for 2017 and 2018
 April 18th, 2016 - Ducati announces that it has reached an agreement with current factory Yamaha rider and reigning 2015 MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo which will see the Spanish rider will take part in the MotoGP World Championship in 2017 and 2018 aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Ducati Team. 
Lorenzo, born in Palma de Mallorca on 4 May 1987, has won five world championship titles throughout his racing career (250cc in 2006 and 2007 and MotoGP in 2010, 2012 and 2015).

2016 SBK Calendar Update
Monza Round Cancelled
The FIM and DWO would like to announce the cancellation of the 2016 WorldSBK Italian Round that was to be held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza during the weekend of the 22nd – 24th July.
 
Regarding the changes needed to bring the WorldSBK paddock back to Monza, all the bodies involved have requested the FIM and DWO for the time required in order to further analyze the project, with a view to confirming its feasibility in the near future.
(We assume the cancellation was for the ned for track safety upgrades. -Ed)
 
DWO would further like to announce that the substitute circuit contract with Vallelunga will not be activated, due to scheduling difficulties and the required modifications to the venue that would enable Vallelunga to host a Round of WorldSBK.
 
At this time, a replacement venue for this Italian Round of the Championship is still being evaluated. Confirmation of both the location and date of the replacement will be provided before the 1st of May, to enable final confirmation of the 2016 WorldSBK Calendar.

Yamaha and Valentino Rossi Extend Contract for 2 More Yeas Through 2018
Losail (Qatar), 19th March 2016 - It is with great pleasure that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. confirms that Valentino Rossi will remain a part of the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team‘s rider line-up for the MotoGP World Championship season of 2017 and 2018.

The announcement comes after three very strong years by the most-respected MotoGP rider of all time, since his return to Yamaha in 2013.

Rossi has had a very special bond with his beloved YZR-M1 starting from his first race with Yamaha at Welkom Circuit, South Africa, in 2004, which ended in an iconic win. The combination of ’the Doctor‘ and the YZR-M1 has gone from strength to strength since and together they secured four titles and 53 Grand Prix wins over ten seasons.

With fifteen brilliant podiums and four strong GP victories in the last year, Yamaha is confident in their partnership with Valentino Rossi and looks forward to being a serious title contender for 2016 and the following seasons.

Nicky Hayden was inducted into the MotoGP™ World Championship Hall of Fame at the Valencia GP.
 
The 2006 MotoGP™ World Champion Nicky Hayden was inducted into the World Championship Hall of Fame as the 22nd MotoGP™ Legend by Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta in a ceremony held at the final round of the 2015 season in Valencia.

The American announced earlier in the season that he would leave the premier class at the end of the year in order to compete in WorldSBK in 2016.

A three-time Grand Prix winner, Nicky Hayden clinched the 2006 title with Repsol Honda, ending Valentino Rossi's streak of 5 consecutive titles from 2001 to 2005. The popular American will leave the category after 216 Grand Prix appearances, and throughout his illustrious career the ‘Kentucky Kid’ has been on the podium 28 times, posted 7 race fastest laps and taken 5 pole positions.

Hayden joins a long list of greats that have been made MotoGP™ Legends that includes Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees and Carlo Ubbiali.

Nicky Hayden: “It is really is a great honour to receive this. I do not take it lightly, I know there are people in this club with more illustrious careers and who have obviously won more than me, but regardless I got in there! I am very happy. I mean for 13 years it was eat, breathe and sleep MotoGP. It's been an amazing ride. Of course these last two years have been tough, but I've enjoyed every minute of it, worked with some great teams and rode some great bikes.
 
I'd just like to thank everybody who has supported me through it all, my teams and my family, I appreciate it all. Thanks also to Carmelo; I think MotoGP - as much as the last weeks have been a little negative - is in a great place. The sport is bigger and better than ever, the tracks are safer and the young talent keeps getting younger and faster. So the future is very bright.”
 
Carmelo Ezpeleta – CEO of Dorna Sports: “For all of us, it's a great pleasure to give Nicky this award - this is not just because you've been Champion and you're one of the riders with most starts in the premier class, but also for your behaviour over all those years, your sportsmanship and your friendship. It's a great pleasure to consider you one of our legends. Thank you for all you've done for the sport in all those years.”

2013 MV Agust M4
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Ducati Diavel
The Devil Made Us Do It!
Testing the Ducati Diavel in Italy

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New BMW HP4 Superbike

World Superbike SBK yearbook 2010

2007 MotoGP Review

High Speed - the Movie
The best motorcycle racing movie ever made! Filmed on location at the World Superbike races , this an exciting romantic drama staring beautiful British actress Sienna Miller.

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GP of Argentina: Dovizioso and Iannone crash out from second and third place two corners from the chequered flag at Termas de Río Hondo
March 3rd -  The Ducati Team riders threw away a certain double podium finish in the GP of Argentina, held today at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit. Dovizioso and Iannone were in second and third place on the final lap, but an attack by the rider from Vasto on his team-mate two corners before the finishing line caused both of them to crash out. Dovizioso was able to push his bike across the line and was classified in thirteenth position.
 
The race was held in dry conditions, with a particular flag-to-flag format that included a mandatory bike change between laps 9 and 11.
 
Dovizioso, who powered away well at the lights, led for the opening two laps, and then stayed in the leading positions until coming into the pits to change his bike on lap 10. On returning to the track, the man from Forlì was then involved in a terrific scrap with Rossi, Viñales and Iannone and he was able to move into second place on the 19th and penultimate lap, before the incident that deprived him of a well-deserved runner-up slot.
 
Iannone, after not a particularly brilliant start, managed to move up to fourth place and was fighting in the group together with Dovizioso and Viñales. After returning to the pit-lane to change bikes on lap 9, he then continued his recovery and reached third place by lap 18. On the final lap Iannone made a passing move on his team-mate, but the bike slid away from beneath him, accidently causing Dovizioso to go down.
 
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 13th
“I am very disappointed because we did a great race despite it being a complicated weekend for everyone. In qualifying we went well, in the race I was running up front and in my opinion the strategy was a good one. I even changed bikes at the right moment, staying out a lap extra and making up a few seconds. In the last few laps we were in a bit of difficulty, but we managed to catch Valentino, and I tried to close all the doors during the final lap. In the penultimate corner however what everyone could see happened and I missed out on a certain second place. Looking at things positively, we were also quick here in Argentina and, if I had managed to finish the race, now we would be second in the championship just one point behind Marquez.”
 
Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – DNF
“Even though I didn’t manage to get a good start, I was doing a good race: for sure I could have been quicker in the early stages, but when I changed bikes I started again at a better pace than the riders ahead of me, and I managed to pass Rossi two or three times, until Andrea passed us again on the last lap. When I arrived at the penultimate corner, I lost the front and brought down Dovizioso in the crash. Unfortunately that’s the way it went and I am really sorry for my team, for Andrea and for everyone in Ducati because for sure a podium today with both Ducati Team riders would have been an exceptional result.”

MotoAmerica Needs You!
Road Racing Series Looking For Volunteers For New Season

COSTA MESA, CA, JAN. 19 - MotoAmerica is looking for a few good men. And women. With the new season rapidly approaching, MotoAmerica is seeking volunteers who want to assist the series and be a part of the action that is the 2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series.  
 
So would you like to help organize and run the 2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship? MotoAmerica will provide training, camping options, guest and parking passes, plus lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at each event.

"Last year we had a great turnout of volunteers who helped us with our events in our debut season," said MotoAmerica race operations manager Niccole Cox. "Like MotoGP and World Superbike, we use volunteers to help our staff and it's a system that works well. We really attracted some quality people last year and we're hoping for more of the same this coming season. It's a lot of fun to work with the new people and see how much they enjoy working the races from the inside."
 
Positions are available at all nine events for track, tire, and grid marshals, technical control, and registration staff. Here is a brief description of those positions:
 
* Track Marshal: Provides support with motorcycle recovery in the event of a crash or mechanical failure. The race director relies heavily on having a team of well disciplined and competent marshals.  
 
* Tire Marshal: Assists Tire Control Coordinator in paddock, hot pit, and grid to ensure competitors follow tire-allocation regulations. Volunteer will check tire tags on motorcycles as they leave pit out, log tire tags and report any infractions to Tire Control. 
 
* Technical Control: Supports Technical Director to certify racing motorcycles conform to rulebook. Volunteer will help organize paperwork and oversee bikes in Parc Ferme. 
 
* Registration Staff: Helps Registration Manager verify competitors, crew, media, and VIPs have appropriate credentials and parking passes. Volunteer helps with making copies and other clerical duties needed. 
 
* Grid Marshal: Assists Chief Steward help riders follow practice and qualifying procedures and make sure their motorcycles are positioned correctly on the grid for race starts as well as monitors for potential safety risks on the race start. 
 
To apply for one or more of these positions, click on the following link to got to the appropriate page on their website www.MotoAmerica.com

World Supersport on the Verge of Change for 2016
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), FIM Europe and DWO are pleased to announce that a new exciting format will be introduced for the upcoming season.

The 2016 edition of the FIM Superbike World Championship will witness a historical change for the important and renowned World Supersport class.

After successfully introducing technical and sporting rule changes in the World Superbike class for 2015, it is time now on focusing efforts on the middleweight series. 

In what is its third year as promoter and organiser of the series, Dorna is constantly working side by side with the FIM, teams and manufacturers to ensure the series maintains and improves its level in line with the changes in the motorcycle industry and worldwide economy.

In 2016, the FIM Supersport World Championship will feature new technical rules that will result in major cost saving for the teams involved. The WSS machines’ preparation will be similar in all ways to the ones used in the most important national championships, easing the way for local teams to take part in selected races with wildcard rides and increasing the competition between participants.

Furthermore, a new series within the major Championship – following the same technical regulations as the main tier of World Supersport - will be created, which will be dedicated to teams aiming to take part in the European rounds only to promote young talents at much reduced cost. This will provide a chance for a selected number of smaller further teams to increase their visibility on the world stage – with a massive boost in terms of TV presence and appeal – while the riders will have a chance to compete head to head with some of the established stars of World Supersport. The name of the complementary series is yet to be revealed.

As a consequence of this fundamental revamping of World Supersport, the Superstock 600 class will cease to exist.

Ignacio Verneda, FIM CEO: "The modification of the technical regulations in Supersport to reduce costs and increase the participation of riders was logical after the success achieved in World Superbike following similar changes. We are convinced that this step is important for the future of the Supersport class.

Dr. Wolfgang Srb, FIM Europe President: “The promotion of young and hopeful riders has always been high on our agenda. We believe in series that pave - at affordable costs - the way from National via European Championships to the pinnacle of every sport: the World Championship. I am happy that Dorna shares the view of the “pyramid model” and offers with the new Supersport class an attractive European Road Racing series for talented riders. However, I like to underline the fact that the series will be open for riders from all continents. A strong and close competition is paramount for success.”

Javier Alonso, WorldSBK Executive Director: “We are happy to announce these major changes to the sporting and technical sides of the FIM Supersport World Championship. We are confident that the new format will bring further and fresh excitement to the series as well as a whole new set of opportunities for teams and young riders with the talent and desire to build a path upwards in motorcycle racing.”

The new Technical Rules for the FIM Supersport World Championship will be available soon on the FIM Website.

Motul announced as new WorldSBK Title Sponsor
Solid agreement signed for the next five seasons, from 2016 to 2020.

Marc Saurina, WSBK Commercial and Marketing Director with Roman Grabowski, Motul Motorsport Manager
Details of the agreement between Dorna Group and Motul were revealed at Magny-Cours last Friday during the penultimate round of the 2015 WorldSBK season. Representatives Romain Grabowski of Motul and Marc Saurina of Dorna formally announced to the gathered media and fans the new-look, long-term partnership which will see the Championship invigorated from the start of next year.

Motul, the French company producing high-performance motor oils and industrial lubricants, has a long history in motorsports. It is a key partner for both the FIM and Dorna Group and will make its debut in WorldSBK in 2016, as Title Sponsor of the Championship.

Starting from the forthcoming new season, the series will feature a dedicated combined championship logo in all of its adaptations, as well as a brand-new Motul-SBK product range. This will be launched during the first quarter of next season and is aimed at customers who expect the very best.

In the meantime, racing oils and lubricants will be available for the teams competing in WorldSBK, putting a perfect combination of racing knowledge and skills at the end users’ disposal.

Motul has embraced the essence of the SBK Experience and it is now going to offer its guests the closest motorcycle racing experience ever with proximity and accessibility being the key words.

Motul products will be on display within the Paddock for all the Superbike fans attending the races, making this a full partnership which involves fans, teams and Motul guests.

Romain Grabowski, Motul Motorsport Manager said: “We are really delighted to add WorldSBK to the list of motorcycling disciplines we support on a worldwide basis.  As with the FIM EWC, WorldSBK teams will be able to use the Motul Factory Line range which is dedicated to racing and which benefits from knowledge gained from the major manufacturers’ use of experimental products in MotoGP. This 360° partnership includes the launch of a WorldSBK by Motul product which will be destined for fans of the championship, and we’ve also got a brand-new ‘Motul SBK Experience’ concept which from 2016 will allow us to offer our customers a unique experience at each of the season’s races.  We can’t wait for this 2016 campaign to begin!”.

Marc Saurina, WSBK Commercial and Marketing Director says: “It is a great pleasure for us to see such an important brand in the history of motorsports joining with WorldSBK’s core values. Motul is the perfect partner with whom to develop our concept of brand experience, having a close proximity to the very DNA of production-based motorcycling.”

Ducati Motor Holding sets record sales in 2016
with strong growth for the Bologna-based bike manufacturer

February 1st, 2016 -
 • 54,800 Ducati bikes delivered to customers in 2015
• CEO Claudio Domenicali: “Ducati closes 2015 with record volumes plus a significant 22% growth over 2014”
• Andrea Buzzoni, Director Sales & Marketing: “For the first time ever a Ducati bike has made it into the list of the world’s ‘Top 10’ best-selling bikes”
Borgo Panigale, Bologna (Italy), 14 January 2016 – Ducati closes 2015 with its best-ever results, confirming the positive trend of the last five years that has seen a constant increase in sales and production.
With 54,800 bikes sold during 2015, Ducati set a new record by delivering 9,683 more bikes to customers than in 2014, an increase of 22%.
 
“The record sales of 2015 are the result of our company’s courage and skill”, stated Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. “Ducati closes 2015 with record volumes and also a substantial growth of 22% over 2014. During the year Ducati not only launched successful new motorcycles, but also a new brand, Ducati Scrambler, which immediately won global acclaim with over 16,000 sales worldwide.”
 
“This impressive performance, a landmark one for Ducati, confirms the soundness of the strategy of expansion and consolidation in global markets and highlights the energy and professionalism of the over 700 dealers who cover no less than 90 countries”, commented Andrea Buzzoni, Global Sales and Marketing Director of Ducati Motor Holding. “Such growth confirms, in the vast majority of countries, the validity of both our products and our strategy: indeed, for the first time in Ducati’s history, one of our bikes, the Ducati Scrambler, made it into the ‘Top 10’ list of the world’s best-selling bikes”.
 
The year 2015 also saw a marked increase in Ducati sales in Europe where, again compared to 2014, the biggest gains were made on the Italian market with +53%, in the UK with +37%, in Germany with +24% and in France with +22%.
 
2015 was also a year of expansion in the USA, which confirmed its status as the number one market: Ducati North America achieved a 14% increase in sales over 2014.
In terms of quantity of sales, 2015 ended with Italy in second place, accounting for 12% of the total. Ducati’s third biggest market remains Germany, followed by France and the UK.
 
Asian Pacific markets also experienced growth, with sales up by 14% on the 2014 figure: the results in China - which closed 2015 with a staggering 46% increase – were particularly noteworthy.
 
Summing up, results in 2015 were extremely positive. Success also stemmed from the introduction of the new bikes that characterised the Ducati 2015 range, such as the Ducati Scrambler, 1299 Panigale, Monster and the new Multistrada 1200. Thanks to their innovative styling and performance, they won the immediate acclaim of both Ducatisti and new customers all over the planet.
The best-selling Ducati in 2015 was the Ducati Scrambler, with 16,000 bikes sold during the 12-month period. In its wake comes the new Multistrada 1200, with over 8,000 bikes sold and the new Monster 821, with some 6,500 bike sold worldwide. It was also a good year, in order of sales performance, for the 1299 Panigale, the 899 Panigale and the Diavel.
 
The new Ducati models presented for 2016 mean we can look to the future with confidence.

PBM Announce Be Wiser, Ducati And Irwin For 2016Further to the announcement two weeks ago that defending MCE BSB champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne will remain with the Paul Bird Motorsport team for the 2016 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, the Penrith-based team wishes to announce their further plans.
Joining Byrne in the team will be Ulsterman Glenn Irwin whereby the 25-year-old from Carrickfergus will make the step up from the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship. Irwin is a triple Irish champion and former British Supersport Cup champion and currently occupies third place in this year's British Supersport title race.

Both Byrne and Irwin will race under the Be Wiser banner following the recent association between the leading insurance brand and Paul Bird's team. The deal sees a multi-year association with the nine-times British and National champions who have also sampled victories at World Superbike and MotoGP level.  

The machinery that the team will use is the fully factory-supported Ducati Panigale R which will see a return to the marque whereby Steve Hislop and Shane Byrne both claimed British Superbike Championships for the Italian company under the MonsterMob Ducati branding in the early 2000s.

The team will waste no time in getting up to speed as they test in Valencia immediately after Brands Hatch with a heavy winter testing schedule thereafter in preparation for the 2016 MCE Insurance British Championship season which gets underway at Silverstone on April 10th 2016.

Andrew Dunkerley, Marketing Director, Be Wiser Insurance:  "We are delighted to become the title sponsor of PBM, a team that is always professionally managed and which has a proud history in the BSB series. I am pleased and excited to see Ducati's commitment to the BSB series and I am sure that the highly experienced and successful 'Shakey' will be a great mentor for Glenn Irwin in his first season in BSB.  I expect to see the Be Wiser Ducati team being competitive for the 2016 championship and it will be great to see our Be Wiser Owl logo on the new Ducati."

Tim Maccabee, Managing Director, Ducati UK:  "We are delighted to be associated with Paul Bird and his team and very excited about the 2016 MCE BSB season. Ducati has an unparalleled history in Superbike racing and this next chapter is one we are looking forward to given the success PBM have had in the sport. We have received very positive support from Ducati Corse about this project and look forward to a successful season with Shakey, Glenn and the rest of the PBM team."

Paul Bird, Team Owner:  "2016 will be our 21st consecutive year in racing and we are the first team to confirm our line-up for next season, which demonstrates our intention of challenging for the MCE BSB championship. In Shakey we have the most successful rider in the history of the series and we know he'll be very competitive. Glenn is a rider I've had my eye on for a while and is a huge talent so now is the time to step up to a Superbike and I've every confidence in his ability. It's fantastic to have a reputable company like Be Wiser Insurance as our title sponsor as the brand fits perfectly with our team and it's a long-term association like most of our sponsors in the past. It's also great to be back working with the Ducati factory which will see us reunited with the brand which gave us most of our early successes. It's an honour to be entrusted to deliver the results as a factory-backed team, which we aim to do. We are pleased to also welcome Hager back as sponsors for 2016 too."

Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) are winners of over 160 races in British Superbike Championship, MotoGP CRT, World Superbike Championship, 125cc, 250cc, Supersport British Championships, Superstock National Championships, Isle of Man TT, North West 200, Daytona, Macau GP, and British domestic races. Points scorers in 125cc, 250cc and 500cc GPs, Points scorers in World Supersport, podium finishers in WSB, Superpole winners in World Superbike. They are based at Langwathby near Penrith in Cumbria.

Byrne To Remain
At PBM For 2016
October 4th 2015- Defending MCE BSB champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne will remain with the Paul Bird Motorsport team for 2016 whereby they will once again contest the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.
 
Byrne is the most successful rider in MCE BSB history and took his fourth title last year and this year is aiming for an unprecedented fifth MCE British Superbike title along with the Cumbrian-based team.
 
The deal continues the successful relationship into a fifth successive year which has seen 37-year-old Byrne, originally from London but now living in Kent, claim two titles in 2012 and 2014 as well as finishing second on the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki in 2013. He currently occupies second place in this year's title race going into the final two rounds.
 
Shane Byrne:  "The beauty of riding for PBM, and Paul and I having the kind of relationship we have, means there is no need to hold lengthy negotiations and after a five minute chat in the garage, we sorted the deal out. We both know we give each other 100% and I'm very happy with the people around me. We are about to enter a very exciting new chapter in PBM and I'm really excited to be a part of it."
 
Paul Bird, Team Owner:  "Shakey wanted us and we wanted him so there was nothing much to discuss. We've known each other for long enough now and these things look after themselves. We are happy to remain in BSB as we had some options elsewhere and are delighted that Shakey will be on our bikes next season."

 

 



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