All SBK Rounds include Superbike and 600cc Superstock except USA is Superbike only.
European rounds also Include 1000cc Superstock.
2016 MotoGP Season Preview
DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK Mar 20 - Qatar,Doha Losail
Apr 03 - Argentina, Rio Hondo
Apr 10 - Americas, Austin TX
Apr 24 - Spain, Jerez Frontera
May 08 - France, Le Mans
May 22 - Italy, Mugello
June 05 - Catalunya,Catalunya
June 26 - Netherlands,AssenTT
July 10 - Germany, Sach Ring
July 17 - Britain, Silverstone
Aug 14 - Austria, Red Bull
Aug 21 - Czech Rep, Brno
Sept 11 - San Marino, Misano
Sept 25 - Aragon Motorland
Oct 09 - Malaysia, Sepang
Oct 16 - Japan, Motegi
Oct 23 - Australia, Phillip Is
Nov 06 - Valencia, Ricardo
2015 MotoGP Season Preview
DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK Mar 29 - Qatar – Doha Losail Apr 12 - Americas, Austin TX Apr 19 - Argentina May 03 - Spain, Jerez Frontera May 17 - France, Le Mans May 31- Italy, Mugello June 14 - Catalunya,Catalunya June 27 - Netherlands,AssenTT July 12 - Germany, Sach Ring Aug 9 - USA, Indianapolis Aug 16 - Czech Rep, Brno Aug 30 - GB, Donnington Sept 13 - San Marino, Misano Sept 27 - Aragon Motorland Oct 11 - Japan, Motegi Oct 18 - Australia, Phillip Is Oct 25 - Malaysia, Sepang
Nov 08 - Valencia, Ricardo
2015British Superbike Click Date for Race Report DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK
April 4-6 Donnington Park
April 17-19 Brands Hatch Indy
May 2-4 Olton Park
June19-21 Snetterton July 3-5 Knockhill
July 17-19 Brands Hatch GP
Aug 1-2 Thruxton
Aug 21-23 Cadwell Park
Sept 4-6 Oulton Park
Sept 18-20 Assen
Oct 2-4 Silverstone GP
Oct 16-18 Brands Hatch GP
2015 AMA Superbike DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK April 10-12 Circuit Am TX April18-19 Road Atalnta GA
May 15-17 VIR VA
May 29-31 Road America WI
June 12-14 Barber, AL
June 26-27 Miller UT
July 17-18 Laguna Seca CA
Aug 7-9 Indianapolis IN Sept 11-13 New Jersey NJ
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AMA 2016 Superbike Season Opener Activities for Circuit of the Americas April 8-10th!
Fan Activities Aplenty For COTA Test with Rider Q&As, Hot Pit Lane Walks, Livery Unveils And On-Track Action
Marxh. 14th - If you want to spend a day or two getting up close and personal with the teams, riders and motorcycles of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series, then next week's MotoAmerica Preseason Test powered by Dunlop Motorcycle Tires at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, should be on your to-do list.
The test, which is the final shakedown for the teams leading up to the season opener at COTA, April 8-10, will get started on Wednesday, March 23 and will conclude the next afternoon, March 24. The two days will feature almost non-stop action for fans with three sessions of Superbike and three sessions of Supersport on both days, following the gates opening to the public at 10 a.m. And admittance to the test is free.
In addition to being able to watch their favorite riders as they test their new motorcycles for free, fans can also take part in Q&A sessions on both days from 12:50 to 1:10 p.m. in Garage 29-30.
The first Q&A on Wednesday will feature Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha's Cameron Beaubier (2015 Superbike Champion), Yoshimura Suzuki's Roger Hayden, Broaster Chicken/RoadRace Factory's Jake Gagne, Yamaha Extended Services/Graves Yamaha's Garrett Gerloff, Wheels in Motion/Meen Motorsports' Joe Roberts (2015 Superstock 600 Champion), Millennium Technologies/KWR's Kyle Wyman and HB Racing/Meen Motorsports' Dakota Mamola.
On Thursday the stage will be taken over by Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha's Josh Hayes, Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha's JD Beach (2015 Supersport Champion), Yamalube/Westby Racing's Josh Day, Latus Motors Racing's Bobby Fong and M4 Suzuki's Cameron Petersen.
Several teams will also use the test to unveil their new livery for the 2016 season and several of those unveils will be held in front of the public. On March 23 the Yoshimura Suzuki team will unveil its new look at 12:40 p.m; with Team Hammer set to do the same later that day at 5:45 p.m.
Both days of the test will also feature the Hot Pit Lane Walk presented by Dunlop with the hot pit set to open at 5:45 p.m for 30 minutes, giving fans a chance to get a closer look at the motorcycles and teams.
"We're excited to get our second season started with the COTA test," said MotoAmerica partner Chuck Aksland. "It's a good two days of action and it gets everybody geared up and ready for the season opener at COTA, which is just a few weeks later. We're also happy that we're able to include our fans this year and there's going to be a lot going on for them to enjoy. We hope to see everyone there next week."
On track action concludes on both days at 5:20 p.m. with gates closing to the public at 6:30 p.m.
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 Home of the Official SBK Fast Dates Calendar Kittens May 2016 Page 2 World Superbike 2016 at Araron Spain
MotoGP 2016 in Argentina
MotoAmerica 2016 Superbike Season Preview
New 2016 Suzuki, Ducati Kawasaki Triumph
2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show
Fast Dates SBK Podium Kittens at 2015 Laguna Seca
NEW! FAST 2016, 2015, 2014 ... Digital Calendar Magazine Yearbooks
the Bikes, the Builders, the Riders, the Kittens,
the Calendar Bike Show, the World Superbike races
all the 2015 Calendar Pictures, and Special Features...
we take you around the world for the making of the
2015 FastDates.com Calendars Now in Members Corner
This Month in the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar...
Beautiful SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar Kittens Jitka and Petra join the dominate AMA Superbike
team in the paddok with Josh Hayes' 2014 season Championship wiing Yamaha R1 Superbike. Order the Fast Dates Calendars HERE.
All three Editions of this new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars feature our official SBK Fast Dates World Superbike
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Go Behind the Scenes for the Making of the FastDates.com Calendars! Each year's FastDates.com Calendar Digital Yearbook features 120 pages of exciting hi-resolution digital photography that takes you with us behind the scenes to our photo shoots at SBK World and AMA Superbike, the LA Calendar Motorcyle Show, and in our photo studio. You'll meet the beautiful Calendar Kitttens in sexy biography pictorials, the top Factory Racers and Custom Bike Builders,and see detailed photo features on the top calendar and race bikes. Take a track day with World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss at Misano, take an Edelsweiss Ducati World Superbike tour of the Ducati Factory & Museum and across Italy, ride a Vespa scooter around Paris and party at the Crazy Horse and the Moulon Rouge. Hang with beautiful teen rock star Taylor Momsen of the Pretty Reckless. Did we forget anything?
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Chaz Davies wheelies the DucatiPanigale R off the rumble strips on his way to a Double win at Aragon.
2015 FIM SBK Motul World Superbike Championship, Round 3 of 14 Aragon
Ducati Cha Davies ends the Kawsaki Steamroller in Aragon Aragon, Spain April 1st-3rd 2016 - The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team stepped on the top of the podium in the weekend;s open Race One with Chaz Davies in Aragon, where the Panigale R took its maiden WorldSBK win for the 2016 season.
Starting from fourth position, the Welshman quickly pulled away from the field after posting a best lap of 1:50.421 (the new track record) in the early phases, seizing the victory with a four-second advantage over his closest opponents. Davide Giugliano also gave a gritty performance after qualifying in sixth position. Despite a few setup issues, the Italian fought for the virtual podium at length, taking fifth place across the finish line ahead of the Race Two.
Davies Chases Sykes in Friday Practice
After a gloomier start to the day, the sun came out in Aragón to accompany the first WorldSBK practice session at MotorLand, with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider Chaz Davies taking top honours after the first hour on circuit. The Welshman has a fantastic record at the aragonese track and is only one point shy of Marco Melandri in being the most successful WorldSBK rider at MotorLand.
Tom Sykes took the top honours back for Kawasaki Racing Team in the afternoon with weather conditions still good, and a shootout for the quickest lap saw times start to tumble dramatically and the Kawasaki rider come out on top. He is the fastest man on Friday and goes into Tissot-Superpole as a favourite for Pole Position on Saturday.
After a morning session that saw him go second quickest, Honda rider Nicky Hayden suffered a fall in the second session but escaped unharmed to end the day in P7, and it was teammate Michael van der Mark who improved yet further to end the day in P3, just in front of Ducati rider Davide Giugliano.
IodaRacing Team's Lorenzo Savadori put in an incredible lap on his Aprilia to complete the top 5, pushing reigning Champion Jonathan Rea back to P6. Leon Camier improved to P8 to cement MV Agusta within the top ten, and home rider Xavi Fores took his Barni Racing Team Ducati to P9, just ahead of Yamaha's Alex Lowes.
Fores' compatriot Jordi Torres ended the day in P12 on his BMW, meaning a margin of just over a second contained a representative of every manufacturer in an incredibly competitive field for WorldSBK in 2016.
Chaz celevrates hi sfirst win of the season.
Race One: Chaz Davies and Ducati end Kawasaki's Seasom Opening Domance
Saturday April 2nd - With clear blue skies and warmer temperatures, the stage was set for another classic WorldSBK showdown as the grid headed out on the Sighting Lap for Race One. Having taken pole position after this morning’s Superpole contest Sykes led for the first three laps but was passed by eventual race winner Chaz Davies, and then fellow Kawasaki rider Rea, who would then hold onto second place.
Rea had evaluated some new set-ups on Friday but went back to a more conventional setting today, using Superpole to make his final selections for the first race itself. After finding feel and feedback in the early laps he moved forward to his eventual second place result and finished 4.168 seconds from the win.
Sykes got the best getaway from pole as teammate Rea also shot away from fifth on the grid, with the reigning Champion up into P3 behind Guintoli on the chase as Sykes led them away. The two Ducatis of Davies and Giugliano set upon Rea as the three battled over third and Giuntoli and Sykes pulled away, however Davies soon pulled the gap back once free of the fight and with 15 laps remaining took the lead from Sykes, intent on taking another win in Aragón and adding to his tally as the most successful WorldSBK rider at MotorLand.
Yamaha pairing Guintoli and Alex Lowes had mixed fortunes on the getaway, with Lowes dropping down the order after a difficult start and finding himself fighting back from just outside the top ten. Teammate Guintoli, after initially challenging race leader Sykes with impressive pace, then started to struggle slightly and dropped back slightly to 9th as Yamaha look to keep improving the all new YZF R1. Lowes had an impressive comeback to P8 at the chequered flag, keeping both bikes with a good haul of points.
Giugliano(34) fights off Nicki Hayden (69) and Xavier Fores (12). Giugliao would take 5th in Race One ahead of Hayden, while Fores would card strong 4th place finaihes both races on the Barni Racing Team Ducati 1199R.
Michael van der Mark and Nicky Hayden, who started 10th and 11th respectively after a crash for van der Mark in Superpole 2 led to Hayden needing to take avoiding action, both got away well and were in the thick of the action. Van der Mark sadly suffered a crash at with around 15 laps to go, leaving Hayden to go on the attack as he chased down the Yamaha of Guintoli and Ducati of Giugliano, with the American coming home in P6 at the flag.
Xavi Forés was the fastest home rider on his 1199 Panigale R and took the fight to fellow Ducati runner Davide Giugliano to clinch P4, with Jordi Torres also making fantastic progress up the grid and fighting his BMW into 7th place just behind Honda’s Nicky Hayden. GOELEVEN’s Roman Ramos also scored points at home after a great battle with Torres’ Althea teammate Markus Reiterberger, eventually taking 12th position.
MV Agusta rider Leon Camier suffered a technical problem to end his first Race of the weekend at MotorLand early. With the Italian manufacturer having scored points in both Races in 2015 at the aragonese track, that will surely be the goal for tomorrow. Aprilia duo Lorenzo Savadori and Alex De Angelis took their IodaRacing machines to two more points finishes in P10 and P11 respectively as the team look to keep improving in their first year in WorldSBK. De Angelis is recovering from recent surgery and will surely be encouraged by a good result in Race 1.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati #7 – 1st "In the beginning it wasn’t easy to fight in the group, but I gradually managed to climb back through the field and take the lead. Then, I simply tried to establish my own rhythm, progressively building a gap. I’m very happy, we’ve made a clear step forward in terms of power, for which I want to thank Ducati for the constant efforts to push development forward. We’ve been close to winning a few times already this year, and now we need to stay on this course. We can still improve before Race Two tomorrow.”
Jonathan Rea stated: “I am satisfied because if you cannot win you should finish second. Today we did that at a track that has been really strong for Chaz in the past. In the beginning of the race I was still understanding the bike because the first time we had used our complete race set-up was in Superpole. I was learning in the early laps. This morning we went back to more like what we had before. Now we need a bit more grip and to improve things under braking for tomorrow. We can go back and understand my rhythm now and take things from there to make the bike even better. I know we can be closer tomorrow.”
Tom Sykes stated: “I knew that one fast lap was easy from earlier in the day but I knew the race pace may be difficult. I was suffering a little bit with the balance, as it is not quite letting me do what I wanted to do. That means when the tyre drops I cannot keep the level I want to. I am also happy to be on the podium and we are blessed to still be able to do that even when it is not our best day. I just did not have enough to be able to close and make a pass on Jonathan at the end so that is something we need to work on but both Kawasakis seemed to be at a very similar level. We need to be stronger tomorrow and work hard again.”
Pirelli Aragon Round - Race 1 Results - Complete World SBK Results Here
1. Chaz Davies (GBR) Aruba.it Racing - Ducati
2. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Kawasaki Racing Team +4.168
3. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki Racing Team +4.948
While Chaz Davies ran away with both races on his Ducati, Jonthan Rae (1) and Kawasaki team mate Tom Sykes (66) had heated battles both races for te remaining podium steps.
KRT riders lock out the podium but Welshman sets the pace in WorldSBK’s 700th race WorldSBK: Davies Does the Double for Ducati in Aragón
RACE TWO Sunday April 3rd 2016 - Ducati Aruba.it Racing rider Chaz Davies took another incredible win at MotorLand Aragón in Race 2, crossing the line 6.471 seconds clear of the nearest bike on track after another sublime ride. Kawasaki riders Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea completed the podium in Spain after being locked in another head to head.
Jori Torres (81) on the Althea BMW Racing took a stron 5th in Race Two, with van der Mark(60) coing in 7th for Honda.
Home rider Xavi Forés took his Barni Racing Team Panigale R into fourth once again, equaling his best career result, gained in Race 1 at MotorLand. His compatriot Jordi Torres achieved his best result of the year after joining his new team for 2016, crossing the line in fifth ahead of the Ducati of Giugliano and proving the lead BMW by an impressive margin.
Giugliano recovered from a small incident on track to hunt down Honda rider Michael van der Mark and re-pass him, putting himself into P6 by the end of the race. Van der Mark, after an uncharacteristically difficult Saturday, kept his Honda in the mix in Race 2 to grab another great haul of points, crossing the line in seventh after a good start from 11th on the grid, unable to hold off Torres and Giugliano by the end of the race.
Van der Mark’s teammate Nicky Hayden dropped down through the order with Yamaha’s Alex Lowes after an incident on track, with the 2006 MotoGP World Champion unfortunately suffering a mechanical problem later in the race and finding himself unable to see the flag.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati #7) – 1st “This weekend feels like a dream. The bike was competitive from the get-go, and we only made small tweaks. The technical upgrades brought here have given us what we needed. In Thailand I could only stay in the slipstream, while here I’ve been able to pass my opponents also on the straight. In Assen, however, we will start from scratch. The season has just begun, and things can change quite quickly, but I’m really happy with our overall package. It’s my third year with Ducati, and I witnessed a constant growth. Now the list of things to improve is really short, and I want to thank everybody in the team and the factory for the amount of work put in.”
Pirelli Aragon Round - Race 2 Results - Complete World SBK Results Here
1. Chaz Davies (GBR) Aruba.it Racing - Ducati
2. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki Racing Team +6.471
3. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Kawasaki Racing Team +9.161
WorldSSP: Sofuoglu Gives A Masterclass
ESS riders get in on the action and home hero hits the podium Reigning Champion Kenan Sofuoglu took a commanding victory at MotorLand as the FIM Europe Supersport Cup riders joined the WorldSSP grid for the first European race of the season, with 7 nationalities in the Top 8 by the end of the race. Turkish Puccetti rider Sofuoglu cut the Championship lead of his Swiss teammate Randy Krummenacher as fellow contender Jules Cluzel struggled slightly to find pace, crossing the line in P4 just behind home rider Nico Terol, who gained his first podium in WorldSSP.
Pole sitter Kenan Sofuoglu got away in the lead, with Honda rider PJ Jacobsen his closest immediate challenger after a great start for the American. He then attacked for the lead after Sofuoglu ran wide, unfortunately losing the front and sliding early out of the race.
A high rate of attrition in the first few laps saw Roberto Rolfo first forced to leave his 11th place grid spot before the getaway, before a multi-rider incident at Turn 1 saw debris litter the run off area. Wagner, Licciardi, Rea and Orellana all found themselves suffering the same fate as Jacobsen. MV Agusta rider Lorenzo Zanetti was then unfortunately forced to pull off the circuit with a technical problem, as Sofuoglu began to pull away in the lead ahead of Cluzel, Krummenacher and Baldolini. The number 25 of the Italian then pulled off the racing line along the start-finish straight as a plume of smoke from the back of his MV Agusta announced an early end to his race.
San Carlo Team Italia riders Bassani and Zaccone were the key players from the new FIM Europe Supersport Class as they challenged the regulars in the top 5, with Schmidt Racing’s local rider and former 125 Champion Nico Terol getting past both and able to get himself into podium contention before pulling away to find a margin to breathe, crossing the line for his first rostrum of the year.
Malaysian rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin, who had begun the race from 17th after a problem with the foot rest on his Orelac Racing VerdNatura machine in Tissot-Superpole, made progress up into the top 5 before finally crossing the line in 8th for a great haul of points, with teammate Nacho Calero also coming home in the points.
Randy Krummenacher retains his points lead in WorldSSP after MotorLand, with the Swiss rider adding another 20 and forcing teammate Sofuoglu to play catch up. The action will get underway again in two weeks in Assen as Cluzel and Jacobsen look to bounce back and Sofuoglu looks to keep cutting that gap.
600cc WorldSSP Race Results- Complete Supersport Results Here
1. Kenan Sofuoglu (TUR) Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
2. Randy Krummenacher (SUI) Kawasaki Puccetti Racing +1.486
3. Nico Terol (ESP) Schmidt Racing +2.943
Rossi, Marquez and Perosa atop the Argentinan MotoGP podium.
2015 FIM MotoGP World Championship, Round 2of 18 Gran Premio Motul de la República Argentina
Marquez Keeps His Cool in A Shorten 20-Lap Race
with a Manditary Half-Way Pit Stop for a Bike & Tire Change
Rio de Jenero, Argentiana, Sunday March 3rd 2016 - A faultless flag-to-flag race by Repsol Honda;s Marc Marquez saw him dominate the Argentina GP, running away with victory from Yamaha's Rossi and Honda team mate Pedrosa.
Issues with the rear tyre of Scott Redding’s (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) Ducati during Free Practice 4 on Saturday saw a raft of changes brought in. Michelin and Race Direction were unsure about the safety of rear tyres brought to the Gran Premio Motul de la República Argentina, and came to the decision to reduce the race from 25 laps to 20. As Warm Up had been held in wet conditions and the race started dry, riders were required to come in on their ninth, tenth or 11th lap of the race and change to their second bike which would be shod with new tires as well. There were therefore no concerns about fuel or tyre life, riders able to give it their all on both stints.
Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was the only rider to opt for the harder rear tyre. The entire front row started with hard fronts and medium rears. With dark clouds looming overhead the race got underway, Jorge Lorenzo (#99 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) getting the holeshot into Turn 1. Andrea Iannone (#4 Ducati Team) got a great start but came into contact with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), forcing them both wide and dropping Pedrosa outside the top ten.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) used the power of the Ducati to hit the lead early with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) behind. The factory Ducati would head the field across the line on lap one with Rossi just behind, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) an ever-present threat. Meanwhile, Lorenzo plummeted down the field and soon found himself in sixth.
As the first lap came to a close, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Aleix Espargaro fell, both able to re-join the race. Carving his way through field, Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) was up to seventh as the second lap began, slotting in behind Lorenzo and then passing him soon after.
The leading trio continually tightened, Valentino Rossi sniffing up the inside of Dovizioso at every chance he got. This opened the door for Marquez, the Spaniard sliding through on both Rossi and Dovizioso to begin lap four in the lead of the race.
Miller’s charge would be unfortunately short lived as the Australian rider fell on lap four at Turn 3. All the while, Marquez pushed ahead and attempted to open a gap, the top three divided evenly by half a second. Dovizioso then found himself with teammate Iannone for company, Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) eagerly waiting to pick up the pieces of the Ducati battle.
Riders frantically glanced at their pit boards as they roared down the straight, their teams doing all they could to keep them up to date with bike change strategy. Lorenzo’s race would get even worse as with 15 laps to go he suffered yet another fall at Turn 1, ending his race. After the perfect weekend in Qatar, few imagined the World Champion would fail to finish in Argentina.
Rossi was reeling in Marquez (26) for the race lead as they pitted on lap 11 to switch biks, but a slightly slower bike change, a lapped rider, and a 2nd bie that did feel just right would cost Ropssi the race.
Marquez and Rossi continued to sprint away at the front, Marquez 0.8s ahead with Rossi two and a half second in front of the all-Ducati battle for third. The gap wouldn’t stand as a distinct hint of déjà vu began to appear, Rossi rapidly closing in on Marquez. On lap nine of the race, Rossi took the lead down the back straight but Marquez responded straight away to cut back ahead.
It wasn’t only Marquez who made movements, while eyes were fixed on the leaders, Viñales was able to get ahead of the Ducati factory pair for third. Iannone and Viñales were the first riders to enter the pits on lap nine to change their bikes, Pedrosa, Baz, Barbera, Laverty and Bradl following suit as Marquez and Rossi tussled in the lead. With 11 laps to go, the pair came into the pits, Marquez just ahead as they were both forced to respect the 60km/h limit in pit lane.
Marquez would re-join the race in first position with Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) in second, as he had not yet pitted. With Rabat as a buffer, Marquez pushed as hard as he could to break away from Rossi and opened up a lead of over two seconds. The gap would open to a massive three seconds as the final nine laps of the race began, Viñales two seconds back on Rossi as the Suzuki rider was able to retain third after the bike changes.
As the leading three settled into their rhythm, Redding used the power of the Ducati GP15 to blast past Pedrosa and move into six behind the Ducati factory pair.
Rossi’s pace soon settled in the 1’41s, not fast enough to catch Marquez and ‘The Doctor’ quickly found himself fending off Maverick Viñales. The Ducati factory pair continued to swap positions behind them, all four riders in the fight for second as Marquez’s lead grew with each lap. Rossi was able to up his pace as soon as Viñales was with him, the young up and comer giving as good as he got with the old master.
Redding encountered a technical problem with five laps to go and was forced to retire, the Brit on course for a top six finish.
Viñales came under pressure from Iannone at Turn 1 as the 18th lap of the race began, unfortunately crashing out of the race. This gave Rossi a small amount of breathing room, Iannone over half a second behind his compatriot. But the cushion wouldn’t last for long, Iannone blasting up the inside of Rossi and opening the door for ‘Demso Dovi’ to come up the inside of them both.
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.
The last lap began with Dovizioso in second as Iannone held onto the final step of the podium, Rossi hunting for a way past the powerful Ducati. Every time they ran across a straight the Ducati was able to stretch its legs, Rossi trying all he could on the brakes. Iannone did not defend; instead he began to attack his teammate Dovizioso, the pair crashing out together at Turn 12 after an overly enthusiastic move from Iannone. This pass was seen as overly optimistic by Race Direction and Iannone was handed a three place grid penalty for the race in Austin and a penalty point. Iannone, appealed the decision at the MotoGP Court of Appeal, which will meet within the next 4 following days.
Their incident promoted Rossi to second and saw Dani Pedrosa take a surprise third place finish. Determined to finish, Dovizioso showed true grit and determination to push his Ducati across the line for 13th place.
Just off the podium was Eugene Laverty (Aspar Team MotoGP), the Irish rider ending fourth and as the top Independent Team rider. This is by far Laverty’s best result in MotoGP™, besting Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing) by 0.169s.
Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) secured a solid sixth ahead of Stefan Bradl (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), who secured Aprilia’s best race result since returning with a factory entry. Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), completed the top ten.
Aleix Espargaro finished 11th after his early fall.
There were also crashes for Yonny Hernandez (Aspar Team MotoGP) and Michele Pirro (Octo Pramac Yakhnich). Both were unharmed and Pirro remounted to finish 12th. Cal Crutchlow and Loris Baz also failed to finish the race.
Defending 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 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.
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.”
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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 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
2016 LA Calendar Motorcyel Show returns to the Sagebrush Cantina on Saturday July 23rd
Mark your Caledar now to join us
- More Information Here
2015 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.
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.
Now in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Garage!
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
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
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
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 -
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.
Ducati Corse
World Superbikes
by Alan Cathcart
& Jim Gianatsis
The Official SBK
World Superbikes
1987-2012
25 Year History Book
The Official SBK
2015-2016 Yearbook 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.
Plus a technical look data all the bikes, a preview of the upcoming season's Championship!
We buy this every year ourselves and highly recommend it!
2014-2015 Yearbook
SBK World Superbike Video Game
Official Print Media Partner
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.”
MV Agusta F3 800cc
The Devil Made Us Do It!
Testing the Ducati Diavel in Italy
New BMW HP4 Superbike
High Speed - the Movie
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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."
Giugliano(34) fights off Nicki Hayden (69) and Xavier Fores (12). Giugliao would take 5th in Race One ahead of Hayden, while Fores would card strong 4th place finaihes both races on the Barni Racing Team Ducati 1199R.
Jori Torres (81) on the Althea BMW Racing took a stron 5th in Race Two, with van der Mark(60) coing in 7th for Honda.
Rossi, Marquez and Perosa atop the Argentinan MotoGP podium.
Defending 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.
