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Ducati Tops
Motorcycle Design Awards
Feb 10th, 2006 - Ducati's Hypermotard was the big winner in the Motorcycle Design Association's (MDA) 2005 Motorcycle Design Awards. The MDA, based in Villefranche de Lonchat, France, announced the winners February 6.
Members of the MDA - more than 120 professionals from within the worldwide powersports industry - debated merits of more than two dozen nominated two-wheelers vying for overall excellence as well as honors in five separate categories.
The Hypermotard was the overall winner of the 2005 Motorcycle Design Trophy. The runner-up to the overall prize was the Yamaha MT-OS.

CATEGORY WINNERS
Supersport Category:
Winner: Yamaha R6
Runner-up: MotoCzysz C1

Junior Category:
Winner: Aprilia RS125
Runner-up: Sinbar e-Solex Pininfarina

Open Category:
Winner: Ducati Hypermotard
Runner-up: Bimota Delirio / BMW HP2 (tie)

Scooters & Commuters Category:
Winner: Peugeot Geopolis
Runner-up: Yamaha Vox

Concept Bikes Category:
Winner: Yamaha MT-OS
Runner-up: Honda DN-01 / Victory Vision 800 (tie)

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The FastDates.com Interview with Chris Vermeulen
Why did he give up a winning ride in World Superbike to go with
a struggling Team Suzuki in MotoGP?

We first really got to meet and spend time in person with Chris Vermeulen and his beautiful lovely Toni at the Brands Hatch World Superbike Round in August 2005 when we went there to photograph the next edition of the FastDates Calendar. Chris was very accommodating in letting us shoot his Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR for the calendar, and at the after race Paddock Party on Sunday night we had a better chance to talk and get to know Chris ever better. He's really a fantastic, very likeable guy and easy going guy like many all the SBK racers are, and seeing the slight framed youngster in street clothes you 'ld never think him a racer.

Interview Continued with Big Action Screensavers HERE

The much needed, but very unxpected shakeup at the American Motorcycle Associations began 2 weeks ago when the AMA announced that a three-person team has been named to manage the day-to-day operations of AMA Pro Racing on an interim basis following the January 24th dismissal of AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth. Now heads continue to roll as the voluntary Board Members of AMA Pro Racing, made up of racers, team owners and industry manufacturers, were dismissed as well.

The cleaning house is a good thing, since nothing was being done right. But in the AMA press releases issued below you'll see that one ineffective committee is being replaced by more committees made up of the same type of biased, special interest people to make new rules.

But why?
The most practical and logical solution is to simply adopt the exhisting FIM rules for roadracing, motocross, supermoto, et all. Isn't that why the AMA is the United States affiliate of the FIM? That way all the rules will be consistant throughout the world, and the top International factory teams can return to America to race, helping the sport on our side of the pond to grow again. And with International rules in place, the AMA only needs to contract a professional promoter / racing czar / marketing company to run the entire AMA Professional Racing Department. Hopefully AMA Board Chairman Rick Gray and his groopies will figure that out soon.... (Unfortunaely they haven't figured it out in 35 years). The AMA Press Releases as follows:

AMA Thanks Pro Racing Board for Their Service
PICKERINGTON, Ohio, February 18th - American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Board Chairman Rick Gray today thanked the members of the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors for their service to the organization. The single Pro Racing Board is being replaced by a group of rulesmaking committees that will each focus on a single racing discipline.

The Pro Racing Board has been in existence since 1994. It currently consists of Chairman P.J. Harvey, along with members Cary J.C. Agajanian, Ray Blank, Mike Buckley, Paul Dean, Jeff Nash, Kevin Schwantz and John Ulrich.

"These individuals have volunteered their time and effort for years to help improve the AMA's professional-racing program," said Gray. "Much of the progress we have made in gaining wider exposure and recognition of our sport is directly attributable to their contributions."

In coming weeks, the AMA will announce the members of the new committees that will develop equipment standards and rules for AMA pro competition in road racing, motocross/supercross, flat track, supermoto and hillclimb.

AMA Announces New Rules Committees for Professional Racing
Feb 18th - As part of its overall reorganization unveiled today, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the creation of a new rulesmaking procedure for its professional-racing programs.

Direction for the AMA’s professional road racing, motocross/supercross, flat track, supermoto and hillclimb programs has been in the hands of a single AMA Pro Racing Board. That Board will be replaced by independent working committees that will propose equipment standards and rules for on-track competition. Proposed rules would then be ratified by the AMA Board of Directors.

"The goal of this new structure is to allow the Association to be more responsive to all of the groups with an interest in our professional-racing programs," said AMA Chief Executive Officer Patti DiPietro. "That includes everyone from the manufacturers and team owners to the racers, promoters, aftermarket suppliers and fans."

The size of these committees will vary depending upon the racing discipline. Each will include one representative from every AMA corporate member manufacturer with a motorcycle homologated for competition in that discipline. In addition, the AMA president will appoint enough other members of the committee to assure that the manufacturers cannot constitute a majority.

In motocross racing, for instance, six manufacturers—Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha—currently have motorcycles homologated for AMA professional competition. The AMA president will appoint at least seven other Motocross/Supercross Committee members, who could include racers, promoters, aftermarket manufacturers and others with an interest in the sport.

These committees will hold at least one formal meeting every year, although it is anticipated that additional, informal meetings may take place more often. Working with representatives from the AMA Pro Racing staff for that discipline, committee members will develop racing rules and equipment standards that will be sent to the AMA Board of Directors.

The AMA Board will have the power to accept or reject the committee's recommendations, but it will not be allowed to alter those recommendations. A veto by the AMA Board will require support by a supermajority (nine members of the 12-member Board).

Rules that are approved by the AMA Board will not go into effect for at least a full racing season, so that riders and teams will have time to develop their programs. Modifications to rules that are required during the course of a racing season will be handled by an executive committee consisting of chairmen elected by members of each committee. Those rules will apply only for the current racing season. As is the case now, emergency rules changes, if necessary, will be implemented by the AMA Pro Racing staff.

"We are creating a system designed to increase the transparency of the rulesmaking process for AMA professional competition," said DiPietro. "By opening up these rulesmaking committees to all parties involved in our racing programs, we will make sure that everyone’s voice is heard on these important issues. And we will make public all written reports from the rulesmaking committees to the AMA Board, so that anyone can monitor the process of creating new racing rules."

Rules for amateur competition run by AMA Sports will continue to be made by the AMA Congress, which brings together representatives from AMA recognized districts across the country each year. As with the new rulesmaking committees for professional racing, the AMA Congress sends its recommendations to the AMA Board for ratification.

AMA Announces Changes to its Organizational Structure
Feb 18th - The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) today announced changes to the organization's structure designed to increase the Association’s effectiveness in its core mission of promoting motorcycle "rights. riding. racing."

The changes, which were announced following the February 17 meeting of the AMA Board of Directors, will create three new standing committees of the Board—Rights, Riding and Racing—each designed to focus on one element of the AMA’s mission. These committees will consist of Board members and other experts who will meet at least twice a year for the purpose of strategic planning within each core area.

"The AMA is the leading voice of American motorcyclists in a wide variety of areas," said AMA Board Chairman Rick Gray. "We are at the forefront of efforts to defend the rights of motorcyclists. We create riding opportunities through our calendar of more than 1,000 sanctioned road-riding events each year. And we are the largest motorcycle racing organization in the world, with a yearly schedule of more than 3,000 races at the amateur and professional levels.

"This new structure allows us to use the expertise of our Board of Directors most effectively," he added. "By allowing these committees to work on the Association's long-term direction in each of these critical areas, we can be more responsive to the interests of all AMA members."

The AMA Board consists of 12 members, half elected by individual AMA members from six regions of the country, and half elected by the AMA's corporate members. The new committees will be in addition to the Board's existing Executive Committee and Finance Committee. Assignments to the new committees will be made in the coming weeks by the Board chairman.

How Will The New AMA Organizational Changes Take Place?
Why is the AMA announcing these changes in structure?
We want to more effectively use the expertise of the members of the AMA Board of Directors while increasing responsiveness to all parts of the motorcycling community.

What are the structural changes to the AMA Board?
The changes will create three new Board committees devoted to the three core parts of the AMA's mission: rights, riding and racing. These will be in addition to the Board's existing Executive and Finance committees. These committees will be composed of existing Board members and may also include outside experts in an advisory role.

What are the responsibilities of these new committees?
They will be responsible for setting the long-term direction of the Association in those areas, while AMA staff and other groups work on implementation of those long-term decisions.

For instance, in the area of professional racing, the AMA is creating new, independent rulesmaking committees charged with developing equipment standards and on-track rules for road racing, motocross/supercross, flat track, supermoto and hillclimb competition. Working with AMA Pro Racing staff, those independent committees will focus on racing rules, while the AMA Board Racing Committee will focus on long-term strategic planning for the Association's racing series.

Who do the new professional-racing rulesmaking committees report to?
The rulesmaking committees will be independent entities charged with developing rules in conjunction with the AMA Pro Racing staff. They will send their proposed rules to the AMA Board's Racing Committee for review and recommendation. The Racing Committee will forward the proposed rules to the full AMA Board for ratification. The AMA Board Racing Committee will not be directly involved in the rules-development process.

Who will serve on the new rulesmaking committees?
Committee sizes will be variable. Each committee will include one representative from each AMA corporate member manufacturer with a motorcycle homologated for competition in that discipline. In addition, the AMA president will appoint enough other members of the committee to assure that the manufacturers cannot constitute a majority.

In motocross/supercross racing, for instance, six manufacturers—Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha—currently have motorcycles homologated for AMA professional competition. The AMA president will appoint at least seven other Motocross/Supercross Committee members, who could include racers, promoters, aftermarket manufacturers and others with an interest in the sport.

Can Troy Corser hold on to his crown in 2006? It's going to be a great year of Superbike racing.

2006 SBK Corona Extra Superbike World Championship - Losail Qatar

World Superbike 2006 Kicks off in Qatar

Feb 15th - The 2006 SBK World Superbike Championship kicks off next weekend in Qatar in the Middle East with an incredible lineup of riders and teams. This looks to be one of the best SBK and possibly any World Championship season ever with the biggest participation of teams, World Championship winning riders, and potential race win contenders.

Winter testing has shown returning 2001 SBK Champion Troy Corser, back with Ducati Corse, is in top form and ready to do battle with fellow Aussie and curent SBK Champion Troy Corser on the Alstare Corona Suzuki. While MotoGP is strugging to get a 20-rider grid, it is incredible that SBK has a full field of 29 riders for this opening far away race, and of those 29 riders theres some 10 riders capable of winning on any day. Itt's going to be a great year, so tune in to your TV sets next weekend Feb 25th for all the action!

Qatar Provisional Entry List
23-24-25 February 2006

Ducati Gets Naked with Its Meanest Monster Ever
DUCATI MONSTER S4Rs
Ducati calls the new Monster S4Rs "...a bike without compromise, a true superbike in every way. Only the full fairing has been removed. Nothing else has been sacrificed. All the legendary Superbike power and character of the potent desmodromic Testastretta engine remains. The new, amazingly powerful Ducati Monster S4Rs is as unique as its name, and the pace-setter that all other naked models must measure up to. Ducati leads the way in naked motorcycles, and is always coming up with something new and original and is determined to maintain it.

The Monster S4Rs is a masterpiece of technology and design. One glance at the bike, even parked, is enough to make your heart miss a beat and your breathing quicken. Just look at the harmony of the design and the precision of the engineering. In its premier performance, and taking centre stage is the Testastretta engine, embraced by Ducati’s legendary trellis frame and the unmistakable styling that has always characterised a Monster.

The styling is that of a spectacular, custom, the sort of bike we could previously only dream of. Yet the Monster S4Rs Testastretta is impressively real. The sensation of power oozes from every pore. In addition to the common features shared by all Ducati Monsters with single sided swingarms, like the small upper fairing, vertically stacked twin exhausts and longitudinal stripe (bigger and centrally positioned on the S4Rs), the S4Rs also incorporates a large number of eye-catching racing components.

The S4Rs features new graphics and colour schemes to enhance the 999-derived front end and the Y-spoke wheels that recall the racing origins of this naked superbike. In fact, Ducati Corse has contributed a large number of small but important details to this Monster, details that might not be noticed under a full fairing but that cry out for attention on this meanest of all Monsters, like the triangular oil cooler for example. Add to that a long list of carbon fibre parts, plus the stunning twin aluminium exhausts and the performance first priority of the S4Rs is obvious. The Monster S4Rs looks aggressive and stunningly essential. It tells you in no uncertain terms what sort of performance, technology, design and passion lies in front of you.In short, the S4Rs Testastretta is a dream machine, with a look and feel that satisfies even before you twist the throttle." - so the press release ends..

Essentialy the S4RS is a parts bin special, employing as many exhisting components as possible from both the Monster and Superbikes line to keep the cost low, but the desireability high. One unnerving compromise of this is the old Monster frame which does not extend down at the rear of the engine with a 3rd mounting point to reinforce the chassis at the engine swimagrm pivot like it has does on all of Ducati's Superbike models, and does so again on newer Multistradas and Hypermoto prototype. Here the single sided swingarm is left hanging off the rear of the engine cases, an application which has proven to be fully reliable with less powerful Monster engine installations in previous applications. But for serious sport riding the S4Rs could be a Flexi Flyer.

Along with a Superbike spec frame, we would be excited to see the 10 year old Monster design updated s with more modern stylingin the S4R. Certainly a more contemporary gas tank, front headlight cowling, and plastic front side covers to enclose a higher placed oil cooler and water radiator radiators -something similar in style to the newer Ducati Multistrada and Hypermoto prototype.

Availability of the Monster S4S at US Dealers is May 2006 with a bargain basement List Price of just $14,995, some $4,000 to $8,000 less than a comparibly spec'ed Yamaha R1, Aprilia Mille R or Ducatii 999S. Getting naked has its advantages.

Girls That Kick Ass!
Maria Sharapova does Sports Illustrated, Kristen Bell in Maxim
A regualar feature here at FastDates.com is to focus on hot celebrity "Chicks That Kick Ass!"
Two of our favorite girls which we first began focusing on some 18 months ago were teenage WTA tennis sensation Maria Sharapova (MORE) who is featured in the new 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editon, and Kristen Bell (MORE) the witty and sexy Nancy Drew like crime solving high school girl on the UPN channel Wednesdays 9/8pmC who is featured in the March issue of Maxim, both on newstands this week. You'll want to program both girls into your TiVo, and log into the websittes we've link to here to see a lot more of the hotties. In particular, check out the killer new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit website site which has pictorials of all their sexy supermodels, plus you can even make your own calendar of your favorite SI girls. Ouch!

Capirossi was 2nd quickeston the Ducati Desmosedici.

2006 MotoGP World Championship - Winter Testing

MotoGP Teams 3-Day Test in Sepang Shortened by Rain
Rain Shower calls early halt to second and third day of Sepang Test

Malaysia, Sepang Feb 14-16th, 2006 - In the third round of winter testing held in Mayalasia this week for the factory MotoGP teams, Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) set the fastest time of the day with a lap of 2'01.80, followed by Loris Capirossi (Ducati, 2'01.87). Valentino Rossi, who celebrates his 27th birthday tomorrow, was close behind him with a time of 2'01.89 after 47 laps, whilst team-mate Edwards completed 57 laps and set the seventh fastest time with a lap of 2'02.20. The 3-day test ended somewhat early midway through Day 2 with rainstorms. The Camel Yamaha Team spent the morning working on different settings and testing tyres with Michelin, looking to eliminate the vibration that the riders have been experiencing lately, before the rain came down after lunch. Both riders ventured out in the wet on the 2006-spec M1, the first time they have been able to see the performance of the new bike in these conditions, but the track soon started to dry out in patches and they decided to call it a day after just a few laps.

Nakano was quickest in rain shortened test on Team Eckl Kawasaki ZXRR.

Valentino Rossi (2'01.89, 47 Laps)
"This morning we did quite a lot of laps and we were quite fast and consistent, so I was happy. We worked very well with Michelin and with one or two new tyres that they brought we made some good improvements to the vibration. Unfortunately in the afternoon it rained and we couldn't go on as we wished. We made a few laps in the rain just to see how the new bike was in the wet; we had some new things to try with the electronic mapping in these conditions, but we needed more time. After a few laps the track started to dry and then with the conditions half wet and half dry, we had to stop. Tomorrow we might do a long run and we will also continue with the work we started today."

The bad weather also hampered the final day of testing for the Ducati Marlboro Team as it continued with it's development programm for the new GP6 in view of the start of the MotoGP World Championship. A damp surface in the morning kept everyone in the pit garages until 12 o'clock, when the riders went out on a relatively slow track. At about 2 o'clock another shower brought proceedings to a halt until 4 in the afternoon. A further twenty minutes of track time were available before thunder and lightning and a heavy downpour brought an end to the test. As a result, both Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau were unable to conclude the scheduled programme and complete their long-run with the new Bridgestone tyres.

The test session was particularly unfortunate for Spanish rider Gibernau, who had been sidelined on day 1 by a gearbox problem, and then on day 2 with a stomach complaint. Things went better for his team-mate Capirossi, who was able to get through a lot of work with his Desmosedici GP6. Loris is clearly satisfied with the bike that he will race this season and is confident he can count on tyres that will be at the same competitive level as his GP6.

Loris CAPIROSSI (29 laps - 2m01.92s)
"It was a real shame that today we were unable to do the scheduled long-run. In the morning we found a rear tyre to do the run with, but the rain ruined our plans. During twenty minutes of dry time in the afternoon, I did a 2m01.9s in the three laps available so I'm happy with that. The bike is performing well and the tyres are improving all the time. We'll see how it goes at the IRTA tests in Barcelona and . keep our fingers crossed".

Sete GIBERNAU (33 laps - 2m02.65s)
"These last three days have been pretty unlucky for me: on Tuesday my bike had gearbox problems, yesterday I didn't feel well and today I was still a bit ill and the storms played their part as well. After just a few laps I was really tired and it was tough in this heat. In any case we have seen that that the path we started to follow during the test in Phillip Island is the right one and I'm satisfied with it. We're preparing a good base for the start of the championship: we've still got a lot of work to do and all the problems in this last test session have not given us a hand for sure".

The Honda RC211V rider made the best possible use of another rain interrupted day. Despite the stop-go nature of the last two-day's of testing most RCV riders were able to achieve many of the targets set for them by the team engineers over the three days.

Heavy overnight rain had left the track top wet and it was 10.00. am before any serious work was undertaken . The riders had to contend with two more heavy showers before the close of testing. As the track temperature increased the riders began tyre-testing session for Michelin testing new tyres but the ever-changing grip factor only permitted short runs.

Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden endured a frustrating day. The former AMA Superbike Champion was never able to get in back to back test with the 2005 and 2006 versions of the factory RC211V. Every time he completed a short run with one machine the rain came down leaving the track with a totally different grip factor.

Hayden's team-mate, Dani Pedrosa, a newcomer to the MotoGP class, felt he made little progress today but he still managed to give the team some useful feed back on chassis development. The reigning double 250cc World Champion was happy with what the team has achieved here at Sepang and is looking forward to the Barcelona test.

Despite the conditions Fortuna Honda riders Marco Melandri and Toni Elias ended the three-day test in upbeat mood. Melandri was pleased with the progress made today with front-end settings, and the new rear tyre he tested for Michelin. Elias, despite his stop-and-go day, feels he and the team technicians are now working in the right direction and will go into the next MotoGP test, at Barcelona on March 3-5, certain that they will make further improvement.

Konica Minolta Honda rider Makoto Tamada was another held back by the rain preventing him from and running race simulations and a planned time attack. Regardless of the weather the Japanese star, a late starter in 2006 MotoGP testing, was pleased with the progress the team has made over the three days.

Team Roberts are brimming with confidence following successful tests with the latest development of the chassis of the KR211V. The team will now concentrate on the third stage of chassis evolution for the Honda powered machine. Team Roberts have already began to work on the new chassis at their UK race shop. Their development work will be based on the data gathered here at Sepang and the test at Phillip Island of last week.

With testing concluded at the Malaysian circuit, the motoGP teams will now return home to prepare for the IRTA tests from 3-5 March at Barcelona, the traditional pre-season MotoGP appointment.

There's more!   Go to Pit Lane News NEXT PAGE Hot Calendar Girl and Bike News! Go to: Fast Dates • Calendar Girls • Iron & Lace Click to see more of the Calendar Angels ...

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