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 2013 World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes / Kawasaki Racing ZX10R.
SBK Eni World Superbike Championship, Magny-Cours, France, Round of 13 of 14
Tom Sykes / Kawsaki New World Superbike Champions!
2013 World Superbike Season Finale at Jerez
Rome (Italy), Monday 14 October 2013 Preview - The eni FIM Superbike World Championship riders are gearing up for the last round of 2013, that will take place this weekend at the Circuito de Jerez, Spain on October 18-20th . The last time the Andalusian track hosted an event of the series was in 1990, with the Spanish Round being the season opener for WSBK.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) enters the final showdown in confident mood after the double win at Magny-Cours, that allowed the Brit to extend his lead to a comfortable 37 and 38 points over the two remaining title contenders, Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team). With such a considerable margin over the rivals, Sykes could be crowned new World Superbike Champion already after the first race by finishing in third place, in case the two opponents would eventually take the top-two spots on the podium.
 Lining up on the front straight at Jerez are Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team), Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), and Xavi Forés (Team Ducati Alstare) the Ducati Spanish Superbike Champion filling in for injured Ducati World Champion Carlos Checa who announded his retirement fro racing this weekend.
All the factory teams and most of the private ones have previously tested at Jerez, meaning the riders will not take too long to get up to speed on the Spanish venue.
Team BMW Motorrad GoldBet line-up will turn into a trio this weekend, as regular riders Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies will be joined by STK team mate Sylvain Barrier, who is set to make his long-awaited WSBK debut after retaining the title in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup in front of his home crowd at Magny-Cours. Local rider Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) is targeting a strong result at Jerez, a track he knows well and where he won during his best ever 250cc World Championship season (2003) and in 2010, first race victory of his title-winning season in Moto2.
Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) is down to race despite not being 100% after the injury suffered at Nurburgring. Former BSB Champion will undergo further checks at Jerez prior to the round, before a final decision on his participation to the event. Similar situation for Loris Baz, who is eager to jump on his Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R after sitting out from the last three rounds.
Javier Fores will replace fellow Spaniard Carlos Checa for the last outing of what has been a difficult season for Team Ducati Alstare. The 28 year old from Llombai has previously raced in the series, when he stepped in for injured James Toseland to race with Team BMW Motorrad Italia for the last three rounds in 2011.
Australian FX Superbike Champion Broc Parkes will make his comeback to the series by tackling the event onboard the Yamaha YZF-R1 of the YART Team.
Standings (Round 13 of 14): 1. Sykes 411; 2. Laverty 374; 3. Guintoli 373; 4. Melandri 339; 5. Davies 270; 6. Giugliano 195; 7. Fabrizio 186; 8. Baz 180; 9. Rea 176; 10. Cluzel 162; 11. Badovini 127; 12. Camier 114; 13. Haslam 91; 14. Neukirchner 84; 15. Checa 80; 16. Sandi 54; 17. Elias 46; 18. Aitchison 33; 19. Iannuzzo 27; 20. Salom 22; 21. Clementi 18; 22. Philippe 13; 23. Lanzi 13; 24. Canepa 12; 25. Lai 11; 26. Pirro 10; 27. Lundh 10; 28. Hayden 8; 29. Young 8; 30. Reiterberger 7; 31. Allerton 6; 32. Uprak 5; 33. Smrz 4; 34. Stauffer 4; 35. Ercelik 3; 36. Eslick 2; 37. Akiyoshi 2; 38. Haga 2. Manufacturers: 1. Aprilia 500; 2. Kawasaki 465; 3. BMW 412; 4. Honda 234; 5. Suzuki 225; 6. Ducati 169; 7. Yamaha 4.
World Supersport
After clinching his first-ever World Title at Magny-Cours, Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) will be back on track to contest his last World Supersport race before moving to the Moto2 World Championship. The battle-hungry youngster from Lincoln will have a final chance for another epic challenge against Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki).
Confirmed Pata Honda riders for 2014 Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti will try and mix it up for what would be their first ever win in the series – and the maiden one for the team this year. Matthieu Lagrive, last minute substitute for injured Florian Marino at Magny-Cours, will be again on track for Team Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki, and he will be replacing this time Luca Scassa. Complus SMS Racing Honda is going to tackle the round by fielding former CEV Moto3 rider Fraser Rogers.
Standings (Round 12 of 13): 1. Lowes 225; 2. Sofuoglu 181; 3. Foret 134; 4. Vd Mark 117; 5. Zanetti 108; 6. Kennedy 76; 7. Scassa 75; 8. Coghlan 62; 9. Rolfo 62; 10. Leonov 56; 11. Antonelli 55; 12. Marino 53; 13. Morais 47; 14. Iddon 45; 15. Russo 38; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 250; 2. Yamaha 233; 3. Honda 152; 4. MV Agusta 88; 5. Suzuki 36; 6. Triumph 6.
Superstock 1000
Despite the title already assigned last round, the final race for the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup will play an important role for the riders involved, who are looking forward to end up their season in the best possible way.
With 2013 title winner Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) up to his debut in World Superbike, Niccolò Canepa (Barni Racing Ducati) – who is still looking for his first race win of the season - will try and defend his second place in the standings from Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) and Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini Kawasaki), who scored one win each in the last two rounds. Barrier's place will be taken by former STK1000 rider and 2013 IDM Superbike Champion Markus Reiterberger.
Standings (Round 9 of 10): 1. Barrier 178; 2. Canepa 145; 3. Guarnoni 128; 4. Mercado 126; 5. Savadori 98; 6. La Marra 85; 7. Jezek 81; 8. Lanusse 60; 9. Bussolotti 55; 10. Andreozzi 51; etc. Manufacturers: 1. BMW 189; 2. Kawasaki 173; 3. Ducati 166; 4. Honda 38; 5. Suzuki 5.
Superstock 600
Franco Morbidelli (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) leads the way in the points as the Superstock 600 European Championship heads to Jerez for a thrilling finale. The Rome-born rider holds a 10-point advantage on Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki), fierce challenger for second place finish in France, and 14 on team mate Alessandro Nocco, dominant winner last time out at Magny-Cours.
Kyle Smith (Agro-on Racedays Kawasaki) is looking forward to the Spanish round boosted by his previous knowledge of the track, after the encouraging performances put up in his first two races in the series.
Standings (Round 9 of 10): 1. Morbidelli 134; 2. Gamarino 124; 3. Nocco 120; 4. Chesaux 113; 5. Duwelz 102; 6. Coveña 81; 7. Mulhauser 67; 8. Nestorovic 63; 9. Salvadori 57; 10. Morrentino 48; 11. Casalotti 42; 12. Schmitter 38; 13. Tuuli 34; 14. Tessels 34; 15. Vitali 27; etc.
Davide Giugliano up to speed in Day 1
Friday Qualifying Practice Oct 18th - Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) was the quickest rider in today's Qualifying 1 for eni FIM Superbike World Championship. The 23 year old from Rome moved up on top of the charts with six minutes left by lapping in 1'42.374s, heading the field right to the end of the session. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) tried to fight off his fellow Italian in the late stages, eventually settling for second ahead of Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team). The Irishman had a small crash early on but he was able to get back to the track to climb the timesheets up to third… (read more)
Qualifying Times: 1. Giugliano (Aprilia) 1'42.374 average 155.430 kph; 2. Melandri (BMW) 1'42.641; 3. Laverty (Aprilia) 1'42.756; 4. Elias (Aprilia) 1'42.782; 5. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1'42.906; 6. Camier (Suzuki) 1'42.936; 7. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'43.114; 8. Lanzi (Ducati) 1'43.162; 9. Davies (BMW) 1'43.170; 10. Cluzel(Suzuki) 1'43.240; 11. Fores (Ducati) 1'43.262; 12. Badovini (Ducati) 1'43.383; 13. Aitchison (Kawasaki) 1'43.721; 14. Parkes (Yamaha) 1'43.786; 15. Haslam (Honda) 1'43.821; 16. Barrier (BMW) 1'43.879; 17. Fabrizio (Honda) 1'43.958; 18. Sandi (Kawasaki) 1'44.102; 19. Neukirchner (Ducati) 1'44.248; 20. Iannuzzo (BMW) 1'45.328.
 New 2013 World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes and runner-up Eugene Laverty, the double race winner at Jerez, toast their Prosecco Doc champaigne.
Eugene Laverty takes the double on Sykes' dream day
RACE DAY Sunday October 20th 2013 - The eni FIM Superbike World Championship season drew to a close today after the last race of a spectacular year. Many riders were in the spotlight in Spain but above them all was Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) who achieved a historical milestone for both himself and the Japanese manufacturer. The British rider grabbed his first-ever World Superbike title today and completed an outstanding record of 8 Tissot-Superpoles and 9 race wins with his 17th podium finish of the year, a second place in Race 2 behind Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team).
In taking his his first Superbike World Championship title,Tom Sykes is first Kawasaki rider to take the top prize in production-based racing since Scott Russell in 1993. The championship win was particularly sweet for the entire Kawasaki Racing Team as they missed out on the title with Tom by only half a point in 2012. In the 2013 season Tom has scored nine race wins, 18 podiums of all kinds, eight pole positions and 13 fastest laps. Sykes also led for 255 laps over the whole season, more than twice the total of the next best rider.
 Laverty (58) and Melandri (33) ran like this and closer the entire race, as Sykes sat a few seconds back in 3rd place to secure his title. Melandri would pass Sykes for the lead on the next to last lap, but a brave Hail Mary re pass by Lavery on the outside of the last corner before the Finish line would give Eugene his first race win of the day. Melandre would not return for Race Two.
RACE ONE: Laverty Battles witn Melandri forthe Wins as Sykes Sits back in 3rd to Clinches the Title
SUPERBIKE RACE ONE - Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) is the new eni FIM Superbike World Champion. The 28 year old from Huddersfield, England, rode a smart race and crossed the line in third place, a result that allowed him to clinch his first-ever World Title, in his fifth year of racing in the series. Sykes also brings the title back to Kawasaki after 20 long years – the last one dated back to 1993 and was won by Scott Russell.
Today's first race was won by Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) after a superb final lap overtake on Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrrad GoldBet), on the outside, at the last turn. The two riders pulled away in the early laps, with Laverty leader for most of race until the penultimate tour, when the Italian passed the Irishman at Turn 6. Thanks to Laverty's win, Aprilia retains the Manufacturers' title.
Sykes knew that at the test track of most of his rivals he would have his work cut out to win but he also knew that he did not have to take race victories to take the championship title. In race one Tom rode to a solid third place and in doing so he took a large enough advantage to make his championship win safe. He received his trophy for the title win after this race but he still had a second 21-lap race, in warm conditions, to complete.
Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) finished a lonely fourth, ahead of Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia), both unable to repeat on the race distance the competitive lap-times set in free practice and qualifying. The Top-10 for Race 1 was completed by Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Xavi Fores (Team Ducati Alstare) and Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki).
 Tom exhibits hard braking from 150 mph!
Results: 1. Laverty (Aprilia) 21 Laps/92.820 km in 36'00.919 average 154.634 kph; 2. Melandri (BMW) 0.218; 3. Sykes (Kawasaki) 6.681; 4. Guintoli(Aprilia) 9.327; 5. Elias (Aprilia) 20.446; 6. Giugliano (Aprilia) 27.633; 7. Davies (BMW) 28.621; 8. Camier (Suzuki) 29.548; 9. Fores (Ducati) 29.964; 10. Aitchison (Kawasaki) 36.981; 11. Cluzel (Suzuki) 37.008; 12. Barrier (BMW) 43.179; 13. Badovini (Ducati) 47.260; 14. Neukirchner (Ducati) 52.154;15. Lanzi (Ducati) 52.912; 16. Sandi (Kawasaki) 54.414; 17. Fabrizio (Honda) 1'02.109; 18. Parkes (Yamaha) 1'02.568; 19. Iannuzzo (BMW) 6 Laps; RT. Haslam (Honda).
SUPERBIKE RACE 1: (Laps 21 = 92,883 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 36'00.919
2 / M. MELANDRI / ITA / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 0.218
3 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 6.681
4 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 9.327
5 / T. ELIAS / ESP / Red Devils Roma / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 20.446
6 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 27.633
7 / C. DAVIES / GBR / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 28.621
8 / L. CAMIER / GBR / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 29.548
9 / X. FORES / ESP / Team Ducati Alstare / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 29.964
10 / M. AITCHISON / AUS / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 36.981
11 / J. CLUZEL / FRA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 37.008
12 / S. BARRIER / FRA / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 43.179
13 / A. BADOVINI / ITA / Team Ducati Alstare / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 47.26
14 / M. NEUKIRCHNER / GER / MR-Racing / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 52.154
15 / L. LANZI / ITA / Mesaroli Transports A.S. / Ducati 1098R / 52.912
Fastest Lap: 2° Marco Melandri 1'41.958 156,170 Km/h
Lap Record: 2013 M.Melandri 1'41.958 156,170 Km/h
Best Lap: 2013 E. Laverty 1'40.620 158,250 Km/h
 Eugene Laverty wheelies his factory Aprila over the finish line tothe cheers of his team to celebrate their double race win
RACE TWO: Laverty Doubles at Jerez after a straight up fight with Sykes
First Race runener-up Marco Melandri did not start Race Two, citing a foot injury whivh he had hurt on the stairs at home earlier in the week, was now too painful to finish up the day. Although his 4th place in the final Championship standings was already set no matter if he rode and finished 1st place or last, and his career with the BMW factory would be over at the end of the day as the team was being disbanded following the day's race.
Tom Sykes gatheredup his concentration in Race Two now that his concerns over taking the Championship were over, and pushed from the start to lead the first 13-laps of the race with Eurene Laverty in hot persuit. Tom even set a new lap record of 1’41.691 at Jerez in the process.
 "Ginters" closes on Sykes for the race lead.
But the Irishman stayed right with Sykes throughout the first half of the race, eventually overtaking the Brit at the of the thirteenth lap and pulling away, to claim his second double-win of the season and the ninth race victory – same number of wins as the new Champion. Other works Aprilia rider Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) completed again the podium by crossing the line a lonely third, ahead of Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia), Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki).
Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli A.S. Ducati) finished his weekend on a positive note as he ended up 7th, followed by Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia). Local Xavi Forés (Team Ducati Alstare) crashed out of Turn 1 right after the start of the race, due to a collision with another rider, while Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) did not line up on the grid due to the injured ankle that bothered him also in the first race.
 28-year-old Tom on the grid with team manager Marcel and Tom's lovely wife Amie, the couple are expecting their first child in November.
Tom Sykes: “Words cannot describe how I feel. I am very level headed but since Magny-Cours there are moments where my mind started dreaming. When I was dreaming I had goose bumps and it was magical to even dream I could be world champion. But that was maybe 2% of what I am feeling now after winning the title. It was good for the championship that it got decided at the final round again, especially here with these great fans. My team is mostly Spanish so it is a home round for them. The championship win has not fully sunk in yet but it will do soon, I’m sure.”
Eugene Laverty: “Two wins that came in different ways, as the second one was kind of easier because I was able to pull away from Tom once I got passed him. I'm happy with this double-win that extended our podium streak in the final part of the season. It's a shame that we lost some points early on in the year, but I'm not the type of guy who likes to make excuses. Second place overall is a great result, as well as the Manufacturers' title."
SUPERBIKE RACE 2: (Laps 21 = 92,883 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 36'05.989
2 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 2.711
3 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 5.71
4 / T. ELIAS / ESP / Red Devils Roma / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 15.509
5 / C. DAVIES / GBR / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 21.83
6 / L. CAMIER / GBR / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 26.558
7 / L. LANZI / ITA / Mesaroli Transports A.S. / Ducati 1098R / 30.84
8 / J. CLUZEL / FRA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 33.056
9 / M. AITCHISON / AUS / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 36.299
10 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 40.867
11 / M. NEUKIRCHNER / GER / MR-Racing / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 44.308
12 / B. PARKES / AUS / Monster Energy Yamaha - Yart / Yamaha YZF R1 / 52.483
13 / S. BARRIER / FRA / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 53.674
14 / M. FABRIZIO / ITA / Pata Honda World Superbike / Honda CBR1000RR / 1'20.316
15 / F. SANDI / ITA / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 3 Laps
Fastest Lap: 2° Tom Sykes 1'41.691 156,580 Km/h
Lap Record: 2013 M.Melandri 1'41.958 156,170 Km/h
Best Lap: 2013 E. Laverty 1'40.620 158,250 Km/h
FINAL 2013 Superbike RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS:
1. Sykes 447; 2. Laverty 424; 3. Guintoli 402; 4. Melandri 359; 5. Davies 290; 6. Giugliano 211; 7. Fabrizio 188; 8. Baz 180; 9. Rea 176; 10. Cluzel 175; 11. Camier 132; 12. Badovini 130; 13. Haslam 91; 14. Neukirchner 91; 15. Checa 80; 16. Elias 70; 17. Sandi 55; 18. Aitchison 46; 19. Iannuzzo 27; 20. Lanzi 23; 21. Salom 22; 22. Clementi 18; 23. Philippe 13; 24. Canepa 12; 25. Lai 11; 26. Pirro 10; 27. Lundh 10; 28. Hayden 8; 29. Young 8; 30. Fores 7; 31. Barrier 7; 32. Reiterberger 7; 33. Allerton 6; 34. Uprak 5; 35. Parkes 4; 36. Smrz 4; 37. Stauffer 4; 38. Ercelik 3; 39. Eslick 2; 40. Akiyoshi 2; 41. Haga 2.
FINAL 2013 Superbike MANUFACTURERS POSITIONS:
1 APRILIA 550, 2 KAWASAKI 501, 3 BMW 443, 4 SUZUKI 243, 5 HONDA 236, 6 DUCATI 185, 7 YAMAHA 8.
Superstock 1000
Jeremy Guarnoni has scored a dominant win in the last race of the season for the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup at Jerez, the second in a row for the Frenchman after the one achieved on home soil two weeks ago. The MRS Kawasaki rider pulled away in the early laps to cross the line with a 4.3 seconds over Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini Kawasaki). Romain Lanusse (MRS Kawasaki) and Alessandro… (read more)
Superstock 1000cc Results: 1. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 13 Laps/57.460 km in 22'54.088 average 150.541 kph; 2. Mercado (Kawasaki) 4.315; 3. Lanusse (Kawasaki) 11.354; 4. Andreozzi (Kawasaki) 11.700; 5. Reiterberger (BMW) 11.760; 6. Calia (Ducati) 13.658; 7. Canepa (Ducati) 13.952; 8. Lussiana (Kawasaki) 14.833; 9. Jezek (Ducati) 16.285; 10. Bussolotti (BMW) 16.678; 11. Massei (Honda) 17.300; 12. Gildenhuys (BMW) 17.429; 13. Ponsson (Kawasaki) 19.776; 14. Grotzkyj G. (Kawasaki) 23.816; 15. Kuparinen (BMW) 32.702; etc.
Superstock Final Standings: 1. Barrier 178; 2. Canepa 154; 3. Guarnoni 153; 4. Mercado 146; 5. Savadori 98; 6. Jezek 88; 7. La Marra 85; 8. Lanusse76; 9. Andreozzi 64; 10. Bussolotti 61; 11. Lussiana 59; 12. Massei 41; 13. Bergman 31; 14. Gildenhuys 31; 15. Ponsson 22; etc. 1. Manufacturers: 1. BMW 200; 2. Kawasaki 198; 3. Ducati 176; 4. Honda 43; 5. Suzuki 5.
World Supersport 600cc
Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) put the icing on the cake of his title-winning season by crossing the line victorious after the 20-lap World Supersport final race of 2013. The Englishman had his last, successful battle, with Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki): the Turk did his best to keep the lead after several overtaking manoeuvres, but Lowes managed to pass him once… (read more).
Supersport Results: 1. Lowes (Yamaha) 20 Laps/88.400 km in 34'59.865 average 151.553 kph; 2. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 2.117; 3. Rolfo (MV Agusta) 7.966; 4. Vd Mark (Honda) 9.714; 5. Zanetti (Honda) 23.643; 6. Russo (Kawasaki) 25.234; 7. Coghlan (Kawasaki) 25.427; 8. Morais (Kawasaki) 27.025; 9. Leonov (Yamaha) 27.173; 10. Foret (Kawasaki) 29.371; 11. Webb (Honda) 32.277; 12. Tamburini (Honda) 34.439; 13. Salom (Kawasaki) 34.585; 14. Scholtz (Suzuki) 36.110; 15. Faccani (Honda) 37.103; etc.
Final 2013 World Supersport Results: 1. Lowes 250; 2. Sofuoglu 201; 3. Foret 140; 4. Vd Mark 130; 5. Zanetti 119; 6. Rolfo 78; 7. Kennedy 76; 8. Scassa 75; 9. Coghlan 71; 10. Leonov 63; 11. Antonelli 55; 12. Morais 55; 13. Marino 53; 14. Russo 48; 15. Iddon 45; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 270; 2. Yamaha 258; 3. Honda 165; 4. MV Agusta 104; 5. Suzuki 38; 6. Triumph 6.
 Carlos Checa on the starting grid last year at Miller World Superbike with Fast Dates Caeldnar Kitten Caitlin Christensen
Carlos Checa Announces his Retirement from Motorcycle Racing
• In Jerez, during the final SBK round of the 2013 season, the Spanish"Bull", after twenty years or racing and success, has confirmed his decision to retire
• Ducati has named him “Ambassador”: Checa will remain a ducatista and ambassador for the Borgo Panigale-based brand
• Nolan has dedicated a commemorative helmet to Carlos, with graphics that represent his twenty years of success
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), Saturday 19 October 2013: on the eve of the final races of the 2013 World Superbike championship, taking place at the Andalusian track of Jerez de la Frontera, Carlos Checa, 2011 world champion with Ducati, has announced his retirement from the world of racing. The announcement was made by Carlos himself, in the presence of journalists, colleagues, sponsors and friends who were invited to the Ducati Alstare hospitality today. An intimate and emotional affair, which gave the Spanish rider the chance to thank a world that he has belonged to for many years and to which he has made such an important contribution.
The name of Carlos Checa is synonymous with motorcycle racing and, at the same time, with the Ducati brand. The Catalonian rider, who celebrated his 41st birthday just a few days ago, made his debut on the world scene back in 1993, when he took part in the GP 250 championship. In the twenty years that followed, he went on to compete in the 500, MotoGP and Superbike championships. Having raced with Ducati in MotoGP in 2005, 2010 saw Carlos return to Ducati but this time in the World Superbike championship. An important decision, but also an inspiring and positive one, given that, after finishing third overall in 2010, he won the world title with Ducati and the Althea Racing team the following year, in 2011.
Unfortunately Checa has not been able to end his career as he would have wanted, due to a bad accident at Istanbul last month which has prevented him from participating in the final rounds of this 2013 season. Despite a challenging season this year, Carlos retires from professional motorsport a very satisfied man, taking with him countless successes, memories and lifelong friendships.
Carlos Checa, still walking with crutches, celebratd his 41st birthday and retirement announcement with the Ducati Alstate team in their hospitalaity area at Jerez.
Such passion and dedication could not end with goodbye. As Carlos announced his retirement, Ducati took the opportunity to confirm that Carlos Checa will have a role as ambassador, allowing the Catalonian to continue to collaborate with Borgo Panigale as a very special Ducatista.
In celebration of Carlos’ 20th anniversary of competition, Nolan wanted to create a commemorative helmet, with special graphics dedicated to this important milestone. The helmet was presented this afternoon, just after Carlos’ retirement announcement, further heightening emotions for those present.
Another demonstration of affection and esteem arrives from the circuit of Jerez, that has decided to dedicate a part of its “Hall of Fame” in its new museum (that will be opened to the public in 2014) to Carlos Checa, his brilliant career and SBK world title - he remains the only Spanish rider up until now to have achieved this goal.
Carlos Checa, 2011 World Superbike Champion: “This year I am celebrating twenty years of racing at world championship level. I am extremely proud of this long sporting career, which has given me many special memories of all the teams I have worked with. I have had the opportunity to compete at the highest level, riding the best bikes and winning against the best rivals. My aim has always been to discover my limits and to be able to take a close look at myself in order to continue to learn, grow and become a better rider and a better person. This is something that would not have possible without taking this path, full of risk, but which has also provided me with great challenges, adversaries and emotions; a long climb which culminated with my best season in 2011. There is a moment that will always arrive in the life of a sportsman, the day on which you say enough is enough. This day has arrived for me today. It was not an easy decision, but one that I’ve thought long and hard about. I am grateful to the entire motorcycle family, to those who make it possible for this world to exist and especially to those who have supported me and followed me from the start, for having given me the opportunity to pursue my dream and live a life that I wouldn’t have changed for any other. I will now move on to discover new things about myself, a new and stimulating phase now begins for me in Ducati. It will take time to adapt but I am confident about my future and the satisfactions that it will surely continue to give me. Thanks again to everyone for being here to support me on what is a very special day for me, definitely emotional but also unforgettable.”
Ernesto Marinelli, Ducati Corse Superbike Manager: "The decision that Carlos has taken is a very important one. Carlos has carried out key, constructive work for us over the years together, and the winning of the world title in 2011 is proof that, together, we have been able to achieve important goals. It goes without saying that we are extremely appreciative and it’s important that we show him this with our affection and recognition. We will continue to collaborate in the future, and having him as an ambassador of our brand is an honour for us, and will surely please all of the ducatistas. I therefore like to think that this is not the end of a book but simply the start of a new chapter.”
Francis Batta, Ducati Alstare Superbike Team Owner: “Carlos’ decision signifies the departure of one of this championship’s protagonists of recent years, and he will leave a hole that will be very difficult to fill. This year I had the chance to get to know Carlos better and I can guarantee that he is a person of great humanity, a real professional who always gives 100%. Together with Ducati, we started down a new path this year. It hasn’t been easy, because unfortunately we made a late start, but I am convinced that if Carlos had not decided to retire, his contribution would surely have brought us great satisfaction. I’m sorry for Superbike, I’m pleased Carlos will remain in Ducati as an ambassador and I really wish him all the luck in the world.”
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Erik Buell Racing Unveils its New American Sport Bike the EBR 1190RX for $18,995.
Orlando, Florida, October 16th 2013 - Under wraps from the public for months, EBR finally lifted the covers on its latest creation — the 1190RX Sportbike — to a crowd of journalists gathered on Day 1 of AIMExpo in Lecture Hall W300.
The new 185-hp street-legal V-Twin superbike boasts a broad, smooth powerband and weighs only 419 lbs., one of the lightest in its class. The company also announced its dealer plan for the new model, which will have an MSRP set at $18,995 and 180-day free floor planning. According to Gary Pietruszewski, vice president, global sales for EBR, "For about the price of an economy car, you can have a world-class performance sportbike."
While the EBR name may not be familiar to everyone, it is an all-American success story, with roots reaching back to 1973.
"This is the culmination of decades of dedication, innovation and teamwork," said founder Erik Buell. "We have been working to create a pure rider's machine and a true world brand." A direct descendant of EBR's race-bred limited edition 1190RS Superbike, this world-class machine combines race-winning technology with road-ready necessities ... like the lights.
While the 1190RX shares its race-only sibling's 1190cc engine and many of EBR’s exclusive performance and handling-enhancing features, it is still street legal in all 50 states. This bike was created to “tame the wildest roads and rouse the most demanding riders,” according to EBR.
An icon in his own right, Erik launched EBR by being named Motorcyclist magazine’s “Motorcyclist of the Year” in 2011, and Cycle World named the 1190RS “Superbike of the Year” in its annual 10 Best Awards in 2011. On-track success in 2012 saw EBR team riders Geoff May and Danny Eslick putting the bikes in contention at every AMA Superbike race that season.
Now, EBR is looking for riders to take it to the streets. “From the heartland and the heart of America, these are extraordinary motorcycles that discerning riders everywhere will be passionate to own," summarizes Buell.
Geoff May And EBR To World Superbike in 2014
Oct 21st, 2013 - Together with the premier of the new Buell 1190RX Superbike at AIMExpo last week in Florida was that EBR is going World Superbike racing in 2014 with the financial support provided by the company's new Indian investor Hero motorcycles. One of the riders named for the two-man team is longtime EBR rider Geoff May.
“I’m super excited about it,” May said. “It’s something that Erik and I talked about going back a few years ago, even when I came on board early on in this program. That was something that he wanted to do down the road and with the sponsorship with Hero and with the new model coming out it’s something that’s now possible. I’m really excited about it.
The first EBR1190RS model was not homologated for World Superbike because it doesn’t meet the minimum production requirement. But the recently announced 1190RX is slated to reach 1000 in the first production run – enough to get it homologated for World Superbike.
1190RX Specifications
2014 EBR 1190RX MSRP $18,995
Colors: Black, Red, Yellow
EngineType
ET-V2: 72° V-Twin, Liquid Cooled, Four-stroke
Bore x Stroke: 4.17 in. x 2.66in. (106 x 67.5 mm)
Displacement: 72.6 cu in. (1190cc)
Compression Ratio: 13.4 : 1
Fuel Delivery: Electronic Fuel injection with 2 port injectors and 2 showerhead injectors
Exhaust: Primary + Secondary
Peak Torque: 101.6 ft-lbs. @ 8200 rpm (137.8 Nm @ 8200 rpm)
Peak Horsepower: 185 hp @ 10,600 rpm
Drivetrain
Primary Drive Gear Drive 36/65
Final Drive 520 Z-ring chain, 16/41
Clutch: Hydraulic actuation, vacuum operated slipper
Transmission Ratios: 1st 2.46, 2nd 1.75, 3rd 1.38, 4th 1.17, 5th1.04. 6th 0.96
|
Dimensions
Overall Length 80.3in. (2040mm.)
Overall Width 29.0in. (737mm)
Overall Height 43.7in. (1110mm)
Seat Height 32.5in. (826mm)
Ground Clearance 4.7in. (120mm)
Rake 22.4° / Trail 3.80in. (96.5mm)
Lean Angle 55°
Front Tire Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa 120/70 ZR-17
Rear Tire Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa 190/55 ZR-17
Fuel Capacity 4.5 gal (17.lL)
Weight (Wet, no fuel) 419lbs. (190kg)
Load Capacity 375lbs. (170kg)
Chassis
Frame Aluminum frame with integral fuel reservoir
Swingarm Optimized stiffness aluminum
Front Suspension Showa, inverted big piston front forks
Rear Suspension Showa, single shock without linkage
Front Wheel;: 17 x 3.5 Aluminum
Rear Wheel: 17 x 6.0 Aluminum
Front Brake: 386mm (15.19in.) Single perimeter rotor, 8 piston inside-out caliper
Rear Brake:220mm (8.66in.) Disc, 2-piston Hayes Performance Brakes Caliper |
 Jorge Lorrnzo lead both Pedrosa and Marquez by this tight a chase the entire race, including the pit stop to change bikes, with then Marquez then being Black Flaggd for making his pit stop one lap too late.
2013 FIM MotoGP World Championship, Tissot Austra;ian Grand Prix. Round 16 of 18
Lorenzo victorious in Australia as Championhip leader Marquez is disqualified
Phillip Island, Ausralia, Sunday October 20th, 2013 - Jorge Lorenzo has inflicted maximum damage on the day Marc Marquez could have clinched the MotoGP™ crown, as the current title-holder clinched his 50th career race victory in a Tissot Australian Grand Prix including mandatory bike changes. Failing to acknowledge the pre-determined pit window, Marquez was shown the black flag.
Prior to the race, it was announced that the duration would decrease from 27 to 19 laps on the grounds of safety, with tyre degradation throughout practice having been significantly higher than expected on the newly resurfaced Phillip Island circuit. Furthermore, all riders would be obliged to pit for bike changes on either the ninth or tenth lap of the race, while also running the harder available compound throughout.
A clean start saw no fallers, with Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) attacking Lorenzo at the Honda hairpin, but the Yamaha Factory Racing man immediately retaking the top spot on the run into Siberia. The sensation would come with the mandatory pit window, with Marquez’s teammate Pedrosa first to peel off from third place at the end of Lap 9 and followed by numerous other riders.
Lorenzo would pit at the end of the tenth tour but, having expected a pit lane duel with Marquez, saw the 20-year-old rookie continue for another circulation of the circuit. Marquez then came in at the end of Lap 11, outside the pre-determined window of pitting by Lap 10 at the latest. In a remarkable twist for the 2013 World Championship battle, Marquez was disqualified, as was Australian Bryan Staring (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) as the same error had been committed.
Having escaped a touch with Marquez as the latter re-joined from the pits, Lorenzo went on to claim win number six of the season; this also marked the first time since 2006 that a rider other than the now retired Casey Stoner had clinched victory at Phillip Island. Pedrosa finished second to maintain his own title aspirations, as Yamaha Factory Racing’s Valentino Rossi beat Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Cal Crutchlow and GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista in a thrilling contest for third, while light rain began to fall as proceedings drew to a close.
Bradley Smith was sixth for Tech3, having run as high as fourth thanks to a rapid start, while the top ten was rounded out by Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team), Andrea Iannone (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Randy de Puniet (Power Electronics Aspar) who ended a race as lead CRT for the first time this year. Danilo Petrucci finished 15th for Came IodaRacing Project, denying a first point for Luca Scassa as the Cardion AB Motoracing rider finished less than one tenth of a second behind. On the same day, Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro collected honours of top CRT for the season.
After the race, the Repsol Honda Team put Marquez’s disqualification down to a misunderstanding in the team, saying that it thought he was able to run ten whole laps before pitting in, which is why he entered in the 11th.
The MotoGP™ fight now rages on to Motegi Twin Ring and the Grand Prix of Japan, with the championship lead having been decreased from 43 to 18 points. The season will then end at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain on 10th November.
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha 1st - “I’m really happy with this win, we’ve also been lucky because Marc made this mistake. Without that he would have been second or first because he was really fast today. So we’ve been lucky but we were unlucky in the middle of the championship so today is a balance. When I was entering the first corner Marc was exiting the pit at exactly the same time, the situation was almost impossible to avoid. I was braking a little later to open the line and I don't think he was looking so much entering the corner so it was both our fault. Now we have options, if Marc keeps constant on the podium then it is impossible to win the championship but there are a lot of laps to go so anything could happen.
It’s unbelievable to have 50 Grand Prix victories at 26years old. It seems like only yesterday when I won in Brazil in 2003 but it’s been ten years. I’m very proud of it and hope to win some more in the future!”
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda, 2nd - “Today’s race was very stressful -above all before the start, as the rules were being changed every five minutes. Everything was turned on its head and it was very difficult to adapt first time, without making any mistakes. Marc made mistakes and I did too. Everything was going so fast and it was confusing for both the riders and the mechanics. We had to be clear about which lap to enter the pits, as it wasn’t obvious which was lap nine and which was lap ten. The two bikes needed to be prepared and the tyres as well, the pit lane was much longer than normal... it was all so strange today. The exit line from the pits wasn’t clear, and neither could you see the entry line very well, so it was all a bit improvised. In my case I was able to rectify my mistake on the track and, although the second bike wasn’t the same for me as the first, I managed to take second in the race and be very competitive.”
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda, DNF - “Today was our first experience of a Flag-to-Flag race, and suffice to say it wasn't a good one. My team and I had set out a strategy and we thought that we could come in after lap 10, but in reality this counts as an extra lap. We hadn't had that in mind and this was a huge mistake. We had everything well planned and I followed the instructions on my pit board. You learn from these things though, so now we have to move on and focus on the race in Japan"
RESULTS MOTOGP RACE: (19 laps = 84.512 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME / KM/H / GAP
1 / Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Yamaha Factory Racing / YAMAHA / 29'07.155 / 174.1 /
2 / Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / HONDA / 29'14.091 / 173.4 / 6.936
3 / Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Yamaha Factory Racing / YAMAHA / 29'19.499 / 172.9 / 12.344
4 / Cal CRUTCHLOW / GBR / Monster Yamaha Tech 3 / YAMAHA / 29'19.615 / 172.9 / 12.46
5 / Alvaro BAUTISTA / SPA / GO&FUN Honda Gresini / HONDA / 29'19.668 / 172.8 / 12.513
6 / Bradley SMITH / GBR / Monster Yamaha Tech 3 / YAMAHA / 29'35.418 / 171.3 / 28.263
7 / Nicky HAYDEN / USA / Ducati Team / DUCATI / 29'40.108 / 170.9 / 32.953
8 / Andrea IANNONE / ITA / Energy T.I. Pramac Racing / DUCATI / 29'42.217 / 170.7 / 35.062
9 / Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / DUCATI / 29'42.259 / 170.7 / 35.104
10 / Randy DE PUNIET / FRA / Power Electronics Aspar / ART / 29'44.581 / 170.4 / 37.426
11 / Aleix ESPARGARO / SPA / Power Electronics Aspar / ART / 29'53.254 / 169.6 / 46.099
12 / Colin EDWARDS / USA / NGM Mobile Forward Racing / FTR KAWASAKI / 29'55.304 / 169.4 / 48.149
13 / Yonny HERNANDEZ / COL / Ignite Pramac Racing / DUCATI / 29'57.066 / 169.2 / 49.911
14 / Hector BARBERA / SPA / Avintia Blusens / FTR / 29'57.153 / 169.2 / 49.998
15 / Danilo PETRUCCI / ITA / Came IodaRacing Project / IODA-SUTER / 30'05.873 / 168.4 / 58.718
Pole Position: Jorge LORENZO 1'27.899 182.1 Km/h
Fastest Lap (New record): Marc MARQUEZ 1'28.108 181.7 Km/h Lap 13
Old Circuit Record Lap: Nicky HAYDEN 1'30.059 177.8 Km/h 2008
Circuit Best Lap: Jorge LORENZO 1'27.899 182.1 Km/h 2013
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITION TILL DATE:
1 MARQUEZ 298, 2 LORENZO 280, 3 PEDROSA 264, 4 ROSSI 214, 5 CRUTCHLOW 179,
6 BAUTISTA 147, 7 BRADL 135, 8 DOVIZIOSO 127, 9 HAYDEN 111, 10 SMITH 99,
11 ESPARGARO 88, 12 IANNONE 55, 13 PIRRO 50, 14 EDWARDS 36, 15 DE PUNIET 33.
FIM Superbike & Supersport World Championship and FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup
Changes to the Regulations
FIM Confirms World Superbike to move fully to new 2014 EVO Reguations Starting 2015
Federation International de Motorcycles , Oct 10th, 2013 - The Superbike Commission, composed of Messrs Javier Alonso (WSBK Managing Director), Ignacio Verneda (FIM Executive Director, Sport) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA Representative), met at the Dorna Headquarters on 1 October in the presence of Messrs Daniel Carrera and Gregorio Lavilla (Dorna WSBK Organisation). A unanimous decision was taken to introduce the following main modifications to the Regulations of the FIM Road Racing Superbike & Supersport World Championship and FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup:
FIM Sporting Regulations Application for 2014
Superbike & Supersport
Practice restrictions:
- Winter test ban starts on 1 December each year and finishes on 15 January as per current rules.
- Overseas testing is forbidden for contracted teams and riders. Dorna will organise Official Tests in Phillip Island before the race. Dates will be communicated as soon as confirmed.
- No testing will be allowed from the first race of the calendar until the last race of the calendar for contracted teams and riders.
Dorna will organise three Official Tests on the Mondays following three races, for the World Superbike class only. Dates will be communicated as soon as confirmed.
- No testing will be allowed for Supersport after the first race until the last race of the season.
Supersport
- 6 engines per season only;
- 1 gearbox option only.
Application for 2015
Superbike
- All Superbikes will have to comply with the EVO technical regulations, in order to maintain the ongoing cost reduction process. The Superbike Commission is studying some modifications to those technical rules that will be announced by the end of 2013.
- The new changes should allow all Manufacturers entering the Championship to be competitive, as well as providing an easier route into the World Championship for
Editor's Note: As we published last month, an EVO Regulation Class will be optional in the World Superbike Class beginning in 2014 to help fill the starting grid with more affordable bikes for more potential teams. The FIM has now confirmed that ALL bikes in the Superbike Class will confirm to the new EVO class rules beginning in 2015.
EVO rules essentially require the use of Stock Engines and Chassis and Brakes, closer to stock Electronics. Suspension Components (Fork and Shocks) can be changed to other readily available aftermarket suspension components, and there will be a price cap on the cost of these components, so no exotic works prototype suspensions can be used. Essentially World Superbikes will become 1000cc Superstock class bikes with upgraded suspensions and a few other bolt-on goodies.
This is essentially a good move to help World Superbike survive with lower bike costs and to help full the starting grids with more privateer teams. But with Dorna having taken control of WSBK this past year, it now allows Dorna the opportunity to keep a larger performance and technical gap between World Superbikes and Dorna's bread and butter MotoGP show. The last few years have seen the factory World Superbikes getting within 1 second of the lap times of factory MotoGP bikes on the same tracks, and actually being faster than the prototype chassis EVO class MotoGP bikes.
Superleggera - Ducati's Limited Edition New Project 1201 Production Superbike
October 9-18th, 2013 - If the Ducati 1199 Panigale R with its Titanium connecting rods wasn't enough, the Bologna firm has introducd the 'Superleggera' version under the code name "Project 1201".The Superleggera (meaning superlight in Italian), is an invite-only lightweight version of the already extreme Panigale R. However the Superleggera will come with a £60,000 price-tag, making the £26,550 Panigale R look like a budget option. The 1199 Superleggera is the most exclusive and extreme Ducati ever made.
An unprecedented 200+ horsepower in homologated configuration (205+ with included racing exhaust) and a 166Kg weight ready-to-ride without gas (around the same as a Superbike in full racing trim) give it the best, by far, power to weight ratio of any homologated motorcycle. Accordingly, Ducati’s test rider Alessandro Valia has obtained with the 1199 Superleggera the best time ever for a street Ducati around the Tuscan Mugello circuit, an incredible 1’54”9.
The high-end Panigale Superbike will be limited to 500 units in total and features the state-of-the-art electronics package derived from the Ducati Corse WSBK setup. Rumors have been suggesting the Superleggera has been developed with the new WSB EVO and Superstock 1000 racing category in mind, but we now know this to be more of a gold Rolex for collectors rather than a homologation street Superbike. BMW's HP4 is another example of a heavily-tweaked standard model, produced in limited numbers to give an advantage in 'stock' racing. We'd expect an updated viersion of the next 1199R to have many of these same performance upgrads and light chassis parts, although the Supperleggera will serve homologate these parts for now.
The Superleggera shares very little with the £80,000 Panigale RS race bike -the bike only available to top racing teams, with the 1201 featuring an all-carbon-fibre fairing and the monocoque frame is made from ultra-expensive, lightweight magnesium. The Superleggera is quoted to produce 200+ bhp at the crank and weigh 15kg less than the R which the scales at 180kg / 196 lbs wet. Our own 1199S streetbike already tips the scales at 388 lbs wet, less gas.
What the Superleggera really seems to be is an 1199S model with the full 2014 Ducati Performance Accessory Catalog thrown at it, making it by far the most expensive Ducati road bike since the Desmosedici RR. In studying the attached exposed parts picture of the bike, this looks to be essentially the 1199 S/R production bike with most of the plastic body parts replaced by carbon fibre, and some Aluminum chassis replaced by Magnesium, Titanium Exhaust Header Pipes, together with high-end Hand and Foot Lever Controls. Honestly, a lot of these lighter bolt-on Magnesium and Carbon Fibre Body Parts should have come standard on the 2013 year 1199R model which is $7,000 more expensive than an 1199S, but they didn't.
Other Superleggera components like the suspension remain the stock 1199S Ohlins units, and not the higher spec Ohlins racing shock and forks as found on the 1199 RS race bikes. The claim that this new street bike with full street gear/lights is 15kg / 33 lbs lighter than the R model might be stretching the truth a little, but DP replacement components like the Titanium Header pipes (which should have come with the Termignoni Full Race Exhaust System for $3,600 - but didn't) and the the Magnesium Marzocchi wheels will help shed a few more pounds. But bare in mind the Mag wheels are not FIM legal for racing, and you will have to change a lot of the carbon fibre bits like the headlight functional upper front fearing for non-headlight fairing if you do want to go racing.
And with our own Fast Dates Panaigale 1199S Project Bike being a pretty incredible bike at 388 lbs, it will be hard to justify spending twice as much and more for a slightly lighter version. If you already own or buy a used 1199S, just simple, easy changes to a lighter 520 Chain/Sprocket Kit, a Shorai Lithium Battery and a few other goodies for under $2,000 will accomplish almost as much weight savings as buying the new $65,000 Superleggera, and leave you with enough money left over to by a new $51,000 Corvette C7.
October 14th, 2013 - The Ducati Project 1201 got its naked reveal today with this comple but nude assembled picture sans bodywork. It's an exotic production street superbike, not a race bike. Note how its cast Magnesium wheels require larger, more substantial spokes compared to the forged Aluminum wheels on our 1199S above. Titanium Exhaust System is steet legal, not a full race exhaust. The bike can be club raced like any other production street bike, but is not compliant for FIM Superstock / Superbike racing. Note the 1-pound heavy handlebar ends on this expensive lightweigh, and the stock foot control assembly for $65,000- rather than the DP Adjustable Corse Raceing Foot Controls!!!
The Technology
CRANKSHAFT
Crankshaft At Project 1201's very heart spins a forged steel crankshaft of exceeding strength, precision balanced with tungsten inserts and lightened to an incredible degree (-396g / 14 ounces vs. 1199 Panigale R), beyond in fact what was previously achieved for the Superbike 1199RS. An engineering statement of ultimate performance, this super-crankshaft gives Project 1201 a free-revving character unmatched outside of a premier-class professional race bike.
PISTONS
To absolutely maximize its engine output, Project 1201 uses pistons normally found in World Superbikes. Made of an incredibly light aluminium alloy (-97g / 3 ounces each vs. 1199 Panigale R), with a short skirt and two-ring design for minimal friction, these Superbike pistons harness the furious energy of combustion and translate it into tyre-smoking power.
These new pistons in the Superleggera feature a raised 13.5:1 compression ratio, up from the 12.5:1 compression pistons found in the 1199 and 1199R models to this date. This accounts for the Superleggera;s 5 hp / 2 kg torque power increase at now a much higher 11,500 rpm compared to the earlier models' 195 hp @ 10,750 rpm.
Bare in mind these Project 1201's lightened engine parts, which will also include the R model's Titanium Connecting Rods, will increase the engine's ability to rev quicker and to higher RPMs- particularly on a future homologated race bike, but it also reduces the tractability / rideability of the Superquadro powered 1199 Superbike which Ducati riders have bee bemoaning both on and off the race track with the change from the much loved previous generation long-stroke Testastretta motor.
PANIGALE 1199 SUPERLEGGERA
PRICE: USD $65,000
Component Weight Saved (vs. 1199 Panigale R)
Carbon fibre fairings and assorted pieces -1.0Kg (-2.2lb)
Magnesium alloy Monoscocca mainframe -1.0Kg (-2.2lb)
Carbon fibre rear subframe -1.2Kg (-2.7lb)
Titanium exhaust system -2.5Kg (-5.5lb)
Forged and machined magnesium wheels -1.0Kg (-2.2lb)
Lithium-Ion battery -2.0Kg (-4.4lb)
Custom front fork and rear shock -1.4Kg (-3.1lb)
Superbike pistons -194g (-.4lb)
Tungsten-balanced crankshaft -396g (-.9lb)
SBK 520 chain and Aluminum rear sprocket, and various carbon fibre parts, fasteners, and machined-from-billet components -1.3Kg (-2.9lb)
TOTAL WEIGHT SAVINGS: 12Kg (26.5lb) overall (wet) weight savings vs. 1199 Panigale R
WARRANTY
2 years unlimited mileage
Maintenance (km/months)12,000 km (7,500 mi) / 12 months
Valve clearance adjustment (km)24,000 km (15,000 mi) - street use
ENGINE
Engine
Superquadro: L-Twin cylinder, Desmodromic valve actuation, 4 valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
Displacement: 1,198 cc
Bore X stroke: 112 x 60.8 mm
Compression ratio: 13.2:1
Power: exceeds 200 hp (149Kw) @ 11,500 rpm
Torque: 134 Nm (99 ft-lbs) @ 10,200 rpm
Fuel injection: Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system. Twin injectors per cylinder. Full Ride-by-Wire elliptical throttle bodies
Exhaust: 2-1-2 system, primary tubes in titanium. Twin titanium mufflers. 2 lambda probes and 2 catalytic converters
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox 6 speed
Primary drive: Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.77:1
Ratio: 1=37/15 2=30/16 3=27/18 4=25/20 5=24/22 6=23/24
Final drive Chain; Front sprocket Z=15; Rear sprocket Z=41
Clutch: Hydraulically controlled slipper/self-servo wet multiplate clutch with Superbike configuration
Riding Modes, Power Modes
ABS, DTC, DQS, EBC, DES, DDA+ w/GPS module, Fully RbW. DWC based on inertial platform. Dedicated buttons for rapid setting of DTC, DWC, EBC. Titanium rods. Carbon fibre parts: fairings, seat base, heel guards, air duct covers, power switch cover, rear shock cover, front and rear mudguards. Titanium bolts. |
CHASSIS
Frame: Monocoque in magnesium alloy
Front suspension: Fully adjustable 43mm USD Öhlins FL 916 fork with TiN treatment, billet fork bottoms and lightweight stress-optimized outer tubes
Front wheel: 3-spoke magnesium alloy 3.50" x 17"
Front tyre: Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP 120/70 ZR17
Rear suspension: Fully adjustable single Öhlins TTX36 shock with titanium spring, with linkage adjustable between progressive/flat. Aluminium single-sided swingarm. Adjustable swingarm pivot.
Rear wheel: 3-spoke magnesium alloy 6.00" x 17"
Rear tyre: Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP 200/55 ZR17
Wheel travel (front/rear)
120 mm (4.7 in) - 130 mm (5.1 in)
Front brake: 2 x 330 mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc Evo M50 4-piston callipers with ABS, Brembo MCS 19-21 adjustable-ratio front brake master cylinder, remote lever adjuster
Rear brake: 245 mm disc, 2-piston calliper with ABS
Instrumentation: Colour TFT display
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS
Dry weight: 155 kg (342 lb)
Kerb weight without fuel: 166 kg (366 lb)
Kerb weight: 177 kg (390 lb)
Seat height: 830 mm (32.7 in)
Fuel tank capacity: 17 l (4.5 US gallons)
Number of seats: Single seat
Racing kit
Included with each 1199 Superleggera is a “track kit” to adapt the bike completely to closed-circuit use. The kit is composed of pieces which, when mounted, add to the bike an additional 5 horsepower, and shed an additional 2.5Kg. It is the finishing touch, to unleash every last bit of the 1199 Superleggera’s incredible performance. Kit composition:
Racing exhaust
Racing windshield
Machined mirror block-off plates
License plate holder removal plug
Sidestand removal kit
Connectors
Also included:
Front paddock stand
Rear paddock stand
Paddock bike cover |
FRAME
The Monoscocca frame, already enormously innovative in its multifunctional minimalism, is transformed into a jewel by being sand-cast in magnesium alloy. Compact and rigid with excellent vibration absorption, the frame forms the ultimate lightweight backbone (-1.1Kg / 2.4 lbs vs. 1199 Panigale R) to support Project 1201's incredible performance.
SUBFRAME
Structural piece, or modern art? A complex subframe artisanally crafted in aerospace-quality carbon fibre is phenomenally light – less than a kilo (-1.2Kg vs. 1199 Panigale R) – and holds electronics as well as Project 1201's tail. Laterally and torsionally stiff, the subframe also supports the seat, providing an optimal foundation for the rider to assert full control.
SUSPENSION
To keep it always in perfect dynamic control on any surface and at any speed, Project 1201 features customized lightweight (-1.4Kg vs. 1199 Panigale R) suspension from the world-class Swedish suppliers Öhlins, including a titanium-spring TTX36 shock and Superbike-level FL916 lightened front fork with stress-optimized outer tubes and fully machined bottoms.
WHEELS
Computer designed and optimized, expertly forged from magnesium, and machined to balanced perfection, Project 1201's wheels are an essential component of its breathtaking performance. An astonishing 1kg / 2.2 lbs lighter than the already-featherweight wheels of the 1199 Panigale S/R, their reduction in unsprung rotating mass hugely benefits Project 1201’s acceleration, braking, and handling.
 Alex Lowes is trying to reel in on Shayne Byrne for the 2013 British Superbike Championship.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, Round 11
Lowes and Byrne Trade Wins at Silverstone to maintain British Superbike Title Bout
Silverstone, GB, October 5-6th, 2013 - - Alex Lowes goes into the final triple race round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship trailing the defending title holder Shane Byrne by a single point after an epic penultimate round at Silverstone. Riding the Samsung Honda, Lowes had scorched to his seventh pole position of the season at record pace but Kawasaki rider Byrne, despite intense pain from an injury to his right hip sustained in a heavy tumble during free practice, was full of fight to start alongside him at the front of the grid. Continued...
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Engineer Luigi Dall’Igna to become new Ducati Corse General Manager
• Bernhard Gobmeier to assume a new important role within Volkswagen Group Motorsport
• Luigi Dall’Igna to be appointed Ducati Corse General Manager
• The new positions will become effective from 11 November, 2013
Borgo Panigale,Bologna, Italy, 10 October, 2013 – Ducati announces the appointment of Mr. Luigi Dall’Igna as the new General Manager of Ducati Corse (the former Aprilia World Superbike team manager who is foundly known as "Gi Gi" in the SBK paddock). Having played key roles for many years in both MotoGP and World Superbike championships, 47-year-old Mr. Dall’Igna has acquired significant experience in the world of motor sport. His expertise will enable the Bologna-based manufacturer to increase its focus on the technical aspects of its racing activity, continuing to lay the foundations for a new phase of development and improving its competitive results. Mr. Dall’Igna will report directly to Ducati Motor Holding CEO, Claudio Domenicali.
Bernhard Gobmeier, who has been the General Manager of Ducati Corse for the past ten months, will return to Germany to pursue the opportunity of a prestigious and strategic position within the Motorsport organisation of the Volkswagen Group. In his new position, the 54-year-old Engineer from Bavaria will continue his upward professional curve within the VW Group.
Paolo Ciabatti, who has been the MotoGP Project Manager since January, is confirmed in his role and will report directly to the new Ducati Corse General Manager, as will 39-year-old Engineer Ernesto Marinelli, Ducati Superbike Project Manager for the past two seasons. The new appointments become effective from 11 November, 2013, immediately after the end of the 2013 racing season.
Thank you Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for bringing World Superbike back to its American home!!!
We hope all American roadracing fans will realize how much better the show and access to the teams and the racing is at World Superbike and they will increase ten fold in attendance at Laguna Seca WSBK in the coming years. It was great to return to Laguna WSBK this past weekend to shoot the next Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar
Cycle News published "official" spectator attendance figures at the Laguna Seca SBK World Superbike / AMA races at 41,000. As an event promoter ourselves, we estimated a crowd of maybe 4,000 on Saturday / 5,000 on Sunday (which included the 4,000 with Weekend Tickets returning from Saturday).
If the race tracks didn't have title sponsors like Yamaha, Red Bull, etc, to help with costs, and MotoGP and SBK weren't discounting the race sanction fees heavily to keep them in the American market, we certainly would not have any World Championship motorcycle roadracing in America. Spectator attendance at Amerian races the last 10 years just has not justified it.
Ducati World Superbike
Technical Updates and Riders for 2014
Ben Spies is contracted to Ducati of Italy, and not the Parmac MotoGP team which runs Ducati GP bikes. His contract requires him to race MotoGP or WSBK at Ducati's pleasure. He is under consideration for being on the factory Alstare Ducati World Superbike team for 2014, but his current injuries are preventing Ducati from selecting him at this date. Ducati hopes to have their 2014 WSBK team riders selected by the final race at Magney Cours in a few weeks.
Nicky Hayden also has an offer to race on the Ducati Superbike team next year, but he tested the bike last month and found it to be so underpowered, he'd rather try to stay in MotoGP with a Satelite team.
In an effort to make the new 1199 Ducati Paniagle competitive in World Superbike this year against the other makes, FIM/SBK sanctioning officials have "hinted" to the team since June that they can make any (illegal) modifications to the 1199RS they want to improve power and handling. But unfortunatley, the Corse Race Department does not have the desire, budget, needed staff or ability to make the all the needed changes this season. This past weekend at Laguna they ran modified fuel tanks which extended under the rider's seat to help move weight down and rearward, to help unload the front end which has been washing out, and improve rear wheel traction. The riders said it worked and was proven by Nicholas Canepa qualifying 4th in Superpole.
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These SBK Yearbooks are the Best Books Ever about World Superbike. They feature awesome color photography of the riders, bike and racing action. The feature a detailed revue of the past season in pictures and statistics, with 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!
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MV Agusta F3 800cc
The Devil Made Us Do It!
Testing the Ducati Diavel in Italy
New BMW HP4 Superbike
Sudco High Performance & OEM Replacement Parts
High Speed - the Movie
The best motorcycle racing movie ever made! Filmed on location at the World Superbike races , this an exciting romantic drama staring beautiful British actress Sienna Miller.
EDELWEISS OFFERS NEW and AFFORDABLE MOTORCYCLE TOUR ALONG THE DOLOMITES WITH CHALLENGING ROADS, OVERWHELMING MOUNTAIN SCENERY AND ITALIAN CUISINE AT ITS FINEST.
The Dolomites are a must for a passionate biker – come with us on an unforgettable motorcycle tour. The countryside is dominated by mountains, rivers, and gorge-like valleys, which have just space enough for a road and railroad tracks; but there are also bigger towns like Bolzano, where our base hotel is located.
Thinking about Italian culture you will notice quite a big difference from what you may expect; building style, cultures, languages, bilingual road signs and special foods show that varied peoples and ideas peacefully co-exist here. The Sella Ronda is a very good warm-up for the following days and our rides to Penserjoch, Jaufenpass and Timmelsjoch.
Eight more passes are on our schedule for the next day and we will have the opportunity to stop in the nice little town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, well known from the Olympics in 1956. Now it’s time to make a decision: go to Venice for sightseeing or collect 10 more passes? Tough call! The last riding day leads us south to the wonderful Lake Garda, with swimming and riding at its best.
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THROUGH THE ALPINE WONDERLAND OF AUSTRIA AND SOUTHERN GERMANY – THE ALPS AND LAKES MOTORCYCLE TOUR!
The Alps and Lakes motorcycle tour takes you through a beautiful part of European motorcycle paradise; the Alps. The contrast between the beautiful lakes in southern Germany and Austria and the towering mountains that reach up to more than 10,000 ft is nothing less than breathtaking.
This area is the famous background for the movie „Sound of Music“. This vacation offers a little bit of everything: beautiful and relaxing rides through the valleys; some mountain roads and passes; and great vistas and sights, including King Ludwig‘s castle, Herrenchiemsee, and the historic city of Salzburg. The tour consists of five riding days, one of them is a rest day – which means that you stay two nights at the same hotel.
This is a great opportunity to explore a little bit more, ride around the countryside, walk through town, meet the locals and sample some of the local food. The tour will take you through Germany and Austria, and on the rest day you can even add Italy to your list if you are so inclined.
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Yamaha USA announces its 2014 Riders as new Champ Josh Herin moves to Moto2 in Europe
Monterey, CA, Sept 29th, 2013 – Now that the 2013 AMA Pro Racing season has reached its conclusion, the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team is pleased to announce that 2013 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Champion Cameron Beaubier will join three-time AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes on the two-rider team. The announcement was made by Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
For the 2014 AMA Pro SuperBike season, Josh Hayes will be aboard the #4 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1, and Cameron will race the team’s other R1 SuperBike, with competition #2 on the fairing.
According to McCarty, “Josh Herrin has been with us since 2005, and he’s been a tremendous rider and great ambassador for the Yamaha brand and all our team sponsors. His long-term goals have always been to win a Championship here in the U.S., and then go and race in Europe. With his 2013 SuperBike Championship and an opportunity awaiting him to race in the Moto2 World Championship, his dreams are coming true. We’re thankful to Josh for all the terrific years he’s given us, and especially for winning the SuperBike Championship this season. We’re looking forward to seeing him race on the world stage beginning next year.”
When asked about his new SuperBike teammate, Josh Hayes said, “First of all, big congratulations to Josh (Herrin) for winning the Championship this year. He really stepped up big this season. I’m looking forward to seeing him race against those boys in Moto2. It’s great to have another American carrying the flag for us. Good luck to Josh. As for Cameron, he had an amazing year in Daytona SportBike, and he deserves to be up here racing the Yamaha R1 and representing Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha in SuperBike. He’s already proven to be a phenomenal rider. I’m thrilled to have him as my teammate for 2014, and I have to say that I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me next season!”
Cameron said, “Congratulations to Josh Herrin on his SuperBike Championship, and also on his opportunity to race in Moto2. It’s going to be cool to see him compete against the world’s best and represent the U.S. As for me, I’m very thankful that Keith (McCarty) has given me this opportunity to continue advancing my racing career with Yamaha. I love riding for Yamaha, and I’m looking forward to racing the R1 SuperBike. And, to have Josh Hayes as my teammate is icing on the cake. He’s helped me so much over the past couple of years, and I really respect him both as rider and a mentor.”
Stayed tuned for more information coming soon about Yamaha’s U.S. road racing plans for 2014, including an announcement of next year’s rider lineup for the Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team.
Pata Honda confirms 2014 SBK line-up
Oct 1st - The Pata Honda World Superbike team has announced that it will retain the same rider line-up of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam heading into the 2014 world championship season.
Rea is currently recuperating from a fractured left femur that he sustained in a crash at Nürburgring in Germany last month, but the 26-year-old from Northern Ireland is making a good recovery and is optimistic about the possibility of riding his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade again before then end of the year.
Rea began his world championship career with the Ten Kate-run Honda team in the 2008 World Supersport series before moving up to World Superbikes in 2009, since when he has secured 33 podiums from 116 races, including 11 race victories.
He will once again partner fellow British rider Leon Haslam who joined the team for the 2013 season, which has unfortunately been affected by a broken leg he sustained at Assen in the Netherlands in April.
Haslam, 30, has contest 155 World Superbike championship races, a third of which have been on Honda’s CBR machine. The British rider has achieved a total of three race wins and 28 podium finishes since his first SBK race in 2003, and he finished as runner-up in the series in 2010.
Jonathan Rea - "It's been a big decision that I've thought long and hard about because there were some other options to consider. However, at the end of the day it was an easy choice because of the faith and respect that I have for the team that I've been with for six years and the company that I have been with my entire career. I know how hard the guys work to make the Honda competitive and I know that we have the potential to fight again for more podiums and race wins and the championship next season. Those podiums and wins are what motivate all of us and that's why I know that everyone will pull out the stops over the winter again to make them happen. We will go into the testing programme in a much better position than we were in 12 months ago because we've worked so hard to get the new electronics package to work this season. I am as motivated as ever and really looking forward to riding my bike again."
Leon Haslam - "I’m very happy to have another go at it, really! This season has been pretty non-existent with the injury and the big learning curve we’ve had with the new electronics. So I’m excited to get back to full fitness and to have good go with the bike and see if we can turn the potential into success. We’ve made some really good steps recently but that’s been combined with some bad luck this year. Hopefully, that’s all out of the way now and we can keep making progress in the last few races and over winter testing. The Haslam link to Honda has been strong for many years and it was fantastic to win the Suzuka 8-hour this year. Hopefully we can go back and defend that next year, and I can’t wait to go into the next World Superbike season with the same bike, the same guys and have a proper go at it."
Ronald ten Kate, team manager - "Jonathan has demonstrated great faith in this team over the years and we are, of course, overjoyed to have him back for a sixth World Superbike campaign. We have got to know each other very well over the years and one thing that comes across is his consistent and tenacious desire to get the very best out of the CBR – something he does year after year. Of course, with injuries, it has not been an easy season for him or for his team-mate, so we are very happy that Leon will join us again for next season. With two fit riders and some further development on the bike, we can look forward to 2014 with renewed confidence and optimism."
Carlo Fiorani, racing operations manager - Honda Motor Europe
"I do not think it is a secret that both Jonathan and Leon had some other options to consider for 2014, so we are, of course, delighted that we will be working with them again. We believe that there is a great level of mutual respect between us and we know that we have two fully-motivated riders who have the potential to fight for top honours. It’s good that they, too, know that the Honda they ride has equal potential and that they will have a team around them to help get the results that we all want to see. For many reasons, 2013 has been a difficult year for everyone, so we all hope that, with Dorna taking the series to new levels, we can have a 2014 season that is safe and successful, both for the riders and for the whole team." |
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