|
FastDates.com Calendar Kittens and official SBK World Superbike Umbrella Girls, Jitka (left) and Petra (right) are featured in the
2014 Fast Dates World Superbike and Garage Girls Calendars, and the new 2014 Fast Calendar Digital Magazine.
Fast Dates brings Czech SBK girls Jitka and Petra to
Laguna Seca World Superbike and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in July 2014!
January 10, 204 - The FastDates.com Calendars and producer / photographer Jim Gianatsis are excited to announce an agreement with SBK World Superbike and the international model agencies PetrasAngles.com and UmbrellaGilrsUSA.com to bring beautiful Czech Republic SBK grid girls Jitka and Petra to the United States this July 2014 to appear at Laguna Seca SBK World Superbike round and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show.
These two 6-foot 2-inch tall long legged, blond hair professional supermodels hail from the capital of the Czech Republic, Prauge, and have been featured on SBK world TV race broadcasts the last 3 years standing at the front of the SBK World Superbike starting grid towering above the race bikes and riders in their uniforms with umbrellas to showcase SBK's title sponsors Pirelli Tires, Agip Fuels and Lubricants, and Alfa Romeo Automobiles. In their official uniforms with 6-inch heels on their platform boots, Jitka and Petra tower nearly 7 feet tall and can intimidate the bravest factory racers and experienced photographers!
Both these Czech mates are already official FastDates.com Calendar Kittens having shot for the Calendars with contributing Italian photographer Max Oliana at the 2012 and 2013 SBK rounds at Bruno and Silverstone for the current 2014 and upcoming 2015 Fast Dates World Superbike and Garage Girls PinUp Calendars.
Meet the offical SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Girls Here!
2014 LA Calendar Motorcyc;e Show Moves to the Malibu Golf Cours on July 20th
Then it will be the next weekend and the exciting 2014 23rd annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show & Concours on Sunday July 20th at the Malibu Golf Course, 901 Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu, CA 90265 in the mountains above the California coast. The world's top custom bike builders will gather once again to show off their latest rolling masterpieces on the rolling greens of the exclusive golf course, together with great food and beverages, live Calendar Girl Music, select vendors and bike displays. Calendar Kittens Jitka and Perta will help host the day's activities and then shoot with the day's top placing bikes for the FastDates.com Calendars. More at LA Calendar Motorcycle Show
Newly crowned 2013 British Superbike Champion Sam Lowes was quickest in Portugal on the factroy Suzuki, just ahead of the other new Suzuki team rider Eurene Laverty.
SBK World Superbike Pre Season Testing
Voltcome Cresent Suzuki Turnes the Quickest Times at Portimao|
Portimao (Portugal), Monday 20 January 2014 - Voltcom Crescent Suzuki successfully concluded its week of pre-season testing with Alex Lowes topping the Portimao timesheets today, following-on from Eugene Laverty’s quickest-time yesterday.
Lowes' and Laverty’s detailed evaluations after four-days on-board the Yoshimura-powered GSX-R, firstly in Almeria, Spain - and for the last two-days at Portimao in Portugal - enabled the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki squad to refine the 2014 Öhlins suspension and newly-developed electronic control strategies, as the pair completed a thorough test schedule.
A full day of testing today saw the team working non-stop to ensure the most-efficient use of time and track: Lowes completed 165 laps over the two days in Portimao (725-kms of flat-out riding) on a track he had never previously ridden, while Laverty completed 133 laps. The distance covered allowed the team numerous chassis-setting evaluations to find the best balance for braking stability, steering and rear grip to further the developments made in Almeria last week.
Laverty’s lap-time of 1’43.4 topped the unofficial day one timesheets, from the four Factory World Superbike teams running on a blustery day-one at Portimao, with his team-mate Lowes taking the top spot overall in the combined two-day timings with a 1’42.5 as Laverty also improved to a 1’42.6.
The Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team will now return to its UK base to further evaluate the data collected and prepare for the opening round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship and the official pre-season test at Phillip Island, Australia in a month’s time.
Alex Lowes: “The test has been really good, I'm still learning a lot about the bike and obviously it’s a new track for me, so it was nice to have the opportunity to learn the track and still be quick! We did a long run today and while the times were good, the most important thing was that it gave me a lot of confidence. We got a lot of information about the bike and it was good for me as well, as I've not done a race simulation since the last round of BSB. I still need to improve myself a lot and work on the bike but we shouldn't be too far away!
“A massive thanks to the team; they've been working really hard, late nights and two tests back-to-back. I think everyone is excited, we are all getting on great and we know we need to work hard. We have a big challenge in front of us and it’s nice to do a good job.”
Eugene Laverty: “It’s been a good test in all. This Portugal test was the best yet; even yesterday we got some good laps in the wet to understand the bike and then in the dry our pace was really strong, which shows the work we've been doing on the electronics has been important and that our work is reaping the rewards.
“I think we are surprising some people as both me and Alex are right there, but it’s also nice to reward the team because they've worked incredibly hard over the last couple of months; especially since Jerez. The work they have done in six weeks, most teams probably wouldn't complete in six months! They haven't stopped, so I think it’s nice to see some positive potential being shown. I'm feeling good on the GSX-R and I'm looking forward to Phillip Island."
Unofficial Two-Day Combined Times: 1. Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) 1’42.5: 2. Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) 1’42.6: 3. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1’42.9: 4. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1’43.0: 5. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 1’43.1: 6. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1’43.2: 6. Leon Haslam (Honda) 1’43.5.
Davies and Giugliano (shown here) continue to gain confidence with the 1199 Panigale Superbike. Note the raintires, with the weather unfortunately impacting the planned work schedule in Portugal
The Ducati Superbike Team concludes a four-day test session at Portimao
Portimao (Portugal), Monday 20 January 2014 – Despite some inclement weather throughout the weekend, the Ducati Superbike Team was able to complete most of the work scheduled for the four-day test that concluded today at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal.
With four days of track time available to them, the Ducati Superbike Team and riders Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano arrived in Portimao with a full testing schedule. Unfortunately, rain fell throughout most of Friday and again over the weekend, conditioning the first half of the tests although this did provide the team with ample opportunity to test wet weather settings.
The newly-formed factory squad was nevertheless able to make up for lost ground on Sunday afternoon and on Monday and, under the guidance of SBK Project Director Ernesto Marinelli and Team Manager Serafino Foti, worked primarily on testing the new 2014 Ӧhlins suspension, complete with RSP25 fork and RSP40 shock. The riders also worked with their respective technicians on the set-up of their 1199 Panigale bikes, as they concentrated on improving grip and finding the right setting with which to handle the undulating Portimao track.
The Ducati Superbike Team will return to the tracks during official testing at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia on 17 and 18 February, just a few days before Round 1 of the 2014 Superbike World Championship gets underway at the same track with the opening races scheduled to take place on Sunday 23 February.
Davide Giugliano - Ducati Superbike Team #34 - “We’ve got a lot done in the end. Unfortunately although the rain ruined the first two and a half days it was nevertheless useful as we were able to build confidence with the 1199 in the wet. I’m happy with what we’ve achieved, we’ve worked with the new material and I feel comfortable with it. I can say that I feel increasingly at ease with my Panigale. It’s just a pity about the red-flag at the end of the day today as this prevented us from making a final exit on fresh tyres which would have allowed us to close the test even more positively and to better understand the bike’s potential.”
Chaz Davies - Ducati Superbike Team #7 - “Despite the slow start, we were able to get a lot done and overall it’s been a positive test, although I can’t help but wish we’d had more dry time. Out of the four days we were only really able to get down to work in the dry today. It was important to test the various development pieces and understand how each one works, rather than finding a general set-up with which to make a fast time. It would have been nice to be able to up the pace, but unfortunately we ran out of time. Anyway we will take what we have learned here in Portugal and move on to the next tests in Phillip Island.”
Ernesto Marinelli - Ducati SBK Project Director - “The rain over the last three days limited us greatly, cutting into the time we had to test the many components that we had with us in Portimao. We nevertheless managed to complete most of the scheduled work and feedback has been positive. Chaz and Davide are working very well and they are providing precise and important data with which to improve the performance of our bike. I’m more than satisfied with the new setting for 2014 which was at 100% during these tests. The return of Feel Racing personnel was a bit like a homecoming. Together with Serafino Foti we have created a united, tight group and this is fundamental as we prepare for a season that will surely require all of our energies.”
Kawasaki Evo SBK Project Announced
20 January 2014 - Kawasaki wishes to make public there will be an official Evo SBK class entry in the 2014 Superbike World Championship. David Salom has been chosen to both race and help develop the Evo Ninja ZX-10R. The team will be based is Spain alongside the official KRT full Superbike effort and will be run by the same Provec arm of KRT’s operation that runs 2013 world champion Tom Sykes and Loris Baz in the full SBK team.
There have been previous tests for David Salom with the Evo Ninja ZX-10R already, at Jerez, Motorland Aragon and most recently at Almeria, with strong showings from man and machine underlining the performance of the overall Kawasaki package in every kind of racing trim.
Salom will test again alongside Sykes and Baz at Jerez on 5 and 6 February, before taking part in the final tests of the pre-season at Phillip Island, between 17 and 18 January. The first race of the 2014 season will take place at the same Australian venue on Sunday 23 February.
David Salom: “I am very happy with this opportunity because it is a very good project and a very good team. Helping with the developing the bike is very important for me and the main part of my job is to prepare for 2015 when everyone will be riding on an Evo bike. I am not sure what we can achieve in terms of race results this year but we have tested the bike at Motorland Aragon, Jerez and Almeria and the lap times have been very good. I think we can fight at the front of the Evo class but even more important is the positive development of the machine. The Kawasaki is a very good bike to start with in the Evo class, as all aspects of it work well. We have not changed many parts so far but we have still posted fast lap times.”
Guim Roda. KRT Team Manager: "As many press outlets have been reporting David Salom has been track testing, since last November, an Evo specification Ninja ZX-10R during KRT private tests. This has been part of developing program by KHI and KRT to prepare for the 2014 season with this kind of bike. KHI has now confirmed that the project will go ahead and David Salom will be the rider. It is a project for one year, preparing for the 2015 season in the best way possible. It will be an opportunity to develop the bike to maximise the good level of performance the Ninja ZX-10R already has as part of its overall design. We have created a very nice team with Toni Alfosea as the Chief Mechanic and another three mechanics led by Cedric Veron, who is very experienced. All KRT staff will be involved in this project, so for sure it will be a third KRT bike on the grid, pushing the full SBK class ones.”
Steve Guttridge, Racing Manager: “It is very good news that we will enter an official EVO Superbike inside our Kawasaki Racing Team this season. The FIM Superbike World Championship is changing under the new promoters Dorna, and we need to evolve with the rules of the series if we are to maintain our current momentum of success in this category. The team has the knowledge, and importantly the full support of the factory, to work on the extra EVO bike project within KRT’s overall set up this season. In David Salom we have a great all-round Kawasaki-minded rider, to not only help make the required developments for 2015 but also to race for top EVO class honours come the end of the 2014 series.”
 The Bimota BB5 powered by the BMW 1000RR inline 4-cylinder motor made its world premier 2 months ago at 2013 EICMA Show. This is the first serious Bimoto Superbike in years and features race track quality components like Ohlins suspension and Bremo Monobloc brakes.
Alstare Racing And Bimota Motorcycles become Racing Development Partners
Liège, Belgium, January 12, 2014 - The prestigious Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota and Alstare - both renowned for their engineering expertise and racing success - are happy to announce that they have agreed a long-term partnership of five years.
The partnership will see Alstare create a new Global Racing department for Bimota in their headquarters in Belgium. From there, they will provide technical support to all official Bimota teams worldwide, together with the supply of parts for track use.
Alstare will be responsible for Research and Development for Bimota and will work on improving Bimota’s Moto2 bikes as well as the Bimota BB3.
In addition, the R&D Department will work on developing Bimota’s new sports and supersport models. Alstare communication agency’s vast knowledge, and ability to innovate will be dedicated to Bimota’s Racing Marketing and Communication strategy. They will also conduct market research on Bimota’s behalf, while taking care of all their campaigns and events. The new agency will actively promote Bimota and raise the famous marque to the high level it deserves.
Alstare aim to improve Bimota’s business network and increase the level of communication withimporters and dealers worldwide. A global customer base will be established, an official online community will be created and all Bimota fan clubs will be fully supported.
About Bimota:
Bimota is an Italian manufacturer of exquisitely designed esoteric motorcycles. Production engines are used, together with high quality materials and components – many of which are produced in house. The company was founded in 1973, in Rimini, by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri and MassimoTamburini and celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.
It was also last year, in September, that Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni bought Bimota with the intention of rejuvenating this prestigious and famous marque. Thanks to their passion, determination and commitment, together with Alstare’s partnership, this process is already gathering pace.
About Alstare:
Alstare have been involved in motorcycle sport since 1982, when they provided hospitality for the FMI (Federazione Motociclistica Italiana) and later for Lucky Strike. After that, Alstare’s owner, Francis Batta, worked as Team Manager of Cagiva in GP500, before going on to become General Manager of the Superbike World Championship in the early 1990s. He formed his own team in 1996, taking one World Superbike, two World Supersport and three Superstock titles in the following years with Suzuki.
In addition to running a race team, Alstare successfully ran Corona Extra Europe, Asia and Africa’s communication strategy for nine years and was fully involved as a ‘brand builder’ – specialising in promotional events – for Diesel Jeans when it was created by Renzo Rosso. Alstare’s headquarters, near Liège, in Belgium are situated in a totally revamped marmalade factory of the late 30’s which has been converted into a high-tech facility able and ready to cope with all the current and future needs of modern motorcycles and motorcycle sport.
Surprise! - Alstare and Bimota Go World Superbike EVO racing in 2014
Liège, Monday 13th, Jan 2014 - One spin-off of the newly formed long-term partnership between the legendary Bimota brand and Alstare – the most experienced team in World Superbikes - is the formation of Team BIMOTA ALSTARE RACING which will compete in the EVO class in this year’s World Superbike Championship on the formidable Bimota BB3*.
Engineer Acquaviva and his team at Bimota’s headquarters in Rimini have taken the bullet-proof BMW engine and married it to a beautifully designed chassis – designed and built in their own workshops - together with high level components in all areas. The result is a stunning looking bike, but one that hides a powerful beast within.
It will be Alstare’s job to develop this bike, with Bimota’s full co-operation, and turn it into a race winner and bring success on track to both companies. The team will attack the EVO class with two riders – Italian Ayrton Badovini and Briton Christian Iddon .Ayrton is no stranger to Alstare, having ridden for them last year – in what proved to be a very challenging season. Now fully fit again, the Italian is comfortable with the team and ready to go to fight for glory right from the start.
Christian may well be new to the team, but there is a Bimota connection as his father rode a Bimota YB3 in the opening years of the championship. Christian comes from a successful background in motocross and supermoto and only switched to roadracing in 2008, but has begun to show his huge potential and is definitely one to watch for the future.
Ayrton Badovini - “The early part of this year is going to be a bit difficult because of our late start, but having said that, I’ve
got such a good team backing me, I know we can do a nice job.
Although the BB3 is a new bike, I know the engine characteristics very well, from my two years with it in 2011 and 2012. It is a nice engine – fast, but very usable at all speeds. I don’t think we’re going to need to do a lot of work on the engine, which leaves us to concentrate of the rest of the package.
For me, this year is a lot about improving the bike and being ready for next year and in this respect I’m sure that we’ll do a good job. I’m really, really happy to be back with Alstare again and feel I am returning to a family I know well. The team is very professional. I learnt a lot from them last year and expect to learn more from them this year.
If things go well, and I see no reason they should not, my target is to develop the bike quickly and win the
EVO title this year.”
Christian Iddon - “This is an amazing opportunity for me and I am very excited about the challenge ahead. Alstare is a
famous team, with a big history and I am sure that I am going to learn a lot from them. They have loads of
experience and that is going to help me, in what is going to be a very interesting season.
I have ridden a Superbike before, four rounds in the British Superbike Championship, but I know the new Bimota BB3 is going to be very different to what I am used to. Although we are starting from scratch, as long as we can find a good base setting we can progress quickly. I think many teams in this year’s championship are new and probably have not done much testing, so we’re going to be in the same boat as them. I don’t like to talk about targets, but I always set high goals for myself and this year will be no exception. I would like to think we’d be challenging the top guys in the EVO class well before the latter part of the season and
I’d be disappointed if we weren’t.
I know I’ve got a great team behind me and I am looking forward to working with them and maybe surprising a few people.”
Ever since Alstare boss Francis Batta met Bimota’s new owners, Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni in EICMA last November, things started happening. The trio clicked straightaway and it wasn’t long before plans were being drawn up. The early plans were really not a lot to do with racing, but Bimota and Alstare’s success and history in World Superbikes was bound to lead to the formation of a race team.
Bimota have long been renowned for their esoteric and beautiful bikes. Ever since their creation, they have designed unique bikes, using hand-crafted components from their own workshops married to a variety of engines from different manufacturers. Ever since day one, their mission statement has all been about quality, regardless of cost and that still holds true to today. It seems therefore fitting that they have taken Alstare as a partner – as Alstare, in their own way, have also stood out from the rest
of the field. They may not have always had the best bikes, but they have always been one of the most professional teams in the paddock and have supported the World Superbike Championship longer than any other team. This new partnership marries two greats of motorcycling and a long and illustrious future beckons - both on the road and on the track. Francis Batta’s new contact with Giuliano Rovelli is already yielding fruit. The final decisions are about to be concluded, but ParkinGo will become a partner and one of the team’s sponsors. As part of the deal, the team will be promoted via ParkinGo in their airport buildings.
Francis Batta - “I am very happy and excited about this long-term global project with Bimota – a famous and highly
thought of brand. It all started at the EICMA last November, when I met the new owners Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni and immediately got on well with them. After that first meeting, I had a really good feeling about our prospects together.
We knew our companies would complement each other in every way and such a symbiosis would be of enormous benefit all round. We both have enjoyed success in racing and putting our expertise together will be like a marriage made in heaven.
The BB3, designed by Engineer Acquaviva and his team in Rimini, is a fantastic bike and full of potential. We at Alstare are excited to help develop it, get it on the track and unleash the beast within. Ayrton was very unlucky with injuries last year and, realistically speaking, was never at 100%. Despite the difficulties we all faced, he managed a podium in very trying conditions and also took a superb Superpole in Germany – the first of his career.
I truly believe Ayrton’s potential is very high and I am sure that we’ll do things well together - not least because he fits the Alstare spirit perfectly.
I followed Christian’s progress in Supersport last year and know that the guy is a genuine talent, with an ability to go far. His manager, Giuliano Rovelli, and I spoke a lot during the holidays and we seemed to be on the same wavelength. I will be collaborating with Giuliano and ParkinGo at some level and will give further information once it has all been decided.”
* Subject to approval of Homologation by FIM and its members. The FIM is curently meeting to adjust the SBK homologation rules to allow the smaller manufacturer to participate.
Development progress update on Suzuki's new MotoGP bike....
Mule Motorcycles Triumph Bonneville Tracker now in the Calendar Bike Garage!
Check out this awesome Triumph Bonneville Streetracker built by one of our favorite Calendar Bike Builders, Richard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, now featured in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Garage with complete details and large screen saver size pictures. We might just even have included this picture of beautiful Sara with the bike.... Go to Calendar Bike Garage
Mule Motorcycles "Web Surfer 2" now in the Calendar Bike Garage!
Check out this awesome new Buell powered Streetracker built by one of our favorite Calendar Bike Builders, Richard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, which is now featured in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Gatage with complete details and large screen saver size pictures. You'll even find this Calendar picture of beautiful Sara with the bike.... Go to Calendar Bike Garage
And now, a word from our sponsor...
NEW! FAST 2014 Digital Calendar Magazine Yearbook
The Bikes, the Builders, the Riders, the Kittens,the Calendar Bike Show, the World Superbike races all the 2014 Calendar Pictures, and Special Features... For the first time every we take you around the world in 120 exclusive pages for the making of the 2014 FastDates.com Calendars! Now in Members Corner
Click Above for a full size screensaver of our Gianatsis Design offices Computer Monitor as we select pictures from this year's World Superbike photo shoots and begin production of the next Fast dates World Superbike Calendar!
Shooting the next FastDates.com Calendar at Laguna Seca Wold Superbike!
Go behing te scenes with photographer Jim Gianatsis and senen (!) beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Kittens - the offical SBK World Superbike Umbrella Girls, as we shoot the next edition of the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this past September 26-28th 2013. The Complete Story in FAST DATES NEWS.
Retro Board Track Racer
How cool is this V-Twin Retro Board Tracker Racer from a European builder which we found profiled in Extreme Bikes magazine. Check out heir free ditial issues now for FREE from: www.xtremebikes.es / and... Enjoy it!
There's more! Go to Pit Lane News Previous Week
Also Visit: Fast Dates Calendar News • Iron & Lace Calendar News
Calendar Girl News • Meet the Models • Paddock Garage
Get FastDates.com T-Shirts, Mugs & Photographs from Our Store
MEMBERS CORNER! Calendar
Kittens, Paddock Garage, Iron & Lace Garage
Amazon.com Motorcycle Products & Apparel Store
MotorcycleSuperstore.com
|
Hot Bikes, Sexy Kittens
Your Exclusive Grid Pass
also includes....
Order the New
2013 / 2014 Calendars!
with the FastDates.com Calendar Kittens - the official SBK Umbrella Girls!
Click for even more
2014 Calendars!
2014 Superbike / MotoGP
Action Calendar!
Meet the offical SBK
World Superbike Girls!
New Superpole Format for World Superbike
Dec 23rd - The 2014 edition of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship will see the introduction of a new Tissot-Superpole format, based on two sessions of 15 minutes each. Twenty riders will battle for the best placing on the grid, with the combined times in free practice to play a bigger role in the chase for pole position.
This change is part of an effort to make WSBK and GP Sporting Rules as similar as possible, to create a common ground in terms of regulations that can help circuit organisers, marshals and everyone involved in both series.
Tissot-Superpole - New procedure
- The top 20 riders classified after the Free Practice 1, 2 and 3 sessions will take part in Tissot-Superpole
- The ten fastest riders will be seeded directly into to Superpole 2 while the riders classified 11th to 20th will take part in Superpole 1
- The fastest two riders in Superpole 1 will progress to Superpole 2, making a total of 12 riders competing for the first 12 grid positions
- Both Superpole sessions will run for 15 minutes each. There will be a break of 10 minutes in between Superpole 1 & Superpole 2
Althea returns to World Superbike as Ducati's reference team for the World Superbike EVO class
Dec 20th- The Althea Racing-Ducati duo is back together for the 2014 eni FIM Superbike World Championship, as the team will run a 1199 Panigale in the EVO class. The Italian outfit will be Ducati's reference team for the newly born EVO category and its staff remains totally unchanged from last year.
Piloting the Althea Racing 1199 Panigale EVO will be Niccolò Canepa, a long-time Ducati rider. The 25 year old from Genova was runner-up in last year's FIM Superstock 1000 Cup with Team Barni, again on a Panigale, and took part in two WSBK rounds with Team Ducati Alstare, one of which as substitute rider for Carlos Checa.
Genesio Bevilacqua: "We are delighted to be back with Ducati as we achieved tremendous results together in the past, and we are looking forward to do the same now. Niccolò Canepa is the right rider for our new project, I have a lot of respect for him. We are fully committed and we want to thank Ducati for the trust put in us, I'm sure we will reward the company with some good performance."
Niccolò Canepa: "I'm so happy to be part of this new project, it was really important for me to step up to WSBK and I feel Althea Racing is the right team to do so. 2014 will be a crucial year for World Superbike, due to the introduction of the EVO class, it will be interesting to see how things will shape up. It's nice to stay with Ducati, my second family, and an honour to race for the 2011 Championship winning team. We need some testing before Phillip Island, so we can find a base set-up for the Panigale and gel together, but I know the bike quite well - in both STK and WSBK versions - and the team has an incredible amount of experience, so I think it won't take too long. I'm sure we'll do great things together."
Laguna Seca World Superbike USA to return to One Day, 2-Race format in 2014
With the release of the 2014 SBK World Superbike Calendar we can see that the USA round of World Superbike at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has returned to the traditional mid July motorcycle race weekend date at the west coast track which, having most recently been used by the MotoGP round, which is not returning to Laguna in 2014.
It's know that this past Septembers WSBK race weekend at Laguna was a disappointment as far as spectator attendance - we estimated perhaps 4,000 spectators at best, far from break-even profitable for the track.
Part of the problem for low spectator attendance was probably running the combined WSBK / AMA extended 3-day race weekend in September, so soon after their July combined MotoGP / AMA race weekend. That and the fact the traditional one day, 2-race format for WSBK had been spread out over 2 days, Saturday and Sunday, like the AMA does with its Superbike races.
The problem being in this difficult economy, spreading the feature event WSBK and AMA Superbike races over 2 days, Saturday and Sunday, together with Friday Practice, makes the races an expensive 2-4 day race weekend for spectators flying or driving in from Southern California.
That includes another day or two of expensive Monterey hotels, restaurants and lost days of work back home.
By now returning in 2014 to the traditional 2-day WSBK weekend with Qualifying Practice and Superpole on Saturday, and both Superbike races on Sunday, fans can now experience a much more affordable 1-3 day weekend at Laguna Seca to see both SBK races on Sunday.
We haven't heard yet how the AMA will schedule its Pro Racing classes during the 3-day WSBK race weekend which also includes Practice on Friday.
FINALLY!
AMA Pro Racing Annouces News Class Structures beginning in 2014, with Superbikes to eventualy conform to new World and National EVO Rules
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 4, 2013) - Officials from AMA Pro Racing announced today the future plans for the AMA Pro Road Racing class structure and rules package. The changes, which are planned for the 2015 AMA Pro Road Racing season, are being made with the goal of fostering a cost-effective and competitive racing platform for America's premier motorcycle road racing series.
"These long-term, strategic moves have been planned with careful consideration and after many conversations with our motorcycle manufacturers, teams, riders and event promoters," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "We feel that these changes will help us elevate the sport of professional motorcycle racing in North America to greater heights."
AMA Pro Racing will further refine the Series' tiered performance structure comprised of production-based classes. The performance characteristics of the motorcycles raced in each division will be configured so as to provide appropriate platforms for riders to compete and hone their skills as they climb the ladder to the premier AMA Pro SuperBike division.
AMA Pro SuperBike will be entering its 40th year of competition and will once again be featured as the headlining class for the Series. Following consultation with both World and National Superbike championship governing bodies, incremental changes will be made to the technical rules package over the next two seasons in the interest of rule commonality, performance parity and cost containment.
Equally as important to the class restructuring, the 2014 SuperSport season will be reconfigured as an overall National championship; the class will no longer be separated into East and West divisions. In 2015, a consolidated middleweight category will be established by combining the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike and AMA Pro SuperSport classes.
To complete the progressive class structure in 2015, AMA Pro Racing is investigating the potential of adding an entry-level division showcasing the smaller-displacement machines which are currently in large demand in showrooms across North America. The Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series is planned to enter its sixth season as part of the AMA Pro Road Racing class structure in 2015.
The 2014 AMA Pro Road Racing season will kick off once again at Daytona International Speedway. The event is scheduled for March 13 - 15, 2014 and will have the same three-day format featured in recent years, highlighted by the 73rd running of the DAYTONA 200 on Saturday afternoon. For tickets and information, please visit DaytonaInternational
Speedway.com
About AMA Pro Road Racing: AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. Learn more about AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/.
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
Retail $49.95 ea.
Click to Order from Amazon.com
Ducati Corse
World Superbikes
by Alan Cathcart
& Jim Gianatsis
The Official SBK
World Superbikes
1987-2012
25 Year History Book
The Official SBK
2013-2014 Yearbook
The Official SBK
2012-2013 Yearbook
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!
The Ride
The new generation
of sport customs
SBK World Superbike Video Game
Official Print Media Partner
Meet 2013 Calendar Kitten
Jitunka & Petra!
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.
Find Out More
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.
Find Out More
Order the Official
FastDates.com &
LA Calendar Bike Show
T-Shirts!
|
|
Book Your Tour & Race 
