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Kawasaki's Jonny Rea (1) leads the pack at Assen with team mate Sykes (66), Ducati's Davies (7) and Nicky hayden (69).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

2016 MotoAmerica AMA Superbike Championship, Preview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roger Hayden is hoping to improve on his two third-place finishes from last year at COTA.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Suzuki Next Generation 2016 GSX-R1000 -World-Beating Performance. Again.
Nov. 17, 2015 – It has been three decades, with more than a million editions sold, since the GSX-R line was born. And a decade and a half has elapsed since the first GSX-R1000 changed the open sportbike class forever. Now, the concept of the 6th-generation GSX-R1000 is redefining what it means to be The Top Performer. It embodies the life work and professional ambition of Suzuki engineers who are passionate about the GSX-R1000 and its place in motorcycle history. Men who love riding and racing, enthusiasts determined to restore the GSX-R1000 to its proper title of The King of Sportbikes. Know this: It is the most powerful, hardest-accelerating, cleanest-running GSX-R ever built.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2015 LA Calendar Best of Show winner Hiroyuki Hirata with Calendar Kittens Sara, Apple, Helena and Alena.

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

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

                                                      COMPLETE 2015 LA CALENDAR BIKE SHOW COVERAGE HERE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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