Thursday Morning Moto News - WSBK, YZR500 & Aprilia Recall

World Superbike will be kicking off a three-day test at Portimao this weekend in preparation for the 2010 season. Shortly after that, 21 - 22 February, will see them at Phillip Island for another practice. That will just be one week before the opening round at the same circuit. Get a summary of this after the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yg8l3hs

Shane Byrne will be there with his Althea Racing Ducati: http://tinyurl.com/yaz74xm

Alex Gobert's column on the test: http://tinyurl.com/yaop7bg

Down outside of Sydney, Australia, you can actually purchase a full-on 500c.c. GP bike replica! Mick Costain of Mico Products can make a perfect replica of a Yamaha YZR500 from any season between 1988 and 2002. It is an impressive build and will certainly turn heads anywhere you go. Even the price is not so outside the norm. There are even more replicas he produces and you should see them for yourself!

http://tinyurl.com/yflgcuv

After that horrendous debut of the Aprilia RSV-4R (the lower-spec model), where five machines suffered con-rod failures and blew up. Well, apparently, some of those improperly manufactured parts made their way into the first run of the RSV-4 Factory and they have issued a recall to save those machines - ONLY in Australia for now. Get in touch with your dealer, just in case...

http://tinyurl.com/ye4l8a4