More Afternoon Moto News - Super-Superbikes & Daytona Review

MotorcycleUSA has done a special motorcycle comparo between a non-modified Aprilia RSV-4, a well-modified Suzuki GSX-R1000 and a US$70K Ducati 1098R. The results were predictable with the Ducati being fastest, the Suzuki in second and the Aprilia at the back. However, you could buy three-and-a-half Aprilia RSV-4 bikes for the one of the Ducati machines, so imagine if you bought the RSV-4 and used the US$50K to turn it into a true SUPERbike. Read the article and have a look for yourself...

http://tinyurl.com/ycdpkry

Did you miss the Daytona Bike Week event this past week? If so, you might want to catch up on the events, happenings, racing and other parts of the experience when traveling to this annual rally. Simply take the link below and you can read about what went on and see some of the notable events of the Daytona Bike Week experience!

http://tinyurl.com/yd9cbvm

Some photos from the AMA: http://tinyurl.com/ybpe42a

MORE Afternoon Moto News - Lorenzo Lanzi & Suzuki Alstare WSBK

Lorenzo Lanzi is returning to World Superbike with the DFX Corse Ducati team and the Ducati 1098R. He has a long history with the series, and has won three races in the series during his career. Lanzi did ride for the team in ten races in 2009, but his best was an eleventh place. He is hoping to get better than he was his first time in the series...here's hoping he does well!

http://tinyurl.com/y9xvbwy

More good sponsorship news - this time from World Superbike. Suzuki Alstare has signed with Estonian beer company Viru - it is bottled in Italy by Buscaldi Group, which has a previous relationship with the team. The new livery is actually rather nice. However, a name that is one letter short of virus? I hope it's very good beer!

http://tinyurl.com/yfpvpok

More Afternoon Moto News - Larry Pegram & WSBK

As if we did not expect this news, Larry Pegram will continue to ride a Ducati in the AMA Pro Racing American Superbike series. The good news that we just now learned is that Foremost Insurance has stepped up their support for the relative privateer (Ducati's factory is not supporting him, but Ducati North America is bending over backwards to assist his effort). With his finishes last season - fourth overall - he will have a real chance of taking the title in a field of what are essentially other privateers.

http://tinyurl.com/ydmqp7b

Want to know who will be sitting on the grid in the 2010 World Superbike Championship? If so, this link will help you. It has each team, each rider and some history on some of the racers in this year's series. Given the stacked grid, it will be an awesome racing season in 2010!

http://tinyurl.com/y8mkx5h

Friday Afternoon Moto News of a New Sort

Well, we already knew this as well, but it a new study has confirmed it further - riding a motorcycle is good for your brain in many ways. Not only does it help to improve hand-to-eye coordination and bring serious levels of dopamine and other chemicals derived from the excitement of riding, it also builds new brain pathways and improves knowledge absorption. Just have a read about the study and you will know why you are smarter than your cage-bound friends and family.

http://tinyurl.com/ycyh3so

American Honda has also commemorated Mike Traynor by planting a tree - as a living memorial - and placing a plaque honoring him on the campus of their Torrance, California, HQ. Traynor worked very closely with the people in that office while managing his Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's Ride for Kids.

http://tinyurl.com/yerwhxr

And, the last part of this post will be a video of Ducati engineer Massimo Capanna. In the video he explains the importance of motorcycle ergonomics to a race bike. He was the person responsible for converting the Troy Bayliss Ducati 1098Rs to Larry Pegram for his 2009 AMA Pro Racing effort. It's a good watch.

http://tinyurl.com/y8p8rqn

Ultimate Superbike Test Ride in Portugal at Portimao

This writer from MotorcycleUSA online was fortunate enough to get invited to this unbelievable test in Portugal presented by the rights holders to World Superbike, Infront Sports. The author seems to have an attitude to match his skill level, but he does a good job of describing what it is like to ride these WSBK machines: Troy Corser's BMW S1000RR, Fabrizio's Ducati 1098F09, Rea's Honda CBR1000RR, Tamada's Kawasaki ZX-10R, Spies' Yamaha YZF-R1, Kagayama's Suzuki GSX-R1000, and Biaggi's Aprilia RSV-4. That is a full day's worth of testing, eh? Lucky guy...

http://tinyurl.com/yjkzgvj

Michael Rutter to Stay at Ducati for BSB in 2010

Rutter will contend the British Superbike Championship aboard a Ducati 1098R along with teammate Martin Jessopp, a former BSB Cup racer. The team will continue to receive support from last year's sponsors - Bathams Brewery, Black Horse Finance, and also West Country motorcycle dealership Riders. Good thing he is staying with a team which provided him a competitive machine.

http://tinyurl.com/y8vml45

http://tinyurl.com/yeuvnoy

First Ride: 2009 Ducati 1098R Bayliss Replica LE

This limited edition from Ducati was not even expected to break cover, but it did! This is, in fact, the 1098R and not based on the new 1198 model line. Ducati has finally made a race replica from a real homologation special. This machine puts out over 160 hp and 87 ft/lb of torque from a true 1199c.c. engine and has Ducati's latest traction control and ECU. It is pretty, but there is still something missing...maybe true street comfort?

http://tinyurl.com/yjmqc5v

Just In Case You Missed These - Motorcycle Recalls In October

The list consists of Ducati, BMW, Triumph and ZERO Motorcycles. Ducati is recalling the 2009 1098R and 1198S and the 2010 Streetfighter. And, BMW is asking customers to bring in their 2009 K1300GT and K1300S for electrical issues. Triumph is recalling its Sprint ST1050 from model years 2005-2009 for a suspension link issue. And, finally, ZERO Motorcycles has some trouble with the 2009 Zero X and Zero MX and the throttles sticking open. So, check what you own and if it is on this list, take care of it soon!

http://tinyurl.com/y935bv8

P.S. Yes, some of these have been posted before, but this being a safety issue, it not a bad thing to double-up.

Ducati Returns to British Superbike with Michael Rutter

For the final two rounds of the British Superbike Championship, Ducati will return to the fight with rider Michael Rutter. Rutter has been preparing for this comeback for the last two rounds and had to pick up last year's 1098 machines from his former team.

http://tinyurl.com/lqrw7u

Tight Qualifying in New Jersey Leaves Pegram on Second Row

Larry Pegram of the Foremost Ducati team will start tomorrow's race from the second row. Oddly enough, his time was mere .3 seconds behind second position. That goes to show how close racing in that series can be...not bad.

http://tinyurl.com/kul7vq