Monday Afternoon Moto News - Speed Dating!

Yep, it's that time of the week again, Road Racer X's 'Speed Dating' article. This week's birthdays are Bill Lomas, Jamie James, Franco Uncini, Rocky Robinson, Barry Sheene, Mat Mladin, Eddie Lawson, Henry Riles, Dr. Martin Raines, Elmer Trett, Graziano Rossi, and Philip Conrad Vincent. This week also marks the date of the first MotoGP night race in 2008 and the first race of the 800cc era of MotoGP as well. Take the link and get the stories behind the names.

http://tinyurl.com/ylakg8n

Wednesday Morning Moto News from Around the Industry

A steampunk MV Agusta comes to us from MCN (UK), but it is not yet complete. So, I can only send you to the MCN article with just one photo. However, they link directly to the blog where the builder is posting his build photos as he completes his work. A rather interesting idea which would be cool to see finished.

http://tinyurl.com/yatgbng

Remembering the Aprilia Falco from 2000 to 2003; the bike was actually a great bargain for a well-made Italian road-burner. It made an excellent sport-tourer and is still available on the second-hand market for a good price.

http://tinyurl.com/ycwb4ug

A trip through Texas Hill Country on an Aprilia Caponord is well worth your time. The countryside is lovely, the weather tolerable, and the roads are fantastic. Of course, the bike is a real winner as well!

http://tinyurl.com/y9n83ty

Nicky Hayden accidentally unveiled an image of the Ducati Desmosedici GP10 machine on his website. It's not as big of a deal as some are making out of it, but it is cool to have technology which provides us with rare inside looks like this.

http://tinyurl.com/ybtfcjj

The top two riders in the 2009 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup have now signed with their respective 125 World Championship teams for 2010 - where they will renew their rivalry. Jakub Kornfeil and Sturla Fagerhaug have joined the Racing Team Germany and the I.S.P.A. Ongetta, Worldwide Race Team, respectively. Again, 2010 is shaping up to be one incredible race season!

http://tinyurl.com/ydcuhmb

Bradley Smith is looking to win the 125c.c. World Championship in 2010 - and we hope he does have a good year - and he is hoping to help two up and coming racers in the Relentless British 125GP Championship. Riders Wayne Ryan and Fraser Rogers will be helped through the Racing Steps Foundation - the first time it has ever done this. They can thank John Surtees as well! The real mission is to get another Brit into the championship lists - not since Barry Sheene in the 1970's has someone from the U.K. been there.

http://tinyurl.com/ycaf75o

Ducati Motologic have signed Australian Jamie Stauffer to ride for them in the 2010 Australian Superbike Championship. He will be riding a 1198 in the same series where his brother, Dan, is riding an Aprilia.

http://tinyurl.com/yfru82n

And, finally, the end of this morning's news comes in the form of Pit Pass Radio's show tonight. They will feature Chris Blose - Supercross Racer, Donnie Emler Jr. - FMF Marketing, Jesse Harris - National Film Festival for Talented Youth, Jason Disalvo, and Tyler O'Hara - Pro Flat Track,Road Race,and Supermoto Racer-Team Livin' The Life Racing. It's an incredible line-up, so do not miss it!

http://tinyurl.com/yg9e8z8

Barry Sheene's 1981 Yamaha OW53 at Carole Nash NEC Show

That's right, this lovely 1981 Yamaha OW53, which was raced by Barry Sheene in the first three events of 1981 in the GP World Championship, will be on display at the Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show. Just stop by the Visordown booth at the show and you may get to hear it run!

http://tinyurl.com/yh56f4c

Warwick Nowland to Race at 2010 Barry Sheene Festival in NSW, Australia

Another tribute event, the 2010 Barry Sheene Festival of Speed, will take place 3 – 4 April 2010 at the Eastern Creek International Raceway in Australia. Nowland will race in the the Unlimited Forgotten Era Class with several contemporaries of his and more. The events list is huge and the attendees list - those who are racing in the event - is even larger. Take the link and set yourself to be there next year.

http://tinyurl.com/yzl7nbb

Bradley Smith Signs with Aspar Aprilia for 2010

Smith is on pace to become a British World Champion - the first since Barry Sheene in 1977. He finished second in the 125c.c. World Championship to teammate Julian Simon in 2009. It is not much of a stretch to see him taking the crown in 2010. He will join Nico Terol on the Aprilia next season as Simon is moving up to Moto2 next season. Good luck Smith!

http://tinyurl.com/yeskumy

2010 Barry Sheene Memorial Motorcycle Challenge for Europe

Barry Sheene, well, was a true professional motorcycle racer and star of the two-wheeled world, in fact he was a living legend and that legend is alive and well today. The excellent team of CLIC Sargent has organized a regular ride over 1700 miles of roads from the UK to Germany (to watch the Sachsenring Grand Prix) and many places in between. If you sign up, you will be required to raise some funds which go to research on children's cancers and their eventual cure. It's all for a good cause and you get the fun of riding in the tire tracks of Barry Sheene! It all happens during 11 - 20 July 2010, so get started early and reserve yourself a space...

http://tinyurl.com/yf3clpb