Metzeler Racetec Interact Tires Prove Themselves & Suzuki Canada's New Deal

The new for 2010 Metzeler Racetec Interact tires already have a claim to fame - and the BSB Superstock season has yet to even begin! Steve Plater was riding his HM Plant Honda Fireblade (CBR1000RR) at Brands Hatch recently testing the tires in race conditions. During that test, he managed to break the short-circuit record at the track by more than a full half-second - 47.2 seconds versus the old record of 47.83. Very impressive indeed!

http://tinyurl.com/yzlwf5f

Well, it is not as useful as the New Deal once pushed ahead in this nation, but it is important to Canadian racers. Suzuki Canada has announced that they will have a reduced role in the Canadian Superbike Championship series in 2010. They will be paying a small homologation fee to keep their two popular GSX-R models in the series, but they will be providing no factory support to the teams who use them. For all the gory details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ygrvdtm

More Afternoon Moto News - Day of the Champion & Ducati Hypermotard

The "Day of the Champion" event held this past weekend at South Africa's Zwartkop Raceway turned into a perfect race day for all who attended. Steve Plater was on hand and was even launching a limited edition Honda of South Africa "Steve Plater" Fireblade (or CBR1000RR in the US) for sale in the African nation. For all the details and one nice photo, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yacje6j

The new top-model Ducati Hypermotard has the designation EVO SP, while the standard model is now Hypermotard EVO. That is supposed to represent how much the new model has changed - evolved - with customer feedback and new techniques. They are very different from their forbear in many ways. It is a detailed review and one which you should read if you are planning on investing in one of these machines.

http://tinyurl.com/yfbuqn7

A Busy Wednesday Morning - Moto Race News from All Over, Part 2

For the start of this post, let us head Down Under for the Australian Superbike Championship. Wayne Maxwell has landed a ride at GAS Honda for the 2010 season and will be racing a Honda CBR1000RR all season. He was a close contender in 2009 on the Motologic Honda, but he has now teamed up with a local Honda dealer to push for the championship.

http://tinyurl.com/yg5uhnq

How about a quick primer on the 2010 World Superbike Championship? Well, the linked article will provide you with an update, a list of riders and the schedule, but not much else...

http://tinyurl.com/ydpbymt

How about a quick look at the Silverstone Circuit schedule for 2010. It will have some series returning to the track and some which are relatively new, so don't miss out! Take a look and make your plans for attending whichever races suit your tastes...

http://tinyurl.com/yjhnfhq

And, over on the Alvaro Buatista fan site is a neat feature on Suzuki's Grand Prix history. It's not too long and is filled with information, so go and take a look.

http://tinyurl.com/ylmodyk

The New Year's Eve Afternoon - News from the Moto World

Yep, even more news on this 31 December 2009...

English Triumph dealer Jack Lilley has now finished his usual custom line-up for us. With this one, he took a 2009 Triumph Bonneville SE and Scrambler and painted and upgraded them for sale to the public. The paint on these machines is worth the extra £, which is not much anyway. He has also changed items like the exhaust, tires, seats, and much more. Really, you should take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yaplv3f

And, there is another custom (featured before on this blog) which Roland Sands will be donating for the PBTF as he does every year. This one is a CBR1000RR (Fireblade in the rest of the world) Streetfighter which he has chopped, cut and painted to look just spectacular. It even maintains its huge power characteristics. You will see it up for auction in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yby3vl6

There is also news from the TT organizers, the Auto Cycle Union, and the Isle of Man Department of Tourism about the Isle of Man in 2010. There are plenty of events lined up - enough to even make you miss the races - for 2010, so make sure to make your arrangements yesterday - well, as soon as you are able!

http://tinyurl.com/ydm4o3n

And, to finish off this post we have a look into the Honda Collection Hall at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. The author was fortunate enough to get a chance to see it while in Japan for the press introduction of the 2010 VFR1200F. It's worth a visit and, if you cannot get there anytime soon, a read.

http://tinyurl.com/yd8g9lm

Christmas Day Moto News - A Little Something for You

Yep, it is Christmas Day and people are stuffing themselves and getting gifts, but some of us are still paying attention to the news of the day - not everyone celebrates this day. And, even those who are having a great day will still be checking their blogs and newsletters.

With that in mind, we start with a rather beautiful machine from French designers Frank Charriaut and VincentPrat. They visited the Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’Elegance in June 2008 and decided to build a machine for themselves. They took a featherbed frame and a Norton 750 engine and turned it into the bike you see pictured here, the CP Project One. It is an incredible design exercise which would look perfect in my garage!

http://tinyurl.com/y98mnya

Now we have a 'Best of 2009' from MotorcycleUSA which brings us their picks for the best machines and best companies in the motorcycle industry from 2009. They have some controversial choices, but they do back them up with good reporting and good information. Take a look and see if you agree with them...

http://tinyurl.com/yekovwg

Lastly, for this post, comes some news on the Czech Dakar Team - one of the best European entries - is getting ready to head out for the Rally Dakar in South America. They have 36 team members total across all class entries, and they will be riding a Yamaha WR450F in the motorcycle competition. They have a quality team and good support, which only makes the racing more interesting!

http://tinyurl.com/y8gsadu

New Zealand Tri-Series Manfield Results

Not much news floating around the Internet recently - must be the holidays. We do, however, have some results from the first event in the New Zealand Tri-Series, which took place this past Saturday at Manfield. Seems that Craig Shirriffs and his teammate, Hayden Fitzgerald, dominated the event on their Castrol Honda CBR1000RRs - both placed first and second in the F1 Superbike class. Suzuki GSX-R1000 mounted Ray Clee rounded out the podium. For the rest of the days results, take the link. The next round will be on 26 December 2009 at Wanganui Cemetery Circuit.

http://tinyurl.com/ykrevto

And, even more on the event and series; Italian riders are making things much more interesting in the New Zealand Tri-Series.

http://tinyurl.com/yk9kcqq

More News From Australian Superbike Championship

Well, there is plenty of news coming out from the Australian Superbike Championship, so I am going to put it all in one post to make it easier to find.


As we already know, Josh Waters dominated the final event at Phillip Island and took the Championship as well.


http://tinyurl.com/ydg8fmh


Taasha Coates of The Audreys was at the final ASBK event at Phillip Island and managed to get a ride on the back of a Kawasaki ZX-10R two seater, piloted by Australian Superbike rider Kev Curtain. It sacred the holy heck out of her - but, it would anyone...


http://tinyurl.com/yj7du7f


Honda wins Australian Superbike Manufacturer’s Cup by having their CBR1000RR riders consistently finish high in the order.


http://tinyurl.com/yhlhh7c


Of course, it did not hurt that Honda rider and Team CJC’s Craig Coxhell was sixth overall in the ASBK Championship and actually won the Privateer’s Cup.


http://tinyurl.com/yfhsca9

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

Broc Parkes Will Remain in World Superbike in 2010

The Echo CRS Honda team has signed Broc Parkes for the 2010 World Superbike season. He finished 18th in the 2009 WSBK standings with the PBM Kawasaki team but made an impressive run during the BSB race at Brands Hatch; there he finished second in all three races. Echo is moving up to Superbike from World Supersport and will be fielding ex-Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR bikes in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/y9ftnjs

Guy Martin Signs With Wilson Craig’s Honda Team

Martin will basically run his own team with the deal he has been given. He will decide which bike to race and where to race it - though, as usual, he will be racing mostly in 'real roads' events such as the Scarborough, Southern 100, and the Isle of Man TT. He will have both a Superbike and a Supersport machine - both Honda, of course, and they will be prepared to his liking. A great deal for a racing legend!

http://tinyurl.com/y9d9kgo

Tommy Hill Testing His New Worx Crescent Suzuki

Hill was at Mallory Park this week for a day of testing aboard the Worx Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000. It was rather necessary as he finished the season on a Honda CBR1000RR. The weather was not great, but Hill managed to get comfortable on the bike and turn in some decent lap times.

http://tinyurl.com/yarro3g

First Look: 2010 Honda CBF1000

This great motorcycle from Honda is a winner in Europe, but it is not seen in many other areas of the world. The US certainly does not get any of them, and that is a shame. Of course, the US doesn't like 'naked' sportbikes as much as other nations, so Honda knows that not many of them will sell here. As to the CBF1000 itself, it possesses the engine from the CBR1000RR, but tuned for torque and low-to-mid range power delivery. It is a sport machine built for people in the real world who want to ride and ride and ride...

http://tinyurl.com/ylqllxz

This bike will ONLY be sold in Europe as the exchange rate between Euro and Pound is so twisted now that the bike would cost more than the U.K. CBF1000 equipped with ABS by some £1000 - and that is just not going to sell bikes. However, I must make special mention of those integrated front turn signals - don't those look so much better? Kawasaki does this on some models and it works great; I wish others would follow this direction.

http://tinyurl.com/yk5fjdp

Rea Preparing for Tough 2010 Season in World Superbike

Jonathan Rea may be young, but he is not without a deep understanding of the challenge ahead. In the 2010 World Superbike paddock, there will be many qualified riders who have a real chance at winning almost every time they race. So, he is working hard to get ready for the next season with his team, Ten Kate Honda, with which he did very well in 2009. Expect 2010 to be a season of surprises...

http://tinyurl.com/yzn3zdw

Craig Beggs to Race in British Suprstock 1000 Series in 2010

For Beggs, it was not a good 2009. He spent some of it on the track in 2009, but it all ended in May and he missed five months of racing. Well, he has a team - Neil Beckett Racing - and a bike - Honda CBR1000RR - so his 2010 is shaping up to be much, much better.

http://tinyurl.com/ydzkqw6

Honda Displayed More Than Electric Concept Motorcycles at the Tokyo Motor Show

OK, what is this? Number 6 or 7? It's pretty interesting, actually. Honda put on display several petrol-powered motorcycles as well as the nifty EV-Cub. A lovely, wish we had it in the US, Red-White-Blue CBR1000RR (pictured at left). It's not actually gorgeous or anything, just very well done and it makes up for some of the so-called 'piecemeal' look of the fairing. The real beauty, though is certainly the CB1100 'Customize Concept' - the usual, "will it be produced or not" bike - and they had a VFR1200F as well. Another, we-will-not-get-it-in-the- US beast of a road burner has to be the 2010 CB1300 Super Touring. It could be an excellent sport-tourer as is, but the front fairing should be changed a bit, and it could use some more modern features (though I do not have specifications yet). It would be nice to see it compared to the ST1300...Anyway, have a look - pretty pictures follow the link - very shiny.

http://tinyurl.com/yldfg5h

India Rides the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade!

So many incredible, high-end, hugely powerful motorcycles are heading to India now that they will soon be challenging the US for outright sales numbers...They are getting the motorcycle declared as 'Motorcycle of the Year' in several publications and clubs - no, not Ducati, yet - the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade! It would sure be good to be young and rich in India right now...oh the fun I would have.

http://tinyurl.com/yeofyk5

Roland Sands Designs Another Honda for Ride for Kids Raffle

This is perhaps his best one yet; at least I think it is. American Honda and Advanstar Communications provided the motorcycle and the funding, but Sands provided the imagination. The bike is a true 'hooligan' and is based on the 2009 CBR1000RR. Sands created this street-fighter to honor what many consider the toughest fighters of all - the children who fight brain cancer every single day! Buy your raffle tickets at the International Motorcycle Shows (11 are to be held this season) or at http://www.rideforkids.org/.

http://tinyurl.com/yen4cga

Honda CBR1000RR Keeps Receiving Accolades

The CBR1000RR is now Australian Motorcycle News Motorcycle of the Year, and Superbike of the Year, and the Australian Motorcycle News Reader's Choice! Three new medals for the liter-class powerhouse, which is also a fantastic streetbike, to add to the many others it has already won.

http://tinyurl.com/lplzrf

SMT Honda Runs With Karl Harris in Final Rounds of BSB

Karl Harris will ride the SMT Honda CBR1000RR in the final two races of the British Superbike Series. The team had been forced to sit out due to an injured rider and other difficulties.

http://tinyurl.com/qtdt86

Tom Tunstall Will Do What it Takes to Win in British Superbike

At the Croft round last weekend, Tunstall managed two impressive fourth place finishes on his Hardinge Doodson Motorsport Team CBR1000RR. Impressive finishes, especially when you consider his race two charge to the front from the back of the pack. He has vowed to put himself on the podium!

http://tinyurl.com/pbx65w