Sunday Morning Moto News - Early Daytona Returns & WSBK Results from Phillip Island

Bike Week has kicked off in Daytona, Florida, this weekend and the first results have come back from the Michelin Team Challenge. It seems that an Australian rider, Aussie Dave Anthony, brought home first place in the GTO class with his Suzuki GSX-R1000 (I think). For the results of the GTU and GT Lites class, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yb2km4h

That's right, the World Superbike Championship round at Phillip Island is over, and we have several posts which detail the events in Australia and tell us who ended up where when the checkered flag was dropped at the end of both races. In race one, the finish was Haslam, Fabrizio and Haga; in race two, it was Checa, Haslam and then Fabrizio. As you can see, Ducati and Suzuki had great weekends. Aprilia had a good outing, but not a perfect race. For all the details, please take the links below.

Race 1: http://tinyurl.com/yd4mxod

Race 2: http://tinyurl.com/y9ogyce

Both Races: http://tinyurl.com/ycp6xkr

Both Races: http://tinyurl.com/y8m4jov

Aprilia's Races: http://tinyurl.com/yaer9tj

More Morning Moto News - Phillip Island WSBK, Guy Martin and Stephen Thompson

We have another report from World Superbike Practice at Phillip Island in Australia. This time is is Carlos Checa who led the field in testing yesterday. Behind him was Michel Fabrizio, and sitting in third was day one's fastest rider Leon Haslam. If I find more of these reports, I will place them in this post.

http://tinyurl.com/y8j82u9

http://tinyurl.com/yb6lxy5

http://tinyurl.com/ybzll5w

WSS: http://tinyurl.com/ydmfy6j

The BBC likes to follow a single rider during their preparation for the North West 200 real roads race held in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2010. They started the project, as far as I can tell, last year with James McCann. This year they will be taking on two racers - fan favorite Guy Martin and Stephen Thompson. The project has just started, but if you want to follow it, you should take the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/ybnr6tc

More Morning Moto News - WSBK, UAE Sportbike & Ben Townley

The Valencia testing of some World Superbike teams is now moving along just fine. In fact, Carlos Checa managed to get his Althea Ducati to the top of the lap charts. Aprilia, BMW and Ducati are there testing, with factory Ducati finishing up on Thursday, and the privateer Althea team still at the track. Aprilia left early dues to the weather earlier in the week and BMW was at the bottom of the timesheet.

http://tinyurl.com/yhrydmx

Now, just a bit south and east of the WSBK racers we have the UAE Sportbike Championship. On Friday, all the motorcycle racing was held. In the premier class, Aprilia-mounted Arushen Moodley took both victories available to him. In the 600c.c. class, Yamaha man Jussi Hoikka took a hard-fought victory. For the rest, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhx9zy3

New Zealand native Ben Townley will be joining the European MX1 Championship for three rounds as he has now recovered from his 2008 injury. He already won the New Zealand Championship title and will return to US competition after his stint in Europe.

http://tinyurl.com/ybaja8m

Monday Morning Moto News - Triumph and Althea Ducati

Triumph has announced their European competition plans. They will contest the World Supersport Championship with Gary McCoy and Chaz Davies. The other main announcement was the Triumph ParkinGO European Series, which is an all-European race series which does have full World Championship status. The release is a bit confusing, but I am sure you can figure it out. Though, it is not 'world' in the truest sense of the word.

http://tinyurl.com/ybof6ba

Over the weekend, the Althea Ducati team was officially introduced to the world's press. They will contest the World Superbike Championship in 2010 with riders Carlos Checa and Shane Byrne. They will be off to practice at Portimao in a few days and look to be situated for success. Take a look...

http://tinyurl.com/ydaqkrd

Shane Byrne Signs With Althea Ducati for WSBK

In even more racing news, Byrne has moved on to the Althea Ducati team for the World Superbike Championship in 2010. He will ride alongside Carlos Checa on the race-spec Ducati 1198. Looks like World Superbike will not even miss Ben Spies - there are just too many great riders in that series in 2010...

http://tinyurl.com/ylk75n7

Carlos Checa Will Not Return to the MotoGP Paddock

Checa will not be on a Ducati MotoGP bike next year, but he will be in the World Superbike Championship riding a Ducati for the Althea team. So, he is quite happy to have a ride for 2010, especially after loosing his Ten Kate Honda ride. At least we will get to watch him race next year; he is talented and the Ducati might just help him challenge for the 2010 WSBK Championship...

http://tinyurl.com/ykgwdk2

http://tinyurl.com/yjbhuce

Carlos Checa Returns to the MotoGP Paddock?

If the Spanish press is to be believed, the talks between him and Ducati are already over and all we are waiting on is an announcement. It will certainly make the MotoGP series even more interesting if Checa finds himself on a MotoGP ride. Well, I guess we will wait and see...

http://tinyurl.com/yhd5ww4

Update on World Superbike Championship Team Riders

As you have seen, the rider and team connections are changing up for 2010 World Superbike Championship. Many riders will be switching teams and some will be moving elsewhere. Ben Spies is moving to MotoGP, Max Neukirchner will be riding for Ten Kate Honda...but, many are still awaiting new deals, including Carlos Checa, Toni Elias and others. This article lists Leon Camier and Shane Byrne as being without a ride, but we are now rather sure that they will be with a factory Aprilia WSBK team in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yl4ws7b

http://tinyurl.com/ygsh2pf

Official on Neukirchner: http://tinyurl.com/yjjekvx

Fabrizio Takes Pole at WSB Imola Round

The free practice and qualifying were both delayed due to rider complaints about the track surface - it was too slick. So, the track worked out this issue and the free practice became qualifying. Michel Fabrizio took pole while riding his Ducati, which put Honda's Carlos Checa in second and Yamaha's Ben Spies in third. One more provisional qualifying will set things up for Superpole.

http://tinyurl.com/ybbo7wa

Interview with Ten Kate Honda Riders Jonathan Rea and Carlos Checa Ahead of Imola

In just the last four races, the two riders have a total of five podiums between them and they are really looking forward to the Italian round of WSBK at Imola. Checa is really loving the new Ohlins suspension he has been using this year and Rea is looking to show consistency.

http://tinyurl.com/md9hs6