Norton to Return to Racing! & Pit Pass Radio with Kevin Schwantz

Norton is now working on a 200+ hp rotary engine with which they hope to enter first British Superbike and then World Superbike. They have been developing this concept since last year and are focused on making it to the 2011 Isle of Man TT with it. Great news! It will be very nice to see the Norton name back in modern racing again. Of course, I still like to see them in various vintage racing events...Take the link to learn a bit more.


http://tinyurl.com/ylaspcq


Tonight's Pit Pass Radio show (live tonight - podcast after that) will feature World Champion Kevin Schwantz, representing his Schwantz School motorcycle track\race school. Also featured will be Peter Doyle (former Mat Mladin crew chief), Peter Lenz (125GP racer), Rob Dingman (AMA President), and Ezra Lusk (AMA Supercross Lites Champion). Take the link to learn the details...

http://tinyurl.com/yzcn9j9

Casey Stoner is Happy and Ben Bostrom is Testing

A couple of articles here are about former MotoGP champion Casey Stoner. In the first one, he is quite happy with the switch from Donington Park to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. Stoner simply believes that the track is better, the speeds higher, and the racing will be better at Silverstone. We all hope he is right. Next, we hear that Stoner is also in favor of the new engine limitations in MotoGP for 2010 (number of engines used during the season). Funny, because his factory team had to work very hard to get their engines up to spec for this purpose...I wonder if he will like the rule come round 12 or so...

http://tinyurl.com/yl94bpn

http://tinyurl.com/yh7rolt

Ben Bostrom will be testing his new Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 at Las Vegas today and tomorrow. It is now set that Bostrom will ride for the team in the DMG/AMA Pro Racing American Superbike Championship in 2010. He is happy to be back in racing, and who wouldn't be? He will be teamed with the 18-year-old son of Pat Clark, Chris Clark, for the season.

http://tinyurl.com/yddglc2

More Thursday Morning Moto Racing News - Kawasaki, Donington and Lowry

MSS Colchester Kawasaki has signed 22-year-old Howie Mainwaring for the 2010 BSB National Superstock Championship. He has a great deal of experience in other BSB series and had good results. With his new team, though, he now has factory backing. That makes him dangerous - in a good way! The Superstock series is full of top-notch talent and you will not want to miss the 2010 season - it will be tough.

http://tinyurl.com/ycul796

Now we hear from the owner of Donington Park, Kevin Wheatcroft, that he is hoping to have the lease sold to someone new by the end of January 2010. That would be good news, and I very much hope he is right, as the track is close to being in the past-tense. They already have a short list (14) of entities interested, so it just might happen!

http://tinyurl.com/yczomho

Ian Lowry may have finally found a home for the 2010 British Superbike Championship at Hydrex Honda - joining fellow racer Stuart Easton. Since Relentless Suzuki has already solidified their team, he has no choice but to look elsewhere and this team is a very good match for his talent.

http://tinyurl.com/y9mp6e9

More Wednesday Moto News from Just About Everywhere

This one will be at least two parts as I am sure to run out of room here...

The MCN Motorcycle Show in London is adding even more manufacturers to the list of attendees. There is one story here, but there are many others if you look. As more come in, I will update the list of links.

Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Derbi: http://tinyurl.com/y9gk6gm

This is surely a rare motorcycle! The Lloyd Brothers-prepared Aprilia RSV Mille Flat Track Race Bike is for sale on eBay in California. This is the same machine which Larry Pegram made the main at the historic Springfield Mile. The machine, so far, is going for less than US$3K, believe it or not. It's funny, but when I first saw this machine a while back, I wanted it! Too bad I cannot afford it now...

http://tinyurl.com/ydf8yf5

We also have some good news, we all hope! The Wheatcroft family, who are the owners of Donington Park, have said that they will re-open the circuit as soon as possible. That is wonderful news as this historic track should not be relegated to the dustbin of history.

http://tinyurl.com/y9v7ajd

Monday Morning News from Around the Moto World

This is the first Monday beyond Christmas; some of you are working, and some of you are on holiday. Either way, we all like to know what is going on in the world of motorcycles...

First, a nice little video from the FIM Speedway Grand Prix round in Copenhagen this past June 2009. It's an incredible display even if the video is not high-quality. Take a look:

http://tinyurl.com/yb37usq

Now we have further news on the Donington Park fiasco. It has returned to the Wheatcroft family after the 150-year deal with Donington Ventures Leisure Limited failed to sell. The economy is certainly part of the problem, but there are other issues with the track itself. We all hope that someone will come in and rescue this historic British circuit.

http://tinyurl.com/ydlwuub

Here is an article on the least reliable motorcycles in the industry, and I bet you will not like what you see. The author based the placement on the number of recalls for each brand. Given this measuring stick, Harley-Davidson / Buell have the worst initial quality; Ducati is right after them (after all, they are the H-D of Italy); and, oddly enough, BMW is in third worst position...take a look.

http://tinyurl.com/yaugo6j

An interesting look at 'mystery bikes' of the past and present. Actually, they are home-built prototypes or concept motorcycles which we have seen pop up on a regular basis. Some are rather in need of some paint or something to pretty them up, but others are well-done and complete. Just pay a visit and see what you think.

http://tinyurl.com/ydzzl7s

Sunday Afternoon News from the Moto World

Well, the news has been very slow lately. All that seems to be popping up here and there are re-hashed stories from the last week or so. I have some news here, but not much. Take a look at the links below and enjoy what little new information we now have...

First, there is the sad news that Donington Park has yet to attract a buyer. We have no way of knowing what will happen to the circuit. It is in a state of disrepair was they were working to improve the track when old-troll Bernie Ecclestone withdrew from his Formula 1 contract with the owners.

http://tinyurl.com/yfyxp8o

Round two of the Suzuki Tri-Series is now in the books, and it was Italian stars who lit up the track on Boxing Day. Davide Gozzini and Ivan Lazzarini dominated the event and stunned the local crowd with their performances. They took first and second, respectively, in each of three races! This was their first trip to the Wanganui Cemetery Circuit.

http://tinyurl.com/yk3dze5

http://tinyurl.com/yhussek

P.S. You may or may not have noticed that on Christmas Eve I lost a post. I am not sure what caused the loss, but there were about four or five stories there. I apologize for that, but there was no way for me to bring it all back and do another post, unfortunately. This new format is a challenge, but I hope it will make things easier on the blog.

HM Plant Honda Boss Against Two Rounds of Cadwell Park

Neil Tuxworth, the man in the title, does not like the idea of having the British Superbike Championship visit Cadwell Park twice in the season; he believes it would be better to take one away from Cadwell and go somewhere else in the nation to get better exposure to the sport. Funny thing is, Cadwell is his team's home circuit...he is looking for variety, and that makes sense. Of course, Cadwell benefited from Donington Park's loss...

http://tinyurl.com/ygzxydy

Donington Park Off of 2010 British Superbike Schedule

The news was announced yesterday that the BSB would not be visiting Donington Park in 2010. The dates have been given to other tracks as Donington is in no shape to host a race at this time. The track is also suffering from extreme economic issues which need to be resolved before any race series can visit the track - not to mention the fact that the track is torn up as it was in the middle of renovation...

http://tinyurl.com/ydhbtz9

Donington Park in Trouble? Yes, Apparently

The track is still dug up in places, £1 million in debt, and it will cost an unknown amount to get the facility up and running again. So, where will Donington Park be in a few weeks? No one knows right now, it's future is up in the air, sadly, and someone needs to step in and take over.

http://tinyurl.com/yk3a3l8

More Confusion Over Donington Park's Future

It seems that Bernie Ecclestone may be open to signing an agreement with a new leaseholder at Donington Park to put the British Formula 1 Grand Prix back at the track. However, nothing has been signed and nothing promised. The real question is what will happen to motorcycle racing at the track if they cannot get a cash-cow like F1 to stop in and race? No one knows at this point - even the Ron Haslam Race School is up in the air now. All of this has also left the new work being done to the track on hold - so, there is dirt and holes everywhere around the circuit and it is not yet fit to race upon.

http://tinyurl.com/y8wq6y2

Norton's Stuart Garner Defends Donington Park Boss

Simon Gillett is seen by many to be the reason that Donington Park has run into administration. However, Garner has stepped forward to defend him - and with good reason. He sees the slander towards Gillett as disingenuous, and believes that he should be praised for doing whatever he could to work with the Formula 1 tyrant - and all around nasty person (I can say that here because this is my blog) - Bernie Ecclestone. Too true, Garner! Thanks for standing up!

http://tinyurl.com/y9qcygb

Confusion in UK After Donington Park Management Collapses

Donington Ventures Leisure went into administration yesterday and there is no news on whether the scheduled FIM World Superbike round or the British Superbike Championships would be allowed to run at the circuit under that firm's control. It has been stated that a yearly music festival - Download - will still be put on at the Park, but there are no further confirmations on the other future events...Could be nasty, stay tuned...

http://tinyurl.com/yleasp9

Britain's Thundersport GB Releases 2010 Provisional Calendar

For the 2010, the Thudersport GB series will have 10 race weekends and 2 pre-season tests and licensing courses. The entry forms are also available for downloading and submittal. So, this is the third year of the series - and the second year was quite successful - and there will be participants from at least 8 nations. The series is a true up-and-coming championship, so try to catch at least one of the events...

http://tinyurl.com/yjhbven

Tom Wheatcroft - Owner of British Track Donington Park - Has Died

Very sad news, but Mr. Wheatcroft had a great run! At the age of 87 he ran into a long and tough illness which brought him down. He passed away peacefully at home on the morning of 31 October 2009. Wheatcroft worked very hard to get the Donington Circuit re-opened after World War II, and manged to create a fantastic venue which was even selected as the best motorcycle road racing circuit in the world! His contributions to racing of all kinds was enormous and he will be greatly missed...

http://tinyurl.com/yh7wnf5

Toseland to Appear at Donington Park's Bike Night - 22 September 2009

More than 300 riders are supposed to attend, but the numbers are likely to grow as this news spreads. However, that is still much more intimate than seeing him at a Grand Prix. Even with the questions surrounding his future now, James Toseland remains positive. So, go out and cheer him on!

http://tinyurl.com/mytgvc

Ultimate Motorcycle Test Ride at Donington on 26th September 2009

The Spyder Club has arranged this event and it will feature MV Agusta, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, KTM, Aprilia, Triumph and Buell. Those damn English...

http://tinyurl.com/lprux8

An Outsider's Perspective on the Donington MotoGP Round

I read this in passing and found myself laughing and enjoying the writer's perspective on the race weekend at England's Donington Grand Prix. His views seem to apply to most race weekends these days:

http://tinyurl.com/l4c6w2