More Afternoon Moto News - Yamaha Slashes 1000 Jobs & Ducshop Racing

Yamaha Motor Company is having to take further cuts to their workforce due to their continuing financial woes - due to the worldwide recession. These lay-offs actually include the earlier announcement of 800 job cuts in Japan, but they are also taking 200 more away from their foreign operations. Yamaha will also close 12 parts factories in Shizuoka prefecture. Let's hope that their sales pick up this year and they can hire back some of the people they are losing now.

http://tinyurl.com/yevjnbm

Ducshop Racing will be fielding two Ducati 848 motorcycles in the 2010 AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike class. Their two riders will be Jake Holden and Ducati test rider Dario Marchetti. Of course, they are using many products from their own catalog to improve the bikes, but the rules only allow so much. They will be in Daytona for the Daytona 200 race weekend and will be participating in all race activities.

http://tinyurl.com/ykfl2zc

In Moto-GT, Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati Hopes for 3rd Championship

The NJMP round of the AMA Pro Racing Moto-GT series is the second-to-last race of their season. Ducshop has won the series (under different management) in the previous two years and they believe they can wrap it up for 2009 this weekend in New Jersey.

http://tinyurl.com/lm6rjs

Georgia Ducati Dealer Auctioning MotoGP Items for Charity

Riders for Health will benefit from the sale of the few autographed hats, an autographed t-shirt and a Ducati 749R - race-prepped and ready to go!

http://tinyurl.com/mwt85r