Friday Morning Moto News - KTM to BSB, Aprilia and BMW & Jakub Smrz

KTM will be fielding one of their new RC8 race machines in the Evo Class of the British Superbike Championship in 2010. This is all thanks to Redline Motorcycles and their rider James Edmeades. This brings the number of manufacturers participating in BSB up to a respectable six! Impressive and it will make the racing all the more fun.

http://tinyurl.com/yksnxju

And, more: http://tinyurl.com/yd3yurq

Aprilia and BMW will both have teams in the British Superstock class in 2010. There are some rumors that the bikes being used for this BSB series are putting up some impressive numbers ahead of the season. Does this mean that the other teams will simply wilt away and let them win? Not going to happen! Both Aprilia and BMW have incredible new machines and they want to get them out an prove their prowess - the BSB Superstock series is a good place to do this...especially on your way to Superbike competition.

http://tinyurl.com/ygdboox

Jakub Smrz is convinced that his new B&G Racing team will be competitive in the World Superbike paddock. Though this story is quite complex - teams joining other teams, changing and then not changing marques, new sponsors, etc. - it is simpler just to know that Smrz will be riding a Ducati in WSBK on the PATA B&G Racing team. To learn the rest, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ybvhw6n

Friday Morning Moto News - Biaggi, Jakub Smrz & Gresini Honda

Apparently, last year Max Biaggi and his Aprilia team attempted to appeal and FIM decision as to his punishment for cutting a chicane during the first race of the season. Well, the FIM has now declined the protest and the ruling will stand...as if we did not expect that.

http://tinyurl.com/yek9g7e

In more World Superbike news, the B&G Racing group has released their livery for the 2010 season. On that team is Jakub Smrz and he will be riding a Ducati 1198. The B&G name comes from the owners of the team Borciani and Guandalini. See the article for more and the photo.

http://tinyurl.com/yarhseg

Gresini Honda has picked up another sponsor for the 2010 - 2011 MotoGP Championship. Printer company Prink has signed on to be a sponsor of their effort and will provide all printing services for the entire Gresini team - all the way up to their HQ office. This is very good news - more sponsorship.

http://tinyurl.com/y9hjez3

Friday Morning Moto Racing News - Dakar and WSBK

Well, we finally get updates on Stage 11's issues and the corrected times of everyone who was sent the wrong way by incorrect course markers. So, yesterday's results may have changed, though I did post the 'fixed' list yesterday. So, on to Stage 12 and we hear that, indeed, Francisco Lopez took the stage victory, with Yamaha's French rider David Fretigne in second and KTM mounted Norseman Pal-Anders Ullevalseter rounding out the podium. Stage 12's route really favored the 450 machines and the results demonstrate that. Of course, Cyril Despres is still in the overall lead, but Aprilia's Lopez is now firmly in second.

http://tinyurl.com/ylsygyz

http://tinyurl.com/yjvyhsl

http://tinyurl.com/yje6aw4

http://tinyurl.com/yffwhgm

Early Stage 13 results: http://tinyurl.com/ygzx3vh

Speaking of Aprilia, we wonder if the Borciani-Guandalini with Aprilia deal has gone through. It appears to have been decided, though nothing has been officially announced, based on a leaked World Superbike entry list. They have hired Jakub Smrz to ride on the satellite Aprilia team. (There are other little tid-bits here too.)

http://tinyurl.com/yfal6xy

Jakub Smrz To Test Aprilia in Valencia

This week, Smrz will take his first testing ride on the Aprilia RSV-4 at the Valencia circuit this week. He will be joined by several other WSBK regulars and some newcomers and returnees at this test. Smrz is in his first season with his new team - which switched from Ducati to Aprilia after the 2009 season ended - and he is ready to make an impression.

http://tinyurl.com/yc2a3pd

Two World Superbike Teams May Join Forces and Race Aprilias

Each of the two teams ran Ducati last year, but 2010 may see them join together and race Aprilia machines in World Superbike. GPOne Guandalini Racing and BRC Racing – formerly Sterilgarda Ducati - will work together to decide on riders and the overall team for the 2010 season. Aprilia has been looking for a satellite squad during the off-season anyway, and this team just may fit their desires. One more Aprilia team and two fewer Ducati teams...the only real question left now is who will ride for the new team?

http://tinyurl.com/y9gzdh2

First Qualifying Practice at Portimao WSBK Round - Supersport Results

Actually, this link has all results from Friday's practice at Portimao. We have Superbike, Supersport, Superstock 1000 and Superstock 600 results here along with several team reports from the first day of the World Superbike Championship finale in Portugal this weekend...I wish I had this link yesterday.

http://tinyurl.com/yl38zen

First Qualifying Practice at Portimao World Superbike Round

As Spies only made seventh in the first practice, this is an improvement for him; he managed third in this the first qualifying practice for Superpole. Haga actually moved from second down to ninth! Jakub Smrz dropped one spot to second after Jonathan Rea turned in a scorching lap on board his Ten Kate Honda. Tomorrow's qualifying will certainly be interesting...

http://tinyurl.com/yjtwgf8

World Superbike Championship Portimao First Free Practice Times

From the lovely nation of Portugal comes the Portimao round of the World Superbike Championship. Here are the results from the first full practice at the event - and Haga is doing well, but Spies is only in seventh. I wonder if this is any indication of what we will see in the races on Sunday - probably not.

http://tinyurl.com/yzld2zf