More Afternoon Moto News - MotoCzysz eDD & NZ Superbike Championship

MotoCzysz has now announced that they will be selling a race version of their E1pc powertrain, the Electric D1g1tal Drive (eDD). The eDD will allow teams to purchase a ready to roll power solution for an electric racing motorcycle. The price is a bit steep, but not as bad as you may think. If you have any interest in starting an electric race team, let me know! I will be glad to join and help out; the MotoCzysz shop is only blocks from where I live...You really do want to read this, so please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhczc2f

The fourth round of the New Zealand Superbike Championship was held this past Sunday. The 125GP Championship was decided and Alistair Hoogenboezem took the 2010 title. Andrew Stroud still leads the Superbike class, with Robbie Bugden in second. Nick Cole barely holds on to the lead in the Supersport 600 class, as he is only 2.5 points ahead of James Smith. The next and final round is about a month away and will be held at Hampton Downs from 27 to 28 March 2010. For the details, take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yf9ca4q

Sunday Morning Moto News - NZ Superbike & AMA Supercross

Again this weekend, Andrew Stroud and Robbie Bugden shared victories at the NZ Superbike Championship round at Levels Raceway. In the 600c.c. category, James Smith is dominating proceedings and took a 2 - 1 in this weekend's two events. This means that it could all come down to the final event - the fifth round - before we know who the champions are in this series...very good racing!

http://tinyurl.com/y8auwjd

The San Francisco AMA Supercross round is over now and we have a new winner this season; Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto has now won his first Supercross race. In the West Lites Class, Honda's Trey Canard led the event from start to finish to take his first win of the year as well. Ryan Dungey crashed hard in his race and that is what helped Villopoto take his historic win. For more on the race, take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/y9l4c9p

Even More Morning News - Brett Smith, Robbie Bugden & Phillip Island

Brett Smith, former president of S&S Cycle, who make those better V-Twin engines that end up in many worldwide customs, has moved on to Baja Motorsports. In fact, he is in China now touring their production facilities to get up to speed on the company itself. With Smith in charge, big things could happen for the Chinese motorcycle industry in the United States. Of course, he does have some work to do!

http://tinyurl.com/yeodb5d

Well, Robbie Bugden is not giving up on the NZ Superbike title - but, we knew he wouldn't. He is going for two outright wins at the event this weekend at Levels Raceway. After he is through with NZ, he will be moving over into the Australian Superbike Championship. This man keeps himself busy!

http://tinyurl.com/ydscxj8

Two stories on Phillip Island today. The first is about the Australian Superbike Championship practice at the circuit, which started yesterday and will continue through today. The first day saw Suzuki-mounted Josh Waters take the fastest lap.

http://tinyurl.com/y9svsks

The next Phillip Island story is about just how busy it will be next month. During 26 - 28 February 2010, both World Superbike and Australian Superbike will take to the track over the course of three days. That will mean several races and many more practices. It is an incredible deal, so get your tickets very soon if you haven't already.

http://tinyurl.com/yevqp3t

And, of course, let's not forget Alex Gobert's piece on the Australian racing contingent in World Superbike this season. It is rather informative: http://tinyurl.com/yhafxl9

Additionally, meet your favorite racers at the Phillip Island World Superbike Championship races. Just check the schedule on the other side of this link: http://tinyurl.com/ygg3lh7

More Morning Moto News - NZ Superbikes & WSS

At the second round of the New Zealand Superbike Championship, held this weekend in Teretonga, has spurred some contraversy. Apparently, both Andrew Stroud and Robbie Bugden are claiming victory after the race officials made a huge mistake with the last lap flag, You just have to read the article, it is worth your time. And, apparently, Race 2 was much less confusing.

http://tinyurl.com/yessaoo

At the World Supersport tests in Portimao, Portugal, Eugene Laverty managed to take the fast lap at the end of the session. Second fastest on the day was the Kawasaki of Joan Lascorz, with Honda-mounted Michele Piro coming in third. Sounds like they accomplished a great deal over the weekend...

http://tinyurl.com/ycl9k4u

Even More Morning News - Andrew Stroud & Aussie Superstock

Andrew Stroud, riding on a Suzuki GSX-R1000, wants to win the New Zealand Superbike Championship and take the trophy which 2009 champion Robbie Bugden now has at his home. Given his results so far - his performance last weekend, specifically - he could be a real threat. This coming weekend is the second round, to be held at Teretonga, so we will see how far he can take his lead.

http://tinyurl.com/ylpdr34

International Entertainment Group (IEG), who are the Australian Superbike promoter, along with Motorcycling Australia, has changed the format for the Superstock series. Superstock A and B riders will compete within the Australian Superbike class, but their points will be decided separately. Superstock groups C and D will ride together in their own class and be scored together. This all came from listening to the competitors involved. How unlikely to hear a motorcycle race series listening to the participants...

http://tinyurl.com/yhrn9kt

Sunday Afternoon Moto News - Phil Bell, NZ Superbike and a Rare Aprilia

Phil Bell has a hard time holding onto passengers for his sidehack, but he does not give up. For the 2010 Battle of Britain F1 Sidecar Championship, he has finally secured the help of Ashley Hawes. After his dreadful 2009 season - with the notable exception being the Jock Taylor race at Knockhill - he is ready for a good season in the seat of his race machine.

http://tinyurl.com/ygovbz9

Now, we have results from the first race weekend of the New Zealand Superbike Championship, and it seems that Andrew Stroud has taken the first lead - winning race 2 and finishing fourth in race 1. Aussie Robbie Bugden's weekend started well, with a win in race 1, but he crashed out of the second race and that is where Stroud took his advantage. The two victors, and most of the podium, all rode Suzuki motorcycles. It was a great race and was well worth dealing with the bad weather during the first day just to see the Sunday events. For more, take the links.

http://tinyurl.com/ygf82em

Next is a story on a Rare SportBike for Sale - from the site of the same name. This is said to be an Aprilia prototype, believe it or not; the photo on the listing does show a #1 VIN, so it may be true. Either way, it is a well-equipped 1995 Aprilia RS250. I would check to be sure, but this machine does appear to be one of the most rare machines in the industry and it is certainly worth what is being asked presently. Unfortunately, the bike is in Italy, so you will have to have it shipped to you if you want it.

http://tinyurl.com/yjmpumn

Saturday Morning Moto News - Bolivia Grand Prix & New Zealand Superbike

Yep, we are in Bolivia for this one. The BMW F800GS has won its first race - the Grand Prix XXVII National Automobile and Motorcycle competition held in the South American nation. The winner of the motorcycle event was Juan Carlos "Chavo" Salvatierra who took his F800GS to the top of the boards rather handily. Most of the other riders were on Honda or Yamaha motorcycles. It was a long ride, but most of it was on asphalt; though, I doubt that made it any easier considering the condition of roads there...

http://tinyurl.com/ydwawxm

In the first round of the 2010 New Zealand Superbike Championship the weather has been the winner so far. In the 600SP class, Nick Cole took his Kawasaki ZX-6R to pole position after only 6 total qualifying laps. In Superbike, the weather really played havoc as the times were way down. Even with the weather, they managed to qualify for the main and Andrew Stroud took the pole. Aussie Robbie Bugden could not even get into the top 5. Let's all hope the weather is much better on Sunday!

http://tinyurl.com/yc54moa

Wednesday Morning News - Moto Style - Dakar

We head to New Zealand before we get to South America to read about Robbie Bugden, who is the current New Zealand Superbike champion is getting ready for the 2010 season. Taking the title is only half the battle in some cases; defending the title is even tougher. Bugden will ride for Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki on a GSX-R1000. The series is only five rounds long, and riders come in from everywhere to compete in the event - most from the U.K. and, obviously, Australia....good story and the season begins this weekend (16 - 17 January 2010 at Ruapuna!


http://tinyurl.com/yhewkd5

Given the weird pace of results coming in from Dakar, it appears that I am behind by a day or so. I am just now reporting on Stage 10, while I have already seen results from Stage 11. So, in an attempt to simplify things, I will be placing the Stage 10 results and stories below and the Stage 11 information I find below that. In SS10, Marc Coma took the victory, but he was followed by some riders who are usually not that close to him - David Fretigne and Helder Rodrigues. The overall standings did not change much, though, but go and have a look...

http://tinyurl.com/ydjjm4o

http://tinyurl.com/ybbpkw2

http://tinyurl.com/yethw9x

Early Stage 11 reports: http://tinyurl.com/yejx8l7 - http://tinyurl.com/ybevgaj

Triple R Suzuki Eager to Get to Work in New Zealand Superbike Championships

I do not get to cover the New Zealand Superbike Championships very often, so I thought I would at least post this item on Triple R Suzuki and riders Robbie Bugden and James Smith. They have a strong team and seem to have dominated the young series. 2010 looks to be another year of strength for the team, and it will be interesting to watch...

http://tinyurl.com/y8rnza5

http://tinyurl.com/yz3ptac