Monocasco Concept Bike by Air-Tic - Object of Desire

Though the Monocasco Concept Bike is only that - a concept with no technical details whatsoever - it is something to behold. I only say that due to its mix of classic and modern themes; very stout-looking running gear, whitewall tires, a high-tech braking system, and classic bends of very cutting-edge materials all come together in a tight package which has the distinct appearance of possessing magnificent handling. Spanish design firm Air-Tic is responsible for this dream machine and they based it on the monocoque chassis from the mind of Grand Prix racer Santiago Herrero...well, you can read all that we know here:

http://tinyurl.com/cpw8qlu

Lorenzo Legally Allowed to Ride a Motorcycle on the Street

Jorge Lorenzo has officially passed his motorcycle license test in Spain, his home. Although he can only ride a bike with less than 47 bhp, I'm sure he'll get around just fine - as long as he wears a full-face helmet. The Spanish are Moto-Mad, and we all love that great nation for that...and so much more. Anyone want to lend me a place in Spain?

http://tinyurl.com/86s6s24

Dani Pedrosa Deserves More Respect!

The article linked here, "Why the Hate for Dani Pedroosa", is something I was actually working on for some time - around two years ago I thought of writing my feelings down. They are just that, my feelings, and I am aware they mean very little overall. However, if you do enjoy MotoGP, I do suggest you read the piece as Pedrosa deserves it from every fan.

It is even more true now that the unfortunate Spaniard has a broken collar bone...it's like he's cursed; maybe Rossi does know some voodoo sorcery...

Please have a read and feel free to share!

http://tinyurl.com/6zpkgnq

Italian Motocross Championship Results & Spanish Enduro Championship Husaberg-Style

The fourth and final round of the Italian Motocross Championship is in the books. This final round took place in the town of San Severino and it was thought that Aprilia rider Josh Coppins would be the man to beat. It did not turn out that way, though, as Coppins had technical issues which kept him from finishing high enough to take the Championship. That honor went to Davide Guarneri for 2010. Take the link to learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/yak9drr

Husaberg has two rider competing in the Spanish Enduro Championship, Oriol Mena in E3 and Xavi Galindo in E2. When the flag fell in the E3 category, Mena was second in the race and fourth overall for the weekend. Galindo had similar luck, but he could not get to the podium slot in time and finished in fourth. Overall, Husaberg was happy with the results when the severely wet weather in taken into account.

http://tinyurl.com/yhmhdod

British Superbike Rider News

The British Superbike Championship season begins in a few weeks - over the Easter weekend - and many teams have been in Spain testing. If you have been reading the reports you will know that just about every rider in the series was at the Gaudix circuit over this past weekend. This past week had the BSB riders rounding the turns at Brands Hatch in yet another preseason test. Well, there are still stories coming in from the test, so I will post some of them here for you to read at your leisure...

Neil Hodgson survives a terrible crash in California - just about a year ago - to come back to race again. Hodgson is an incredible competitor and will not back down from a challenge. Well, this year's challenge is the BSB season: http://tinyurl.com/yfslbcj

Brands Hatch was useful for Quay Garage's Tommy Bridewell: http://tinyurl.com/ygprvof

Michael Rutter and Riders Ducati: http://tinyurl.com/yzlvyfk

International Female Ride Day & Hungarian MotoGP Officially Cancelled

International Female Ride Day is scheduled for 7 May 2010. The special day has been accepted by many countries around the world and many more are joining up. The day is the brainchild of Vicki Gray, a longtime motorcyclist and advocate for women riders. Momentum has built up and many of the member countries will be hosting special events for women riders. To see what all of the fuss is about, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhydau3

With all the problems building the Hungarian Balatoning circuit - finance issues, political issues, etc. - the FIM has decided to cancel the MotoGP race which was on the calendar for 2010. Now Spain will have four rounds this season with the new race to be held at Motorland Aragon. What an interesting turn of events...

http://tinyurl.com/ykzy9h9

Stuart Easton Speaks on BSB Testing & Lake Havasu XDl Freestyle

From the man himself, Stuart Easton gives us his perspective on his testing so far in preparation for the 2010 British Superbike Championship. Most riders were in Spain at a track in Cartagena for last week, and Easton was right there among them. He did quite well in the testing and is finding his new teammate, James Ellison, very agreeable. We can only wait for the season to start to see if Easton gained what he needed for some good finishes...

http://tinyurl.com/yj3wxos

Are you getting a Spring Break? Well, if so - even if not and you just want somewhere to escape from work - take a look at the festivities on offer at the 2010 Lake Havasu City 2010 XDL Freestyle Sport Bike Competition. There will be the best stunt riders from around the US, and some from around the world, competing in judged stunt runs and freestyle stunting on sport bike motorcycles. It is entertainment and an impressive demonstration of skill worth your time and money. Take the link to learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/ygpp8kc

Riders Ducati Has Useful Test & Astro-Chase Joins BSB Evo

The Riders Ducati British Superbike Championship team has also just finished its testing in Spain in preparation for the 2010 season. Riders Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp spent time working on engine management with some late 2009 model engines - data which can now be used on their 2010-spec lumps. For some words from the team, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9c9wft

The Astro-Chase SST Racing team and rider Peter Ward have announced that they will be the newest team to join the BSB Evo series for 2010. They have been very successful in BSB Superstock 1000, but they wanted to move up towards the premier class and Evo is right there where they want to be. The team has some experience running in that class, but this will be their first full season. For all the details...take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y8s3jwg

Repsol Honda Launches 2010 MotoGP Team and Bikes

It all happened in Madrid, Spain, appropriately enough, where Repsol Honda showed their 2010 livery and rider Dani Pedrosa to the world. Andrea Dovizioso was not well and decided to stay home in Italy to recover for the Qatar test this coming weekend - probably for the best. Pedrosa arrived on stage riding a trials bike and his Honda RC212V was lowered from the rafters to the stage, which gave the whole thing a theatrical twist. This is the 16th year that the two names have been associated - it does seem longer - and it is now known worldwide...check the link for the rest...

http://tinyurl.com/yg8btlt

Reports from British Superbike Testing & James Toseland

The British Superbike Championship teams are mostly all in Cartagena, Spain, preparing for the 2010 season. This past week has seen many BSB riders running hard around the Spanish track in an effort to perfect bike settings and see what the machines are capable of. This time it seems that Swan Honda was the dominant force; Stuart Easton and James Ellison took the top two slots on the final standings. However, it appears that, un-officially, Tommy Hill broke the lap record at the track. For all the details please take one of the following links.

http://tinyurl.com/yzxrqbx

http://tinyurl.com/yz5e58w

Triumph: http://tinyurl.com/ycheej6

Yukio Kagayama was in PAIN: http://tinyurl.com/y8jgkd6

Also, we get a video interview with the returning World Superbike rider James Toseland. As you know, he was sent to WSBK from MotoGP after they gave his seat at Tech 3 Yamaha to Ben Spies. Well, now Toseland is in the WSBK paddock again and riding a Yamaha. To see what is in his mind at this point in his season, please take the link and see a video interview with the Superbike ace.

http://tinyurl.com/ygu5qu7

More Morning Moto News - Zero and Sheheen & BSB Testing

Zero Motorcycles has just announced that they have signed Ralph Sheheen as spokesperson for their line of electric motorcycles. You all know Sheheen from the SPEED Channel, or at least you should as he hosts just about every motorcycle competition on the TV station. He will join them immediately and will join them on their multi-city promotional tour which begins on 20 March 2010 in Washington D.C. For all the details, don't forget to take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9lkyyu

Josh Brookes has taken the lead at the pre-season British Superbike Championship testing at Gaudix. The Spanish circuit saw him take the unofficial lead away from Stuart Easton and Tommy Hill with his HM Plant Honda. The testing is certainly adding to Brookes' confidence and his belief that he does have a chance at winning the whole thing by season's end. For the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y8d5ssw

Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Elias Fastest Again & Derbi GPR125

Toni Elias left the Moto2 test, which ended on Monday, as the fastest rider on the circuit again! Wet weather really slowed things down on the first and last days of the test, so Sunday's times were the fastest. Elias' Gresini Racing Moriwaki finished up third overall at the previous test, so it does seem that they found more power or handling somewhere! Most of the other riders at the top were also on top at the last test...however, some have improved greatly. For the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhc8e4b

Derbi, builder of some of the most exciting small-displacement motorcycles on the road (though, mostly in Europe), has announced the new high-tech GPR 125 four-stroke machine. It is a very well designed and built motorcycle which was developed by Derbi and Piaggio. If you look closely at this bike, you will see some of the most innovative ideas ever executed for a motorcycle of this size. It is worth a look...and it would be a very cool machine to own just for fun!

http://tinyurl.com/yhkzjqu

More Morning Moto News - CAME Yamaha & Worx Crescent Suzuki

CAME Yamaha will launch their British Supersport Championship team at the grand opening of their new Manchester location during 25 - 27 March 2010. You will have a chance to meet the entire team - that includes riders, techs and other support members of the team. There will also be plenty of marketing schwag - hats, t-shirts and the like - as well as a chance to win tickets to selected rounds of the BSB series!

http://tinyurl.com/ydutthc

In more testing for the BSB season at Cartegena, Yukio Kagayama and his Worx Crescent teammate Tommy Hill were still the fastest on the track - both went past the track record lap time during their testing. We have covered this before, but this is a great piece from Alex Gobert, so go on over and check it out!

http://tinyurl.com/ydnyfug

Monday Morning Moto News - Camier Auction, Simon Andrews & Spanish Tests

Leon Camier is making the best out of a nasty situation...well, a problem he had last weekend as he crashed his factory Aprilia RSV-4 during Superpole qualifying at Phillip Island. Camier is auctioning off the screen from the bike with all proceeds going to Sport Relief. He is hoping that something bad for him can turn in to something good for someone else...not a bad plan...

http://tinyurl.com/yj338q7

Simon Andrews has finally faced sentencing in his case involving his 24 October 2009 early morning crash. Since there was no evidence of 'drink-driving', he was not sentenced under that statute. Instead, he was instructed to pay a fine and had some penalty points added to his license. But, the judge was rather sure that Andrews should have been given a harsher sentence, but he had not evidence to do so...

http://tinyurl.com/ylh4bev

The bevy of Bristish Superbike Championship teams testing at Cartagena, Spain, over the last few days has finally wrapped things up and some reports are coming in. I may have posted about one or two of these before, but these should be fresh stories on the subject. Take a look...

Rob Mac Racing/Motorpoint Yamaha: http://tinyurl.com/ygb7wck

Worx Crescent Suzuki: http://tinyurl.com/yhuttts

Sunday Morning Moto News - Tommy Hill & Rene Cormier

On the second-to-last day of British Superbike Practice at the Cartagena, Spain, circuit, Worx Crescent rider Tommy Hill pulled the fastest lap of the day. The telling part of this feat is that Hill was setting consistent laps while working on many different aspects of race set up. This is a positive test for this team!

http://tinyurl.com/yj3yn8c

By the end of the test, Hill was still on top: http://tinyurl.com/yzs9fvt

Rene Cormier is another person who decided to take a motorcycle around the world. Seven years ago, Cormier sold just about everything he owned and packed up a BMW F650GS motorcycle and took off. The book he wrote about the journey is called "The University of Gravel Roads: Global Lessons From a Four Year Motorcycle Adventure" and Cormier will be in Calgary today discussing it. For all the details, please take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/ylmds3b

More Morning Moto News - BSB Tickets & Neil Hodgson

You could win tickets to the opening round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, which takes place over Easter weekend, 2 - 5 April 2010. For your chance to see the race action yourself - for free - take the link and answer the question on the page. If you get it right and are selected, you will get two tickets to see the event!

http://tinyurl.com/yztdmlr

Neil Hodgson is starting to like the way his race machine feels - this after some seven days of testing in Spain at two different locations. Motorpoint Yamaha has been working hard to give him the mount he needs to be competitive. His teammate Dan Linfoot is also expected to do very well this year. But, if Hodgson does come to terms with the sweet R1 he is racing, everyone else must take care and keep their eyes open - Hodgson is heading for the win!

http://tinyurl.com/yk8actj

MORE Afternoon Moto News - Buildbase Kawasaki, ASBK & Full Throttle Sports

Buildbase Kawasaki has finished their testing in Spain in preparation for the 2010 British Superbike Championship, with riders John Laverty and Adam Jenkinson getting their first laps aboard the Kawasaki ZX-10R bikes they will be riding in the series. The time was organized by their suspension provider and was extremely useful for the new teammates. Wait and see if it helps them challenge for the title.

http://tinyurl.com/ycwbn2s

The 2010 Australian Superbike Championship will also be staring this weekend at Phillip Island - along with the WSBK season. To get an idea of the first day proceedings, the following link will give you some extreme detail as they list out the various happenings in a time-delineated format - thus showing you minute by minute what was happening at the circuit. If I find more previews, I will post them here.

http://tinyurl.com/ydxxj84

Waters is on top as of now: http://tinyurl.com/yete5nn

In further ASBK news, we hear that one team has added a sponsor to their teams. Cougar Bourbon has signed on with Full Throttle Sports to sponsor both the ASBK team and the Australian MX Championship. This is big as it is rare to find a sponsor so ready to support an entire team's operations. The livery has already been drawn up and is ready to be put on both their Honda Fireblade ASBK machine and their CRF450R MX machine. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yenjamk

More Morning Moto News - Isle of Man TT & Moto2 Test

A minister in the Isle of Man government, John Shimmin, is upset that he was mislead into splitting the TTXGP from the Isle of Man TT event. Shimmin did want the island to become a leader in zero-emissions racing, so he helped with the first TTXGP. He just cannot understand why the original deal fell apart after only one year...I bet it has to do with finances - everyone wants a part of the future!

http://tinyurl.com/yhdveg9

Shoya Tomizawa, on the Technomag-CIP Suter MMX bike, was fastest on the first day of the Moto2 test at Catalunya, Spain. Roby Rolfo managed to dislocate his shoulder in a fall, which will have him out for four weeks and he will miss the next Moto2 test at Valencia. Jules Cluzel and Yonny Hernandez were second and third on the day. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhdt9xw

Monday Morning Moto News - Husaberg, Jesse Jones & Somerset Rebels

The International Indoor Enduro World Cup season is already over; it only had four rounds. Husaberg's man in the show, Joakim Ljunggren, pulled home a sixth position finish at the final round in Barcelona, Spain, which gave him a third overall for the entire 2010 season. That is the highest a rookie in the series has ever posted previously - look out as Ljunggren is on his way to a championship or more...

http://tinyurl.com/ylmp76v

Jones - not James - and his first name is Jesse. He is also the youngest ever British motorcycle racing champion. He was crowned last year in the MRO Superteen Championship at the age of 12. This kid could be beginning one hell of a career...keep an eye on 'em!

http://tinyurl.com/yfey7du

The night before the British Speedway Grand Prix kicks of in Cardiff on 10 July 2010, but the night before will have even more action. On 9 July, the Somerset Rebels will host the 2010 Premier League Pairs Championship at Oak Tree Arena. This makes it two nights of incredible racing like no other - remember that Speedway bikes don't really have brakes - and should be fun for the entire family.

http://tinyurl.com/yj3t7h5

Thursday Afternoon Moto News - CB750 For Sale & Spain By Bullet

First of all is this eBay find of a 1975 Honda CB750. It is partially restored and ready to be finished into either a show bike or a mile-munching classic. The next one is a 1970 CB750 which only has 5,000 miles on the clock. It has been stored most of its life, but has received some recent work. Check them out and buy one if you can!

http://tinyurl.com/ye9bkvb

We have a great story about a man and his Royal Enfield Bullet who takes it all around the northern coast of Spain. It turns out that this mount, with a 50+ year-old design, is probably one of the best backroad cruising machines you can purchase. No, it is not perfect, but the feel of riding one through historic lands is just fantastic.

http://tinyurl.com/yexuwz2