Brutal Electric

No, it's not from MV Agusta, but it is called the Brutus (a name, not a concept like Brutale) and it is definitely electric. What you see here is the second generation of the original Brutus from Chris Bell, a Las Vegas builder. This machine sports a mechanical, but clutchless, five-speed transmission which drives the rear wheel via a chain drive, as opposed to the belt used on the first model. It also is rumored to have a top speed in excess of 100 MPH, a range of 100 miles, and does 0 - 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds. Given the 535 pound weight, that is power! The battery providing that juice is an all-new lithium polymer which should last 50,000 miles. Since Mr. Bell is being mostly mum on specs, that is about all the information available. For more, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/6wqy4x7

It Will Be Built, Will You Buy? The Xenon, a TRON Lightcycle

For around US$55,000 you too may ride a lightcycle at least similar in form to the machines from the recent TRON: Legacy film from Disney. Not a whole lot has come out about the machine other than its electric powertrain and the 100 mph (160 km/h) speed and 100 mile range (160 km). The company building it in the USA is Evolve Motorcycles, or "evolve" as it appears on their official documentation. That say something about them...expect more interesting machines from this relatively new operation.

http://tinyurl.com/7ngow6k

http://evolvemotorcycles.com/

Late to The News...and BUSY!

This one only came to my attention at the start of this week, unfortunately. I have had one rather notable week, to be fair to all involved. Run in with the police...for not having an operator's license...but I do have a valid driver's license which does not expire until next year...impounded vehicle...and, of course, it's going to cost me in the $$$$ range. However, there is light for this one. It seems that I have a valid case to plead - poverty. This is factual. But, oddly enough, had I lied to the good officer, I would have only incurred a minor ticket. Moreover, it was a dumb mistake and I made the safest move. Eh, we will see...cities are hungry for $$$$ right now just like the rest of us.

Good news, though, I have a real JOB now in my favorite industry...more later.

Enough about me...This is about the new FIM Speedway GP World Champion: American, and all around good man, Greg Hancock! He claimed it a few weeks ago now, but I just cannot ignore this and leave it off of this blog. Hancock is not only a fierce competitor with a heart that burns nitro-methane, he is also my age ;^)

It's sad that almost no one here in the USA knows who he is...

Congratulations Greg! Someday I'll see you out there...

Please read: http://tinyurl.com/3n8d62w

And, any readers, please at least share the linked article...his home nation should know this story!

American Macau Grand Prix Contingent Announced

Five Americans will fly the US flag at the 45th Macau Grand Prix scheduled for Saturday, 19 November, 2011. Jeremy Toye on a Paul Bird ZX-10R, race regular Mark Miller on an Splitlath Aprilia RSV4, other regular Michael Barnes on an Attack Performance ZX-10R, Sean Dwyer riding a Locust/Lee's Cycles S1000RR, and Chris Clark racing on a Pat Clark YZF-R1. The Chinese island won't know what hit it! Go USA!

http://tinyurl.com/3vybwfa

The Italian Motorcycle Owners Club 28th Annual All-Italian Bike Rally

Coming up on 18 September in Sturbridge, MA, is the 28th Italian Motorcycle Owners Club All-Italian Motorcycle Rally. A passion for motorcycles is all you need to attend. Directly from the announcement:

The Italian Motorcycle Owners Club (IMOC) will be holding its 28th Annual all-Italian motorcycle Rally on Sunday, September 18, 2011 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The IMOC Rally is the biggest and longest-running Italian motorcycle event in America. If the weather cooperates, it's not uncommon to have some 400 Italian bikes and 1,000 spectators on hand.

As usual, the Rally is held at the Hamilton Rod & Gun Club, 24 Hamilton Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566...from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Judging begins at Noon.

Admission is still only $5, per person. ALL proceeds in excess of expenses are donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (J.D.R.F.). Dealer Flea Market and Club spaces available. Refreshments and a food concession available
on-site.

This year's feature is the original, small-Block Ducati Pantah (500, 600, 650, 750)...such as the SL, TL, F1, Paso, Indiana, 750 Sport, etc., along with the Cagiva Allazzurra and Elefant.

All Italian motorcycles and scooters are welcome. No open pipes or pets, please.

Directions: from the Mass. Pike take exit 9, Rte. 20 West. Go 1/2-mile to New Boston Road, follow signs to Gun Club...which is a left turn onto Hamilton Road. From I-84, take exit 3B to Rte. 20 West...then proceed as above.

For more information and coverage of past IMOC Rallies visit www.imocusa.com.

Steven
Rossi
IMOC Rally Co-Chair
(860) 873-2999 Home
(248) 470-5788
Cell
SLDMRossi@aol. com

WHEW! Indy Retains MotoGP Until 2014

That was a close one for many fans of the MotoGP event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They usually make these announcements during the event, but this one came during Misano. OK, people of Indiana (and those who travel there) you can stop holding your breath...relax and get to work on your hotel reservations!

http://www.tinyurl.com/3ze75oc

Big MotoGP News for Speed Viewers in North America

Dorna and Speed (TV) have reached an agreement which will allow the US-based channel to air the 2010 - 2012 MotoGP Championship seasons in high-definition (HD) LIVE! It's the first of its kind for North American fans of the world's greatest sport, the Motorcycle Grand Prix. The agreement begins this weekend with the Qatar round of the series - a night race in the desert. Speed will show the event live at 4 PM (ET) on 11 April 2010. They will also put some of the races online at speedtv.com. For all the very cool details, please take the link...Amazing!

http://tinyurl.com/yegaq6e

2010 Arlen Ness Victory Vision & More Salt Addiction - Timing

The Victory Motorcycle company produces machines which challenge the cruiser market like no other company. They are made in the US and they have a reputation for reliability - even better than competitor and arch-rival Harley-Davidson, whose bikes have less performance when compared like-to-like with the Victory machines. Arlen Ness, customizer extraordinaire, has been working with Victory for some six or seven years and has produced some of the more amazing offerings from the company in terms of style and appearance. The Vision he penned is at the other end of the link...

http://tinyurl.com/y89a2fe

Rocky Robinson's column, 'Salt Addiction', is back this month and this time he is talking about timing. The Bonneville Salt Flats is where everyone goes to test themselves against the clock to see how fast they can go. Well, what about that clock? Timing is a very important and exacting science which must be applied perfectly to keep the record(s) straight. How is it done....well, take the link and see...

http://tinyurl.com/ye25bag

AFM Season Opener at Buttonwillow Raceway & Cretu Bound for TT

The AFM Season started this past weekend at Buttonwillow Raceway in California. In the premier Formula Pacific class, Suzuki mounted Michael Earnest of Pacific Track Time took the victory. It was his first win in over 26 years of racing. Suzuki GSX-Rs filled the podium in that class. In Open Superbike, it was the second place finisher in the Formula Pacific class, one Correy Sarros, took the win. In the 750 Superbike and 600 Superbike, it was the YZF-R6 of Lenny Hale across the finish line first in both classes. For the other 25 classes, please take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yehtq9b

Brandon Cretu, a racer in the WERA series, has been accepted as a Newcomer in the Isle of Man TT - he may be the youngest American ever. He will be riding a Suzuki prepared by Mark Hamilton of Irish Bike Magazine as he did in the 2009 Ulster GP. It is an amazing nod for the young Cretu and a real credit to his ability with a bike. It is going to be a cool TT this year as some six or more marques will have factory supported efforts. I will find a way to watch it! Take the link to see the important details...

http://tinyurl.com/yfbskr5

Fischer Motor Introduces MRX650 Low & San Felipe 250 Results

Fischer Motor Company - they of GP frames, high-end suspension and components, and Hyosung engines - have now announced a lower seat model of their MRX650 machine. This is especially designed for the inseam-challenged amongst us, yet it still maintains the great handling and performance of the original model. The secret is the Trellispar - the only production one-piece frame on the market - and how well is hugs the track when pushing the bike as hard as you want. For the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhdahju

The San Felipe 250 is in the books now and it looks like Johnny Campbell Racing keeping Honda's dominance in Baja in sound order. Kawasaki's riders Robby Bell and Steve Hengeveld and second team riders Ryan and Connor Penhall rounded out the podium. This shows us once again (the first time being the Baja 1000) that Team Green is getting close to Honda in these off-road, hard core motorcycle races...

http://tinyurl.com/yk67dza

Just Lovely! Ducati Teams with Edelweiss - Ducati Travel Experience World

The Ducati Travel Experience World (DTEW) is premiering at just the right time. The 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 is debuting to the world all over and Ducati decided to hook up with Edelweiss Bike Travel to create a special tour series using that lovely machine (I hate to admit it, but I desire one myself...). There are four tours which cover parts of Africa, Australia, Europe and the Western USA. Just take the link as you do owe it to yourself to see how the other half lives...it would be sweet if I could sell my kidneys!

http://tinyurl.com/yjgzbtd

2010 Hemmings New England Councours

The 2010 edition of the Hemmings New England Concour d'Elegance will feature Citroen as the featured manufacturer...though, that fact may not matter to many reading this post. The motorcycle class at this annual event held in the Green Mountains of Vermont at the Stratton Mountain Resort - in other words, big money and likely old money with a touch of Wall Street money and the rest of us. It may have a great motorcycle selection, though, so it might be worth at least contacting the organizers to see if it is worth the trip...the riding around there is certainly worth the ride.



http://tinyurl.com/y9jhwys

S1000RR Boosts BMW Sales & BMW Looks for GS Owners

Almost the entire motorcycle industry in the US is now in a very deep depression, but BMW is not mired in that mess. The BMW S1000RR has since arrived in the States and is selling incredibly well. This has really improved sales for BMW here and it continues to go well for the German marque. The S1000RR is a revolutionary machine, so it is not that surprising as there are still people with money out there...they are just very careful about what they spend their money on. The S1000RR is worth it!

http://tinyurl.com/y8gmkx8

The BMW GS motorcycles are made to go anywhere you want to take them - and they often do. In the UK, a new race series has come about called the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy UK Qualifier. This will put riders through a severely tough course with the three top riders progressing to the International GS Trophy Finals in November of this year. BMW Motorrad UK, Simon Pavey and the BMW Off-Road Skills School have worked together for this purpose. For all the details - and a better description - please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9lt2lo

Ducati NA Offers Class with Polen & New Ducati Ambassador Scott McGregor

Ducati North America is offering riders who purchase a 2009 or 2010 Ducati sportbike a chance to ride with World Superbike Champion Doug Polen at his Doug Polen 1-on-1 Riders School at one of twelve US circuits. It's a very good promotion as this will give you a chance to get the most out of your brand new Italian motorcycle. Plus, Polen is a very nice and down-to-earth guy who knows how to ride very, very well. If you pick the new 848 Dark, you also get a limited edition Swiss watch. For more, please take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/y9ybecr

In Australia, a rather popular male model and actor has become the next Ducati Ambassador. Scott McGregor went to Ducati City to pick up his 2010 Streetfighter on Monday, 15 March. He will ride the bike all over Melbourne and appear at many events with the motorcycle. Goof for him!

http://tinyurl.com/ybv2t6r

Harley-Davidison Is a Take-Over Target, Maybe & Aaron Gobert Races at Home

Given their lackluster sales, seriously declining profits, and issues with their employees, Harley-Davidson may be the target of a takeover bid. Private equity concern Kohlberg Kravis Roberts could be looking to pursue a leveraged buyout of the Motor Company. The stock market is thinking this will happen late this month or in April, based on their stock purchases. It could mark another turning point for the company that only recently was doing so well they went on a buying spree. I guess they should have saved their money, or maybe paid their executives a little more reasonably instead of giving themselves all 'golden parachutes'...Too bad the company has no concept of time!

http://tinyurl.com/yjjzt4h

Aaron Gobert is returning to Australia to race in the Australian Supersport Championship. Since the US AMA series is in dire straights financially and there is little factory support in the series, he could not land a ride in a series in which he actually has a championship season - and a decent record. Thus, he will be riding a Yamaha YZF-R6 which will actually be supported with help from Graves Motorsport, Gobert's former team. The ultimate destination for him is to ride the Aprilia RSV-4 for KWS Motorsports.

http://tinyurl.com/yj6kj73

Harley Acts Like Any Corporation & Danny Magoo Will Get His Van

It turns out that Harley-Davidson is paying their CEO just like many other ethically-challenged multi-national corporations. Given that The Motor Company has been shutting down production lines and laying off workers, you would think that they could save some of that money by paying the CEO who has presided over the most dramatic losses that the company has ever had would take a pay cut to keep the company running. Well, this is what you get when a motorcycle company goes corporate - their only concern is with their shareholders' value in the stock and the executive pay - they are Wall Street slaves. It's all about the $$$ for them. If I were a loyal H-D rider, I would begin a campaign to stop this sort of behavior...but, I am not one...

http://tinyurl.com/yf5kvbw

Does anyone remember when we heard the news that Bob Hannah was setting up a fund to purchase a full-mobility van for motocross legend Danny "Magoo" Chandler? Well, it has achieved its goal! Magoo will be getting his van very soon now. It was new Hall of Fame inductee brothers Bob and Geoff Fox who donated the final US$15K to the project. Everyone is labeling the Fox brothers as amazing at this point, and there is good reason for this! For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ykkyrnn

Yamaha and DC Branded Bikes & Yamaha Details the 2010 FZ8

The collaboration between leading sportswear company DC and Yamaha Motor has yielded some special edition TT-R125 and YZ250F motorcycles. They, apparently, will be given away in contests of some sort and will be on display in select DC stores and Yamaha dealers around the US. The deal will give both brands more exposure and will certainly add to Yamaha's cache when the bikes are seen in DC retail locations...

http://tinyurl.com/ya6kr6d

Well, the photos broke cover long before they were supposed to, but that did nothing but increase the public's interest in the new 2010 Yamaha FZ8. We know that it will be a bike made for the twisties and the urban jungle, and that it looks very sweet from just about any angle. Now we know the technical specifications behind the beast and they are only a link away...

http://tinyurl.com/yelhmog

Graves Motorsport Takes on WERA & MIC Announces Election Results

Graves Motorsports, Yamaha's team inside the AMA Pro Racing ranks, is also taking on the WERA with rider Benny Solis and a host of support programs. Many racers have used Graves parts over the lats 20 years of their existence, and many more will be using them this year in the WERA Championship. You will even find several former AMA racers in the WERA paddock, so take in a round - you will not be disappointed.

http://tinyurl.com/yavldkj

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) has released the results of the election for their 2010 board of directors. The standard way they do this is to elect three of them one year and then the other three the next year, and they serve a two year term. Take the link to learn the details as the article does a better job of it than I would here.

http://tinyurl.com/ya2jkwv

More Afternoon Moto News - Benelli 2 TechnoTracker & Avon Tires

A new concept motorcycle from the mind of Oberdan Bezzi has come to light. He has designed a Benelli flat-track motorcycle which he calls the Benelli 2 TechnoTracker. It is based on the as yet unreleased Benelli 2ue 756 naked streetbike, and Bezzi expects his design would be competitive in the AMA flat track racing events. We have to get the new bike out of Benelli first, but it sure looks good to me!

http://tinyurl.com/yz5g8f4

The US side of the Avon Tyres company has released a new website. It offers company news, technical details and more! It will also have information on motorcycle events, featured builders, contests and testimonials from Avon users. The website is most useful for researching Avon products, as you might expect, and has some of the best technical details of any tire website on the Internet! Check it out for yourself.

http://tinyurl.com/yk8unxh

Even MORE News - Father and Son AHRMA Effort & Two Auctions!

Art Delor and his son, Alex, will be competing in the Daytona Bike Week AHRMA races in Florida this week (starting today, actually). Delor races a historic Indian and even takes it as far as wearing an authentic Indian racing uniform and keeping his 1939-40 Indian logbook. His 17-year-old son Alex is his pit crew, and he has over 9 years of experience with helping his father race. There is more after the links.

http://tinyurl.com/ycgtgh2

http://tinyurl.com/y9eea2b

With results from Monday: http://tinyurl.com/yd649ee

Bonhams managed to clean out the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK. However, they were selling motorcycles from history, not British aerial warfare artifacts. The Pampalona Collection was up for auction with over 100 machines, mostly pre-1950, and 88% of the items offered were sold. For some details about the event, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9gdoxu

The Daytona Antique and Classic Motorcycle Auction will be held on Saturday 6 March 2010 at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. There is not much detail beyond that after the link, but at least you can get the address.

http://tinyurl.com/yfzeub4

Early photos from the event: http://tinyurl.com/y8qj4zh