Aprilia-Powered Norton to Compete at Isle of Man TT

Norton will not be bringing their own V4 to a MotoGP circuit anytime soon; no one has any doubt that they want to, and as soon as they are able. As a stop-gap, and a very good learning experience, they will field a kit Aprilia RSV4 engine - not too different from what the CRT teams have access to - in a Spondon frame in this year's Isle of Man TT. That last connection is interesting as Spondon used to frame many racing Nortons in its previous incarnation. And, Norton's new owner, one Stuart Garner, also happens to own Spondon. It's better to keep the program in-house as much as possible so as to learn everything it is possible to learn when using another marque's engine. In this way, Norton can prepare to create their own future MotoGP CRT engine. Since Norton already has some designs for this, I doubt very much that they will make a duplicate RSV4 engine - they will want their own. Norton has a reputation to protect if they plan to stay connected to their heritage in a meaningful way.

http://tinyurl.com/7xogr79

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

UAE National Race Day 6 Preview & Anthony West Rides MZ in Moto2

Well, in the UAE Sportbike Championship, Arushen Moodley is in a commanding lead and heading for the 2010 title. However, the first runner-up position is still up for grabs. Moodley is riding an Aprilia and the two rider fighting for second place are riding another Aprilia and a Yamaha...should be very interesting. And, it looks like Yamaha's YZF-R6 will be conquering the Sportbike 600 Class...unless pretender to the throne Jason Burnside can take his Honda to the top...For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yleuonq

Anthony West is back on the World Championship circuit, although it will be in the supporting Moto2 class. He will ride for a newly announced MZ team, which only recently gained permission to join the championship. This is big news for MZ as they have wanted to join the racing for quite some time. They should learn a great deal from this and I am hopeful that West will have a good season!

http://tinyurl.com/yhmx6bz

Brock's Offers WERA Contingency & Aprilia RSV-4R versus Yamaha YZF-R1

Brock's Performance, supplier of BST carbon-fiber wheels for Japanese sportbikes in the US, is offering some US$37,200 in contingency money for the WERA series. Supported classes are WERA's National Challenge, National Endurance and the huge Sportsman series. You need to take the link to see the details as there are some important notes...

http://tinyurl.com/yfollqv

Motorcyclist has put up a comparison of two of the most praised liter-class bikes in the industry - the 2010 Aprilia RSV-4R and the Yamaha YZF-R1. Both machines (even the 'low-end' Aprilia) have some of the most advanced, race-developed technology that the sport has ever seen. Both machines are also very track-focused bikes but are also not so hard to live with on the streets. Want to know how it turned out? Take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ygqtxy2

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

Rumor: Ducati and Piaggio May Merge!

With the economy still in the toilet, Ducati and Piaggio both are still feeling the sting of lower sales of both bikes and licensed accessories - few people have enough money to buy anything. Add that to the rumors of a possible sale of the Piaggio Group of motorcycle and scooter manufacturers and you get this rumor: Ducati and Piaggio to merge. It is nowhere near confirmed, but it could mark a point where the Italian motorcycle industry can grow and may actually be able to compete with the Japanese (and British and American) on their terms. So, stay tuned and we will see if this comes to fruition or is forgotten by history.

http://tinyurl.com/ylaa5lv

http://tinyurl.com/yfc6oho

More Afternoon Moto News - Super-Superbikes & Daytona Review

MotorcycleUSA has done a special motorcycle comparo between a non-modified Aprilia RSV-4, a well-modified Suzuki GSX-R1000 and a US$70K Ducati 1098R. The results were predictable with the Ducati being fastest, the Suzuki in second and the Aprilia at the back. However, you could buy three-and-a-half Aprilia RSV-4 bikes for the one of the Ducati machines, so imagine if you bought the RSV-4 and used the US$50K to turn it into a true SUPERbike. Read the article and have a look for yourself...

http://tinyurl.com/ycdpkry

Did you miss the Daytona Bike Week event this past week? If so, you might want to catch up on the events, happenings, racing and other parts of the experience when traveling to this annual rally. Simply take the link below and you can read about what went on and see some of the notable events of the Daytona Bike Week experience!

http://tinyurl.com/yd9cbvm

Some photos from the AMA: http://tinyurl.com/ybpe42a

More Afternoon Moto News - Amy O'Mara, Leon Camier & NZ Novice Wins on Aprilia

Amy O'Mara is the only woman competing full-time in the Australian Superbike Championship and this year she will be supported by the Warringah Mall Eagles Angels, a group which raises awareness for breast cancer. This season will see her remain on a Yamaha and compete in both the Superstock 600 class and the Australian Formula Xtreme Championship. She will be rather busy in 2010!

http://tinyurl.com/ybf8qjj

Leon Camier is quite pleased with the way the Aprilia factory team is treating him despite rumors that he is the second man on the team behind Max Biaggi. Camier states that he has been given the same parts and knowledge as Biaggi and is moving along in the right direction. Plus, the 2010 season for him is about learning the circuits and getting familiar with his team and the World Superbike series itself.

http://tinyurl.com/yc8qkxw

Dion Sellers is not a professional - or, even amateur - road racer, but he still managed to beat the best that New Zealand had at a local Formula 1 race! He had no interest until he watched a race last month. His friend convinced him to take his brand new Aprilia RSV-4 to the track for a fun day; he did so well that he decided to race the next day. His bone-stock RSV-4 managed to take out bikes worth more than twice as much which have been modified heavily to race. It was a big surprise, to say the least!

http://tinyurl.com/y8jtgj7

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

Saturday Morning Moto News - MV Agusta 0% & Aprilia Cheating(?)

MV Agusta UK has a deal you cannot pass up. Purchase any new model of the MV Agusta Brutale - 990R or 1090RR - and you will get either 0, 2, or 3 % interest! Take the link to learn the rest of the details and then get to your MV dealer ASAP!

http://tinyurl.com/yjabuj3

In the most recent round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island, the Aprilia factory team chose to test out some gear-driven cams versus the stock machines chain-driven cams. This is allowed in the rules, but certain conditions must be met first. This will probably not cost Aprilia points, but a decision may force them to race with chain-driven cams like on the streetgoing version of the bike.

http://tinyurl.com/ygsqh6v

Monday Morning Moto News - 2010 Aprilia Dorsoduro & Aprilia WSBK Team

We have already heard the rumors and seen the photos of the new 2010 Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory model, but this is the first riding impression of the standard model for 2010 that I have seen. So, take the link and see what the base model Dorsoduro can do with its 750cc engine and very Italian design!

http://tinyurl.com/yep92tt

Now that we have probably all seen the results of the World Superbike race over the weekend at Phillip Island, let's take a look at the new Aprilia WSBK team's fortunes over the race event and see what this means for their future. As you probably saw in the race, they still have some work to do to get the RSV-4 setup to the liking of both Biaggi and Camier. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y8fkbou

http://tinyurl.com/ygm394m

Friday Morning Moto News - FIM Homologated Motorcycles, Leon Haslam

The FIM has released its list of the homologated motorcycles which may participate in each of the classes within WSBK. For the list, please take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yjpocee

Leon Haslam, he of Alstare Suzuki team, was the fastest rider on day one of the World Superbike testing at Phillip Island. He was the only rider to lap within his bracket. This bodes well for his WSBK season...but, he is up against the best in the world and the WSBK paddock is loaded with talent...so, we still must wait to see how the season goes...

http://tinyurl.com/y8pbm55

It appears as if Max Biaggi is not too far behind Haslam...Biaggi clocked the fastest top speed of anyone at Phillip Island on a Superbike, in fact he beat out his competition by 3.7 kph. It was not enough to get him past the top slot on the lap chart, but he is getting there. Just wait for race day!

http://tinyurl.com/ya3govo

Thursday Afternoon Moto News - Sam Costanzo Dies, Leon Camier & Josh Brookes

Sam Costanzo, the man who seems to have single-handedly helped out every collector and rider of the Suzuki rotary-powered RE5 (made from 1975 - 77), has been taken from us by cancer. Costanzo did sell the business and it has been moved to Tennessee where it still runs well, but he was the one who kept up the back-end of the love affair between owners and their RE5. He was instrumental in Suzuki's work on the machine, so it makes sense that he would know virtually everything about the model.

http://tinyurl.com/ygw9uc9

2009 British Superbike Champion Leon Camier is having some trouble coming to terms with his new Aprilia RSV-4 WSBK mount. He is at Phillip Island doing testing ahead of this weekend's racing. His Yamaha was well set-up for his riding style, but that took time to get right. The Aprilia WSBK machine may take a few more practices to get the setup perfect for Camier to challenge for the title.

http://tinyurl.com/yhx5so2

Australia's Josh Brookes will be making a quick return to the World Superbike paddock this weekend at Phillip Island. Once he finishes that race, though, he will return to his BSB home. He is familiar with the track and the Australian weather, but not much else - thus, he will be learning as he will be riding someone else's machine...

http://tinyurl.com/yj5fqvc

More Afternoon Moto News - Aprilia and BSB & Alastair Seeley's NW200

Aprilia has also announced that they will be in the 2010 BSB Evo Championship. That makes it eight manufacturers participating in the series - a nice, large number of variety. The Splitlath Motorsport team will be campaigning their machines with riders (and brothers) Chris and Joe Burns. That makes some 32 riders on the BSB grid, with 12 of them competing in the new Evo series. (This may be a repeat post, but it is a new article.)

http://tinyurl.com/ygges5t

Alistair Seeley may not be able to race in the North West 200 Superbike class this year. We all know that long-time fan favorite Stuart Easton will be returning to the event, but leaving Seeley out of the premier race will make it less of a special event. For now, Seeley's team will be talking with the organizers of the event to see if they can get him into the proper classes at the 15 May 2010 event.

http://tinyurl.com/yz883y6

More Morning Moto News - Aprilia Recall, Honda Racing & CPSIA + MIC

The recall for the 2010 Aprilia RSV-4 has been updated. The North American side of this issue now has the RSV-4 engines on hand and the replacement should be complete in the next two to three weeks. That's good news for all the owners; at least they will get them done in time for summer!

http://tinyurl.com/yz7ocz5

Honda has now put out a press release detailing their factory racing efforts for the entire spectrum of motorcycle racing. They talk about MotoGP, WSBK, BSB, Moto2, etc. So, take the link and grab the racing update from Big Red.

http://tinyurl.com/yg7xb7b

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) in the US managed to deliver some 4000 signatures from experts, who work in the motorcycle industry and some who specialize in safety, to the US Congress yesterday. The petition calls for there to be an exclusion from the CPSIA bill for youth-oriented motorcycles and ATVs. It's really a simple idea and Congress should act on it soon. We do need your help, though, so please read the linked article and contact your legislators today!

http://tinyurl.com/ybar88k

Wednesday Morning Moto News - Leon Camier, MIST Suzuki & Steve Plater

Only because the story has somehow become syndicated I will post it here. Apparently, Leon Camier is quite happy with the new Aprilia WSBK livery. He is very excited at the opportunity to ride in the World Superbike Championship. For more, take the link...though, you know most of it already.

http://tinyurl.com/yekdu3k

British Superbike team MIST Suzuki may not be ready for the 2010 season opener at Brands Hatch, 3 - 5 April. The bikes they will be running are doing quite well, and the team is as ready as they can be to tackle the championship. However, they are having serious sponsorship issues - as many are - and may not have everything they need in order to start the season, including the all important rider...check it out:

http://tinyurl.com/y9r29c9

New news is coming to us about Steve Plater and his run at the North West 200 road race. Plater will contest five different races at the event; two Supersport, two Superbike and, now, one Superstock race as well. He will be riding for the HM Plant Honda team for the event.

http://tinyurl.com/yckrnhy

MORE Afternoon Moto News - Oberdan Bezzi & Dirico Motorcycles

Designer Oberdan Bezzi has worked with the great motorcycle marques - Ducati, Cagiva, Aprilia, Benelli and Moto Guzzi - during his time. And, it is very likely that you have seen some of his sketches on various motorcycle websites and in many magazines. He is a very creative and makes some designs which demonstrate perfectly the passion he has for motorcycles - just look through them! For a quick interview, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yaw3lgz

Dirico Motorcycles has teamed up with Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler to create three Aerosmith 'Dream On' Pro-Street custom motorcycles for the Ohio Lottery. Each will be emblazoned with Aerosmith logos and the signatures of the entire band. They will be given away in a special scratch-and-win lottery game in Ohio. For all the details, please take the link and get your tickets when they are available!

http://tinyurl.com/y8brvz5

Tuesday Morning Moto News - Phillip Island, Leon Camier & Rossi's B-Day

Coming up during 26 - 28 February 2010 at Phillip Island will be the big show - Australian and World Superbike Championship races. That is 13 races over three days with plenty of local talent out to prove themselves against the best in both Australia and the world. Get your preview after the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yh5uxb5

Road Racer X managed to sit down with WSBK Aprilia man Leon Camier and ask him some questions on the upcoming season. Camier is favored to do very well in the series in 2010 - he is a BSB Champion and he is on one of the fastest bikes in the paddock - plus he has Max Biaggi as a teammate. So, what does he think so far? Well, take the link and you will learn!

http://tinyurl.com/yhp2qq4

That's right, today is Valentino Rossi's birthday! He turns the ripe old age of 31. It is hard to believe that he accomplished so much in his first 30 years on this planet - and we were there with him for nearly half that time. Get an idea of just how great Rossi is - as a racer, anyway - by taking the link. Happy Birthday Rossi!

http://tinyurl.com/ycfvdzb

More Morning Moto News - 2010 Aprilia Mana 850 GT & KTM IDM Contingent

The 2010 Aprilia Mana 850 GT ABS will be available very soon. It is seemingly the spawn of a Dorsoduro and a SportCity scooter - with its aggressive looks and scooter-like transmission giving it an odd spot on the motorcycle continuum. However, it still rides rather well and has some decent performance stats. Though it will never take out a liter-bike, it will certainly be a civil and long-serving companion which can take you just about anywhere...plus, ABS is now standard on the GT model in the US.

http://tinyurl.com/yf4g2mt

KTM has a very young line-up for the 2010 running of the German IDM 125c.c. class. Their ages are 13, 15, 16 and 17, yet they are among the best in their age groups. Each of the riders will receive support from the KTM factory, but they are essentially privateers. For all of the details of who and which team, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yl6smhq

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