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

MORE Morning Moto News - Dave Watkins Retires & Aussie Supersport

Dave Watkins has been Development Manager - Motorsport at Dunlop tire for some time now. He is a 46 year veteran of the tire conglomerate and has been through many years of changes, engineering success and overall great tire manufacturing. Watkins has decided to hang up his white-collar and move on to life with his family. After all the years of hard work, all the travel to likely thousands of races, he was the man to see about Dunlop tires...now, he will be the man to see about relaxing...we hope!

http://tinyurl.com/y9ayssg

Though we did not see this earlier, I thought it would be nice to get a story which focuses on the Australian Supersport Championship round held this past weekend at Phillip Island. Two races were held for this class - much like the Superbike series - and Suzuki mounted Troy Herfoss took the overall win (a 2-1 finish). There is more here about the Waters Superbike victory as well, so dig in and take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yblgjbe

More Morning Moto News - Race 4 Heroes & Troy Herfoss

The Race 4 Heroes will have drivers and riders from all over British motorsport, including some celebrities as well, get together and race in a kart endurance event at Daytona kart circuit (in Milton Keynes) on 27 February 2010. All of the money raised will go to Help for Heroes, a veteran's charity in the U.K. For more information, take the link...and help out a soldier as well!

http://tinyurl.com/y94q5j5

Troy Herfoss, a competitor in the Australian Supersport Championship, has taken the time to talk about the run-up to the first race of the 2010 ASBK season. He has been testing and has been quite pleased with what he has in his pit. Given the number of other racers in that class who have moved up to the Superbike or Superstock classes, Herfoss is the favorite in this year's Supersport series. For all the details and the interesting side notes, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yczgquu

Interview with Bryan Staring - 2009 Australian Supersport Champion

Staring had a good year - to go along with Yamaha's great year in motorcycle racing - and he did bring home the title in the 2009 Australian Supersport Championship. After working so hard to get to this place in his life, one wonders what he thought of the season. Well, to answer that, take the link and read through the interview.

http://tinyurl.com/y85nm5z

Cru Halliday Receives M.A. Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award for 2009

Halliday had his first season in the Australian Superbike Championship Superstock 600 class; he came in third for the 2009 season. That is especially notable because up until the beginning of the ASBK season, he was a motocross and supercross rider - not road racing. Motorcycling Australia's Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award is given to a new racer to support them in their racing endeavors throughout their career.

http://tinyurl.com/yf6ct3w

Ben Attard Takes His Kawasaki to Third Place in Australian Supersport

I figure that man people will want to know how Ben Attard did in Australia, so here we go. He raced in the finale at Phillip Island and brought home a 6th and 9th place to secure his overall 3rd place in the 2009 Australian Supersport Championship. Overall, a very good year for the rider. His teammate, Kevin Curtain, who rides in the Australian Superbike Championship, ended the year in 9th place overall; a DNF in the second race at Phillip Island sealed his position there.

http://tinyurl.com/yzm5x3b

Josh Waters is Australian Superbike Champion in Rookie Season

Yep, it's true, Waters and his Team Joe Rocket Suzuki won both final races at Phillip Island this weekend, and that brought them the ASBK crown for 2009. Waters held of riders Glenn Allerton and Wayne Maxwell, who were also in contention for the prize, and took the Championship in his first season in the series and at the young age of 22. What's next? Well, how about another season and another championship! Bryan Staring won the Australian Supersport Championship class, and Pat Medcalf claimed the inaugural Australian Superstock 1000 Championship. It was a great weekend for racing Down Under.

http://tinyurl.com/ydfhjrx