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

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

Friday Morning Moto News - WSBK, Brookes for Parkes & Gary Mason

The World Superbike Championship teams have all taken their equipment down to Phillip Island for the second official test of the 2010 season. The testing action actually begins on Sunday (21 February) and will go through the following day. Then, the big weekend comes and the WSBK teams have started their season - that all happens 26 - 28 February. For all the details, take one of the links below.

http://tinyurl.com/y9dl3zk

http://tinyurl.com/ykp5qcs

The injured Broc Parkes will be replaced on his Echo CRS Honda WSBK team by racer Josh Brookes. It marks the return of Brookes to WSBK after being away for two years. The deal only goes through the first race at Phillip Island, but it could be extended...

http://tinyurl.com/yfuz8uf

In the BSB paddock, Gary Mason is going for the Championship! Of course, all riders in the fields will want to do that, and most will figure they have some chance of it at the beginning of the season. But, Mason has already won the Privateer's Cup last year, so his next step is that Championship. Will he take Kawasaki to the top of the BSB podium? Well, we will all have to stay tuned...

http://tinyurl.com/yd9cxvj

Ryuichi Kiyonari Happy to Be with HM Plant Honda

The title says it all. Kiyonari is very happy to be returning to the British Superbike Championship with Honda - again. It is nice to have him back in that series, and it will only make it more enjoyable to watch in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/ykjvsgv

More on Kiyonari and the addition of Josh Brookes returning to the BSB series despite last years' controversy.

http://tinyurl.com/yggc3t5

Josh Brookes Still Waiting to Decide Future

Brookes managed to finish fourth in the British Superbike Championship in 2009 despite not winning a single race and missing three events! His HM Plant Honda team has not decided what they are going to do in 2010, so he does not have an offer from them yet. However, several BSB and even World Superbike Championship (where Brookes has raced previously for three seasons) are interested in him. But, for now, it is a waiting game...

http://tinyurl.com/ylzve4b