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

Yamaha Brings Design Brilliance to Small Displacement

In the ever changing motorcycle market, we often only see the high-end models grab the attention of the more creative designers. Much of his comes from economic reality as a manufacturer will not spend large amounts of money on something which has a very narrow profit margin already - it could all be wasted if the bike itself isn't making enough of the green stuff to cover the initial outlay. However, one important aspect often over-looked in the markets which cover North America and Europe is that small bikes outsell their larger relatives when examined from a global perspective - in fact, those tiny bikes dominate the powered two-wheeler industry everywhere they are sold. And, that is exactly where Yamaha's bean-counters' minds were when they allowed the Yamaha Y125 to be conceptualized.

Take a close look at the Y125 and you will see massive influence from the very first road-going Yamaha ever, the YA-1. It is equipped with a "world-approved" - meaning it is legal everywhere - 125 cc engine which can deliver 188 MPG (U.S.) and is small enough to be handled like a bicycle. And, it is not hard on the eyes, either. The flowing lines of the tank and frame, the bulbous exhaust slung under the engine, the fancy six-spoke wheels, and that metal finish used throughout on all 'natural' metal surfaces all come together to give the world what may be the most organic, lovely and unusual small-displacement motorcycle available...where it will be available, though, is still an open question.

http://tinyurl.com/c6mygf8

Stoner Wins Another One - 2011 MotoGP Champion

OK, so I do like to say, "...told you so." And, I do it often. I guess that means that one more time won't be adding too much fuel to any fire of hatred anyone has for me...

Casey Stoner is the FIM MotoGP World Champion once again! On board the mighty Honda RC212V, he fought the best on the surface of this planet and beat all comers to the title. Vale, though, is not doing so well this season. It turns out that the Ducati is a bit more of a handful than many thought. I wonder how things would be different if Hayden were to jump into another factory's machinery; Yamaha, or Suzuki anyone?

http://tinyurl.com/3b3d476

P.S. Congratulations Honda, too. After all, the engineers there built the bike.

King Kenny Rides His 1980 Yamaha YZR500 at Laguna Seca

I missed this...and it really did hurt somewhat. It was like dreaming of a lover far away while I sit here working and MotoGP was running at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Of course, the type of love differs significantly...but the feeling of longing was the same. Enjoy...and turn up the volume!

Valentino Rossi Sells Out - Will Ride Ducati in 2011

Since it seems that very few people on this side of the pond know this, I figured it would be a good idea to post it. It seems that the big and exclusive 'secret story' which MCN (UK) had been prepping us with over the last 24 hours is that Yamaha MotoGP racer Valentino Rossi has fled Yamaha and will ride on a Ducati for the 2011 MotoGP Championship. The details are not clear as of yet, but you can confirm this by taking the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/2buctow

Joel Morris & Ben Grindrod Get Rides in BSB Superstock

Joel Morris had to sit out most of last season as he did not have a ride in any race series. This season, though, he has landed a chance to ride for the Buildbase team in the 2010 BSB National Superstock 600 Championship. It was his friend Adam Jenkinson who landed him the position. However, Morris could use some more sponsors, so take the link and see if you can help out!

http://tinyurl.com/yze638p

Ben Grindrod, a student in Business & Management Studies, has also secured a ride in the 2010 BSB Superstock 600 series. He will be riding for Seton Interceptor Team on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Grindrod's claim to fame at this early stage in his career is his Gold Medal in the 2009 MRO Junior Stock Sport Championships. He is a gifted young racer who has his whole career in front of him...can't wait to see how he does in 2010!

http://tinyurl.com/yj5r7xg

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

More Ducati Multistrada Madness & Lawson and Spies on Video

The 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S is quite possibly the first ever near-perfect motorcycle. They say it is a four in one, and after reading so much about it I no longer doubt them. However, I do want to ride the thing myself to determine if it does live up to the hype - I am always skeptical with Ducati. The linked videos, though, will show you the high-tech side of the machine; the ability to set custom settings maps, personalized just for you, just blows away any competition presently...have a look...

http://tinyurl.com/y8s58gh

Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson sat down and talked about the differences between the racing technology today and what it was like when Lawson was taking wins. They also did some on track riding and demonstrated some rather incredible control. I guess we should expect no less from these guys...Yamaha set this up and produced the vids. It is much more than just marketing, though, so go and have a look.

http://tinyurl.com/y9xlndg

Hodgson to Launch Motorpoint BSB Team & SA Superbikes

On 26 March 2010, World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson will be launching the Motorpoint Yamaha British Superbike Team in the town of Derby. Hodgson has been picked to win the BSB championship this season and he will be teamed with another great rider in Dan Linfoot. They will be riding Yamaha YZF-R1 machine very close to the Leon Camier's championship winning machine of last year. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yzlpkty

In the South African Superbike championship races, which were held at the Killarney Circuit, were a very close affair. The top five qualifiers were only .75 second apart, so you knew it would be tight. However, no one expected it to be as close as it was. Honda's Lance Isaacs had the best weekend - overall - but Aprilia's Sheridan Morais, Honda's Greg Gildenhuys and Dan Hellyer were all close to the leaders in each of the two races - very close! In 600 Supersport Yamaha's Dylan White had a great 1 - 1 finish on the weekend. For the very detailed finishing order, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yllakrf

Bostrom and Clark Take WERA Endurance Win in Georgia

Ben Bostrom and Chris Clark piloted their Team Zyvax 2 Yamaha YZF-R1 to victory at the Roebling Road Raceway outside of Savannah, Georgia. They took the win with nine laps in front of the second place team, Team Hooters Apex 2 Suzuki GSX-R600 ridden by James Rispoli and Tim Birdsong. Third place was the other Yamaha team - riding a YZF-R6 - of Dane Westby and Clinton Sellers. It was cold and rainy at the track, but the 15 teams who attended fought the elements and raced against the wind. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ydlqm5r

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

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

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 Morning Moto News - XDL Championships, FB Corse & Colin Edwards

The XDL Championship Series was also running an event at Daytona Bike Week in Florida this week. The event went well even if the weather was not cooperating. They have even expanded the women's series of the Championship and put them right up there with the males in the sport. Another change was to the format - allowing two runs versus one in previous years. So, who won - well, none other than reigning champion Yamaha-mounted Bill Dixon. Dena Sodano took the win on the women's side.

http://tinyurl.com/y9stg73

The FB Corse MotoGP team will begin testing in a few weeks - in mid-March - with Gary McCoy. They will be at the Valencia circuit from 15 - 17 March. It has to show that it is competitive against the current MotoGP machines before it will be allowed to race alongside them. They had better get this test right...or, they will be in for a long fight to get into the Championship.

http://tinyurl.com/ydyt2c3

http://tinyurl.com/yf7h3tr

Colin Edwards is very happy with the current state of the Yamaha YZR-M1 machine. He believes that Yamaha is doing a good job of developing the machine to be competitive in the MotoGP series. They seem to have done him right for a change...the season will tell us more.

http://tinyurl.com/ye6vas3

Afternoon Moto News - Yamaha Super Tenere 1200 & H-D Long Jump

Finally, we have more details on the 2010 Yamaha Super Tenere. Its price has been set (in the UK, at least) and they have release more technical details on the machine itself. There is even a video available after the link. Just take your time and hope it will make it to US shores!

http://tinyurl.com/yfcvxcm

Stunt Monkey and Crusty Demons star Seth Enslow has set a new jump record for a heavy bike with a slightly modified Harley-Davidson XR1200. He jumped 56 meters on that rather weighty bike and he did it twice! Enslow had no choice as some press missed his first jump. Anyway, the American is now in the record books, but for how long? (He also may have neutered himself...)

http://tinyurl.com/yzbdmbh

http://tinyurl.com/yhj8kry

And, More Evening News - Rizla Suzuki Riders & 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

The MotoGP Rizla Suzuki team riders stopped in Japan at the Suzuki factory in Hamamatsu to tour the factory, meet the people working there, and to meet with the race department ahead of their test in Malaysia. There are some issues which Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista want to work out before they begin their work at the Sepang IC. For more, please take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yfso36w

Finally, Yamaha has unveiled one of the most anticipated bikes this season, the 2010 XT1200Z Super Tenere! It is meant to be a direct competitior to the R1200GS from BMW, as you already know. Of course, there is the Ducati offering as well...and Moto Morini...and Moto Guzzi....it's getting veyr crowded in this popular segment these days. This is one sweet machine, though...

http://tinyurl.com/yzg5nom

First Ride - 2010 Star Stratoliner Deluxe

The 2010 Star Stratoliner Deluxe is part of the flagship line of Star motorcycles produced by Yamaha. The Stratoliner Deluxe is meant for eating miles and riding all day and into the night...where you will have to use the rather bright headlight to find a place to sleep. The bike is a bit behind the times in terms of ABS and advanced ECUs, but it has everything you need for a very long trip - including an iPod jack to pump music out of the five inch speakers mounted on the fairing. Give this bike a look, especially if you are in the H-D crowd, because this may just be the flagship of the entire cruiser class! (and it has much more power than the brand from Milwaukee...)

http://tinyurl.com/yb48ohc

MORE Afternoon Moto News - MotoGP Budgets & World Superbike Preview

The budget will be the determining factor for whether Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Ducati move up to the newly ruled displacement in MotoGP. The maximum displacement goes from 800 to 1000cc when the 2012 season begins, but the factories want the ability to continue to run their 800 engines in the class if they cannot afford to build an entirely new model. They all want to be able to move to the liter sized bikes, but they are not sure they can get the money to do so...

http://tinyurl.com/y9z42rg

From my friends at All About Bikes we have a great preview of the 2010 World Superbike Championship - which, incidentally, starts in just a few days at Phillip Island in Australia. The author takes on each of the teams and, though he does not cover every single detail of every rider, he does a very good job of giving you a quick portrait of each rider on the team and their recent history. Take the link and you will be more prepared for the 2010 season.

http://tinyurl.com/y8aqkpj

Wednesday Afternoon Moto News - Kawasaki for the Cure & 250 MX Shootout

The Kawasaki Moto Marathon for the Cure was run in conjunction with the Anaheim III round of the AMA Supercross event, which was also themed with Breast Cancer Awareness, last weekend. It was a 24-hour event where riders were trained on off-road skills of all kinds for as long as they needed or wanted instruction. Participants were offered the classes for free as long as they made a donation to the San Diego Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. 75 riders attended and more than US$2500 was raised from just their donations! It is a long story, so please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yjnx58d

MotorcycleUSA has just wrapped up a test of all the popular 250cc motocross bikes - minus the Suzuki RM-Z250, which was unavailable for the test. They did test the 2010 Honda CRF250R, Kawasaki KX250F, KTM 250 SX-F and Yamaha YZ250F and came home with some results. To find out who won what and which machine is the best for MX riding and racing, please read the article after the link. (It looks like Big Red has done it again...)

http://tinyurl.com/yzlovnf