Spending some time at Borgo Panigale factory during the San Marino GP race week, Ducati Corse rider Nicky Hayden couldn?t help but tease the upcoming 2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848 that was ?spied? testing last month. With this photo and tweet, Hayden affirms the news we broke in July, and with the message ?Coming soon? #ducati #droppingonmonday? we can infer that Ducati will be taking the wraps off the Streetfighter 848 on Monday next week.
In what we?re sure will re-ignite the ongoing car vs. bike debate, Bridgestone test rider Tim R�thig set out with a 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R, a set of of Battalax R10 race tires, and a handful of blitzkrieg riding moves to race against the clock on the German course. With an entirely respectable 7min 50sec lap time, R�thig lapped the 12.8 mile track just over half a minute off the carbon-chassised LFA?s time. Though perhaps not the King of the Nordschleife, with that run R�thig still manages to embarrass a number of drool-worthy cars we?d like to have in our fantasy garage.
Mercedes-Benz and Ducati continue to circle each other, as the two iconic brands hammer out the details of how an Italian motorcycle company would fit inside a German automobile manufacturer. While the bean-counters and pencil-pushers get that shotgun marriage?s pre-nup arranged, we get to see interesting co-branding ?partnerships? like this: the Ducati Diavel AMG Special Edition. While we?ve seen plenty of AMG-tuned cars in Ducati adverts, events, and press materials, this is the first time the sacred three-letter name has graced the haul of one of Bologna?s steads.
After taking bids from teams to obtain factory backing for the 2012 World Superbike season, Kawasaki has narrowed the choices down to two teams, and will likely announce its decision next week. This season the embattled Paul Bird Motorsports team has had factory backing for riders Chris Vermeulen, Joan Lascorz, and Tom Sykes, though the results have not been spectacular, and Vermeulen has spent much of the season recovering from injuries. With Kawasaki second to last in the Championship, the factory entertained bids from satellite Team Pedericini, the current Alstare Suzuki squad, the Supersonic Ducati team, British Superbike team MSS Colchester, and Kawasaki factory World Supersport?s Provec Motocard team.
Our favorite German-owned, Italian-based, Swedish brand has released some more images of its Husqvarna Nuda 900 and Husqvarna Nuda 900R street motards, and also disclosed some of the bikes? technical specifications in the process as well. Using a fully-revamped BMW motor, Husqvarna has altered the crankshaft to a 315� configuration, which the company says creates a more aggressive feel to the bikes? power delivery. With these modifications, both the base model Nuda 900 and higher-spec Nuda 900R will make 105 hp and 73.8 lbs?ft of torque. Still listing the curb weight for the Nuda 900R as sub-175kg (385 lbs), expect the Nuda 900 to weigh-in a few kilos heavier.
Three Grand Prix Championships, twenty-nine race victories, forty-one pole positions, and ninety-nine GP podiums, there is no denying the fact that Loris Capirossi has had an illustrious career in GP racing. Finally confirming what?s been hinted at all season long, Capirossi tearfully spoke at today?s pre-race press conference, as the 38-year-old announced that 2011 would be his last season racing motorcycles. Electing not to ride in World Superbike or continue in MotoGP on a CRT machine, this weekend?s race, the 325th for Capirossi, will be the last time the legendary Italian rider will race in front of a home crowd.
Set for its official public debut at this year?s EICMA show, the MV Agusta Brutale 675 B3 was caught testing in this ?spy photo? that was snapped near Varese, Italy. The form of the three-cylinder naked streetbike is not terribly surprising, as it borrows heavily from the MV Agusta F3, making similar changes to the supersport?s design as the original Brutale did with the MV Agusta F4. Expected to sell around the ?9,000 mark, the Brutale 675 will be MV Agusta?s most affordable motorcycle.
All is not well regarding the new MV Agusta F3, several sources have now told Asphalt & Rubber. Apparently teased early to help prove demand for MV?s new product offering, this new ethos unfortunately has apparently done little to sway creditors and investors on the viabiliy of the brand, especially since the names associated with driving MV Agusta into the ground are still associted with the decidedly not-so-new regime. According to our sources that are close to MV, the Italian company has had a hard time raising additional working capital, and has also found negotiations with parts suppliers to be difficult, with the outside firms demanding to be paid up-front for their wares.
Despite the turnout, all 17 MotoGP riders showed up for the Indy GP, as the MotoGP Championship was far from its conclusion this season. Looking to further secure his lead in the points, Casey Stoner started today?s race on pole, followed by Ben Spies and Dani Pedrosa. With the Yamaha poised to disrupt the flow of the factory Hondas, most fans? eyes were on the Texan as he attempted to mount a race victory in front of his home crowd. As conditions ripened for a record setting race lap, you?ll have to read after the jump to see who set it.
With rumors swirling around where Colin Edwards will land next year, we grabbed a moment with the Texas Tornado to ask him about one rumor that keeps cropping up: him on a claiming rule team for the 2012 season. Of course, you don?t just ask Colin Edwards direct questions, and expect direct answers, as the Texan enjoys a good laugh. Getting some MotoGP-rookie hazing, Edwards had some fun with A&R while talking about CRTs, but what the Texan did say (or in some cases, didn?t say) is pretty interesting. One thing is for certain, the two-time World Superbike champion was very keen on having a pepped-up production motor inside a prototype chassis for his bike next year.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/aSo8IQDwfC8/
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