Former factory Kawasaki MotoGP rider Anthony West will contest the inaugural Moto2 world championship in 2010.

The Aussie has been given clearance to ride in the 250cc two-stroke replacement class just three weeks prior to the first race in Qatar after his MZ squad was finally given an entry.

MZ had been a long-time reserve but the withdrawal of the Kino Racing squad due to cash flow issues has paved the way for West to be back in the Grand Prix paddock.

The World Supersport race winner has taken part in Moto2 testing for the MZ squad, which is headed by Martin Wimmer and former 250GP world championship contender Ralf Waldmann.

West brings vast experience to the team having ridden Honda, KTM and Aprilia 250 bikes while he’s also raced a Yamaha R6 and Honda CBR600RR in World Supersport. Last season he rode for the Stiggy Honda squad in World Supersport.

Source | MCN

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Kyalami is to drop off the World Superbike calendar once again, after the circuit’s contract was bought out by the Gauteng provincial government.

The move follows a ‘re-prioritising of budgets and programmes’ and is also a response ‘to the adverse impact that the recession has had on government finances’.

The provincial government has thus agreed to pay R115m (£10.29m) to FGSport in order to bring the Kyalami WSBK and Superstars contracts to an end after this season.

The Superstars contract had been due to expire in 2011 and the WSBK contract in 2013.

“The legal advice we received is that these agreements were probably unenforceable under South African law but potentially enforceable in a foreign jurisdiction which would then expose the provincial government to costly litigation and reputational risk,” said part of a media statement by Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Firoz Cachalia, under the heading ‘SBK and Superstars’.

“We have therefore settled these two contracts with FGSport which requires that the provincial government pays an amount of R115 million by the end of April 2010, an obligation which we will fulfil.

“In terms of the settlement agreement, the provincial government will carry out its obligations to host the two events already set down in the 2010 calendar. We will ensure that these events are a success.”

Other motorsport contracts – including A1 GP, BMW Sauber and the pursuit of an F1 round – will also be cancelled, producing a claimed overall saving of R796m (£71.3m).

BusinessDay.co.za added that Cachalia did not think it was a good decision to enter into the contracts in the first place.

Nevertheless, Cachalia believes that the amicable nature of the settlements means the door is open for future motorsport opportunities.

“A multi-year program that the newly elected government considered was not in accordance with its priorities has been settled amicably without potentially resorting to costly litigation and in a way which preserves valued relationships,” said the media statement.

“This leaves the way open for a future motorsport programme in South Africa and in particular for a private sector player.”

Kyalami hosted five World Superbike events between 1998 and 2002, before returning to the calendar in 2009. The 2010 event will take place from May 14-16.

Source | Crash.net

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Jason Pridmore takes us for a fast lap around Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA during a test in February, 2010. Jason was breaking-in the Michael Jordan Motorsports National Guard Racing Experience Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In conjunction with Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School and the National Guard, Pridmore will be providing exclusive on-track experiences for members of the media and other select guests at each round of the AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series with the National Guard Jordan Suzuki Racing Experience.

Jason has been instrumental in making Michael Jordan Motorsports the organization it is today,” said James Casmay, General Manager of Michael Jordan Motorsports. “We are proud to be able to continue our relationship with the Star School and re-incorporate Jason’s personal talents within MJM. This program is an exciting addition to our race weekend activities and is part of our expansive #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki promotional plan.”

National Guard Jordan Suzuki lap of Fontana

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Today the MotoGP organizer Dorna have given their approval to FB Corse team to compete in MotoGP after a full day test in Valencia track.  This is a huge step for the team to be able to join the championship with a brand new bike on the first day of testing.  This also adds one more bike to the grid starting from the Jerez round which is the first European race.  We all know Garry McCoy is a great rider and is obviously helping to develop  the bike in the right direction.  Let see what the Jerez round will bring to both McCoy and the FB Corse squad.

After being confirmed as the new entry, the team FB Corse and Garry McCoy have decided to continue developing the FB01 and start the championship in the Jerez round.

McCoy completed the three days test with a very positive result. The FB01 has been running with no electronics for the Australian to feel the bike.

Garry McCoy: ” What we achieved today for me was remarkable because from where we started from the first day to achieve so many laps today, I really did not expect that at all. I was really wanting to go to Qatar and Japan but I think that our decision is very wise as we have to concentrate on the development of the bike in order to improve and be competitive from the first race.”

Sergio Bertocchi: “I am really happy about all the compliments we have received from Dorna and Franco Uncini. I was not really expecting to be at that level. I am very satisfied that they allow us to enter the championship when we want and we will do the necessary development in order to enter with the best conditions.”

Andrea Ferrari: “I am very satisfied about the results of today. The team has done a great job and they have been working very hard to achieve our main goal. Right now is very important to continue developing the bike.”

Franco Antoniazzi (Oral Engineering): ” We have done an extraordinary job today. There is an absolute symbiosis between Garry, the team and the bike that allow us to work in the best conditions. Garry has everything needed to go further with this project.”

Tomorrow the FB Corse team will continue testing in the Valencia circuit.

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The name does not change, philosophy goes to a new thinking way. The Pramac Racing Team, with a story in the MotoGP World Championship nearly to a decade, change skin approached with great enthusiasm to what is one of the biggest global problem: the preserve of the environment in which we live. In this sense, the team owned by Paolo Campinoti, Pramac Group CEO, will become the first structure that competes in the MotoGP World Championship that also think at the environment and become The Green Energy Team.

It will not be just an image matter, the colors will be visibly different from those of the past seasons, but there will be a series of activities that will try to keep the environment in which we live as “green” as possible. In this sense, the Pramac Racing team will use within their facilities on the MotoGP circuits, products that decrease the production of pollution energy and will organize a series of initiatives for our environment.

An important step toward the world, our world, to help in maintaining its shine.

Paolo Campinoti – Team Principal Pramac Racing Team

“It’s a great honor for us to begin this important project. We hope that this can help to rise up awareness among millions of fans and followers of MotoGP, and not only, to be respectful for the world in which we live. We want and we can make a difference, every one of us, and during this season our Green Energy Team will try to make the difference with various eco-friendly initiatives.”

Question: How this project was born?

Paolo Campinoti: Last year, in terms of sporting success, we were not very satisfied. After the various podiums achieved in the past, last year we didn’t feel like the protagonist, but this year, however the races will go, we want to make the difference. Our riders will give the best on the track, and I am confident that we will reach good results as well as for the Team.

Q: Which are going to be the main eco-friendly activities?

PC: Among the main activities we will use on our paddock properties, trucks, hospitality and pit canopy, Pramac solar panels and the wind turbines designed by Philippe Starck for Pramac that will produce energy for the hospitality and the boxes of Pramac Racing Team. Where possible we will also use some recycled or recyclable materials. We have already scheduled major initiatives for this season.

Q: Do you think this can really make a difference? The MotoGP world is perhaps not the most suitable environment to do this kind of initiatives.

PC: I agree that within all motor sports safeguarding the environment is not the primary thing, but this type of initiative was created to demonstrate that any of us, in our day life, can really make a difference. In this regard we will give a live demonstration, on the circuit, through a display, of the renewable energy that we will produce. We, as MotoGP paddock, have to cooperate to give more voice to this initiative.

Q: What do you expect regarding sporting results?

PC: Last year was perhaps one of the worst years of our MotoGP history even though we have won the Rookie of the Year title with Mika Kallio. This year, the Finn rider will have to make the step forward that allows him to always fight among the top eight riders, while his teammate, the young Aleix Espargaro, can be easily near him considering his good results in the last races of the past season.

Q: So the top ten is the minimum target for the Pramac Racing Team riders?

PC: Exactly, but I hope to be able to fight for even better results. Outside of the 3 riders who currently seem to have a gap on the others (Rossi, Stoner and Lorenzo), behind them all can really happen. I am also very confident after seeing the new Ducati on track. They worked very well this winter, giving us a very competitive motorbike.

Q: In the last test, things have not gone well for you.

PC: The two official Ducati were in the top three and this has given me great confidence for this long season, but at the same time I am worried to see our motorbikes far from the top position. I immediately organized a meeting with my riders after Sepang test in order to understand what had happened. Both said that they had some problem that had undermines their work and I have saw in their eyes a great desire to prove their worth. These tests in Qatar will certainly be different.

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The Aprilia Dorsoduro stirred up the maxi supermoto segment, but the Dorsoduro Factory goes further. A refined bike, even lighter and more efficient, whose mission is “fun”. A real standard special, a concentration of performance and technology.

The word “Factory” is never used just by chance in Aprilia. In the language of the enthusiasts it refers to elite bikes fitted out with the best technology and made with the best materials. Light, agile, powerful, the Dorsoduro Factory doesn’t belie its name; it’s heart is the latest 750 dual cylinder and it boasts technical solutions unique for this segment. Thanks to the advanced electronic management, the compact Aprilia 90° V twin engine offers extremely high performance levels, similar to those of much bigger engines.

The chassis, as becomes the Aprilia tradition, is without rivals in this category. The Dorsoduro Factory exploits the technology that Aprilia has developed, dominating the Supermoto competitions with the incredible SXV that won 5 world championships between 2004 and 2008.

The chassis, with its tubular frame and aluminium structure, is one of the distinctive elements of the Dorsoduro Factory – a common thread that unites the highly specialised Aprilia racing models with the most exciting twin cylinder supermoto on the market.

With its essential design, characterised by the considerable use of carbon fibre for the top structure, Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory boasts components, technical fittings and trim features of the highest levels. Brembo 4-piston radial callipers, Wave discs, oil-bath hydraulic clutch, fully adjustable gas-operated single shock absorber with separate tank, a sophisticated multi-adjustable fork, Ride by Wire “Tri-Map” and Matrix instrument panel with on-board computer – these are the elements that help to make this bike unique.

The details of the special Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory features:

• Carbon fibre top structure (ducts, ignition unit cover, front mudguard);
• Special graphics with red chassis, black plate, exclusive saddle and black exhaust covers;
• 90° V2 engine, four valves, double overhead camshaft, liquid cooling;
• Second generation Ride by Wire “Tri-Map” technology;
• Modular tubular frame/aluminium chassis – ultralight and with excellent torsional rigidity;
• Aluminium swingarm with multi-adjustable gas-operated lateral shock absorber;
• Multi-adjustable 43mm upside down fork;
• Brembo front brake callipers with radial connection, combined with 320mm Wave discs.

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory Design Details

The simple, elegant dress never veils but highlights the technical elements (chassis and engine) of the Dorsoduro Factory, turning the particularly aggressive aesthetics into one of its strong points. The new colours and carbon fibre top structure underline the sporty nature of a project that proudly shares the Factory name with the sportiest Aprilia bikes. Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory is incredibly sleek and agile, managing to create an immediate harmony with the rider. The long, flat saddle facilitates those rider movements typical of the supermoto; the Dorsoduro Factory backs up the rider at all times. The compact, curvy tail fairing also envelops the dual exhaust: a solution that not only creates a really aggressive design feel, but also excellent symmetry in the proportions and weight distribution. The hand guards, derived from the Supermoto SXV, display a sleek style and effectively protect the levers against any accidental contact.

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory Engine Details

The Aprilia 750 90° V twin engine represents the current state of the art for this type of motor drive. The electronic management is the cream of this engine, which uses a second generation Ride by Wire system equipped with triple mapping.

The three options – Sport, Touring and Rain – can be selected while actually riding, thanks to a gas closed command on the handlebar; they radically modify the character of the Dorsoduro Factory, offering an aggressive, immediate response in Sport mode, more gentle (ideal for tourism) in Touring mode, and extremely safe (even in conditions of poor road-holding) in Rain mode. Thanks to the electronic and mechanical technology used, the Aprilia dual cylinder reaches 92hp at 8,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 82 Nm at 4,500 rpm: values that put the Dorsoduro in direct competition with bikes of a much higher engine capacity.

There is also a special version of the Dorsoduro Factory for newly qualified riders, limited to 25 kW. The electronic throttle grip management system (Ride By Wire) avoids the need to reduce power delivery over the whole supply range (as happens on less advanced models), maintaining exactly the same delivery as for its full-power “sibling”, up to the maximum allowed level. In this way, the Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory offers an improved acceleration performance compared with the equivalent 25 kW versions of the competitors, ensuring non-stop riding pleasure.

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory Chassis Details

Aprilia bikes have always been considered a point of reference for the excellence of their chassis. The Dorsoduro Factory certainly doesn’t belie this tradition. On the contrary, its sophisticated suspension systems and racing brakes emphasise it, making it the most effective and well-balanced maxi supermoto on the market.

Everything about this bike has been designed to aid the rider during heavy handling. The agile, light chassis was designed with an eye to ergonomics, so the Dorsoduro Factory is perfect for any rider, allowing them all to take full advantage, in every situation, of the high limits of a real fun-to-ride bike.

The chassis exploits the most of the notable expertise acquired by Aprilia during competitions, fully drawing on the experience gained on the mixed structures used in the Supermoto world championship. The upper part, with its tubular steel frame, is joined to the large, aluminium side plates through special high-resistance bolts. The resulting structure is extremely rigid yet light – the best solution for curbing the pounding power of the Aprilia twin cylinder engine.

The lateral, strongly tilting position of the new gas-operated shock absorber leaves plenty of precious space to obtain the optimal conformation of the exhaust manifolds, without altering the length of the bike and without applying any thermal stress to the shock absorber itself. The aluminium swingarm is sized to support the asymmetric stress caused by the lateral positioning of the shock absorber. It was purposely conceived for a supermoto like the Aprilia Dorsoduro, and sums up the need for torsional rigidity and elasticity – elements essential for obtaining precise support and the right riding feeling in the transitory phases.

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory Suspension Details

The suspension area of the Dorsoduro Factory is entirely new. The Sachs 43mm upside down fork with shell-cast brackets to support the radial callipers features adjustable spring preload and hydraulic brake rebound damping. It’s a highly sophisticated element which, apart from offering endless adjustment possibilities, also ensures optimal smoothness and a travel (160mm) in line with the supermoto philosophy. Both steering plates are forged, and the upper one is also anodised to confirm the excellent level of the Dorsoduro trim features.

The new gas-operated lateral shock absorber with separate tank is directly pivoted to the swingarm, as per the cantilever layout, with adjustable spring preload and hydraulic compression and rebound damping. It’s a highly sophisticated element which allows more experienced riders to reach top bike performance levels, even on the race track.

The rear wheel stroke is 160mm, again in line with the supermoto philosophy that aims for an effective, controlled suspension but with a long stroke.

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory Brakes Details

The best of current braking technology can be found on the Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory: the front system uses the new Brembo 4 piston radial callipers. The 320mm floating “Wave” discs are really lightweight, ensuring shorter stopping times and emphasising the aggressive braking style with a supersports look, in keeping with the overall Dorsoduro appearance.

The 240mm rear disc is also of the “Wave” type and is braked via a single piston calliper. Both the front and rear systems use metal braided brake pipes derived from the aeronautical sector which eliminate the irritating “lung” effect of the conventional pipes, ensuring the maximum braking precision.

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory Components

The supermoto bikes are essential, sometimes even spartan. But this doesn’t mean you have to renounce top class contents or painstaking attention to detail. Also in this case, Aprilia stands out from its competitors with class-leading fittings:

• CARBON FIBRE TOP STRUCTURE: Like the best Aprilia Factory bikes, also the Dorsoduro makes great use of carbon fibre for both mudguards, the ducts and the key unit fairing. A choice that further underlines the bike’s elegance.
• MATRIX INSTRUMENT PANEL: of the mixed type (analogue-digital), it receives all the information from the CAN line and becomes an integral part of the self-diagnosis system as it is fitted with memory.Particularly compact, with a modern design and considerably reduced weight. All the functions are commutable and easily accessed via a command on the handlebar. The LED lighting(white in the analogue area and red in the digital one) can be adjusted to three levels.
• BICONICAL SECTION ALUMINIUM HANDLEBARS: It brings quite clearly to mind those of the competitive superbikes. An incredibly light component, designed to guarantee top dynamic bike control.
• HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED CLUTCH: It allows precise braking every time, along with smooth exemplary command and handy self-adjustment (without the need for any maintenance).

2010 Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 Factory official video

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The structure directed by Eduardo Perales has reached an agreement with Italian manufacturer Bimota to use their chassis in the inaugural Moto2 World Championship.

Thai Honda PTT SAG this week ensured their presence in the new Moto2 category with a deal to use Bimota as their chassis for the 2010 World Championship. The team, directed by Edu Perales, are set to contest the campaign with Thai Ratthapark Wilairot and Spaniard Héctor Faubel, and both riders are due to get their first contact with the new bike at the final official pre-season test at Jerez (March 27-29).

The team’s preparations for the new season suffered a delay after their initial agreement with Swiss manufacturer Suter broke down due to contractual disagreements.

Perales said of the situation: “We had a preliminary agreement with Suter but there were some terms in the final contract with which we did not agree and in the end we have decided to go with Bimota. We are pleased because it represents a more direct, more human contact, and if there are problems it will be much easier to resolve them.”

The deal with the Rimini-based manufacturer will make Thai Honda PTT SAG the only team on the grid with the Bimota chassis. For the head of the Moto2 team this is a situation that will be an advantage when dealing with the factory.

“There will only be two riders using the Bimota frame in the World Championship. If you are one of 12 then unfortunately it is always a little more difficult when you raise your hand,” said Perales, before commenting on the performance of the Italian chassis. “It’s making very good times. At the moment it has only been ridden on Italian circuits, not World Championship circuits, but the bike is going very well and does not have any problems with chatter – it’s a factory bike. Bimota only make chassis, so there is little doubt about their ability.”

The problem with the lack of kilometres for the two riders during the pre-season is a worry for the team bosses, but in general terms it is not being considered as an obstacle to achieving the planned goals.

“We have a handicap in that we have done fewer kilometres than the others but we intend to have first contact with the prototype in Valencia or Almeria, on the way to Jerez for the official test where we’ll ride the official bikes,” explained Perales. “We’ve lost the previous tests at Jerez and Valencia but with the rain not much was able to be done. Our idea is to always be amongst the top ten with both riders – then anything can happen, but we are the only ones with Showa (suspension) and with a Bimota, and this can be a risk or an advantage. We will start to see at Jerez.”

The team has retained for 2010 its support from Honda Thailand, Thai oil company PTT and all the sponsors from last year. The signature of the contract with Faubel is pending on the imminent arrival of a new sponsor.

“The idea is to close the deal with the second rider either today or tomorrow, we’re waiting for the sponsor who covers that part of the budget but I am optimistic. I think it will be done in the next few hours and that the team will have two riders who will ride with different colours, like last year,” concluded Perales.

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One on One – Eddie Lawson & Ben Spies – Part One

A great video talking about the differences in technology between the racers and the times.  I especially got a kick out of Spies sliding the Yamaha R1 sideways through a corner.

One on One – Eddie Lawson & Ben Spies – Part Two

Spies and Lawson talk about the ins and outs of fame and what it takes to be a World Champion

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BMW S1000 RR. Dinner for RR.

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GEICO Powersports drag racers Karen Stoffer and Morgan Lucas both bowed out of Sunday’s action at the 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals well before they had planned, but not until Stoffer set a national elapsed time record of 6.847 seconds on her powerful Suzuki.

Stoffer already had backed up her run by qualifying No. 1 with a 6.855 at 194.77 mph on Saturday. By NHRA rule, any racer making a world record run must post another pass within one percent of the record run at the same event to make if official. If her mark holds through eliminations, a good chance considering the afternoon’s increased temperatures, Stoffer will be awarded 20 bonus points.

“We knew we had a bike that could win the race and the national record proved that,” Stoffer said. “For our first time out in the season, it was a good race, just not a great one. We accomplished two big season goals — the No. 1 qualifier and the national record. It’s been a lesson to learn as far as learning the racetrack and tuning the bike. We thought the same setup was going to be OK, but it really didn’t work very well.

“We’re happy going into Charlotte and we know we have a fast bike. This is a new package for us, but the biggest change we’ve made has been with my riding and it went very well this weekend. It wasn’t the Cinderella story we wanted, but it certainly was a princess one.”

Her run into the record books came against Round 1 opponent Redell Harris, whose 6.999 at 187.08 mph was nowhere close to Stoffer’s 6.847 at 193.46 mph. Stoffer was then eliminated herself by second-round foe Shawn Gann, who posted a 6.945 at 192.06 mph to Stoffer’s out-of-the-groove 6.979 at 187.52 mph.

“We overpowered the track in Round 2, similar to what Top Fuelers do when you see the smoke come off the tires. It’s evident when they do it; it’s not as much when we do it. We got out of the groove and I had to do a lot of riding and correcting. It seemed like we took up a half-mile be the time we got all the way down the track.”

Lucas didn’t have much of a chance Sunday morning as his GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster was instantly engulfed in tire smoke as soon as he hit the throttle. Being the first pair out on the track and not having lane choice against the higher qualified dragster of Steve Torrence certainly played into the early dismissal.

“We were lost in our first qualifying round on Friday and some parts we worked on in the second round screwed us up,” Lucas said. “We were chasing it all weekend after that.”

Officially, Torrence posted a 3.879 at 311.05 mph in front of Lucas’ resigned 7.782 at 91.43 mph.

“We’re frustrated and thank God it’s still early in the season,” Lucas said. “We can’t use that excuse forever though. We’ve struggled in qualifying the last couple of races and it’s because we are lacking the consistency. It’s no reason to get down; it’s just a bump in the road.”

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