Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:53:58 +0000 Get updated on all the latest Motorcycle news from AllAboutBikes.com RSS Feed. This feed will update you every time we add new content to the site! Get the latest manufacturer, sport, industry, track, and everyday news from AllAboutBikes.com.
The World Superbike Championships at Phillip Island set the stage for an extremely exciting season. We saw some of the fastest times recorded at the Phillip Island track, we saw the closest finish in WSBK history, and a whole bunch of bikes tumbling off of the course.
Just about everyone had a tumble at Phillip Island. From veteran riders like James Toseland to debuting riders like Cal Crutchlow, the fast track at Phillip Island sent many riders to the pavement.
On day one, the track was hot, and many riders admitted to using the wrong tires for the conditions. On day two, there was an oil spill on the track that helped a few riders to the ground, and ultimately forced the race to re-start.
Out of all the crashes at Phillip Island, no one was seriously injured. A few bruises and some broken bikes, but all riders were able to walk away and prepare for the next WSBK race.
Here are some of the biggest crashes that occurred at the WSBK season opener at Phillip Island.
Michael Jordan Motorsports is pleased to be a part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Air Jordan franchise with the introduction of its new 2010 Silver Edition livery as the team begins its 2010 National Guard AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike Championship campaign this week in Daytona, Florida.
During the upcoming season, the MJM team will wear uniforms and special footwear inspired by the silver anniversary of the Air Jordan franchise as well as ride bikes that are silver. The Jordan brand marks the anniversary with a special collection, including shoes to be released throughout the year in a special silver colours. The shoe sports a Michael Jordan quote in the paint scheme that reads "I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Two of the shoes, the Air Jordan Retro 6 Premium and Jordan 6 Rings Premier, were initially created exclusively for the members of the Michael Jordan Motorsports race team and are now being made available to the public. You can see the entire Jordan Brand Silver Anniversary collection at www.jumpman23.com.
Michael Jordan Motorsports has also issued limited edition, numbered prints of riders Aaron Yates and Geoff May on their 2009 Jordan Suzuki and National Guard Suzuki GSX-R1000 race bikes. The prints measure 25-1/2” x 16” and are printed on a heavy paper stock with a special aqueous coating for protection. The posters are available at www.23race.com under “Collectibles.”
The electric motorcycle is a new and exciting technology that many manufacturers are working hard to perfect. Zero Motorcycles, however, has its formula down, and is now working at perfecting its different models.
Zero has introduced four electric motorcycle models to the world, a feat that no other manufacturer can claim. The 2010 lineup includes the standard Zero X, the motorcross Zero MX, the Zero S street bike, and the dual sport Zero DS.
“Zero Motorcycles continues to blaze the path for electric motorcycle technology. Our engineering team has revamped, redesigned and tested four models that have considerable improvements for 2010.” says Gene Banman, chief executive officer of Zero Motorcycles. “The enhancements to this year’s models will resonate with both serious riders and casual motorcycle enthusiasts on a global level.”
But Zero is not about to claim perfection. Abe Askenazi, former senior director of analysis at Buell, has come on board as Zero’s new Vice President of Engineering, and brings with him experience in innovation.
Askenazi helped Buell to become the legendary brand that it is today, and helped to develop 26 different models for the now defunct brand. He also helped patent technology like front brake rotor mounting and lightweight wheels.
“Abe is a seasoned leader and engineer and is an excellent addition to our management team,” says Banman. “He impressed us with his vast experience and many successes at Buell and we are looking forward to working with Abe in his new capacity at Zero Motorcycles.”
The quiet tranquility of San Felipe, which sits on the coast of the Sea of Cortez, is interrupted for a few weeks in March when trucks, motorcycles, and ATV’s roll into town to compete in the SCORE International’s Baja 250.
The calm fishing village is filled with the revving of engines as riders test out the various terrains of the course. The Baja 250 brings riders through the desert, down gravel roads, across dried out lakes, and up steep sand embankments.
The 248-mile course is punishing for both man and machine, and most teams take the month prior to the event to develop riding strategies. The course takes riders from the San Felipe arches, out into the desert, than back through the arches to finish.
Teams are allowed to set up pit stops throughout the course, and most teams will utilize two different riders to relay the race.
The race will be this Saturday, March 13th, and is the first in a series of challenging off-road races. The Baja 500 will be held in June, and the Baja 1000 will be held in November.
Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama stole the honour of recording the fastest lap-time from the Cartegena 2010 BSB test today in Spain after he slashed nearly a second off the previous best times and lapping at a scintillating 1:33.51.
With team-mate Tommy Hill only 200ths-of-a-second behind, the pair easily bettered the official lap record and finished first and second at the top of the BSB test times.
Jack Valentine - Team Manager:
"We're very, very pleased with today's outcome. We had only planned for three days' testing here but considering the high workload and the teething issues we've experienced, we felt the extra day would help prepare the team better for the next test at Guadix on Tuesday.
"Yukio's had his work cut out these last few days, but today he was able to put in 42 laps - nearly equal to what he did over the entire three previous days. This brought him up to Tommy's pace and it was a real pleasure to see the pair of them all-but sharing the best lap time. But, just as importantly, those lap times weren't one-offs for either of them as they were able to lap consistently at this very fast pace.
"So we're really happy with the progress made: We've come here with a team that's much bigger than we had last year and we've come with new kit in the form of the Öhlins suspension and Motec engine management. The bikes, the riders; and the team are really starting to gel and we've achieved everything we set out to do."
Unofficial overall top 10 test times:
1 Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m:33.51s 2 Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m:33.53s 3 Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki) 1m:34.3s 4 Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1m:34.4s 5 James Ellison (Swan Honda) 1m:34.5s 6 Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 1m:34.8s 7 Neil Hodgson (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1m:34.9s 8 Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki) 1m:34.9s 10 9 Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 1m:35.0s Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 1m:35.2s . Source: Participating teams unofficial times.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey raced to second place in Saturday night’s ninth round of the AMA/ FIM Supercross Championship at Daytona to keep his championship lead intact.
Dungey put together 20 fast laps in the Supercross Main Event after winning his heat race. He came out of the gate third and had his work cut out for him trying to pass his way into the top spot. By the end of the phenomenal race, on the track designed by Ricky Carmichael, Dungey crossed the finish line in second and holds tight to his lead in the overall points standing. “I felt great, but I needed to get a little bit of a better start,” Dungey said. “I felt great; the team did a great job; and we have a great setup, but I came up a little short. Fitness-wise and bike setup-wise, I felt awesome.”
MVR-D Suzuki rider Matiss Karro proved he has the pace to run with the world's best at the weekend, as the RM-Z250 rider just missed out on a podium finish at the British Hawkstone Park International event in Shropshire.
Qualifying inside the top 10, Karro was in impressive form from the off, moving though the pack in race one to as high as third place before a battle with Nicholls and Verbruggen in the final stages of the race saw Karro drop a place in the last lap to still take an impressive fourth position.
A poor start in the second race saw the young Latvian push once again, proving both his and the RM-Z250's pace by moving up to sixth place before a big crash forced him to restart, coming back to 16th at the flag.
Battered and bruised Karro rode to a strong 14th position in the Super Final race. He said: "Overall I'm quite pleased with how the day went. I felt very comfortable on the bike and despite the setbacks, we were fast and could move through the pack. I'm pleased to leave here feeling well and confident with both my own and the bike's pace."
In MX1, Carl Nunn rode to a pair of strong top-10 finishes, despite struggling with set-up and qualifying in a lowly 25th position. Finishing 10th in race one and improving to ninth in the second race, Nunn beat team mate Karro in the Super Final race by one position to finish in 13th.
Nunn said: "I didn't have a great feeling in qualifying, so to leave in 10th overall is a pretty reasonable result. We struggled with set-up, so I just got my head down and got on with it in the end. I'm happy to leave here uninjured and ready for the first round of the Red Bull Pro Nationals next weekend at Foxhill."
Team manager, Mark Chamberlain added: "Our priority was to leave here all intact, which we've achieved. Matiss rode extremely well today and despite his crash in the second race proved he has the pace to run with the best in the world. The crash took the wind out of him, but even after this, his pace was still good. Carl had a steady ride mainly due to his set-up woes, but again left here in one piece and feeling good for next weekend. Sadly for the team though, supported rider James Cottrell wasn't so lucky after breaking both wrists in a nasty crash. We all wish him a speedy recovery."
Results:
MX1 Race 1: 1st Tanel Leok, 2nd Marc De Reuver, 3rd Steve Ramon, 4th Max Nagle, 5th Clement Desalle, 6th Gareth Swanepoel, 7th Tom Soderstrom, 8th James Noble, 9th Bas Verhoeven, 10th Carl Nunn (MVR-D Suzuki).
MX1 Race 2: 1st Steve Ramon, 2nd Max Nagle, 3rd Clement Desalle, 4th Gareth Swanepoel, 5th Evgeny Bobryshev, 6th Tanel Leok, 7th Bas Verhoeven, 8th Jamie Lewis, 9th Carl Nunn (MVR-D Suzuki), 10th Yentel Martens.
FMF/KTM rider Kailub Russell earned his first win of the season in the XC2 class at the second round of the GNCC Series dubbed "The General' while his XC2 teammate Steward Baylor also put in a decent ride to finish 4th.
Russell was out front early after earning a 2nd place start. He spent the majority of the race swapping the lead position with competitor Jason Thomas. Baylor started in 9th position and quickly worked his way up through the pack. The cold, soggy conditions seemed to fit the South Carolina native well as he blitzed by riders to the front of the pack. At one point Baylor actually took the lead but shortly after got stuck in the mud and lost time. After he recovered from the mud hole he collided with a lapper and lost a few more positions. He eventually finished in 4th while Russell pulled away out front to take the win with a 38 second lead over Thomas. KTM privateer Jesse Robinson rounded out the podium in 3rd. All top three XC2 riders finished 6th, 7th and 8th respectively in the overall standings for the day from all classes combined.
"It feels great to get my first win of the season. This round went a lot better for me than the first week. I felt comfortable all day and really had fun on my bike," commented Russell after the race. FMF/KTM rider Kailub Russell earned his first win
FRE/KTM rider Angel Atwell took the win in the Women's class at the second round of the GNCC Series passing for the lead with three turns to go after a two-hour battle.
At the start of the morning race, Atwell muscled her way into a 3rd place starting position around the first corner. Atwell took the lead for a brief moment on the first lap battling back and forth with her niece and fellow competitor, Kristen Atwell. She lost the lead and dropped back to 5th on the second lap after getting hung up in the woods. A quick pit at the end of the third lap helped Atwell climb back into 3rd and pull Kristen Atwell and Tracy Cecco back into sight.
At the end of the fourth lap Atwell overtook Cecco for 2nd position and began to close in on Kristen Atwell. The two riders battled for the entirety of the final lap going wheel to wheel into the final woods section. Three turns before the finish Atwell made a bold move through the trees and was able to make the pass and take home the victory winning the race by a mere 1 second.
Want an insight into the racing ideals of World Superbike Champion and current Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Ben Spies and four-time World Champion Eddie Lawson? Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A. recently united the two iconic racers, filming the MotoGP racers as they discuss racing to training to bike set up to support programs and what it takes to be a world champion.
Yamaha says “This insightful video series provides a rarely seen glimpse into the psyche of a legend and a legend to be. What becomes readily apparent as the interview progresses is that Ben and Eddie are very much alike in their approach to racing and what it takes to be a winner on the world stage.”
A 30-second spot debuted during the airing of the 69th Daytona 200, which saw the Graves Motorsports Yamaha R6 of Josh Herrin and the Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha R6 of Dane Westby finish on the top 2 steps of the podium.
Daytona Bike Week. The words resonate in the souls of many bikers, especially motorcycle racing fans. All of the AMA’s finest racing is there: Flat Track, Supersport, American Superbike, Daytona SportBike, and, of course, Supercross.
Attracting the most fans, the difficult layout with many different soils also requires much skill from riders in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. And one rider that continues to prove his skill on the dirt is the Rookie Ryan Villopoto, who remained unchallenged for every lap at Daytona.
After taking his fourth victory of the season, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider is now only 20 points behind championship-leader Ryan Dungey, who has 190 points.
In a sea of V-twin engines you could clearly hear the distinct sound of the British motor. Triumph was out in force at Daytona Bike Week with two large trucks and an abundance of fans. The area was bordered by blue Triumph flags and fronted by two custom bikes painted with the Union Jack. The announcement was plain and difficult to miss - the Brits have landed.
Race 2 of the AMA Pro Road Racing American Superbike Race
The start was an interesting battle into turn one that pushed the pole sitter Aaron Yates on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 into third with Tommy Haden of Rockstar Makita Suzuki taking the lead .
By lap 4 Tommy Hayden had started to create a gap between second place Jake Zemke on the National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 and third place Aaron Yates on the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000. In fourth was Larry Pegram on the Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing Ducati 1098R. With Michael Jordan looking down on his two teams from his executive box, a double win would be really quite an achievement.
Harley-Davidson’s continued involvement in strengthening the women demographic of riders brought many events to the industry, including National Garage Party Month. This month, 400 Garage Party events will occur at dealerships across the country, educating women riders, who represent 23-percent of motorcyclists, to build confidence on the road.
To add to this event, the Motor Company is running a sweepstakes until March 31; the winner and three of her friends will meet “Biggest Loser” star and wellness expert Jillian Michaels, and be treated to a spa retreat weekend in Los Angeles while participating in the Rider’s Edge New Rider Course.
Michaels, a Harley-Davidson rider and life-long motorcycle enthusiast, recently forged a partnership with the Motor Company to encourage more women to participate in the sport. Women can enter the sweepstakes by attending a Garage Party event or online by visiting www.h-d.com/garageparty.
National Guard Jordan Suzuki Rider Jake Zemke takes home his second win edging out Tommy Hayden in Daytona. In a virtual carbon copy of yesterday's race, Tommy Hayden finishes second, with Aaron Yates just missing 3rd place and coming in 4th.
Joey Pascarella Takes the Win in Daytona SuperSport Race 2
Pascarella, starting out at the pole position, kept his lead through most of the race although Beach, Gagne, Puerta, and Beaubier kept it a tight race. Elena Myers kept her 5th place spot during the beginning of the race, but fell back to 6th. When Beach dropped out halfway through the race due to mechanical problems, Elena moved back up to 5th for a couple of laps before dropping back to 7th. In the last lap, Pascarella completed his fastest lap with a time of 1.43.062, enabling him to pull away and put 12 bike lengths between himself and the rest of the pack and he crossed the finish line in first place.
Harley Davidson Women’s Ride During Daytona Bike Week Raises over $25,000 for MDA
March 2nd started off with heavy rains, thunder, and strong winds, but the sky cleared just in time for the Harley Davidson Women’s Benefit Ride for MDA. At 10:00 a.m., despite the threat of continuing bad weather, over 60 women lined up to ride through Daytona Beach and raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Leading the ride was Karen Davidson, daughter of Harley-Davidson styling legend Willie G. Davidson and great-granddaughter of one of the company's founders.
Printer Friendly Page | 
Send to a Friend ]
Main Menu 
The World Superbike Championships at Phillip Island set the stage for an extremely exciting season. We saw some of the fastest times recorded at the Phillip Island track, we saw the 
The electric motorcycle is a new and exciting technology that many manufacturers are working hard to perfect. Zero Motorcycles, however, has its formula down, and is now working at perfecting its different models. 
analysis at Buell, has come on board as Zero’s new Vice President of Engineering, and brings with him experience in innovation. 
The quiet tranquility of San Felipe, which sits on the coast of the Sea of Cortez, is interrupted for a few weeks in March when trucks, motorcycles, and ATV’s roll into town to compete in the SCORE International’s Baja 250. 
strategies. The course takes riders from the San Felipe arches, out into the desert, than back through the arches to finish. 
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey raced to second place in Saturday night’s ninth round of the AMA/ FIM Supercross Championship at Daytona to keep his championship lead intact.
Want an insight into the racing ideals of World Superbike Champion and current Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider 
Daytona Bike Week. The words resonate in the souls of many bikers, especially motorcycle racing fans. All of the AMA’s finest racing is there: Flat Track, Supersport, American Superbike, Daytona SportBike, and, of course, Supercross.
Harley-Davidson’s continued involvement in strengthening the women demographic of riders brought many events to the industry, including National Garage Party Month. This month, 400 Garage Party events will occur at dealerships across the country, educating women riders, who represent 23-percent of motorcyclists, to build confidence on the road.
