Superbike
Pitt delighted with BMW Reitwagen progress – and ultimate promise
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 19th March 2010, 11:03 GMTAndrew Pitt is a rider who knows how to win at the highest level of Superbike racing, and although his technical package in the BMW Reitwagen team is not even close to completion at this early stage of the year, he was full of praise for his bike and team after scoring points in each race in Australia. "The team have worked so hard with the material we've got and I wanted to finish both races at the very least. To get some points is a bonus because I don't think people understand just how standard our bike is at the moment. We are just at the start, but this weekend has been very encouraging." At Phillip Island the bikes still had standard swingarms and only relatively basic intake and exhaust modifications, which made Pitt's double points scores all the more impressive. Pitt even had a chance to compare his brand new bike to a proven winner, the factory Aprilia. "I ran a few laps together with Max (Biaggi) and Leon (Camier) and it was interesting because there were only a couple of areas where they were better. If we can improve in these areas then we really could begin to surprise a few people." Now back in Europe, Pitt's technical staff are now hard at work to get their S1000RR machines into a greater level of full-race preparation before the next round at Portimao. Read article
Pitt delighted with BMW Reitwagen progress
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 19th March 2010, 11:03 GMTAndrew Pitt is a rider who knows how to win at the highest level of Superbike racing, and although his technical package in the BMW Reitwagen team is not even close to completion at this early stage of the year, he was full of praise for his bike and team after scoring points in each race in Australia. "The team have worked so hard with the material we've got and I wanted to finish both races at the very least. To get some points is a bonus because I don't think people understand just how standard our bike is at the moment. We are just at the start, but this weekend has been very encouraging." At Phillip Island the bikes still had standard swingarms and only relatively basic intake and exhaust modifications, which made Pitt's double points scores all the more impressive. Pitt even had a chance to compare his brand new bike to a proven winner, the factory Aprilia. "I ran a few laps together with Max (Biaggi) and Leon (Camier) and it was interesting because there were only a couple of areas where they were better. If we can improve in these areas then we really could begin to surprise a few people." Now back in Europe, Pitt's technical staff are now hard at work to get their S1000RR machines into a greater level of full-race preparation before the next round at Portimao. Read article
Rolfo on top as rain spoils Moto2 test
Source: MOTOGP news - autosport.com - Thursday, 18th March 2010, 16:39 GMTSuperbike convert Roby Rolfo was fastest for Italtrans STR on the first day of the inaugural group test for the new Moto2 series - but poor weather conditions at Barcelona prevented representative times being set Read article
Team 06 unveiled in Rome
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Thursday, 18th March 2010, 16:39 GMTThe new Team 06 Suzuki, which will be competing in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, was presented today in the splendid setting of the Imperial Forums of Rome along with their talented new driver rider Davide Giugliano. Team 06 can count on the backing of the council of Rome and the official support of Suzuki Italy and the Piacentini Moto showroom. Mr Vannini, President of the Commission of Tourism for the Council of Rome, was there to wish the team who will be showcasing the colours of the city of Rome in all the major European circuits, all the best not only from himself but also from Majyor Alemanno. Also present were the President of Suzuki Italy, Mr Ito and Paolo Ciabatti, General Manager of the FIM Superbike World Championship, as well as press and media representatives. Read article
Superstock classes set to start in Portugal
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Monday, 15th March 2010, 16:47 GMTWith the first European-based round of the 2010 SBK season arriving at Portimao on 28 March, the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and Superstock 600 European Championship classes will soon get underway, with strong entries confirmed in each category. Populated by relatively young riders, and using machines which are very close to standard production models, these classes will once again run alongside the Superbike World Championship and Supersport World Championship categories at every one of the ten European-based rounds of the overall SBK series. In the 1000cc class some exciting new machines enter the fray, including the BMW S1000RR and KTM 1198RC8 R. There will be 32 regular riders representing no less than eight different manufacturers in 2010 - Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, KTM, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. Given the strict rules of the class, each machine should be capable of running at the front. Last year three manufacturers won races, with five scoring podiums of some kind. The 600 Superstock class features four different manufacturers - Honda, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha - with a regular entry of 19 riders coming from nine different countries. In the Superstock 1000 class Ayrton Badovini joins Daniele Beretta in the BMW Motorrad Italia STK Team, and there will be seven riders on BMW machinery in total, making the S1000RR a popular choice in its first year in Superstock. As well as some established names there will be new threats aplenty in the Superstock categories, each of which has provided major career steps for some top riders in the SBK and WSS classes. Read article
Roland Resch recovering from collarbone surgery
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 12th March 2010, 16:14 GMTAfter suffering a heavy crash in the opening round of the Superbike World Championship a couple of weeks ago, BMW Reitwagen team rider Roland Resch went through an operation to repair his broken right collarbone. He is currently making a steady recovery at the Dungl Medical-Vital Resort, just north of Vienna in his native Austria, keeping as physically fit as he can while the titanium plate and eight screws inserted during his surgery help his collarbone - broken in two places - knit back together again. Resch's doctor, Andrea Dungl-Zauner, currently doubts if he could race again as early as Portimao on March 28, but has not entirely ruled it out yet. She will make a final decision on his condition on 17 March. Said Roland, "Of course it hurts to hear that the doctor thinks I won't be on the bike in Portimao. But it doesn't make sense either to force an early comeback if I am not 100% fit. The collarbone is broken twice, with a titanium plate and eight screws inserted. That is a quite big deal for my body. This year the grid is too competitive to start too early with a handicap. I want to fully recover before jumping on a bike again. Believe me, it's not easy to pass on a race, but I am working hard to be back soon." Read article
Ducati experience 2010
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » Bike News - Friday, 12th March 2010, 12:47 GMTIf you have a real passion for all things Italian, then you might want to try The Ducati Riding Experience. For 2010 an agreement with the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana (FMI), means it will offer a more structured programme of riding courses aboard Ducati motorcycles, at top Italian circuits. The DRE offers an all-round experience with great courses, exciting tracks, a line-up of 30 top instructors, a fleet of 90 dedicated Ducati motorcycles and a support staff of more than 30 to ensure participants a valuable and enjoyable day to remember. The accent is on training right from the start. From taking a first step into motorcycling aboard a light, agile and user-friendly Monster 696 in the Basic course, to improving existing road skills aboard a Hypermotard 796, 1100 and Monster 1100 in the Intermediate course, Ducati will improve and perfect all riding techniques. Those riders who prefer to improve their talents on the track will have the opportunity to spend a day receiving detailed instruction aboard a Superbike 848, the mid-range Superbike. Track riders can progress from Racing 1 through to Racing 2 and, for advanced track riders, to the Master Racing course aboard the famous 1198 S with Ducati Traction Control. Do you want to know how fast you really are? As part of the Master racing course, participants will be able to compare their ‘performance data’ with that of their instructor’s. The system records throttle opening, engine rpm, vehicle speed, lap time, suspension travel, brake pressure, tyre temperatures and corner trajectories to give a full report. At the end of the test, the retrieved data forms a debrief session between each participant and their instructor and each participant is presented with a printed copy of their data. A list of prices and full calendar of 2010 events to be held at major Italian circuits are now online at Ducati.com. Email; dre2010@ducati.com Read article
Live chat with Ruben on Yahoo Eurosport!
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 12th March 2010, 7:57 GMTRemember this not to be missed engagement today! The Catalan rider Ruben Xaus will be live to chat with Superbike fans! Exclusive on YAHOO EUROSPORT today, March 12 at 15 CET! The Bmw Motorrad Motosport rider will be there live to answer all your questions! Connect with the chat at http://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/altri-sport/diretta/. Read article
Silverstone improvements continue apace
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Wednesday, 10th March 2010, 11:53 GMTThe historic and evocative venue of Silverstone is the host circuit for the British round of the Superbike World Championship this year, between July 30 and August 1. A vast programme of modernization and upgrading is currently being carried out, with the majority of the work set for completion by the end of March. The final result will be a facility with many key improvements from the one last used by SBK racing in 2007, for spectators and participants alike. Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, said in a recent press release, "Work on the circuit and venue is on schedule. The team has been working around the clock, through some pretty terrible weather conditions, to make sure the circuit is ready on time. The track works at Brooklands and Woodcote are now complete, including the new run-off area for the fast entry into Pits Straight, while the major new development - the new section of circuit from Abbey, up to the Arena Complex and round to the National Straight - is also coming along nicely. There is still a considerable amount of work going on at Silverstone, including the new elevated banks and spectator viewing areas, which will continue beyond March. Conference and hospitality buildings are also being built on the new Stowe Complex." The whole SBK community is excited to be heading back to one of the great names in racing, particularly as the layout will feature some existing sections and some new parts which have been specifically designed to improve the spectacle for motorcycle events in general. Read article
SMT Honda Sign Christian Iddon For 2010
Source: British Superbike News - Tuesday, 9th March 2010, 14:55 GMTJason O'Halloran - SMT Honda 2009 The SMT Honda team, to be known as Sorrymate.com/SMT Honda for 2010, have signed the nine-times British Supermoto champion Christian Iddon to head their campaign for the coming season. The team suffered a dismal 2009 season after suffering problems amid the economic crisis towards the second half of the year. They began the opening rounds with the Australian rider Jason O’Halloran, and returned at the Mallory Park round with Michael Rutter aboard. Later with the backing of Sorrymate.com, they managed to complete the final two rounds with Karl Harris riding and have now agreed to back the team for the year ahead. Robin Croft said; “With regard to rider choice, we had spoke at length to a number of senior riders in the series but each of those had their own problems. Christian had ridden with us a few times before and considering his lack of experience he surpassed all expectations. With that in mind and with the blessing of Sorrymate.com we decided to take that route Certainly at the beginning of the season we know things might be difficult as Christian learns to ride a Superbike but later on in the season we really believe we can be in a great position to take some good results. With Christian on the bike we also get to develop younger, fresh talent which is something as a team we have always tried to do.” Read article
