Magny-Cours Superbike: France Preview

World Superbike




Although Aprilia rider Max Biaggi clenched the 2010 World Superbike Championship at Imola, the final round this weekend at Magny-Cours in France will decide the outcome of the manufactures' title and quite possibly some contracts for 2011.



Going into the final round, Aprilia leads the manufacturers' race with 433 points, 41 ahead of Ducati. As for the contracts, many riders have not yet been signed for the 2011 season, and their final point outcome may help decide who signs with who.



As for Biaggi, he earned the 2010 WSBK title after winning nine races in 12 rounds, including double wins at the Portimao, Monza, Miller, and Misano rounds.. The "Roman Emperor" became the first Italian in the series' 22-year history to win a World SBK title. And even before he clenched the title, the 39-year old extended his contract with Aprilia for two years.



Up to Imola, Suzuki Alstare rider Leon Haslam was the only rider capable of catching Biaggi, but when the Brit's motor went on his GSX-R1000 during the final race in Imola, his championship hopes were finished. It was announced this week that Haslam will be joining Troy Corser on the BMW Motorrad team, contesting on the BMW S1000RR next season.



Haslam will finish in second for 2010, due to being 62 points ahead of the man in third place, Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea. The Northern Irishman was unable to contest at both races in Imola after breaking his collarbone and wrist during a qualifying crash.



Rea attempted to rejoin the racing at Imola on his spare CBR1000RR Fireblade, but was unable to control the machine, and thus withdrew from the race. As of Tuesday, it is unknown if Rea will compete in France.



Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa is coming off another great weekend, the Spaniard doubling at Imola. He is 14 points behind Rea in fourth place, and depending on results and Rea possibly not competing, Checa may easily take third in the championship.



Only one point separate the riders in fifth and sixth place, Yamaha Sterilgarda rider Cal Crutchlow and Ducati Team rider Noriyuki Haga, respectively. Crutchlow, who will be moving to MotoGP in 2011, has 238 points, and Haga, who is without a ride for 2011, has 237 points.



Haga had double podiums at Imola, and will be looking to overtake Crutchlow in France, even under the stress of knowing all factory Ducati efforts are pulled in 2011.



Crutchlow's teammate, James Toseland, didn't receive any points at Imola due to two DNFs, which places Suzuki Alstare rider Sylvain Guintoli only three points behind in a home race. Rounding out the top ten are Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio with 169 points, and Corser with 165.



World Superbike says Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) missed the Imola round through injury. Leon is another British rider fighting to be fit to race in France, as he recovers from surgery on his broken right scaphoid. Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) had two good top ten finishes last time out in Italy and is now only ten points adrift of Camier. Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Jakub Smrz (PATA B&G Aprilia) complete the top 15 with one round and two races to go.



World Superbike says a quite fabulous home round for DFX Corse Ducati privateer Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) saw him finish second in race one at Imola, and he is now 16th in the rankings, only six points behind Smrz. Lanzi is a former race winner at Magny-Cours, a fact he will no doubt be reminding himself of all the way to the line for Sunday's races. Luca Scassa (Supersonic Team) and Max Neukirchner (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) are having their final races for their respective teams at Magny-Cours, and will want to go out with strong results.



The American Roger Lee Hayden and Matteo Baiocco (Pedercini Kawasaki) are looking for season best finishes this weekend, which would mean 12th place or better for the American and 13th or higher for the Italian. Fabrizio Lai is out to do what he did in race two at Imola, score points for his ECHO CRS Honda squad.



2010 World Superbike Point Standings (after 12 of 13 rounds):

1. Max Biaggi 413

2. Leon Haslam 350

3. Jonathan Rea 288

4. Carlos Checa 274

5. Cal Crutchlow 239

6. Noriyuki Haga 238

7. James Toseland 187

8. Sylvain Guintoli 184

9. Michel Fabrizio 169

10. Troy Corser 165.



Manufacturers Standings:

1. Aprilia 433

2. Ducati 392

3.Suzuki 379

4.Yamaha 307

5.Honda 305

6. BMW 201

7. Kawasaki 100

2010 XDL Indianapolis - Chris TEACH McNeil and Others

Except for a handful of racers, the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain is brand new territory across the paddock as the 3.155-mile circuit hosts Round 13 of the 2010 MotoGP Championship this coming weekend, Sept. 17-19.
The Gran Premio A-Style de Aragon is the third of four MotoGP races in Spain, the most of any country on the 2010 schedule. The first two races held in Spain - Jerez and Catalunya - were won by Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo, and the series leader is hoping for a repeat performance to entertain his home crowd.
Jorge Lorenzo says: "I hope lots of people but especially my fan club are coming because I think it will be a good weekend. My aim is to get on the podium again and to push as hard as I can. We're ready to start working."
Lorenzo, 23, has won seven races so far this season, and was on the podium for the remainder of the first 12 rounds. Lorenzo, who tested at Aragon, leads the championship with 271 points, but the man who beat him at the last outing in Misano, Dani Pedrosa, is slowly trimming Lorenzo's lead.
The Repsol Honda rider, also of Spain, now sits only 63 points behind Lorenzo with six rounds to go. He will also be looking to entertain his home crowd, and the power of his RC212V has been showing, the 24 year old winning the last two outings at Misano and Indy. Plus, like Lorenzo, Pedrosa has some experience on the track.
Dan Pedrosa says: "I did some laps in July with a Honda CBR1000RR street bike and I really enjoyed the layout - I loved the circuit. It's very different to the ones we are used to racing at in the MotoGP Championship, and so it will be really interesting this weekend. The circuit combines fast and slow corners which are quite technical, and the last straight and finish line section is going to be amazing. There are also some blind turns where you need to look for references outside the track. The facilities are very high spec and it looks like the fans are in for a treat at this race."
Sitting in third with 139 points is Pedrosa's teammate, Andrea Dovizioso. The Italian can't easily catch the two Spaniards battling up front, but will be running hard to maintain third in the championship considering two riders sit in fourth and fifth with equal amount of points at 130, Ducati Team rider Casey Stoner and Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi.
Stoner had five consecutive podiums heading into Indy, but crashed out of there. Then at Misano, he could only get his GP10 into fifth position. His biggest issue so far this season has been with grip, and he says this issue is being worked on for the Aragon GP.
Casey Stoner says: The team and all the engineers are doing a fantastic job so it is a case of giving my maximum and helping come up with something new to improve the feeling with the bike, to get it turning better and find some more grip. More than anything we want to put the last couple of weeks behind us."
Rossi is lucky in Spain, the nine-time world champion having won 19 grand prixs across all classes in the country. Rossi, who will be taking Stoner's spot on Ducati next year as Stoner moves to Honda, also tested on Aragon aboard a YZF-R1 superbike, giving him some additional experience over most of the field.
Valentino Rossi says: "Aragon is quite complicated but it's a lot of fun and it's fast, so I think it will be a real test. I think the best bit is the entry to turn 16 and I am looking forward to riding my M1 there."
The highest of the satellite riders, Ben Spies sits in sixth position, just 10 points behind Rossi and Stoner. The Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider will be filling Rossi's vacancy next year on the factory Yamaha team. Taking Spies spot for 2011 is current Yamaha World Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow.
The American Nicky Hayden sits in seventh with 109 points. He will be hoping for better results than last round's outing at Misano where the Ducati Team rider crashed out with Rizla Suzuki rider Loris Caprossi. Completing the top ten in points is LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet, San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Melandri, and the last of the three Americans, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards. Edwards will be making his 100th GP start this weekend aboard a Yamaha.
The 17-rider field will be lacking one, as Capirossi was ruled out earlier this week. During the wreck with Hayden at Misano, the Italian tore a tendon in his right finger; his doctors recommend an extra week of healing, ruling him out of the Aragon Grand Prix.
MotoGP says Aragón will also see the return of a three-practice format with two sessions on Friday and a third and final one on Saturday morning ahead of qualifying, in a trial system which will be reviewed following the GP.
Riders will be on track at 10:05 a.m. local time Friday.

Aragon Moto2: Elias Chases 7th Win

The majority of the Moto2 grid experienced Aragon for the first time in early July, during a two-day test session that was topped by Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up, Speed Up) and Julian Simon (Mapfre Aspar Team, Suter).
Moto2 World Championship leader Toni Elias (Gresini Racing Moto2, Moriwaki) was also among the fastest riders during the outing.
This weekend MotoGP will still be in mourning following the tragic events of Misano, where Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP, Suter) died after an accident during the Moto2 race.
Tomizawa's friends and fellow Moto2 riders have all spoken of the young Japanese rider's infectious enthusiasm and his love for the sport. He will be deeply missed by everyone.
At Misano, World Championship leader Toni Elias (Gresini Racing Moto2, Moriwaki) was as lost for words as anyone, saying only that Tomizawa "has left an indelible mark on my life".
With Tomizawa very much in his memory, Elias will be working towards a fifth successive Moto2 win at Aragon to further stretch his series lead over his biggest rivals, Simon and Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2, Moriwaki). If he is able to win again, Elias wants to dedicate his victory to his late friend and rival.
Although Simon and Luthi are both on great form - the pair joined Elias on the Misano podium with their second and third place finishes - they know that Elias' recent form has given them a mountain to climb with only six races remaining.
While Simon was a promising second quickest at Aragon in July, Elias was less than three-tenths slower, so the points leader will be hard to beat, especially since this is another race on home tarmac. Elias won the first Spanish Moto2 round at Jerez in May, but he's not unbeatable at home; in July he could only manage fifth place at Catalunya.
MotorLand Aragon - situated 200km south west of Barcelona - is an exciting new venue designed to be much more than just another racetrack. Built with local government backing, Aragon is a multifunctional complex devoted to technology, sport, leisure and culture.
The Aragon circuit was created with the help of some big hitters in their respective disciplines - the track layout was designed by German architect Herman Tilke (creator also of the Sepang, Istanbul, Shanghai and Bahrain racetracks), while the infrastructure is the work of globally renowned British architect Sir Norman Foster. Foster's work includes the pit complex, a hotel and residence, a technology park, a business area and a sports complex.
The anti-clockwise circuit meanders across the undulating landscape with an interesting combination of 17 corners within the 5.077km layout. There's a great variety of fast and slow corners, with elevation changes and several blind corner entries adding to the challenge.
Aragon is the 13th event of this year's 18-race MotoGP season. It also the final European round before MotoGP embarks upon its Asian odyssey which takes the paddock from Motegi in Japan to Sepang in Malaysia to Phillip Island in Australia on consecutive weekends in early October. The action then returns to Europe for the final two races of the year in Portugal and Valencia.
Moto2 Rider Quotes
Toni Elias (Gresinin Racing) says: "We did a great job at Misano even though my physical condition was not perfect. In the end we reaped the fruit of all our hard work even though it was very tough. Taking pole position on Saturday and the win on Sunday was a nice gift to the team, who are based just a few kilometres from Misano. The win has also given us a boost in terms of the championship."
"It would have been a day for us to celebrate but our achievements lost all significance with the passing of Shoya Tomizawa. It was a tough blow for our sport and today more than ever I want to send my thoughts to his family and do my part to keep alive the memory of a rider and a young man that was so full of life. It is an extra motivation to pay homage to him at Aragon, with the number 48 in my heart alongside the Spanish fans, and try to win the race so that I can dedicate it to him."
Julian Simon (Mapfre Aspar Team Suter) says: "I am very motivated going to Aragon after my second straight podium at Misano. Moving up to second in the championship also makes me want to keep this positive trend going. I got a good feeling for MotorLand in July at the test and my lap times were good. I can't wait to get back there and ride again at a place I enjoyed so much. We found a good setting in the test so we should be able to adapt quickly on Friday. The fact it is another home race is another incentive to have a great weekend."
Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 Team) says: "We all have tested in Aragon, so it is equal for all the riders. We already have data from there, which is also an advantage. We will try to continue where we finished at Misano and want to try not to touch the base settings too much from there. The upcoming Grand Prix should not be too much stress for us as we don't want to change around as we did in Misano. I think to stick with the front group is defiantly the target here and I will try my best to be up with the leaders again."

Kyle Rapport FMF Cup Round 3 Finals at 2010 Indianapolis XDL

Second in championship points and ready to race on home soil this coming weekend at Motorland Aragon, Round 13 of the 2010 MotoGP Championship, Dani Pedrosa spent Thursday entertaining hundreds of fans in Aragon.
On Thursday morning, the sixth floor of El Corte Inglés department store located in the center of Aragon capital Zaragoza was turned into a mock up of the Repsol Honda team box. Pedrosa was on hand, signing autographs next to his 2007 Honda RC212V just 24 hours before the practice sessions begin in Spain.
Dani Pedrosa says: "I'm really happy to be back in Zaragoza. It's a city where the fans always treat me really well. We were here with the Repsol people a couple of years ago for the 2008 Expo Zaragoza and, during our visit, they made us ambassadors of the city. Now we're back for the Aragón Grand Prix and today, I've been able to enjoy the hospitality of the Aragon people again."
"I think it was a great idea to meet them in my ‘office' so they were able to see close up the environment I work in during the Grand Prix weekends. I would have liked to stay with them longer, answering all their questions, but the weekend has already begun for us and we have a lot of work to do now at the circuit. I hope they all come this weekend to support us because it's an important extra help to us over the weekend."
While visiting Pedrosa in the team box, fans were able to experience what it is like being on the inside of a MotoGP team's competition box, where racers and teams do all their work at MotoGP events.
Repsol Honda says of the boxes, "like in an operating theatre, the cleanliness and order are fundamental inside the box as it is there where the teams handle the highest technology to get the fastest motorbikes on the planet out onto the track."
The Aragon Grand Prix is the third of four races in Spain, the most of any country on the 2010 MotoGP schedule. Pedrosa trails the championship leader, Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo, also of Spain, by 63 points.

Dan Jackson FMF Cup Round 2 at 2010 Indianapolis XDL

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R
The next step in the evolution of the Kawasaki Racing Team's 2011 ZX-10R took place at high speed in Valencia this week, with impressive times being set by WSBK riders Tom Sykes and Katsuaki Fujiwara.
The Spanish track offered good conditions for the test, but high afternoon temperatures made it hard - if ultimately rewarding - work.
Despite the heat and busy schedule the new Ninja ZX-10R machinery ran faultlessly throughout. Fujiwara's test bike had only recently arrived from KHI in Japan, to give the team two machines to work with from now on.
On the second day lap times fell to the mid 1:34s on fresh race tires. Real world pace is already in the mid 1:35s after race simulations were carried out.
Effective new geometry and Showa suspension settings were found in what was only the second European test for the new bike, which is still very much at the start of its final development program.
The next test will be the first public one for the new Ninja ZX-10R, to be held at Magny-Cours, after the final race of the current World Superbike season.
Tom Sykes says: "A very positive test for us overall. It is very early days but I think we have already achieved quite a lot. Knowing where we are at now, and where we can eventually arrive at, there is still big potential there. So to be where we are now, in such good shape, is an extremely nice starting point."
Paul Risbridger (KRT Team Manager) says: "With the delivery of our second 2011 spec Ninja ZX-10R at Valencia we were able to plan a very full programme for the two days of testing. On the back of a great result in Nürburgring, our baseline runs with the 2010 racebike at Valencia showed immediately the progress we have made with the current Ninja but by the end of the first day we felt we had already made real progress on the new 2011 bike."
"The team tested several geometry options and worked on the general chassis balance on what was our 2010 nominated test circuit. By mid-morning on day two we had achieved our target 1:34 second lap. The speed and consistency of the all new Ninja ZX-10R has given the team a real buzz, and whilst we have a lot of work ahead of us during the winter we feel we are currently right on schedule in our preparations."

Aragon MotoGP:

Proceedings were different today at the Grand Prix of Aragon as the Friday morning practice session, scrapped at the end of the 2008 season, was reinstated temporarily as a trial ahead of a potential permanent return next season.
Riders not only sampled the Motorland Aragon circuit for the first time on their 800cc MotoGP machines, but they also got to run in both the dry in the morning and the wet in the afternoon session.
Spaniard Dani Pedrosa was fastest in the dry using the softer option front and harder rear slicks, favored for their greater durability in the dirty track conditions, ahead of Nicky Hayden and Jorge Lorenzo.
Hayden was the only rider in the top five to set his best lap on the softer option rear slick at the end of the session.
The afternoon's free practice session was wet for the duration, giving riders and teams a good opportunity to develop their wet setups after a distinct lack of wet running this season.
Casey Stoner finished the 45-minute session fastest, over 0.5seconds clear of Jorge Lorenzo with Nicky Hayden third.
In the morning the track was dirty because it hasn't been used a great deal recently and the surrounding area is very dusty, and whilst it cleaned throughout the morning sessions, the rain in the afternoon prevented the track conditions from improving further as the rain made the surface greasier still.
Tohru Ubukata (Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Development Department) says: "In the morning we could evaluate our softer option slicks, but the track was very dirty and that led to slight graining especially of the rear tires."
"When a track is dirty this is to be expected though, and as it cleaned throughout the session wear appearance was getting better. It didn't completely clean in the 45 minutes, and with the rain not helping in the afternoon the track will still have to be cleaned more tomorrow. The harder option rear slicks worked well even in the morning's cooler conditions which I am pleased about."
"This afternoon's session was wet throughout and our wet tires performed consistently, even in the dirty conditions,so I am happy with their performance. Overall, after the first two sessions I can say that all our tire specs seem to be well suited to this circuit."

Indy XDL Freestyle: 'Duke' iReport

Motorcycle Freestyle
In this iReport, Luke "Duke" Emmons gives you the inside scoop from the fifth and final round of the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana.
For the past two years it has poured at XDL in Indianapolis. On top of that I have always had bad luck at that venue.
The first year I couldn't hook up a stoppie to save my life due to the slick surface, and didn't even qualify after coming from a win at the previous XDL. Last year I qualified third in the rain, hit a k-rail and finished seventh.
I usually don't learn from my mistakes, but if you want to be a top pro then you have to. The two days before I left for Indy it poured in CT and I rode for three hours each day just completely miserable and shaking my fist at the sky.
This put all of my personal Shift protective gear, and my Racing 905 bike protective gear to the real test. Both passed with flying colors. I also sectioned off the size of the venue at my spot and dialed in to a smaller area.
It was a nice and (relatively) short ride to Indy being 900 miles from door to pavement. My first practice session felt horrible, my bike seemed totally different so I checked my tire pressure. Due to environmental influences my tire had increased almost 10 PSI!
After that I felt good enough to lay down a second-place qualifying run in front of Bill D and behind Nick Apex. The next day I couldn't believe that there was sunshine.
I won round one with my qualifying run; round two I finished second. Nick and I were tied with both of us having a high score of 74.5. I decided to go for broke in round three and started out with a 50/50 180 wall park stoppie that I had won the sickest trick event with and bobbled. That one bobble was enough to put me in second on the day.
I may have won if I had used the run I did well with in round one, but I guess you can never regret going for it!
I won the battle against Bill in this round but he won the war being the 2010 XDL champ.
Fellow Shift rider Dena Sodano won the women's cup as well as the series. Ernie Vigil took the circle challenge. Shift rider Brian Bubash won the burnout competition by blowing his tire off.
Team road hazards won the Team event with a sick 4 up circle wheelie that had everyone in tears from hysterical laughter. Finally Eric Petit was the proud new owner of a new Aprilia SXV 450 for winning the all star challenge.
This wraps up the 2010 XDL Championship. I finished third in the series and am pleased with my first series podium. I am going to keep working hard to be number one and believe that it is within reach.
Only problem is there are 20 other very capable riders vying for the same goal. Thanks to everyone for getting me this far!
, Racing 905, Dave's Cycle works, Hindle Exhaust, Sparx Helmets, HEL brake lines, Gabriel Racing, Port of Worcester Tattoos, HT Moto, Amsoil, Shinko Tires, Thrust Co, Bike Styles, Stuntride.com, and Hohey Designs - thank you all.

Yoshimura: Dungey MX Pala Report

AMA Motocross Results
Yoshimura R&D of America finished off an impressive 2010 AMA Pro Motocross series on Saturday at Pala Raceway in Pala, Calif., with two convincing victories.
Ryan Dungey capped off his astounding rookie year with 1-1 moto wins, earning his 10th overall victory of the season and putting him in the record books as the most successful rookie ever in motocross.
Dungey secured the 2010 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Round 10 of the series, giving him his second championship of the year after earning the 2010 AMA Supercross title in May.
Another phenomenal Yoshimura racer, Ashley Fiolek raced with amazing heart and speed at Pala and ended her year in the WMX with a first-place finish for the day and second overall in the championship run.
Round 12 at Pala Raceway marked the first time the series has visited the track, and with its pleasant weather and proximity to the hub of the motocross industry in Southern California the track was packed with fans of racing.
The wait to get into the race was worth it as the 450 moto kicked off with Andrew Short taking yet another holeshot with his Yoshimura-powered Honda CRF450. Short took the initial lead, but Dungey wasn't far behind. Though Short tried to keep Dungey at bay, by the third lap Dungey and his RM-Z450 that's fully loaded with unstoppable Yoshimura power took over the lead.
From there, Dungey methodically put time between him and the rest of the racers and checked out. Short meanwhile tried to keep a firm grip on second, but ended up battling with another racer for the spot.
Short wanted to finish well so he could earn enough points to take second overall in the championship, and though he made a great effort, he crossed the finish line in third. His teammate Kevin Windham jumped across the finish line in seventh place after a long battle with the rough track and fierce competitors for the entire 30-minute moto.
The second moto of the 450 class was just as thrilling as the first. Short again made full use of his Yoshimura power and grabbed the holeshot. Andrew had a lot of racers bearing down on his rear tire, but he kept his mind clear and raced well.
Dungey didn't have as good of a start as he would've liked, and ended up coming through the first turn in about eighth position. Despite the fact that Dungey already had the championship sewn up, he never backs down from a challenge.
He set his sights on getting himself to the front of the pack. Dungey picked great lines on the rough track and used the Yoshimura power of his Suzuki to propel him past the racers ahead of him. Dungey eventually passed Short and took the lead by the midway point in the race and never backed down.
Dungey scored another moto win for a perfect way to end his incredible season. Short finished right behind Dungey for second, giving him second overall for the day and third in the championship for 2010. Kevin Windham had another solid moto and he placed eighth, putting him in seventh overall at Pala.
Though Windham was filling in for the injured Davi Millsaps, he definitely left his mark on the series winning Round 11 and giving him his first motocross victory since 2007. Windham finished 14th in the series, impressive seeing that he only raced six of the 12 races on the circuit.
In the WMX series, reigning champ Ashley Fiolek had a big mountain to climb with her Yoshimura-equipped Honda CRF250. She went into Pala second in points and 22 points back from the leader in the series. Fiolek showed her fans and the other racers in the class that though she probably wouldn't be able to keep the No. 1 plate on her bike, she wasn't going to just coast through the race.
In moto 1, Fiolek set her sights on winning. She picked great lines but was unable to get herself in the front of the pack when the checkered flag waved. She finished second in the moto, but knew she had one last chance to prove that she is a true champion.
Ashley didn't let anything hold her back in the second race of the day, and even though the track was really rough from the entire day of racing, she kept the power flowing and he bike gliding over the bumps and jumps. She was victorious and took the overall for the day, and she finished second overall in the championship points chase.

Ducati North America:

Ducati Sales
As other motorcycle manufacturers continue to show positive sale numbers for the month of August, Ducati North America reported an impressive 24-percent increase in sales last month.
Ducati says these numbers display "a significant growth in a declining market for the second month in a row."
The Italian manufacturer credits their North American sales increase due to the new Monster 797 and the Multistrada 1200 S, which continues to be one of the industry's best sellers, and the arrival of the 848EVO Superbike.
Ducati says this lineup confirms that the motorcycling market wants "innovative, quality performance models."
Jason Chinnock (Sales and Marketing Director for Ducati North America) says: "We are pleased with the hard work put forth by our dealer network, which allowed us to achieve these positive results. With the launch of the Fall Oppor2unity Sales Promotion and the renewed support of our dealer partners we are cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the season."
This month, many of the pre-ordered 848 EVO Superbikes will arrival in North America, and Ducati will continue delivering the Monster 796 ABS and Multistrada 1200 S, which will ensure "strong sales for Ducati as the fall season kicks off."

Kawasaki & Chad Reed Separate

AMA Motocross / AMA Supercross News
The year 2010 was simply not a positive year for Chad Reed on a motorcycle, although his personal life was blessed with the birth of his son Tate. The Australian was injured in the AMA Supercross season, and suffered from a virus in the AMA Motocross series.
And on Saturday, it was reported that Monster Energy Kawasaki and Reed have "mutally agreed to end their relationship." This news came a week after it was reported that Thor MX and Reed were parting after a nine-year relationship.
Kawasaki says: "Monster Energy Kawasaki would like to thank Chad Reed for being a part of our team for the 2010 AMA Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM Championship and the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Series."
"Reed was a valuable member of our program scoring one win and multiple podium finishes aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."
The 28-year-old Australian pulled out of Supercross after breaking his hand during a crash at round 2 in Phoenix with his rival, San Manuel Yamaha rider James Stewart. He would return at Round 13, and finish fourth.
Reed came back to defend his AMA Motocross title and began the season on a positive note, taking the overall win in Round 1 a Hangtown with a 1-3 moto finish. But his season would descend, and he would eventually pull out due to suffering from the Epstein Barr Virus.
Regardless of 2010, Reed remains one of the most competitve riders in the dirt. So now the question is where will Chad Reed be in 2011?
With his former Suzuki boss Roger DeCoster signed to the US KTM team next year, this seems like the most viable move for the two-time Supercross Champion; expect an announcement of Reed's 2011 plans soon.

Yamaha R1 Valentino Rossi LE | Test

Rossi R1 Review
I will never forget the date-July 7, 2005. It is a bright sunny Thursday afternoon at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. MotoGP finally returns to America, and the love of my life, my wife Malin, met the love of her life-Valentino Rossi.
Malin is a self-confessed celebrity stalker, and I was admittedly scared, for I landed my current role as Malin's husband due in no small part to my keen likeness to Joey McIntyre-the lead singer of the '90s boy-band New Kids on the Block-another of Malin's stalking victims.
As a Swedish tweenager, she spent countless hours outside of the band's hotel when they were touring through Stockholm. In the freezing Scandinavian rain, face-painted, she huddled with hundreds of other girls, praying for a glimpse of Joey. She was experienced at this, and I was the benefactor of her NKOTB infatuation. Now she had her sights deftly set on The Doctor himself. How could I possibly compete?
Needless to say, living in the The Doctor's shadow over the last five years has had its ups and downs. Malin and I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the MotoGP experience, and have amassed quite a collection of photos, autographs, and other Tribù dei Chihuahua memorabilia.
The race weekends have taken on a very predictable pattern. We inevitably find ourselves in front of the Fiat Yamaha paddock box, Malin patiently waiting next to the rail, surrounded by a sea of yellow, with pen and camera in hand. I play it cool, sitting off in the distance, pretending to be immersed in the race program that I have memorized word-for-word hours earlier. My mind wanders and I can't help but wonder, "What if I were Valentino Rossi?"
Emulation seemed impossible, but I needed to act. A million thoughts raced through my head over the arduous span of a nanosecond. The solution was ridiculously obvious, but its implementation would be near impossible, and perhaps utter folly. I had no choice; I had to become Rossi.
Enter the 2010 Yamaha YZF-R1 LE-the street legal edition of Valentino's legendary YZR-M1, with its revolutionary crossplane crankshaft, the first of its kind in a production motorcycle. The pendulum began to swing in my favor, and I had a chance at godlike transformation.
I couldn't wait to surprise Malin with the R1 LE; I even used her truck to pick it up to personalize the delivery. I parked in the driveway, and angled the truck so the R1 LE was predominately featured in the bed. I then quickly ran in to grab a camera to capture the expression on her face when she arrived home. Much to my chagrin, she came home early and beat me to the punch-she was already snapping iPhone photos for instant posting to her Facebook page.
Nevertheless, I unload-ed the bike with the care and reverence it deserved, and we both studied its aggressive lines as I caught Malin smoothing her hand over Valentino's signature on the fuel tank. The legendary number 46 emblazoned both fore and aft, accompanied by the obligatory Doctor decals on the windscreen, elicited so many great MotoGP memories. We both felt that the machine had finally found its home in our garage.
Execution of the plan is now in full swing, but the transformation of our protagonist is not complete until we procure the proper Dainese protective gear-the superhero suit. Of course, that entails a trip to the Dainese shop to get fitted for a Gran Premio suit with the ultra comfortable 3D Bubble inner lining (the Rossi replica leathers and AGV helmet weren't in stock in my sizes-next time!).
Malin was just as excited as I was, giving me a sly wink and a thumbs-up when I strutted my way out of the fitting room to straddle the bike in the showroom to ensure the proper fit. Ignition gloves and Torque Out D-WP boots rounded out the ensemble, and I was now prepped for flight.
My first test day could not have arrived soon enough, and coincidentally it was also Malin's birthday. A few snaps of her hubby in all of his newfound glory would make the perfect birthday gift.
Changing out of my office clothes and spectacles, I drew mental analogies to Clark Kent and Superman as I stretched the Dainese suit around me and swaggered toward number 46 waiting outside. With a press of the button the R1 LE roars to life, and the odd 270-180-90-180 firing order is an instantly audible reminder that this is not your standard inline-four liter bike.
Rumbling the R1 toward the ribbons of tarmac awaiting me in the canyons, the torquey acceleration of the bike is readily apparent and akin to a high performance V-twin. But, as I twist the fly-by-wire throttle even further, the linear pull of the powerplant revs up with the unmistakable laceration of an inline four-truly the best of both worlds.
This rocket-like thrust allows for blistering turn-to-turn acceleration that would not be possible if not paired with a slipper clutch and an ultra-strong braking package that provides single-finger progression with precise operation. Sweeping turns and tight hairpin corners reveal a sharp turn-in feel with the R1-specific Dunlop Sportmax tires, followed by rock steady stability and confidence inspiring roll-on out of every exit. SOQI suspension may not yet be a household name, but the highly adjustable forks and shock behave flawlessly.
Now that I was truly feeling like The Doctor, I swapped the D-MODE Variable throttle control from the standard ignition mapping to the A mapping for a snappier response in the lower half of the rev range. With the gratuitous amounts of torque that the R1 LE produces, the A mapping is better applied by Vale himself, and I switched to the more docile B mode-ideal for wet or low traction situations.
I determine that the standard mapping providsthe optimal performance for the current conditions and allows me to ride with the most comfort, enabling my mind to drift toward the grandiose idea of achieving my goal of Rossi personification. Later, I take advantage of the adjustable footpegs to tailor Rossi's bike to my frame.

Scorpion Tornado Motorcycle Jacket

Motorcycle Jackets
Constructed with a 600-denier outer shell and removable CE-approved armor inside the shoulder and elbow pockets, the Scorpion Tornado textile motorcycle jacket is designed to be a piece of tough, all-weather apparel.
As the name Tornado indicates, the Scorpion motorcycle jacket is intended for use in inclement weather. The ballistic nylon fabric is treated with polyurethane to increase water resistance, and the removable EverHeat liner keeps wind out.
Adjustable sleeve tension straps offer a custom fit and are intended for use at speeds exceeding triple digits.
 

To increase the utility of the Scorpion Tornado jacket, the AirVent ventilation system allows the air to flow when temperatures increase.
The AirVent system has two zippered high-flow air intake panels in the front of the jacket with two rear vents. It is intended to maximize airflow over the body's core when the panels are unzipped and to seal the jacket when the rider doesn't want cold air whistling in.

High-speed safety is provided by a full-length back protector pocket (complete with a P.E. foam insert) and all seams are sealed with Scorpion's exclusive ExoStitch seams.
There are large zippered hand-warmer pockets and NightViz reflective panels front and rear on the Scorpion Tornado textile jacket.
Available in men's sizes S-XXL, the MSRP of the jacket is $190 for size S-XL, and it bumps up to $205 for the XXL version. Color choices are black, red, and blue.