|  |  |  | | | | | Motorcycle News - Reviews | Photos | MotoGP | Superbike | Motocross | Supercross | Motorcycles | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2012 Highway to Havasu Ultimate Weekend Ultimate MotorCycling has teamed up with McGraw Powersports, offering the Highway to Havasu (H2H) "Ultimate Weekend." The route to excitement is simple - take one of the following featured routes, or start from any destination you like. Just get some friends, get on your motorcycles, and get to Havasu. The "Ultimate Weekend" is a VIP package for visitors to the International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals (IJSBA) in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Oct. 5 -7. The weekend begins with one of three separate self-guided rides to Lake Havasu. The "Beach" ride departs from Santa Monica, Calif.; the "Desert" ride departs from Tempe, Ariz.; or you can do the "Anywhere" ride, leaving from anywhere you choose. Once you get at Lake Havasu, you'll plug into an exclusive weekend package. It includes hotel for Friday and Saturday evening, VIP access to parties, as well as souvenir swag. The H2H Ultimate Weekend package price is $245 per person (based on double occupancy). Following are details of each weekend package in the McGraw Powersports' Highway to Havasu "Ultimate Weekend": Beach Ride: - Self-Guided: Santa Monica, Calif., to Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
- Hotel: The Nautical Beachfront Resort (Friday / Saturday night), featuring the largest Infinity pool in Arizona
- H2H Party: Kokomo Night Club on Friday night; drink specials, giveaways
- H2H Reception: Heat Hotel on Saturday night, hosted dinner
- World Finals Jet Ski Races: Saturday and Sunday, VIP access includes ground transportation
- H2H Credentials and Souvenir Swag: $245 per person based on double occupancy
Desert Ride: - Self-Guided Trip: Tempe, Ariz. to Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
- Hotel: The Nautical Beachfront Resort (Friday / Saturday night), featuring the largest Infinity pool in Arizona
- H2H Party: Kokomo Night Club on Friday night; drink specials, giveaways
- H2H Reception: Heat Hotel on Saturday night, hosted dinner
- World Finals Jet Ski Races: Saturday and Sunday, VIP access includes ground transportation
- H2H Credentials and Souvenir Swag: $245 per person based on double occupancy
Anywhere Ride: - Self-Guided: Anywhere to Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
- Hotel: The Nautical Beachfront Resort (Friday / Saturday night), featuring the largest Infinity pool in Arizona
- H2H Party: Kokomo Night Club on Friday night; drink specials, giveaways
- H2H Reception: Heat Hotel on Saturday night, hosted dinner
- World Finals Jet Ski Races: Saturday and Sunday, VIP access includes ground transportation
- H2H Credentials and Souvenir Swag: $245 per person based on double occupancy
For additional information, including booking, log onto Highway to Havasu's "Ultimate Weekend" website. Also, don't forget to enter to win the VIP Lake Havasu Experience from Highway to Havasu. The winner and a a guest will get VIP treatment during IJSBA World Finals in Oct. 5-7. The experience includes a private jet, deluxe hotel and all access to the parties and pleasures of a great jet ski racing weekend. To enter, click here. .jpg)
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing AMA Pro Road Racing will once again be featured alongside the international stars of MotoGP this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as part of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. The international event held at the legendary 2.238-mile natural road course in Monterey, Calif. is a huge weekend for all things motorcycle road racing, and is the place to be on this July weekend for fans who want to sample the very best in the sport from famous vantage points like the legendary Corkscrew or Ducati Island. Three of the four classes that make up AMA Pro Road Racing will take part in the event. In a departure from the typical doubleheader weekend format, each class will contest one race final. Opening the weekend's racing activity with a 3:40 p.m. start time on Saturday, July 28, the rising stars and local experts of AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport are slotted in for a 16-lap race. The always action-packed AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class will be featured in a 20-lap final on Sunday morning at 11:15 a.m. and the premier AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike division will close the weekend with a 23-lap race later that afternoon at 3:45 p.m. SPEED will air the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike and AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike races in a set of back-to-back, same-day delayed broadcasts beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Sunday, July 29. SPEED2 will live stream the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport race, fans can watch by logging onto speed2.com. SPEED2 is a broadband service available to customers of Time Warner, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, DISH and Cox. For more information and instructions on gaining access to all of this season's AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series races, please review the SPEED2 FAQ located at speed2.com/faq. AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Since the class debuted in 1976, AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike races have been held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as a part of every season except for two (1989 and 1990). There have been 35 AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike sprint races contested in Monterey, and the challenging track has produced 21 winners on six different manufacturers (BMW, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, Ducati and Yamaha). Two-time, defending AMA Pro National Guard Champion Josh Hayes (No. 1 Monster Energy Graves Yamaha YZF-R1) heads to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with a solid lead in the point standings over Blake Young (No. 79 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000). Hayes has yet to claim his first win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but 2012 has been a year of firsts for him. Yamaha's leading man has scored his first National Guard SuperBike wins at four tracks this season (Daytona International Speedway, Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park and Miller Motorsports Park). If the Mississippian wins this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, he will become the first rider in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike history to score eight consecutive wins in a single season. His current streak of seven ties him with all-time great Mat Mladin and current MotoGP superstar Ben Spies. Of the active AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike riders, only Ben Bostrom (No. 23 Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000) has won in the class here, taking home wins in 2004 aboard a Honda and claiming Yamaha's lone win in Monterey in 2010. Despite a touch-and-go season in 2012, Bostrom has always been strong at his home track; his record here also includes AMA Pro wins in three additional classes, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike (2009), AMA Pro SuperSport (2008) and AMA Formula Xtreme (2004) as well as a trio of wins in World Superbike. If he claims the top spot on the podium this weekend, he'll join an elite group of four riders who have three National Guard SuperBike wins to their credit at Mazda Raceway: Freddie Spencer, his brother Eric Bostrom, Spies and Mladin. Bostrom's teammate on the Michael Jordan Motorsports squad, Roger Hayden (No. 54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000), has been in top form as of late. The Kentuckian proved to be a challenge for Hayes last round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, leading the race at times before racking up two additional podiums on the season. Hayden is joined this weekend by older brothers Tommy and Nicky, who will be competing in AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike and MotoGP, respectively. Another rider on a tour de force in 2012 is AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike freshman Josh Herrin (No. 2 Monster Energy Graves Yamaha YZF-R1). The former GoPro Daytona SportBike star is a solid third position in the points with two runner-up results earned in his debut season on the 1000cc Yamaha. Riding on the only American-made SuperBike marquee in the field, Geoff May (No. 99 Team Amsoil/Hero EBR 1190RS) has led a consistent season so far in 2012. The new motorcycle's accolades are highlighted by a set of podiums split between May and teammate Danny Eslick (No. 69 Team Hero EBR 1190RS), earned at Infineon Raceway in May. Sixth in the points is Larry Pegram (No. 72 Foremost Insurance Pegram BMW S1000RR), followed by AMA Pro veteran Steve Rapp (No. 15 Attack Performance/ Motorcycle Superstore M1 PowerSports Kawasaki ZX-10R), who will be pulling double-duty this weekend. The Californian, who qualified on the front row at Mid-Ohio and finished an impressive fourth in both races, will make a wildcard appearance in the MotoGP race at Mazda Raceway aboard an Attack Performance CRT machine. Young's Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Chris Clark rounds out the top 10 in the National Guard SuperBike standings. A number of notable AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike entries are likely to make a splash this weekend. Australian Superbike standout Glenn Allerton (No. 111 BMW HP Racing BMW S1000RR) has entered in the event. The reigning Australian Superbike champion will make his AMA Pro debut aboard a BMW S1000RR with specifications very similar to those of his championship-winning machine. Jake Holden (No. 59 Buyredline.com Honda CBR1000RR) is back, piloting a Honda and competing with a new team that is aiming to win. Two riders with strong showings at Mid-Ohio were Chris Ulrich (No. 18 M4 RoadracingWorld.com Suzuki GSX-R1000), who posted a set of top 10 finishes, and Taylor Knapp (No. 44 Riders Discount K&L Supply Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000), who returned to National Guard SuperBike after a two-race hiatus to post two eighth-place results. The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix will take place this weekend, July 27-29. The AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike class will take to the track for their first practice session on Friday, July 27 at 3:10 p.m. and will be featured in a 23-lap sprint race on Sunday, July 29 at 3:45 p.m. local time. AMA Pro Road Racing's National Guard SuperBike and GoPro Daytona SportBike divisions will be featured on SPEED in a set of back-to-back, same-day delayed broadcasts, scheduled to begin at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT on Sunday night. AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Point Standings (After Round 7): 1. Josh Hayes (Gulfport, MS) - 383; 2. Blake Young (Waunakee, WI) - 316; 3. Josh Herrin (Glendale, CA) - 225; 4. Roger Hayden (Owensboro, KY) - 204; 5. Geoff May (Gainesville, GA) - 190; 6. Larry Pegram (Hebron, OH) - 182; 7. Steve Rapp (Hawthorne, CA) - 151; 8. Danny Eslick (Broken Arrow, OK) - 147; 9. Ben Bostrom (Malibu, CA) - 146; 10. Chris Clark (Las Vegas, NV) - 146. AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Nearly Every AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race can be described as intense. The performance balance combined with depth of field creates an unpredictable battleground for some of the world's top talent. Since its inception in 2009, the class has seen three different champions take wins at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca: Ben Bostrom, Martin Cardenas and Danny Eslick. Martin Cardenas (No. 36 GEICO Suzuki GSX-R600) is the only active AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike rider with a class win to his credit at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The 2010 GoPro Daytona SportBike Champ returned to the class in 2012 with a vengeance after a fruitful year in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike highlighted by a rare breakout win during his debut season. With his return to GoPro Daytona SportBike, the Colombian displayed his skill early by taking six wins and grabbing all but one bonus point in the first eight races of the 2012 season. The early season run that Cardenas appreciated came to an end recently with the return of Cameron Beaubier (No. 6 Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha YZF-R6). Beaubier, who suffered an off-track injury early in the season, took home his maiden AMA Pro victory at Barber Motorsports Park last month and followed that up with two additional wins and a third place finish to give him a perfect ratio of starts to podiums since his return. Despite the local rider's impressive run, he enters this weekend sitting fourth in the point standings behind Dane Westby (No. 5 M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) and Tommy Hayden (No. 8 Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha YZF-R6). Westby's confidence has soared recently, turning his consistent season into a set of stellar results including his second career victory earlier this month at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Former SuperBike standout Hayden acclimated quickly to the 600cc platform after he was tapped to replace Garrett Gerloff following the young gun's injury at the season-opener. The AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike field is the deepest in the AMA Pro Road Racing portfolio. Additional riders that are sure to threaten are Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 Latus Motors Racing Triumph Daytona 675), JD Beach (No. 95 RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6), Jake Zemke (No. 98 Ducshop Ducati 848), Bobby Fong (No. 50 Meen Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6), Cory West (No. 57 Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600) and DAYTONA 200® winner Joey Pascarella (No. 52 Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600). The riders competing in AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike will contest a 20-lap race final on Sunday, July 29 at 11:15 a.m. local time. AMA Pro Road Racing's National Guard SuperBike and GoPro Daytona SportBike divisions will be featured on SPEED in back-to-back, same-day delayed broadcasts, scheduled to begin at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT on Sunday night. AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Point Standings (After Round 7): 1. Martin Cardenas (Medellin, Colombia) - 287; 2. Dane Westby (Tulsa, OK) - 247; 3. Tommy Hayden (Owensboro, KY) - 213; 4. Cameron Beaubier (Roseville, CA) - 204; 5. Jason DiSalvo (Batavia, NY) - 194; 6. JD Beach (Philpot, KY) - 166; 7. Jake Zemke (Paso Robles, CA) - 166; 8. Bobby Fong (Stockton, CA) - 162; 9. Cory West (Eureka Springs, AR) - 143; 10. Joey Pascarella (Vacaville, CA) - 141. AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport One of the most competitive races of this weekend's Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix will be AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport, a class filled with young talent and local experts. With 55 pre-entries, 39 of which are competing aboard the Yamaha YZF-R6, the battle will begin with qualifying as riders vie for a limited number of grid spots. This weekend's event features a Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport West Division race, meaning only those riders who declared as West Division riders will earn points toward regional and national championships. Additionally, in order to provide an equal number of points paying opportunities between the East and West Divisions, Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport points will also be awarded to riders for their final grid positions at Mazda Raceway. The outright leader in AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport this season has been defending Champ James Rispoli (No. 1 Celtic Racing/ Orient Express Racing/ Army National Guard Suzuki GSX-R600). In his 13 starts, the New Yorker has taken 10 podiums, including four wins, and currently tops the West Division point standings 232-173 over closest rival Hayden Gillim (No. 69 RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6). Gillim, a former Red Bull Rookies Cup standout, has acclimated quickly to his new team. The Kentuckian took home the team's first win at Miller Motorsports Park in May and has two additional podiums to his credit, including one earned during his most recent outing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier this month. Third in the West Division points is Elena Myers (No. 21 Suzuki SportbikeTrackgear.com Suzuki GSX-R600). Her win at the season opener in March gave her the historical distinction of becoming the first female to win a major motorsports event at Daytona International Speedway. Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport East Division rivals Jake Lewis (No. 85 Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600), Dustin Dominguez (No. 68 Latus Motors Racing Triumph Daytona 675) and Stefano Mesa (No. 37 Kneedraggers.com Yamaha YZF-R6) have locked up the rest of the season's seven wins. East Division points-leader Lewis turned in a set of uncharacteristic finishes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which was contrasted starkly by the dominating effort of Dominguez. The Oklahoman's double win weekend tied him up with Lewis in the East Division point standings. Saturday's 16-lap final for the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport division will be the first race of the weekend, set to go green at 3:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 28. The race will be streamed live on SPEED2, for more information, please visit http://www.speed2.com/. AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport West Division Point Standings (After Round 5): 1. James Rispoli (Attica, NY) - 232; 2. Hayden Gillim (Owensboro, KY) - 173; 3. Elena Myers (Discovery Bay, CA) - 143; 4. Tyler Linders (Mission Viejo, CA) - 87; 5. Ryan Matter (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) - 84; 6. Travis Ohge (Aurora, OR) - 67; 7. Sebastiao Ferreira (Parauna, Brazil) - 64; 8. Devon McDonough (Damascus, OR) - 42; 9. Rocco Horvath (Chandler, AZ) - 36; 10. Colter Dimick (Ft. Collins, CO) - 35. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 AMA Motocross For the second Lucas Oil Motocross Series event in a row, GEICO Honda superstars Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac swept the top two spots on the overall podium. The only difference at this Saturday's Washougal National is that Barcia finished ahead of Tomac after winning Moto 1 and coming in second in Moto 2, reversing the order of last weekend's Spring Creek National, which Tomac won. Tomac finished second and third here, placing him ahead of points leader Blake Baggett (6-1) on the podium. Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: "It was a great day for the GEICO team. The bike was great, the team worked hard and I had two good rides. Plus, we made up some points, which is exactly what we needed to do. Everything went great. If I hadn't slid out in the second race I could have gone 1-1-1 but a had one little mistake there and Baggett got by me." Barcia was a frontrunner from the beginning of the day. He started third in the first moto but quickly passed Baggett before hunting down and getting past Marvin Musquin for first place somewhere around the middle of the race. After that, he simply rode away for the victory. In Moto 2, Barcia got the holeshot and led for 30 minutes before bobbling and going down at the top of the hill as he turned towards the finish line to take the white flag. He remounted quickly, but couldn't catch Baggett in the last circuit. Justin Barcia says: "It was a stupid mistake. And it cost me a few points, but we still had a great day and I'm super pumped." The big day helped Barcia trim Baggett's lead in the championship standings to 11. Tomac remains in third, 21 behind Barcia. Eli Tomac (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: "It was a good weekend for us. It's cool for me and Justin to go 1-2 again. It's helping us tighten things up in the points and I think the final few races will be crazy. This is a super-fast track with a lot of uphill and downhill runs, but at the same time it's very tight. You almost have to wait for the guy in front of you to tire out to make a pass. It's very hard to set people up for passes because there's nowhere to go around them. "We're doing all we can to race hard and win these events. I'm really pleased with how things have been progressing. Now we'll take a few weeks off, rest up, and make another charge." In just his second race since returning from knee surgery, Justin Bogle had finishes of ninth and fifth, placing him seventh overall. Wil Hahn had a fifth- and a 10th-place finish for eighth on the final tally. Justin Bogle (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: "I'm still taking baby steps but I'm really happy with the improvement we showed today. I was second behind Bam Bam (Barcia) for awhile there in Moto 2 and that was encouraging. I didn't quite have the pace to stay with those guys the whole race but I'm feeling stronger every time I get on the bike. I just need some sprint speed and I'll be where I need to be." The tour is off until Aug. 11 when the Moto-X 338 National takes place in Southwyck, Mass. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: Motorcycle Industry News Polaris Industries Inc., owner of Victory Motorcycles and Indian Motorcycle, has joined forces with the India-based Eicher Motors Limited. Under this joint venture, Polaris and Eicher Motors Limited, a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles and motorcycles in India, will develop and market new products to meet the diverse vehicle needs in India and other emerging markets. The agreement creates a new operation, wherein Polaris and Eicher each control 50 percent. The overall investment is expected to be approximately $50 million, shared equally between the partners over a three-year period. Scott Wine (Polaris CEO) says: "This agreement instantly expands and enhances Polaris' presence in India and supplying access to additional emerging markets around the globe and leverages Polaris' strength in product innovation and vehicle development. "Eicher's financial strength and rich history as a leader in the Indian market makes them the perfect partner for Polaris in India. This joint venture represents an incredible opportunity to develop new vehicles and realize global growth." Eicher is a well-established, powerful brand in India. The company today is comprised of Royal Enfield, an iconic motorcycle brand, and VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), a 50/50 venture with Volvo. VECV, established in 2008, manufactures and markets medium-to-heavy-duty trucks and buses, engineering components and provides engineering design solutions. Between its two business divisions, Eicher has a dealer network with more than 400 locations in India. Sisshartha Lal (Managing Director & CEO, Eicher Motors Limited) says: "At Eicher Motors Limited, we are committed to long term growth and value creation for our stakeholders through both organic and inorganic expansion. "This joint venture strongly supports our strategic direction. Currently, we are active in the commercial vehicle and motorcycle categories. Collaborating with Polaris allows us to enter new profitable vehicle segments." The joint venture will benefit from the complementary and shared strengths each partner provides, utilizing these collective talents to co-develop new products for emerging markets. Polaris' unmatched innovation in engineering and design, paired with Eicher's powertrain expertise, economical engineering and knowledge of local markets create a powerful combination. The companies' shared dedication to manufacturing excellence and responsible management further strengthens this partnership. While strategies are still under discussion, Eicher and Polaris plan to cooperatively build a new manufacturing facility to support this joint venture, with production projected to start in 2015. For additional information on each company, visit polaris.com and eicher.in. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 World Superbike Brno Video At round eight of the 2012 World Superbike Championship in Aragon, Marco Melandri began showing the true potential of the BMW Motorrad S1000RR, the Italian taking a 2-1 finish. Following that round in Spain, Melandri was hoping to keep up the momentum. And this is just what he did over the weekend at Brno World Superbike, round nine of 14. During that round in the Czech Republic, Melandri not only gave BMW Motorrad its first-ever double win, he also closed in on the championship lead; the S1000RR rider now trails leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) by 21 points. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad S1000RR Superbike) says: "Securing my first double victory here in Brno on this racetrack is something special. I am so happy because I already have five victories this season and nobody did expect it. Race one was already amazing. At the beginning the conditions were very difficult as it was wet. As we were riding with slicks, we just tried not to lose too many positions, but in the first few laps I struggled a lot. While I tried to improve my position I made two mistakes because I still was not feeling comfortable. When I saw that I was eighth I said to myself that I need to stay quiet and keep my rhythm to catch the front guys. It was not easy to overtake them. And when I took the lead with one lap to go I knew that I just needed to keep pushing as much as I could. I knew that I was faster than the others. "Race two was even more difficult as Tom was doing a great race, and I had to spend a lot of energy trying to catch him. The tire was working very well today, and I could keep the gap very small. Every time I tried to pass Tom he was braking so hard that it was nearly impossible. Once I finally passed him, I made a mistake and Tom passed me back. It was really tough to catch him again. Actually I did not expect to win, but being on the victory rostrum twice today is just amazing. Seeing BMW leading the manufacturers' championship is unbelievable and it makes me proud. I also could close the gap to Max in the rider's championship. But the season is still long, and we think race by race. I want to thank everybody at BMW Motorrad and in the race team who work so hard every day and put so much effort in the project. It was so unbelievable and emotional to see them smiling and happy. Now I just want to celebrate this result." Joining Melandri on the race-one podium were Kawasaki Racing Team's Tom Sykes and Loris Baz, respectively. In race two, it would be Sykes and Althea Ducati's Carlos Checa, respectively. Attached above are video highlights of 2012 Brno World Superbike (race one above, race two below); for a report, click here. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 500 Internal Server Error The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@motorcyclingmag.com and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error. More information about this error may be available in the server error log. Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache/2.2.15 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.15 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 DAV/2 mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 Server at www.ultimatemotorcycling.com Port 80 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: Motorcycle Industry News Over two years ago, Zero Motorcycles began building its executive management team, seeking those with "motorcycle industry experience along with leaders from other high tech fields to create the ideal blend of background and experience for success in this dynamic new and emerging consumer market." And on Tuesday, another member was added to the senior leadership team - Richard Walker, who joins the California-based electric motorcycle company as Chief Executive Officer. Walker arrives at Zero Motorcycles with more than 30 years of business experience, including Hewlett Packard (HP), where he served as Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer Desktop Business Division, and was also responsible for the HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario and HP Touchsmart Product Lines.More recently, Walker served as Executive Vice President of the Products Group at Control4. Philippe Amouyal (board member of Zero Motorcycles and Managing Director of The Invus Group, LLC, the investment group who has been backing Zero Motorcycles through its growth) says: "The entire board is delighted that Richard is taking the helm of the Zero Motorcycles executive team. "Richard will contribute great business acumen, superb leadership, deep executive management skills and profound consumer insights to drive Zero Motorcycles forward and further enhance its leadership position in a critically important and fast-growing segment of the motorcycle industry and build a powerful, trusted consumer brand. "Zero Motorcycles is in the enviable position of benefiting from the combined efforts of a very deep executive team that is committed to its success, to the success of its business partners and to the delight of the fast-growing number of consumers enjoying the thrill and unbridled joy of owning and riding a Zero Motorcycle." Richard Walker says: "This is a tremendous opportunity to join a dynamic team and help lead a new and innovative company to higher levels of performance and success. My goal is to ensure that Zero Motorcycles continues to grow and lead the electric motorcycle industry through product innovation and sound management, while never losing sight of our goal to build a 'better motorcycle' for our customers to enjoy." Zero Motorcycles says Walker's selection as CEO completes the formation of the executive management team, a process that began over two years ago. Karl Wharton remains with Zero as COO. Walker's addition builds on the extensive recruitment of executive staff at Zero, which includes John Borofka, Abe Askenazi, John Lloyd, Jay Friedland, Mark Kennedy and Scot Harden. For additional information on Zero Motorcycles, click here. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference is pleased to announce the addition of "A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist" as part of its seminar lineup for those attending the 2012 event in Carson City, Nev., July 26-29. The course, with backing from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, will be conducted by Vicki Sanfelipo, founder of Accident Scene Management Inc. (ASMI), and Gina Woods of Open Road Radio. Participants who complete the two-day workshop will receive certification in Motorcycle Trauma First Response and will learn what to do in the critical minutes following an accident prior to the arrival of professional help. Vicki Sanfelipo says: "While CPR and first aid are important skills, they are not enough training when it comes to motorcycle trauma." Topics such as moving the injured, jaw-thrust breathing (to keep the neck still) and helmet removal will also be discussed. The award-winning course has been taught to more than 20,000 people in the United States and will soon be taught in New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. "A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist" is open to anyone registered for the International Women and Motorcycling Conference for the reduced rate of $37.50, and to city and state employees for $77.50. Course materials are furnished. The class will be conducted in the upstairs cafeteria of the Carson High School from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 27, and from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 28. Attendance both days is required for certification. For more information, contact ASMI at (262) 706-3278. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: Marco Simoncelli Foundation In 2008, the late Marco Simoncelli took his first and only title in the former 250cc World Championship aboard a Gilera RSA 250, a re-branded Aprilia machine. And on Tuesday at Aprilia Racing headquarters in Noale, Italy, the #58 Gilera RSA 250 that Simoncelli used to claim that title was delivered to the Marco Simoncelli Foundation. Marco's father, Paolo Simoncelli, who took delivery of the Gilera, spoke had some emotional words at the event. Paolo Simoncelli says: "Another special day, another gesture that fills the hearts of our family in memory of a victory which made Marco happy and proud: on 20 October 2008 astride this bike he achieved a dream he had always had. "I can remember that even in primary school he had a very clear idea of what his goal was: 'one day I'll be world champion' was the phrase that appeared most often in his diary and on that day, astride the Team Metis Gilera, that dream came true. Many thanks to Aprilia again today, as then." The Aprilia name and Simoncelli go back to the beginning of the Italian's career; in 2002, "Super Sic" entered the 125cc Championship aboard Matteoni Racing Team Aprilia 125, and continued with the Italian manufacturer until joining San Carlo Honda Gresini MotoGP in 2010. Luigi Dall'Igna (Technical and Sport Director of the Aprilia Racing Division) says: "Marco is an important part of history for Aprilia and the entire Piaggio Group. With us, astride the Gilera 250, he won a World Championship and thrilled millions of fans, leaving an indelible mark on the world of motorcycle competitions and in the hearts of those who had the good fortune of working with him. "Marco was a good rider, tenacious, courageous. But in all of our hearts, we will always hold that kid with the 'Romagnolo' accent, so tall that he had to struggle to cram himself into the GP bikes, who could make the entire garage smile just be being there". Aligi Deganello (Crew Chief for "Sic" in the 2008 world championship season) says: "The Foundation is the best way to remember Marco, a guy who knew he was lucky and precisely for that reason he tried to help the less fortunate. Seeing this bike always has a strange effect on me because I think back on how hard we worked and on the joy of the World Championship we won with Marco". The Marco Simoncelli Foundation was created with the intention of sustaining humanitarian projects for the needy, especially young people. The goal of the Foundation is to promote the commitment of sports to society, based on the values for which Marco was a genuine and sincere ambassador. Simoncelli passed following a wreck at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Oct. 23, 2011. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: Honda PCX 150 Scooter Test The 2013 year is big for Honda scooters. First, the Metropolitan gets EFI, greatly improving the scooter's diminutive 50cc motor. Now, we get the new 2013 Honda PCX150 scooter, replacing the 125cc version and creating a motor vehicle with much greater utility and fun. Most important, of course, is the nearly perfectly square 153cc motor. By upping the displacement, the PCX150 is now freeway capable (check your local requirements). I took it out on the busy San Diego Freeway and it worked its way up to 70 mph, so it can stay with traffic, though not with a whole lot left in reserve. Stability is good, with the 14-inch tires and nearly 52-inch wheelbase. Still, freeway riding is not what the PCX150 is about. Small scooters work great in heavily trafficked urban areas. However, once you find your way to the suburbs where the roads are wider, less crowded and have higher speed limits than 35 mph, more power is needed. That's where the 2013 Honda PCX150 comes in.
Up to 55 mph, the Honda PCX150 does fine. Sure, acceleration starts to flatten out at 35 mph or so, but it gets there fairly quickly. That means you don't have to worry about getting in the way coming away from stop lights in busy, impatient traffic. You can twist the throttle and put most traffic in the PCX150's effective rear view mirrors.
The EFI works flawlessly on the PCX150, which is an worldwide model made in Thailand. The fully automatic V-Matic belt-converter transmission is also perfect in operation. Working together, Honda claims over 100 mpg for the scooter, and it has a 1.6-gallon tank.
There's a 2.5-liter underseat storage compartment that will swallow up helmets of various configurations, as well as carry a full canvas bag from Whole Foods. There is also a small unlockable storage compartment that's handy for your wallet, or change for tolls or parking.
Running errands on the Honda PCX150 is quite fun. You can work around traffic with ease, and if lane splitting is permitted, move to the front of the line with confidence. Weighing it at well under 300 pounds fully gassed up, the PCX150 is nimble for its displacement. Even when tossing it around in traffic, it always has good contact with the pavement.
Bumpy roads are handled ably by the 14-inch wheels shod with IRC tires. The suspension offers less than four inches of travel, and there's always the issue of the motor and tranny being unsprung weight, so you aren't going to see a plush ride. Still, hitting small potholes or irregular pavement is not a problem. You will feel the road, but you won't get knocked off. Cornering confident and clearance is excellent on the 2013 Honda PCX150. Again, the IRC tires do a great job. You can whip the scooter around with authority on twisting roads, or between cars. The motorcycle-style bars have a nice bend and strike just the right balance-they're narrow enough to thread needles, yet wide enough for good leverage. The 2013 Honda PCX150 has a competent front disc brake, though you won't want to use it on its own. Instead, operate the left-hand brake lever, which actuates a mechanical linked braking system. With the rear drum and front disc working in concert, the PCX150 slows down quickly. The rear wheel can skid, so don't simply grab handfuls of brakes. Ergonomics are compact on the 2013 Honda PCX150 scooter. The bars, as mentioned, are excellent. The floorboards are long enough to allow repositioning of your feet on longer rides, and the angle up at the front for even more legroom and comfort.
Seat padding has been improved for 2013-not a big deal, but the seat is comfortable and sits a manageable 30 inches high. The passenger will definitely be happy. The perch is sizable and the footrests wide and well positioned. However, be ready for a serious performance hit two-up. Remember, it's still just 153cc back at the rear wheel. Honda offers the 2013 PCX150 in Metallic Black or Candy Red. I think the Candy Red is the way to go, unless you're trying to be stealth. The styling is modern, so it's not like you don't want to be noticed. Honda Genuine Accessories include a rear trunk and windscreen.
We were big fans of the old 125cc PCX. We had one for a while, and it did everything we asked. One thing we didn't ask was the older scooter to do was take on the freeway. With the 2013 Honda PCX150, the freeway is in reach, especially in urban areas where the speed limit is restricted to 55 mph. In town, the PCX150 is hugely fun and practical, and that's what a scooter is all about. 2013 Honda PCX150
Specs: - Engine Type: Single-cylinder four-stroke
- Displacement: 153cc
- Bore and Stroke: 58.0mm x 57.9mm
- Compression ratio: 10.6:1
- Valve Train: SOHC; two-valve
Cooling: Liquid
- Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enrichment
- Ignition: Digital with electronic advance
- Transmission: Honda V-Matic belt-converter automatic transmission
- Suspension/travel
- Front: 31mm hydraulic fork/3.5 inches
- Rear: Twin shocks/3.1 inches
- Brakes
- Front: Single 220mm disc with three-piston caliper
- Rear: Drum with CBS
- Tires
- Front: IRC 90/90-14
- Rear: IRC 100/90-14
- Wheelbase: 51.8 inches
- Rake: 27.0°
- Trail: 3.4 inches
- Seat Height: 29.9 inches
- Fuel Capacity: 1.6 gallons
- Estimated Fuel Economy: 102 MPG
- Colors: Candy Red, Metallic Black
- Curb weight : 286 pounds (includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel-ready to ride)
- Emissions: Meets current CARB and EPA standards.
- MSRP: $3449
Riding Style: - Helmet: Bell Drifter DLX
- Eyewear: Serengeti Sport Assisi
- Jacket: Roland Sands Design Assault
- Gloves: Roland Sands Design Domino
- Jeans: Cortech Mod
- Boots: Sidi Slash
Photography by Alfonse Palaima / motophotography.com | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix During the final week of June, the 2012 MotoGP Championship began three consecutive weeks of races in Europe. And following only a week off, the series now heads to America this weekend for the first of two stateside races - the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. This will be Laguna Seca's 14th appearance on the MotoGP schedule, the 2.243-mile circuit the shortest on the 2012 18-race schedule. The 11-turn track also features the famed "Corkscrew," which challenges riders with a downhill twist, a place where legendary passes are made. Heading into round 10, which begins the second half of the 2012 MotoGP Championship, Yamaha Factory Racing's Jorge Lorenzo leads the championship after winning five of the first nine rounds. Lorenzo, who finished second at Laguna Seca last season behind race-winner Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda), has a 19-point lead over Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1 MotoGP) says: "With the exception of the disaster at Assen we are having a very strong season so far, always finishing in either first or second place. "Hopefully we can continue to do this here to extend the lead a little more. I have always had great races here in Laguna in MotoGP and always finish on the podium. I love the circuit, the corkscrew corner is amazing and the American fans always make an incredible atmosphere for us." As for Lorenzo's teammate, the Texan Ben Spies will be looking to get back in a groove at his home race. His best finishes this year were a pair of fourths at Assen and Sachsenring. Spies has a strong record at Laguna as a three-time AMA race winner there. He scored sixth on his first MotoGP outing and bettered it again last year, finishing just off the podium in fourth. The rider who took the final podium position last season at Laguna, Pedrosa, has finished on the podium at every round except at Le Mans (fourth), including his win at Sachsenring. Pedrosa has been strong all season, showing his determination for a first title in the MotoGP Championship. As for his teammate, the reigning MotoGP Champion Stoner, the Australian had his worst finishes in the last two races - a last-lap DNF at Sachsenring and eighth at Assen. Stoner has been struggling with the setup of his RC213V, though he won three races in the first six rounds. But while testing last week at Mugello, Stoner tested a stronger engine, which the two-time World Champion will help this week at Laguna Seca. The Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team will be looking for top results at Laguna, the satellite team performing ahead of many factory riders throughout the season. The top rider on the team so far has been Andrea Dovizioso, who took his third consecutive podium at his home race in Mugello two weeks ago. As for his teammate, Cal Crutchlow has been struggling a bit. At the Mugello test, Crutchlow said he has been riding with a full tank during the early race-pace, and hopes to get a better start at the Laguna track, to aid him mount a serious podium challenge. The Ducati Team of the Kentuckian Nicky Hayden and the Italian Valentino Rossi will be utilizing a new engine to combat the GP12's handling issues. Both riders have one at Laguna, and will be looking to garner some points there this weekend. LCR Honda MotoGP's Stefan Bradl arrives fresh off his best ever MotoGP finish in fourth, yet will be contesting the Californian circuit for the first time. The rookie, who has already scored more points this year than any German GP rider in a single season, has however done a private test on the track with a road bike to familiarize himself with it, MotoGP says. San Carlo Honda Gresini's Álvaro Bautista will aim to put his Mugello weekend behind him as he looks to re-find some of the form he had shown earlier in the season, and not crash out of the race as he did last year. Yamaha's Ben Spies, whose season has been plagued with bad luck, will no doubt see this as a springboard for his championship campaign. He came fourth at the track last year, and will once again look to soak up the home support for a good result, MotoGP says. Unfortunately, Pramac Racing Team rider Héctor Barberá will miss out on this first American round, due to his recent training incident where he fractured the left fibula and tibia. Barberá underwent successful surgery at the Instituto Universitario USP Dexeus last Sunday and the unlucky Spaniard has began the rehabilitation and should be able to run a race in 4 or 6 weeks, MotoGP says. He will be replaced by Spanish rider Toni Elías, who already rode for the Pramac Racing Team in 2008, achieving two amazing podiums in Brno and in Misano. The 29-year-old rider made his international racing debut in the 125cc World Championship in 2000, finishing 3rd in 2001 and taking his first win in the Dutch TT at the prestigious Assen circuit. In the following years, Elías was able to clinch to the inaugural Moto2 World Championship at the Malaysian Grand Prix with three rounds to spare. This year, Toni was riding with the Aspar Racing Team aboard on Suter machine in Moto2 class but both sides have announced that they were parting ways. Therefore Elías, until few days ago, was a rider without a bike to run with. Now he has the opportunity to show his potential at the spectacular Laguna Seca, MotoGP says. Cardion AB Racing's Karel Abraham is expected to race once again, after a four-race absence due to his hand injuries. The CRT field will relish the opportunity to race at the short Laguna Seca circuit, as it should close the gap somewhat to their factory counterparts. Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró on their Power Electronics Aspar ART machines will undoubtedly remain towards the top of the CRT pile, and will as usual face a stiff challenge from Speed Master's Mattia Pasini and San Carlo Honda Gresini's Michele Pirro, MotoGP says. NGM Mobile Forward Racing's Colin Edwards will line up with his Suter-BMW machine despite testing an FTR-Honda and BQR-FTR bike in Mugello, and will hope to put in a good showing in front of his home fans. Also racing alongside him will be Came IodaRacing Project's Danilo Petrucci, Paul Bird Motorsport's James Ellison and Avintia Blusens' Yonny Hernandez and Iván Silva. US-based bike racing team Attack Performance Racing will be entering as a wildcard with rider Steve Rapp on board an in-house built, Kawasaki powered machine, MotoGP says. Laguna Seca MotoGP on TV SPEED TV will broadcast the Red Bull U.S. Grand qualifying at 11 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 28. The race will be broadcast at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29. 2012 MotoGP Championship Point Standings (After nine of 18 rounds): | Pos. | Rider | Bike | Nation | Points |
|---|
| 1. | Jorge LORENZO | Yamaha | SPA | 185 | | 2. | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | SPA | 166 | | 3. | Casey STONER | Honda | AUS | 148 | | 4. | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Yamaha | ITA | 108 | | 5. | Cal CRUTCHLOW | Yamaha | GBR | 95 | | 6. | Valentino ROSSI | Ducati | ITA | 82 | | 7. | Stefan BRADL | Honda | GER | 75 | | 8. | Nicky HAYDEN | Ducati | USA | 74 | | 9. | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Honda | SPA | 73 | | 10. | Ben SPIES | Yamaha | USA | 66 | | 11. | Hector BARBERA | Ducati | SPA | 60 | | 12. | Randy DE PUNIET | ART | FRA | 28 | | 13. | Aleix ESPARGARO | ART | SPA | 26 | | 14. | Michele PIRRO | FTR | ITA | 16 | | 15. | Mattia PASINI | ART | ITA | 13 | | 16. | James ELLISON | ART | GBR | 12 | | 17. | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ioda | ITA | 9 | | 18. | Colin EDWARDS | Suter | USA | 8 | | 19. | Yonny HERNANDEZ | BQR | COL | 6 | | 20. | Ivan SILVA | BQR | SPA | 5 | | 21. | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | CZE | 4 |
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