MV Agusta F3 Unwrapped

After teasing us relentlessly with spy photos of the MV Agusta F3, the Italian company’s three-cylinder supersport finally bares all in this photo. The recently repurchased MV Agusta is pinning high-hopes on the middleweight machine, hoping to attract wouldbe buyers with a low price-point that Claudio Castiglioni said could start as low as ?9,000. While it remains to be seen if Castiglioni can achieve that goal, a higher-spec F3 is also expected to hit the ...

Carlo Ubbiali Franco Uncini Youichi Ui Chris Vermeulen

2010 Estoril Moto2 Race Result - Drying Track Generates Topsy-Turvy Thriller

Results and summary of the Moto2 race at Estoril:

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Fernando Aranda Takeishi Araoka Adrian Araujo Gilbert Argo

Buell 1125RR to Race in AMA/DMG Superbike Class

Raymond Roche Angel Rodríguez Graziano Rossi Valentino Rossi

Jackie Stewart interview: ?Drivers of today are best since my day? (Part 2)

In the second part of F1 Fanatic’s interview with Sir Jackie Stewart he told us why he’s backing Mark Webber to win the world championship and whether Felipe Massa can bounce back from his difficult season. The three-times world champion also talked about how he and his fellow drivers got the N�rburgring removed from the [...]

Shunji Yatsushiro Ryuji Yokoe Toshimi Yorino Kenichi Yoshida

Stoner targeting strong set-up and Hayden eyeing podium

The Ducati Team duo are keen to carry the strong performances they both produced in Australia into this weekend?s bwin Grande Premio de Portugal.

Pedro Alvarez Luis Alvaro Emilio Alzamora Kunihiro Amano

The 2011 BMW R1200R Gets the DOHC Treatment

Ahead of EICMA, BMW has released information on the 2011 BMW R1200R & 2011 BMW R1200R Classic street bikes (along with the 2011 BMW G650GS). Getting the R1200GS/R1200GT's dual-overhead cam twin-cylinder boxer motor, the R1200R series gets a 500 RPM boost, more power (110hp), and more torque (87.77 lbs?ft) from the updated air-cooled 1170cc motor. Other minor updates include a more distinct old school style for the 2011 BMW R1200R Classic, while both bikes benefit from an increased stand pipe (41mm up from 35mm) on the front Telelever suspension.

Doug Chandler Ron Chandler Derek Chatterton Mick Chatterton

2011 KTM RC8 R Leaks Ahead of EICMA

According to the folks at Hell for Leather, KTM is not only updating the 2011 KTM RC8 R with a bevy of eye-catching color schemes (see the drool-worthy gallery after the jump), but has also taken it upon itself to upgrade the Austrian bullet with an additional 7hp or so, bringing the RC8 R’s final total up to 175hp (torque gets a modest increase of 1.5 lbs?ft, totaling in at 93.6 lbs?ft). Installing a new ...

Jordi Carchano Martín Cárdenas Jose Luis Cardoso Carlos Cardús

2010 Estoril MotoGP FP2 Result - Lorenzo Leads Under A Clearing Sky

With skies clearing and the weather surprising everyone by improving radically, the MotoGP riders finally got a chance to put in some serious laps at Estoril in the second session of free practice. The session started out in a light rain and on a sodden track, and Casey Stoner sped to the top of the timesheets, firmly in control for much of practice. But as the sun came out and something approaching a dry line appeared, others started to make inroads on Stoner's position.

At the end of practice, it was Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo who set the quickest time, ending FP2 just over a tenth ahead of Stoner's Marlboro Ducati teammate Nicky Hayden. Hayden split the Fiat Yamaha teammates, Valentino Rossi over a third of a second behind Lorenzo in 3rd, while Rossi was himself the filling in a Marlboro Ducati sandwich, with Casey Stoner ending up 4th. 

Behind the front four loomed a large gap, with Ben Spies nearly two thirds of a second behind on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, while San Carlo Gresini's Marco Melandri had an outstanding afternoon, ending up 6th, just behind Spies.

Results: 

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Leo Commu Pierluigi Conforti Chris Conn Craig Connell

Kasey Kahne: 'It Was Time for Me to Move On'

Filed under: Brian Vickers, Kasey Kahne, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup, Red Bull Racing, NASCAR

Discussing his abrupt departure from Richard Petty Motorsports this week, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne insisted Friday morning that it was a mutual decision. He dismissed reports that he was owed money from the team and challenged anyone to question his commitment despite the late-season split.

"It was time for me to move on,'' Kahne told reporters Friday morning at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, where he'll begin his tenure in the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

"It definitely went down differently than what a lot of people people expected, including myself. It's a big change for myself. I'm been doing the same thing for six and a half years. ... and now everything's different, but I'm looking forward to it. I've been looking forward to next year and now I've got a quicker start on it.

"I think it's good for me that it happened. And I think it's good for RPM also.''

Red Bull Racing general manager Jay Frye concurred and acknowledged the timing certainly benefited them as well. Kahne was already set to run the full 2011 season with the team before taking over the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in 2012. With one of Red Bull's lead drivers, Brian Vickers recovering from a blood clot, the No. 83 was available for Kahne now.

 

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George Andrews Luigi Anelli Marcel Ankone Hans Georg Anscheidt

Weather Disrupts Qualifying At Estoril - 125cc Postponed, Rest Of Schedule Uncertain

The weather at Estoril has taken a turn for the worse, with driving rain leaving standing water on the Portuguese circuit, and high winds making riding dangerous. The 125cc qualifying session was postponed before it started, followed by the postponement of the MotoGP session less than an hour later. Currently, Race Direction is due to issue a decision on cancellation of all qualifying this afternoon at 2:30pm. Given that the weather and winds do not look like abeying, the afternoon looks like being lost to the weather.

If qualifying is cancelled, then the grid will be set on the overall best time set in the three sessions so far, as happened in Sepang. For MotoGP, that would see the front two rows of the grid start in the order they finished in FP2, with Jorge Lorenzo on pole, with Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi beside him on the front row.

Sandro Artusi Javier Arumi Sadao Asami Giuseppe Ascareggi

BMW to Sell Motorcycles in India

After successfully launching its cars in the growing markets of Asia, BMW plans on having its motorcycles available for purchase in three Indian dealerships by December of this year. Making available its R & K series street motorcycles, along with the S1000RR superbike, BMW will have a presence in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, with the bikes being imported directly from BMW’s factory in Berlin. BMW has targeted India as an area for strong growth in the future, and joins companies like Brembo, Yamaha, Honda, Royal Enfield, and KTM who have increased their presence and production in the budding Western Asia area. “The BMW Group has already established itself very successfully in India with a local BMW automobile production and a sales network for BMW Group automobiles,” said Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad.�”Now the market for premium motorcycles is beginning to develop, too. The sales activities now commencing with our two experienced BMW Group partners are of long-term significance to BMW Motorrad. We are confident our motorcycles will swiftly become established in timely preparation for the growing market.” Source: BMW

Vincenzo Zanzi Giovanni Zigiotto Luigi Zinzani Norick Abe

Nike Taps MV Agusta for New Ad Campaign (Pic)

Nike chose MV Agusta as its partner for the new advertising campaign dedicated to the stars of the NFL.

Franco Battaini Gerhard Bauer Manfred Baumann Alvaro Bautista

2011 Honda CBR250R ? We Shall Call It?Mini-Me

Do not adjust your computer screen, this not a revised version of the VFR1200F, nor is it the V4 adventure bike we expect Honda to debut next week, it's not even the bastard love child from a CBR and a Cylon, it is in fact the brand new 2011 Honda CBR250R. A 250cc motorcycle for the rest of us, Honda hopes to snag new riders by offering a more practical street bike in the Japanese, European, Australian, and yes, even American markets later this spring.

Benoit Musy Shinya Nakano Aldo Nannini Godfrey Nash

Rossi wants to sign off with wins

The Fiat Yamaha rider wants to end the 2010 campaign with victories in the final two rounds, starting at a track at which he has an excellent record: Estoril.

Mike Hale Ross Hannan Osmo Hansen Gregg Hansford

Hendrick, Gordon Confirm Three-Year AARP Sponsorship

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, NASCAR Sponsors, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Rick Hendrick never panicked as the season stretched on and he still didn't have a sponsorship deal for Jeff Gordon.

Why? Because he always had a contingency plan to fall back on. It gave him the ability to be discerning when it came to the four-time NASCAR champion.

Then came the potential pairing with the AARP Foundation, which began talks on a sponsorship program with Hendrick Motorsports in September. The deal quickly fell into place, and the foundation's "Drive to End Hunger" campaign was announced Wednesday as Gordon's primary sponsor for the next three years.

"We had a deal in our pocket. It was a verbal agreement," Hendrick said of the second suitor, which he refused to identify. "But this one came only faster, quicker and had more potential."

More potential for both sides.

 

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Martin Wimmer Russel Wood Tommy Wood Derek Woodman

Denny Hamlin Gets Serious as Chase Crunch Arrives

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR

Making eye contact with reporters, speaking in a strong voice,gesturing for emphasis, Denny Hamlin all but declared the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship was his to lose in the hour after he won the final regular season race Sept. 11 at his home track in Richmond, Va.

His body language seemed to challenge anyone to believe differently. And five races into the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, Hamlin is every bit on track to back up the words.

He felt he could win or contend on every single of the 10 Chase tracks and, in the past, it might have seemed more bravado than measured confidence from the NASCAR "young gun."

But this is a different Hamlin. The 2010 Hamlin model says the proper championship mindset has at last matched his considerable talent. And he is doing everything he needs to do to give four-time defending series champ Jimmie Johnson a real run for a fifth.

Johnson holds a 41-point edge over second place Hamlin entering Sunday's race at the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, where the Tums Fast Relief 500 is being billed as mano y mano -- a heavyweight fight of sorts between Hamlin and Johnson, who have combined to win every race there in the last four years.

"People would think so, I would think so,'' Hamlin said of comparing the race to a title fight. "I feel like if it is mano y mano, we've been in a lot of green-white-checkers where we've been on the front row together, so it should be interesting.''

 

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George Reeve Taru Rinne Tommy Robb Kenny Roberts

Sachsenring 2009 MotoGP race analysis

While the weather had produced torrential downpours thoughout the preamble to this GP, it stayed dry for the action in Germany. As the riders lined up on the grid, there was a real feeling of anticipation as Rossi and Lorenzo, so close through practice until that awesome final qualifying lap from Valentino, pulled up next [...]

Kel Carruthers Alan Carter Phil Carter Bruno Casanova

TEAM-SPEAK: Estoril MotoGP, Preview

Team press releases in advance of the Estoril MotoGP round.

Jean Pierre Bayle Len Bayliss Troy Bayliss Bruce Beale

The 2011 BMW R1200R Gets the DOHC Treatment

Ahead of EICMA, BMW has released information on the 2011 BMW R1200R & 2011 BMW R1200R Classic street bikes (along with the 2011 BMW G650GS). Getting the R1200GS/R1200GT’s dual-overhead cam twin-cylinder boxer motor, the R1200R series gets a 500 RPM boost, more power (110hp), and more torque (87.77 lbs?ft) from the updated air-cooled 1170cc motor. [...]

Günter Beer Albert Beirle Artie Bell Carlos Bellon

How Ducati Fixed Casey Stoner's Front End Woes

Casey Stoner's 2010 MotoGP season has been blighted by crashes. Starting at Qatar, where the Australian crashed out while leading the race after dominating throughout practice, Stoner faced a number of front end issues with his Ducati Desmosedici, adding a second crash at Le Mans to his troubles.

Things started to improve from Mugello, where Stoner's side of Marlboro Ducati garage decided to go back to the narrower forks they had used in 2009, and the crashes stopped happening. This still left Stoner struggling with front end grip though, and unable to find a setup that he felt comfortable enough with to push at the front.

That all changed at Aragon: Casey Stoner's team finally found the solution they had been chasing, and since making those changes to the bike, Stoner has gone on to win three out of four races, dominating in eerily familiar form. Only an early race crash at Sepang prevented Stoner from making it four in a row, the Australian doing penance by destroying the rest of the field at his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

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Jacques Bernard Adrian Bernetic Manfred Bernsee Bruno Bertacchini