The
new KTM 990cc RC8 Superbike Prototype: just 385 pounds and dirt bike
simplicity!
2004
KTM 990 RC8 Superbike Prototype
WORLD PREMIERE: KTM-SUPERBIKE CONCEPT
"RC8" RELEASED AT TOKYO MOTORSHOW
KTM, one of the
world's leading off-road bike manufacturers with World Championship
Motocross, Cross Country and SuperMoto titles to its credits, is expanding
its motorcycle product line into the streetbike market. They know,
like Ducati, winning performance is what sells bikes to the enthusiast
bike markets which they target, so their entry into the streetbike
market will be harolded with a new leading edge superbike and a factory
team entry in the 2006 World Superbike Championship.
The bike you
see here is the RC8, the "concept" or first prototype for
the new KTM superbike, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show this month.
The bike employs a proven Ducati style trelis chromoly tube frame
with a stressed member 990cc 75-degree V-Twin engine of KTM's own
manufacture. The design is very simple and clean like a dirt bike,
and features a few new innovations like the under seat fuel tank,
complete under engine exhaust system, and dry sump lubrication (oil
tank in the swingarm?). Obviously midsing on this clean looking prototype
are the rear view mirrors and turn signal for street use, along with
side number panels.
KTM says they
welcome the new production based FIM superbike rules which help to
reduce costs and it could be conceivable this bike could go into production
for well under $20,000. Hopefully KTM can get the bike into production
even sooner than 2006 and possibly enter World Superbike in 2005?
Bonus!
KTM RC8 Screensaver and more photos- Click
Here
New
Aprilia RSV1000RF Racing
Bolonga, IT, Dec
6th, 2003: Aprilia is presenting racing versions of the RSV
1000, RS 250 and RS 125 at the Bologna MotorShow. Also making its
debut will be the brand new SXV 4.5 Supermotard. The introduction
of the racetrack specials has been in response to the global growing
demand for track-dedicated bikes. All the bikes feature aviation fibre
fairings, unrestricted exhausts and dispense with unnecessary items
such as the lights, horns and mirrors. The ‘racing’ colourway
and graphics scheme is common across all three models.
The RSV 1000 R Factory features a 102dB Aprilia Racing titanium exhaust,
which equates to a further 10hp in the mid-range and an extra 4hp
on the top end with a weight reduction of 8kg (This pipe kit is also
avaialble separetly to fit the over 2004 RSV1000 models). The
RS 250 ‘Pista’ has lightweight Aprilia exhausts with Kevlar
carbon silencers like those found on the RSW 250 GP bike. The RS 125
‘Pista’ is designed as the bike for young talent to launch
them into motorcycle racing. The bike comes fitted with a special
exhaust that features internal welds and a Kevlar carbon silencer.
Road homologation kits
will be made available for the RSV and RS 125. The SXV 4.5 is going
to race in the World Supermotard Championships next season. Also appearing
on the Aprilia stand will be the bikes that raced in the 2003 season:
the RS3, RSW 250 and RS GP 125. On Sunday 7th, racers Manuel Poggiali
and Alex De Angelis will be on the stand and on Monday 8th, new MotoGP
rider and current British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne will be on
hand to sign autographs and meet fans.
For More Information on
the new Aprilia Mille Racing and Nera models go to: New
Bikes
Aprilia
British
Superbike Champ Shane Byrne
Moves to Aprila MotoGP Team
Nov 23, 2003 -Shane Byrne made his debut for the
Aprilia MotoGP team on the second day of a three-day test shared with
the Ducati team at Jerez in Spain. The 26-year-old was forced to sit
out the first day due to wet conditions, but was able to put in his
first MotoGP laps on Tuesday, November 25. Despite a minor crash,
the reigning British Superbike champion completed a number of laps
on his own before spending a session following test rider Marcelino
Lucchi.
Despite his tumble,
Byrne was impressed with the bike: " It’s incredible! Very
fast. Everything is different to last year’s superbike and I’ve
got to change my style and learn how to ride an Aprilia. There’s
lots of room for me to improve but I am confident in Aprilia and that
the work carried out so far by Lucchi will benefit me. "
On the third
and final day of the test on Wednesday, November 26, Byrne completed
63 laps with a best time of 1:44.7. This time would have qualified
him for the 2003 Spanish GP, albeit in 20th place.
The Ducati team
was also positive after the test. Working on new components for the
2004 Desmosedici race bikes, Loris Capirossi completed 46 laps, with
a best time of 1:42.8. Troy Bayliss managed 52 laps, recording a time
of 1:43.1. Both riders were using a race set-up for their updated
2003 machines to test new Michelin front tyres on the last day.
Eric Bostrom will
be at the controls of the World Championship winning factory Ducati
999F 03 in AMA Superbike next season, but only if he can first work
his way past our beautiful SBK Fast Dates Ducati Corse girls -
Miss Minnesota Janelle Pierzina, Miss Great Brirain Nicki Lane, and
Chandi Mason.
FastDates.com sponsored
Nicki in the Miss Britain pageant. |
Miss
Great Britain Nicki Takes on the World
She's off to Venezuela for Miss World Finals
London GB, Dec 1st: Our own Fast Dates and
Iron & Lace Calendar cover model and official SBK World
Superbike Fast Dates.com Ducati Corse umbrella girl Nicola Lane
is off to Venezula this month to take on the world! Our beautiful
Miss Great Britain 2003 will be competing in the Tourism World
sponsored Miss World finals. Nicki writies us-
"I'm
on on the mend from being sick the last 2 months and back to
evil exercise again!!! Ha! I've done five bikram yoga classes
in five days to get ready. The final for Miss Tourism World
isn`t in Hong Kong anymore for two reasons: Loads of girls wouldn`t
go 'cos of the SARS scare, and China came in with a massive
bid with the condition that Miss China would be placed in the
top five! I am therefore off to Venezuela, home of the beauty
pageants for the finals Dec. 12th to 21st. You should look at
Miss Europe. the winner was a Russian girl, only 16 but absolutely
stunning, tall slim and a model.All the info is on their website
www.misstourismworld.com."
For More Nicki go: Meet
the Models • Fast Dates
News
"
I saw our Chandi in the ad pages in British Cosmo! She was advertising
some bizarre strapless bra thing, but she looked as gorgeous
as ever. Tell her I want her teeth!" |
Michelin
Tire Tests at Daytona
Eric
Bostrom and Ducati Warm Up At Daytona
Daytona Beach, FL, Dec. 4, 2003: Eric Bostrom put
on his new red and orange Ducati leathers and turned his first laps
aboard the Ducati 999 factory motorcycle on Thursday at Daytona International
Speedway as Ducati Austin and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki kicked off a three-day
Michelin tire test in preparation for the 63rd Daytona 200 By Arai
motorcycle classic on Saturday, March 6.
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Bostrom
had been riding for Kawasaki USA since 2000, but the distributor's
pulled out of AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike for 2004 opening
the door for the 27-year-old San Francisco rider to join Ducati.
Bostrom
turned his first laps on the Ducati 999 that he'll race in the
season-opening Daytona 200 By Arai, being held on a Saturday
for the first time in event history. Bostrom's first impressions
on the motorcycle were positive. |
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"The thing
is really fun to ride," Bostrom said. "Daytona is a very
difficult track to learn a new bike because it's so different from
any other track we ride. Everything that comes here is different whether
it's tires or big straightaways.
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"My
initial feelings when I jumped on the bike . . . it was really
easy. Right now, we're just trying to figure out how to get
in the turns a little bit quicker. The thing is really solid
on the exits. Through the middle, it's probably the easiest
bike I've ever ridden. Right now, we're just trying to get the
entry down. Things are looking pretty good."
Bostrom,
who along with Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's Steve Rapp and Vince
Haskovec, will test on the historic 3.56-mile road course through
Saturday. Beginning Monday, Dunlop will have a three-day tire
test in preparation for the Daytona 200 By Arai.
Bostrom
hopes his three days of tire testing can lead to a solid run
in the Daytona 200 By Arai."Already I've got a good feeling
for the tires," said Eric, whose best finish in the Daytona
200 By Arai was a second in 2001. |
"I think probably
the biggest part of the puzzle to winning this race is to have a bike
go around here for 57 quick laps. It's
very difficult. Here, a lot of times if you have a good setup for brand
new tires, it'll be a poor setup for used tires. You'll have some screaming
laps (in the beginning of a run) but you'll fade to the back as soon
as the tires go off."
One fact that
Bostrom is aware of is that Ducati has never won the Daytona 200 By
Arai. He says it would be special if he could lead the Italian motorcycle
manufacturer to Gatorade Victory Lane at Daytona for the first time
in the legendary race.
"I've heard
about that," Bostrom said of Ducati's woes at Daytona. "It
would be special. They've already showed me a huge amount of commitment
to my program. Realistically, it's going to be a big job. There are
a lot of teams that come here with a lot of history. To say we're
going to come in and win doesn't seem like an educated statement.
We're going to come out here with our race face on. I'm sure we'll
know more after the next couple of days of testing where we stand."
Michelin tire
testing continues on Friday. The session is free and open to the public
with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA
USA. Tickets for the Daytona 200 By Arai on Saturday, March 6 and
the inaugural nighttime running of the Daytona Supercross By Honda
on Friday night, March 5 are available online
or by calling (386) 253-7223.
Recommended
Christmas Gifts from FastDates.com thru Amazon.com
The Ducati Paul Smart Replica features the new DS1000 aircooled engine
in a retro unfaired chassis complete with wire spoke wheells, a weird
conventional swongarm with side mounted single shock, and modern front
forks, brakes and electronics. More HERE
Ducati
to Preview Dream Machines at Cycle World Shows,
Long Beach - Dec 12-14th and New York - Jan 2-4th
November
7th - Ducati North America will be bringing to America their
3 new "Dream Machine" Sport Classic prototypes which were
premiered at last month's Tokyo Motorcycle Show. Inspired by the Sportbikes
of the 1970s, Ducati’s Three SportClassic Prototypes are the
Stuff of Enthusiast’s Dreams
The USA unveiling
will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California
December 11th 2003, and the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New
York City January 2nd 2004. You can see more details and pictures
on all three Ducati Dream Machines HERE.
Eric Bostrom
will also be visiting the Show – in his first public appearance
as a Ducati rider. The 2004 Los Angeles International Motorcycle Show
will be at the Long Beach Convention Center on December 12th through
14th, 2003. In addition to the new 2004 Ducati range and the US debut
of the Sport Classic concept bikes, Ducati AMA Superbike rider Eric
Bostrom will attend on Saturday and Sunday to sign autographs.
Eric won the
2001 AMA Supersport 600 championship and finished 2nd in the AMA Superbike
series during the same year. In 2002 his efforts realized a respectable
2nd place finish in AMA Superbike. Unfortunately, an injury in 2003
prevented him from finishing better than 7th in the championship points.
Now Eric is back and his partnership with Ducati’s world-famous
racing division leads the effort to regain the AMA Superbike title.
Eric will be riding a factory-supported 999 for Ducati Austin, a bike
that has recently conquered the World Superbike Series. Eric is really
eager to get started. He said, “Obviously, jumping onto the
World Championship machine brings high expectations, but at the moment
I just can't wait to get on the bike. Between the 999, myself, and
the Michelins, 2004 is going to be an exciting year.”
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The
New 2004 FastDates.com Calendars now available!
Covergirls
Janelle, Chandi and Joanna Krupa get down to work
in the 2004 Garage Girls calendar available right here.
Mladin
Does Daytona
Dunlop Tire Test Week
Daytona Beach, Florida, USA (Monday, 8 December) – Defending
American Superbike champion Mat Mladin heads a strong list of
riders who will be taking part in this week’s three-day
Dunlop tyre test at the famed Daytona International Speedway on
the American east coast.
The test will see Mladin rejoin his Yoshimura Suzuki team for
the first time since winning an unprecedented fourth AMA Superbike
crown at Barber Motorsports Park, Alabama on September 21 after
returning home for a short break and for the birth of his first
child.
This weeks test will mark the beginning of Mladin’s pre-season
preparation as he strives to win a fifth title.
“This is the opening week of the Yoshimura Suzuki’s
testing program for next year and I am looking forward to it in
that respect,” said Mladin. “The team have been working
extremely hard since the end of the season and I’m feeling
refreshed and ready to go. 2003 proved to be a good year for us
and at this point, I cannot see any reason why we should not be
able to reproduce the same form in 2004.”
“We have a lot of work to do before the season commences
in March,” Mladin added. “The AMA have modified the
rules in the Superbike class and we have to now get the best out
of our bike in accordance with the rules. Another area in which
we have to work hard will be tyres and that’s where we will
start this week. We had a tough time with tyres here last year,
so it will be interesting to see what Dunlop have for us this
week.”
The 2003 season proved to be a stellar year for Mladin where he
not only clinched his fourth AMA Superbike championship, but equalled
Fred Merkel’s long standing record of ten race wins for
a season, extending his overall career win tally to 24. He also
further extended his own record of pole positions to 31 after
setting the fastest time during qualifying on seven occasions
in 2003.
This week’s test (Monday through Wednesday) will be a precursor
to the Daytona 200 which opens the 18-race 2004 AMA Chevy Trucks
US Superbike Championship on Saturday, March 6.
Eric
Does Long Beach
for Ducati
Eric Bostrom will be in attendance in the Ducati USA display at
the Los Angeles International Motorcycle Show at the Long Beach
Convention Center on December 12th through 14th, 2003, in his
first public appearance as a Ducati rider. In addition to the
new 2004 Ducati range and the US debut of the Sport Classic concept
bikes, Ducati AMA Superbike rider Eric Bostrom will attend on
Saturday and Sunday to sign autographs.
Matt
LeBlanc
Does Long Beach
for an Aprilia Nera
"Friend"s TV star Mat LeBlanc will be in the Aprilia
display at the Advanstar Cycle World International Motorcycle
Show in Long Beach at 1pm on Saturday Dec 13th to pick up the
keys to his new Limited addition $40,000 Aprillia RSV1000R NERA.
We hope the
$1 million dollar per episode sit com star, an avid sportbike
fan, who is not known outside the show for his acting or comedic
skills, is paying full sticker price for his new toy, and that
Aprilia USA is not giving him the bike for free for the questionable
publicity value.
Matt' visit
to the Aprilia factory earlier this year where he met the company
president and got to preview the new Nera is profiled on the Aprilia.com
website. He currently owns a previous generation Mille R and sometimes
rides up to the Rockstore, outside Los Angeles on Sundays.
The RSV 1000
R Nera is based on the RSV1000R Factory, which has already been
described by press -including FastDates.com
in our test - as one of the best ever sportbikes. The Nera
goes further in performance and refinement by employing replacement
carbonfiber, titanium and magnesium components to form a "unique,
light-weight, more powerful and more aggressive bike". Made
in a limited edition of 200 certified and numbered bikes, the
RSV1000R is further emphasized by the entirely black colour, set
off against a Titanium Gold painted frame and swing arm. All the
fairings are made of carbon, including the tank*. The wheels are
magnesium. The components are held in place with Ergal Aprilia
Racing nuts and bolts for maximum light-weight. The weight has
been kept down to a class record of 175 kg / 385lbs.
For More Information
on the new Aprilia Mille Racing and Nera models go to: New
Bikes
Aprilia
Bologna
Motor Show features a Real World Superbike Paddock with Teams,
Bikes and riders for its fans
4th – 14th December 2003
Superbike World Championship fans will not have to wait until
the new season starts next February in Valencia, Spain as it will
“race” at the Bologna Motor Show from 4th to 14th
December.
This extraordinary event is the result of extensive cooperation
between FGSPORT and Promotor to continue the tradition of taking
Superbike, its riders and teams directly to the fans and offering
them both access and insight into the series that has generated
so much passion, excitement and enjoyment over many years.
In a dramatic and significant achievement, the international paddock
will be transplanted to one of the main halls at the Bologna Motor
Show creating an epic and dynamic arena for fans of the sport.
Fans will feel right at home inside the 1,200 square meter paddock
that will contain the following exciting elements:
7 teams will present their racing trucks and bikes that have been
competing in the 2003 season: Ducati Fila, Ducati NCR, Suzuki
Alstare, Kawasaki Bertocchi, PSG-1, Ten Kate Honda, Yamaha Belgarda.
· 13 riders will be present, including: Neil Hodgson Superbike
2003 World Champion, Ruben Xaus second in the final standings,
Regis Laconi and James Toseland Ducati Fila new signing for 2004,
Lorenzo Lanzi, the young new entry climbing the Supersport ladder,
David Garcia who flies the Ducati NCR flag, Mauro Sanchini 2003
Italian Champion together with team mates Ivan Clementi and Stefano
Cruciani who will be riding the Kawasaki Bertocchi machines next
year, the lion Pierfrancesco Chili, the PSG-1 standard-bearer,
Chris Vermeulen, 2003 Supersport World Champion together with
Brock Parkes, the Ten Kate Honda rider and Jurgen Van den Goorbergh
from Yamaha Belgarda.
Pirelli, the
official tyre supplier of the 2004 Superbike and Supersport World
Championships will be present with a full race service truck and
will organize promotional events and activities for the public.
· And something special for the first time - a real novelty
in the form of bike and car together for the joy of the fans.
A BMW M5, the first example of the exciting new race series SUPERSTARS
will be on show for the public. The racing car has already been
presented to a selected number of tuners and drivers at the Vallelunga
Circuit in early November.
The heart as usual, will be the SBK Ring where the riders, following
the SBK philosophy of public engagement, will be at disposal of
all the motorcycle fans for interviews, autographs and talks on
7 and 8 December.
Pirelli
pays SBK $3 Million for World Championship exclusive
Rumors have now leaked out that Pirelli's exclusive spec tire
contract to FG Sport, owners of the SBK World Superbike and Supersport
Championships will see Pirelli paying FGS $3 million per year
for the exclusive spec tire supplier contract.
We feel the
spec tire deal is great in that it helps the important SBK production
bike based World Championship series survive during this difficult
time without Japanese factory support, and remain somewhat affordable
to privateer teams which are now the backbone of the series.
We might suggest,
if you love Superbikes like we do, we hope sportbike fans will
let their displeasure be known for manufacturers pulling out of
Superbike racing by only buying bikes from the manufacturers who
remain active in World and National superbike racing.
Canada
Dropped from 2004 SBK Schedule
Dec 2nd, 2003 -
The previously scheduled Superbike & Supersport World Championship
event in Canada will not be held. The event which was scheduled
in Mont Tremblant, Québec, Canada, on July 4, 2004, will
not take place. Following the circuit inspection by CCR inspector
Claude Danis, the numerous works cannot be carried out in time
and therefore
the circuit cannot be homologated. Series promoter FGSports is
currently
studying possibilities of replacing the event. The calendar for
the 2004 season is the following:
February
29 Spain Valencia X
March 28 Australia
Phillip Island X
April 18 San Marino/Saint-Marin Misano X
May 16 Italy/Italie Monza X
May 30 Germany/Allemagne Oschersleben X
June 13 Europe Silverstone X
July 4 tba tba
July 11 United States
Laguna Seca --
August 1 Great-Britain
Brands Hatch X
September 5 Netherlands/Pays-Bas Assen X
September 26 Italy/Italie Imola X
Oct 3 France Magny-Cours X
X-Both
Supersport & Superbike
More
Exciting
2004 Calendars!
Click
to shop... 
More Calendars HERE
Monstermob
signs Emmett for its National Championship winning British Superbike
team
Nov 28 -Sean Emmett will race for the Monstermob
Ducati team in British Superbikes in 2004. He’ll ride a factory-backed
999 V-twin for what is the most successful team in the UK over the
last few seasons.
The 33-year-old landed the ride despite competition from Noriyuki
Haga, Andrew Pitt, James Haydon and others, and admits: This has
to be my best chance ever of winning the title. "
Monstermob
claimed the BSB title in 2002 with Steve Hislop and retained it
again in 2003 with Shane Byrne. Byrne has moved to MotoGP with
Aprilia).
Emmett said:
" The deal happened very quickly. I was offered the No1 Ducati
ride in America, but after speaking with team boss Paul Bird I
knew I wanted to stay in the U.K. "
Bird said: " We chose Sean over Haga, Pitt and McCoy because
of his experience of British tracks, and on a Ducati. "
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