Calendar of the World Superbike Championship
Home of the Official SBK Fast Dates Calendar Kittens July 2013 Page 3 2014 FastDates.com Calendar World Premier
FAST 2014 Calendar Magazine FastDates Calendar Girl Shoot Video
British Superbike Snetternon • New MV Brutake Corse
Previous Week: Pit Lane News New Model Sportbikes• Editorial Features:Pit Board
NEW! FAST 2014
Digital Calendar Magazine Annual
the Bikes, the Builders, the Riders, the Kittens,
the Calendar Bike Show, the World Superbike races
all the 2014 Calendar Pictures, and Special Features...
we take you around the world for the making of the 2014 FastDates.com Calendars Now in Members Corner
World Superbike - The First 25 Years a Tribute and Thanks to its Producers Maurizio and Paolo Flammini And how they were uncerimoniously
kicked out the back door by DORNA
without a kiss good bye.... Read the Full Story Here
Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show Concours d' Elegance
Returns to the Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA on Sunday July 14th 2013
The 2013 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show continues its now 22-year tradition as the premier outdoor streetbike event in America
with top Celebrity Builders, the Calendar Bike Building Championship & Concours d' Elegance, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, the Calendar Girl Music Show and a return to the exciting Queen Mary venue in Long Beach, CA. The Show marks the world premier of next year's new 2014 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars featuring the world's top roadrace and custom motorcycles with the beautiful Calendar Kittens featured in the Calendars in attendance at the Show. Purchase Advance Tickets, Vendor and Bike Contest Registration online at: www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM.
Hollywood, CA, June 21st - We had a great time hanging out with the incredible talented and beautiful Lily Elise, featured finalist on NBC TV's The Voice Season One, and her 7-piece band as they rocked out the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood on a Friday night in preparation for their big performance at the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show on Sunday July 14th at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. More Here
World Premier of the new 2014 FastDates.com Calendars! The new 2014 FastDates.com Calendars, the world's premier line of motorcycle pinup calendars photographed and produced by Jim Gianatsis / Gianatsis Design returns for its 24th year with World Superbikes, Cafe Bikes, V-Twin Customs and the most beautiful Calendar Kittens ever including Jitunka and Petra, the 6'2" blond twin starting line grid girls from SBK World Superbike! Click on the Calendars above to Order Now
2014 FAST DATES World Superbike Calendar
World Superbikes, Cafe Racers and Official SBK Umbrella Girls SBK World Superbikes with World Champion Max Biaggi’s Aprilia RSV4, Tom Sykes' Kawasaki ZX10, Carlos Checa’s Ducati 1198RS, Johnathan Rea's Ten Kate Honda, Leon Haslam's' Crescent Suzuki, Marco Melandri’s BMW 1000RR, and AMA Champion Josh Hayes’ Yamaha R1. Plus incredible cafe bikes from Shinya Kimura, Richard Pollock, Chris Redwing. Together with beautiful SBK Calendar Kittens Chrissy Blair, Jitunka and Petra, Caitlin O’Conner, Halle Arbough, Kinsey Ray, Sabella Shake and Lizzie.
The 2014 FastDates.com Calendars reveal a full 16 months beginning with September 2013 preceding the cover year. These are premium quality printed in full color on 15x15-inch dull coated heavy art board and wire spiral bound with a hang clip for easy wall display and page turning, sealed in a clear plastic envelope with cardboard stiffer for protection. FastDates.com Calendars are available online at FastDates.com, Amazon.com, Calendars.com, at you favorite motorcycle dealer from leading parts distributors worldwide, and in the USA phone toll-free weekdays from Van Leeuwen 1-800-461-1226.
Suggested USA Retail $17.95 ea.
The 2014 FastDates.com Calendars and the FAST 2014 Calendar Magazine Yearbook feature
the official SBK World Superbike grid girls Jitunka & Petra from the Czech Republic!
NEW! FAST 2014 Digital Calendar Magazine Yearbook
The Bikes, the Builders, the Riders, the Kittens,the Calendar Bike Show, the World Superbike races all the 2014 Calendar Pictures, and Special Features... For the first time every we take you around the world in 120 exclusive pages for the making of the 2014 FastDates.com Calendars! Now in Members Corner
MV Agusta Premiers Sexy New 2014 Brutale Corsa July 8th, 2013 - a talk about sexy eye candy! Adrenaline, power, performance, all hand-built in small numbers, the exclusive Brutale Corsa pushes back the boundaries even further to venture into previously unexplored territory. With 158 HP of power and 100 Nm of torque, the Brutale Corsa is instantly recognizable at first sight for the outstanding quality of its components, extreme attention to detail and spectacular bespoke livery.
The benefits of the ultra-light specific forged wheels and fully adjustable Öhlins front fork in terms of riding dynamics are instantly perceptible, as are those of the billet steering head created specifically for this unique version. There are plenty of new styling touches too: from the frame finished in gloss black paint and the hand-stitched rider and passenger saddles to brake levers, rider foot pegs and brake and clutch fluid reservoir caps machined from solid billet. The tank guard has been created specifically for this bike, while the sports license plate mount and the carbon fiber rear mudguard and front mudguard spoiler are branded with the MV Agusta Corse logo. Price in Europe with VAT included €20.990 - so hopefully USA price will be close to that same number in US Dollars without VAT.
ENGINE
Type Four cylinder, 4 stroke, 16 valve
Timing system “D.O.H.C”, radial valve
Total displacement 1078 cm3 (65.78 cu. in.)
Compression ratio 13:1
Starting Electric
Bore x stroke 79 mm x 55 mm (3.1 in. x 2.2 in.)
Max. power - r.p.m. (at the crankshaft)** 116.5 kW (158 hp) at 11900 r.p.m.
Max. torque - r.p.m. 100 Nm (10.2 kgm) at 10100 r.p.m.
Cooling system Cooling with separated liquid and oil
radiators
Engine management system Magneti Marelli IAW 5SM ignition - injection
integrated system with Mikuni throttle
body; induction discharge electronic ignition;
sequential timed “Multipoint” electronic
injection
Clutch Wet, multi-disc with mechanical antisurging
device
Transmission Cassette style; six speed, constant mesh
Primary drive 50/79
Gear ratio
First gear: Speed 13/38
Second gear: Speed 16/34
Third gear: Speed 18/32
Fourth gear: Speed 20/30
Fifth gear: Speed 22/29
Sixth gear: Speed 19/23
Final drive ratio 15/43
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Voltage 12 V
Alternator 350 W at 5000 r.p.m.
Battery 12 V - 8.6 Ah
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Wheelbase 1438 mm (56.61 in.)
Overall length 2100 mm (82.68 in.)
Overall width 780 mm (30.71 in.)
Saddle height 830 mm (32.68 in.)
Min. ground clearance 150 mm (5.91 in.)
Trail 103,5 mm (4.07 in.)
Dry weight 183 kg (403.5 lbs)
Fuel tank capacity 23 l (6.07 U.S. gal.)
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed* 265.0 km/h (164.5 mph)
FRAME
Type CrMo Steel tubular trellis ALS
Rear swing arm pivot plates material Aluminium alloy
FRONT SUSPENSION
Type UPSIDE - DOWN” Öhlins Nix telescopic
hydraulic fork with adjustable reboundcompression
damping and external
spring preload
Fork dia. 43 mm (1.69 in.)
Fork travel 120 mm (4.72 in.)
REAR SUSPENSION
Type Progressive, Sachs single shock
absorber with rebound and compression
(High speed/Low speed) damping and
spring preload adjustment
Single sided swing arm material Aluminium alloy
Wheel travel 120 mm (4.72 in.)
BRAKES
Front brake Double floating disc with Ø 320 mm
(Ø 12.6 in.) diameter, with steel braking
disc and aluminium flange
Front brake caliper Brembo Radial-type, monobloc with
4 pistons Ø 34 mm (Ø 1.34 in.)
Rear brake Single steel disc with Ø 210 mm
(Ø 8.27 in.) dia.
Rear brake caliper Nissin with 4 pistons - Ø 25.4 mm
(Ø 1.00 in.)
RETAIL PRICE
AVAILABLE ONLY IN ABS RACE MODE VERSION
Price VAT included € 20.990
Sam Lowes, Shayne Byrne and Alex Lowes share the Race Two Podium
British Superike Championship, Snetterton Round 5 of 12
Lowes and Byrne Scorch To Snetterton BSB Victory Snettern, England, July 6-7th, 2013 - Reigning MCE British Superbike Champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne endured the toughest weekend of the 2013 season so far at Snetterton in round five of the series but the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider still ended up victorious taking his seventh win out of the ten races held to date. Honda's Alex Lowes fought back from a problematic time in free practice to enjoy a rich points haul, with a second victory of the season and then a hard earned second place to regain his second place in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in the sun-drenched fifth round at Snetterton. Adding to a highly positive weekend for the Samsung Honda team, Lowes’ team-mate, the former three times champion Ryuichi Kiyonari maintained the improvements he had shown in the previous round at Knockhill as he took fifth and fourth places to move into fifth place in the standings.
After qualifying in second place on the grid, the 36-year-old Byrne from Sittingbourne took a gamble with the front tyre in the opening 16-lap race which didn't pay dividends and whilst third place gave him another valuable podium credit, it certainly wasn't the result he'd hoped for. The resulting discussions between the triple British Superbike Champion and his Penrith-based PBM team saw some changes made to the front end of the Rapid Solicitors and Minxflix-backed Kawasaki ZX-10R including reverting back to his favoured softer compound Pirelli front tyre.
In the opening race Suzuki’s Josh Brookes made the break, ahead of Kawasaki’s series leader Shane Byrne with Lowes third from Kiyonari, but after a brief intervention by the Safety Car, it was all change on the resumption as Lowes, in the space of half a lap swooped through to take the lead.
Once ahead Lowes was able to pull away, taking the victory by almost two seconds ahead of Brookes, Byrne and Kiyonari. Robbin Harms, riding Doodson Honda, ran sixth, just ahead of Padgetts Honda rider Jakub Smrz with the Lloyds British GBmoto Honda riders Dan Linfoot twelfth just ahead of Peter Hickman. But in a race of attrition in which a third of the starters failed to finish both Bathams Honda rider Tommy Bridewell and Michael Rutter stopped while Jenny Tinmouth crashed.
Byrne, his first race problems sorted took charge of the second, leading throughout to take his seventh victory of the season with Lowes maintaining the pressure on him through to the end, with barely a quarter of a second between them. Brookes took third, three quarters of a second up on Kiyonari. The changes clearly worked and in front of a massive crowd basking in the Norfolk sunshine, Byrne immediately grabbed the lead going into the first corner of race two and it was a lead he was never to relinquish. Despite encountering a safety car period in the early stages of the race as well as constant pressure from regular rivals Alex Lowes and Josh Brookes, he resisted all challenges to chalk up the 48th BSB win of his career.
Linfoot ran eighth, Bridewell twelfth, just ahead of Hickman while Tinmouth bounced back to become the first ever woman to score a point in BSB as she finished fifteenth on her Two Wheels Honda. Harms suffered a wrist injury when he was caught up in a first lap incident after BMW’s Kirkham had tipped off in front of him while Smrz crashed just into the second half of the race.
Team-mate Keith Farmer had a disappointing weekend as a crash in the final free practice session on Saturday morning meant he was unable to take part in the two races. Although no bones were broken, the Clogher, Northern Ireland rider suffered a blood clot in his right leg and was forced to sit on the sidelines.
Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda): Race positions 1st/2nd: “It would have been nice to have taken a double win and I pushed as hard as I could – I couldn’t take my normal lines for some reason and in the second race nearly hit Byrne twice. I worked my backside off after a nightmare Friday putting in a lot of laps and the team gave me a fantastic bike. The first race was hard work, the front tyre destroyed itself by the end and while it was scary at times it was fun, I was comfortable and it was a good win. I made a pretty terrible start to the second but felt good sitting behind Byrne. I tried and wanted to take him but I never quite got there. I learned a lot from him over the final five laps, pushed as hard as I could and I’m not complaining taking two podiums here.”
Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki): "The first race was absolutely dreadful and whilst I could ride round at 60%, going at 61% would have spelt disaster as the front end was awful and I just couldn't get the feel I wanted. I normally use the softer front tyre but we made a gamble which didn't pay off so it required some major changes in between the races. Fair play to the boys in the team, they gave me a bike for the second race that allowed me to do what I wanted with it and whilst I wasn't happy after the first race, they put a smile back on my face after the second."
More information including bike, team and rider profiles, race calendar etc can be found at the team's website www.pbmuk.net. The official website of the 2013 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is at www.britishsuperbike.com.
MCE British Superbike Championship Race 1 - 16 laps
1 Alex Lowes (Honda)
2 Josh Brookes (Suzuki)
3 Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
4 James Ellison (Yamaha)
5 Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda)
6 James Westmoreland (BMW)
DNS Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
MCE British Superbike Championship Race 2 - 16 laps
1 Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2 Alex Lowes (Honda)
3 Josh Brookes (Suzuki)
4 Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda)
5 James Westmoreland (BMW)
6 Chris Walker (Kawasaki)
DNS Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
The Doctor delivered at Assen for his huge grandstand of fans
2013 MotoGP World Championship, IVECO TT Assen, The Netherlands, Round 7 of 18
The Doctor Delivers His 80th Premier Class Win at Assen! MotoGP Race, Assen, June 29th - Valentino Rossi delivered a faultless performance today to win the Grand Prix of The Netherlands, his 80th Premier class victory and his first win since 2010. Having shown race winning pace all weekend in all conditions ‘The Doctor’ was faultless in today’s TT race. The nine-time World Champion held his fourth position from the grid into the first turn then started looking for a way past Stefan Bradl for third. By the second lap he was past and with just 22 laps to go he moved past Marc Marquez into the first corner for second, beginning the hunt for Dani Pedrosa and victory. It took just one lap more and Rossi was able to dive past Pedrosa into the final chicane for a race lead he would hold to the flag, crossing the line to a sea of yellow flags and a well deserved return to form. The win puts Rossi on 85 points, now just two behind Cal Crutchlow in fourth place. Complete Coverage Here
Valentino blew by and pulled away from Honda's Pedrosa and Marquez for the first time this year.
Fastest Lap and Broken Collarbone for MotoGP Champ Lorenzo IVECO TT Assen, NL, June 27th, 2013 - Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo was both the fastest and unluckiest man on the first day of practice at the Iveco TT Assen, as he set the pace in the early dry session, before breaking his collarbone in the wet afternoon practice. The World Champion’s day was brought to an abrupt end when he suffered a high-speed accident and broke his left collarbone in the rain-affected afternoon session. Lorenzo registered a best lap time of 1’53.263 in the morning period, leading the way from Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow and Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez in what would prove to be the only all-dry MotoGP™ session of the day. Marquez would go on to top the second session, but was 14 seconds off Lorenzo’s earlier best as the forecast showers finally struck the historic Dutch venue. Continued
New Fast Dates.com Calendar Shoot!
Go behind the scenes at the glamorous Gianatsis Design Studios with beautiful new Calendar Kittens Jessica and Kelsey as they shoot for the FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars with photographer Jim Gianatsis. And look for the new 2014 Calendars available right here on July 1st. Order the Calendars!
Videographer: Eric Lundmark; Video Editing and Still photography: Jim Gianatsis; Models: Jessica Harbour, Kelsey Silwinski; Make Up: Victoria Rubell, Music: Special thanks to Neil Sedaka for our theme song Calendar Girl; Modeling Agent: Umbrella Girls USA.
Tom Sykes charges to another SuperPole win and race win at Imola.
2013 FIM Eni World Superbike Championship, Omola, Italy Round 7 of 14
Imola World Superbike - 6th Superpole Win for Tom Sykes / Kawasaki,
a Double Race Win, New Lap Record and News World Championship Points Lead Portimao, Portugal, June 28-30th 2013 - Tom Sykes,Kawasaki Racing Team, continued his untouchable form from qualifying into both 21-lap SBK races at Imola and in taking his second ‘double’ of the year also he took the championship lead. This was Tom’s second such double win in three rounds and with previous championship leader Sylvain Guintoli finally finding bad luck with a DNF in race one, and finishing third behind Tom in race two, Sykes now leads by six points after 7 of 15 rounds have been completed. Complete Coverage Here
This Month in the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar ....
Calendar Kittens and SBK World Superbike umbrella girls Taylor McGunnin and Camilla Chiniquy keep the rain off Carlos Checa's Althea Ducati 1199RS World Superbike at 2011 Miller US World Superbike round. You'll find Calendar bikes like this with beautiful Kittens featured in the Calendar Bike Garage with full specifications and screensaver size pictures.
Ducati Corse
World Superbikes
by Alan Cathcart
& Jim Gianatsis
Kevin Cameron, from a post on his Facebook Page, Jun 15th - "Years ago, I read a description of the difference between a dirt-track car with a flexible stock chassis and a car with a much stiffer, braced chassis. The flexi-chassis car was easy to set up and easy to drive, while the stiff car, with most of its wheel movement in its suspension, was quite sensitive to small setup changes.
The difference is that in the flexi car, if the suspension's a little off, the bendiness of the chassis takes up the slack. In the stiff car, when the suspension isn't right, it gets no help from the chassis, so its shortcomings are magnified and stand out.
The very same is true of roadrace motorcycle chassis: The stiffer they are made, the more critical small setup adjustments become. No place does this seem more true than in MotoGP!"
So how does this relate to motorcycles, and in particular, the new Ducati Panigale Supebike and MotoGP race bikes?
The Ducati 'Monocoque Steering Head' on the previous Ducati MotoGp bike and the current 1199 Panigale Superbike is really too small / short / boxy to offer any sort of flex for compliant handling, be the monocoque made of carbon fiber or aluminum.
Formula One race cars actually employ carbon fibre suspension arms designed to flex, to serve as the race car's only movable suspension. The same idea of flex is found in carbon fibre shaft golf clubs and tennis rackets.
Ducati's too stiff chassis problem in MotoGP application was EXASPERATED because the spec MotoGP Bridgestone tires being used are very stiff and heavy at 20 lbs to prevent sidewalls flex and increase tire reliability on those high horsepower bikes. While in World Superbike the spec Pirelli tires are similar to sportbike street tires and are much lighter at around 12 pounds, and are designed to flex at the sidewall for a more compliant ride.
So the frameless Ducati stressd engine with monocoque steering head design pioneered by Ducati does work well, it just needs a more conventional compliant tire which MotoGP does not allow.
The Ducati 1199S Panigale currently leads in the 2013 World Superstock Championship on Pirelli Superstock tires. The Ducati Corse Panigale is struggling in the World Superbike Class however, because its stock 68mm throttle bodies have been restricted down to 50mm limiting the 1200cc engine to just 195hp, while the unrestricted 4-cylinder 1000cc bikes are make making 220-240hp and have a 10-15 mph higher top speed advantage on the Ducati." - Jim Gianatsis Editor, FastDates.com
The Official SBK
World Superbikes
1987-2012
25 Year History Book
The Official SBK
2012-2013 Yearbook These SBK Yearbooks are the Best Books Ever about World Superbike. They feature awesome color photography of the riders, bike and racing action. The feature a detailed revue of the past season in pictures and statistics, with a detailed look at the bikes and riders.
Plus a technical look data all the bikes, a preview of the upcoming season's Championship!
We buy this every year ourselves and highly recommend it!
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Argentina to host MotoGP™ until 2016 from next year
Thursday, 4 July 2013 -
MotoGP™ is officially returning to Argentina from next season to the newly built Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, which is currently hosting a preliminary MotoGP™ and Moto2™ test.
National Tourism Minister Enrique Meyer was present alongside Dorna Managing Director Events Area, Javier Alonso, to finalize the contract, which will see the premier class of motorcycle racing return to Argentina for the first time since 1999 on a three-year deal.
Meyer commented: “It is a great honour to receive this championship in Argentina in addition to other sporting events that take place in our country such as the Dakar Rally. We hope that the Argentine public can enjoy the top class of motorcycle racing, which hasn’t come to our country since 1999, and we will do our best to make sure MotoGP stays in our country for a long time.”
During his visit to the track today, Meyer was accompanied by the Governor of the Province of Santiago del Estero, Gerardo Zamora, and the Executive Secretary of the National Institute of Tourism, Leonardo Boto. Together they toured the circuit facilities and greeted the riders of both categories.
Meyer added: “We are getting very good reviews from the riders in relation to the circuit, due to the high speed corners in which competitors test their abilities. We are excited to host this event [the test], which serves as preparation for the Grand Prix in 2014.”
"Seeing all the motorcycle enthusiasts that have come to witness the MotoGP and Moto2 test is the most concrete proof that sporting events and tourism are two tools that go together and should be exploited for the better to maximize the benefits for each of the provinces of Argentina.”
Erik Buell Sells 49.2% Of Erik Buell Racing Inc for
$25 Million!
July 1st, 2013- It looks like now as it was a very good operation for Erik Buell that 3 years ago Harley-Davidson shut down the former Buell Motorcycle Company. After Harley severed its ties with Erik Buell, he started the Erik Buell Racing inc. firm, launching the EBR’s 1190RS flagship model, a limited-edition high-power sports motorcycle. In a very sweet deal for Erik, Bain Capital backed Hero MotoCorp Ltd from India is buying 48.2% stake in Erik Buell Racing Inc (EBR) for 25 million. 15 million in EBR and the remaining $10 million will be invested within the next nine months.
For Hero MotoCorp the objective is to build up a line of better powered sporty motorcycles than its competitors in India, including its former partner and now competitor Honda. Hero MotoCorp is already the largest motorcycle maker in the world by volumes. The Indian motorcycle market of sporty motorcycles is still a low-volume segment, but a high-margin one with rapid expansion. Hero Motocorp will bank on new models from Erik Buell Racing to dominate this market.
Tucker Rocky Case Settles for $500,000 with California Air Resources Board
SACRAMENTO, CA – June 28, 2013 – In 2011, the Air Resources Board (ARB) determined that motorcycle parts distributor Ed Tucker Distributor, Inc., dba Biker’s Choice and Tucker Rocky Distributing (Tucker Rocky) was advertising, offering for sale, and/or selling aftermarket critical emission control parts that were not exempted from California’s anti-tampering laws. Such motorcycle aftermarket critical parts replace vital original emission components such as catalytic converters, and thus must be evaluated by ARB to demonstrate continued emissions compliance.
Tucker Rocky provided ARB with all needed information during the agency’s investigation of the matter, and has further agreed to institute a voluntary compliance plan that will inform its dealers and customers of which motorcycle aftermarket parts are legal for sale in the state. The case was settled in June 2013 with the civil penalty of $500,000 being applied to about 1,356 part violations at a rate of approximately $369 per unit.
Meet 2013 Calendar Kitten
Jitunka & Petra!
MV Agusta F3 800cc
The Devil Made Us Do It! Testing the Ducati Diavel in Italy
New BMW HP4 Superbike
Sudco High Performance & OEM Replacement Parts
High Speed - the Movie The best motorcycle racing movie ever made! Filmed on location at the World Superbike races , this an exciting romantic drama staring beautiful British actress Sienna Miller.
EDELWEISS OFFERS NEW and AFFORDABLE MOTORCYCLE TOUR ALONG THE DOLOMITES WITH CHALLENGING ROADS, OVERWHELMING MOUNTAIN SCENERY AND ITALIAN CUISINE AT ITS FINEST.
The Dolomites are a must for a passionate biker – come with us on an unforgettable motorcycle tour. The countryside is dominated by mountains, rivers, and gorge-like valleys, which have just space enough for a road and railroad tracks; but there are also bigger towns like Bolzano, where our base hotel is located.
Thinking about Italian culture you will notice quite a big difference from what you may expect; building style, cultures, languages, bilingual road signs and special foods show that varied peoples and ideas peacefully co-exist here. The Sella Ronda is a very good warm-up for the following days and our rides to Penserjoch, Jaufenpass and Timmelsjoch.
Eight more passes are on our schedule for the next day and we will have the opportunity to stop in the nice little town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, well known from the Olympics in 1956. Now it’s time to make a decision: go to Venice for sightseeing or collect 10 more passes? Tough call! The last riding day leads us south to the wonderful Lake Garda, with swimming and riding at its best.
Find Out More
THROUGH THE ALPINE WONDERLAND OF AUSTRIA AND SOUTHERN GERMANY – THE ALPS AND LAKES MOTORCYCLE TOUR!
The Alps and Lakes motorcycle tour takes you through a beautiful part of European motorcycle paradise; the Alps. The contrast between the beautiful lakes in southern Germany and Austria and the towering mountains that reach up to more than 10,000 ft is nothing less than breathtaking.
This area is the famous background for the movie „Sound of Music“. This vacation offers a little bit of everything: beautiful and relaxing rides through the valleys; some mountain roads and passes; and great vistas and sights, including King Ludwig‘s castle, Herrenchiemsee, and the historic city of Salzburg. The tour consists of five riding days, one of them is a rest day – which means that you stay two nights at the same hotel.
This is a great opportunity to explore a little bit more, ride around the countryside, walk through town, meet the locals and sample some of the local food. The tour will take you through Germany and Austria, and on the rest day you can even add Italy to your list if you are so inclined.
Find Out More
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All Rounds include Superbike and 600cc Superstock except USA is Superbike only.
European rounds also Include 1000cc Superstock.
2013 MotoGP DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK Apr 7 - Qatar – Doha Losail Apr 21 - Americas, Austin TX May 5 - Spain, Jerez Frontera May 19 - France, Le Mans June 2 - Italy, Mugello June 16 - Catalunya,Catalunya June 29 - Netherlands,AssenTT
July 14 - Germany,Sachsenring
July 21 - USA, Laguna Seca (Only MotoGP class)
Aug 18 - USA, Indianapolis
Aug 25 - Czech Rep, Brno
Sept 1 - GB, Silverstone
Sept 15 - SanMarino Misano
Sept 29 - Aragon Motorland
Oct 13 - Malaysia, Sepang
Oct 20 - Australia, Phillip Is
Oct 27 - Japan, Motegi
Nov 10- Valencia, Ricardo
2013 AMA Superbike DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK Mar 14-16 Daytona FL
May 31-Jun 2 Road America WI June 21-23 Barber, AL
July 12-14 Mid-Ohios
July 19-20 Laguna Seca CA
Aug 2-4 Miller MSports, UT
Aug 16-18 Indianapolis IN
Sept 13-15 New Jersey
Sepr 27-29 Laguna Seca CA
2013 British Superbike Click Date for Race Report DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK April 5-7 Brands Hatch Indy Apr 12-14 Thruxton May 4-6 Oulton Park June 14-16 Knockhill
July 5-7 Snetterton
July 19-21 Brands Hatch GP
Aug 9-12 Oulton Park
Aug 24-26 Cadwell Park
Sept 6-8 Donnington Park
Sept 20-22 Assen
Oct 4-6 Silverstone GP
Oct 18-20 Brands Hatch GP
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MotoGP Performance Riding New 2nd Edition! Official MotoGP book, the second edition of this practical guide to motorcycle racing technique, aimed at racing and track day enthusiasts at all levels, has been expanded to include extra information as well as many new photographs and up-to-date quotes from MotoGP stars
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The Making of the Fast Dates Calendar & World Championships
on DVD!
Report:
State of the Motorcycle Market in America
April 2013: Since the hey-day of 2006-2007, the industry has lost 5,000 dealers and retailers, vehicle sales have been slashed in half, and about 20,000 people have left the industry to find employment elsewhere.
2007 was the industry's last up year. Sales of motorcycles, ATVs and scooters reached about 1.5 million units. And according to MIC ststics there were in 2008, 13,300 retail outlets in the US split between authorized new vehicle dealers, and independent service and accessory outlet.
According to the most recent MIC static, 2012 retail sales of motorcycles, ATVs and scooter were at 677,630 - a drop of about 54% from peak. At the same time the US dealer base dropped from an increased of 14,127 dealers in 2008 (still riding the crest of the wave) to 8,985 in 2012 - a decrease of 36% percent.
The Medin Age of a new motorcycle buyers in America is now around 52 years old, and continues to grow about 1 year older per year, signifying no new riders are coming into the sport and the Amerian motorcycle market will end as the Baby Boomers die out.
From where it is today, the sport of motorcycling in America will continue to decline about 3-4% per year to the poin the sport will be gone in 20 years.
And unlike Europe and Asia where mototcycling is surviving and growing because of traditionally high fuel prices and crowded cities, in America we have become to attahed to our automobiles, so much so that motorcyles will never become a replacement for them. You'll always be able to buy and run and insure a cheap used car at a price lower than a nice used motorcycle.
This is not to say Motorccyle Racing will not continue as a spectator sport, as evidenced by the popularity of Supercross at sold-out stadium events across America. But how many people actually buy and ride/race dirt/mx bikes any more? This middle class sport is disappearing with the American middle class as fewer people can afford a truck to haul their expensive dirt bike to a riding area or track, or own a house with a garage to store and work on them. To a lessor extent, the streetbike market is affected similarly. These days kids in high school have little interestor the money in own or drive a cool car, let alone a street bike.
- Editor
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