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2014 Fast Dates World Superbikes, Cafe Bikes & SBK Grid Girls
Fast Dates is the Official Calendar of the SBK World Superbike Championship photographed on location at the Miller USA World Superbike round by Jim Gianatsis. Featured on the cover and inside is World Champion Max Biaggi’s Aprilia RSV4, Tom Sykes Kawasaki ZX7, Carlos Checa’s Ducati 1198RS, Johnthan Rea's Ten Kate Honda, Leon Haslams' Cresent Suzuki, Marco Melandri’s BMW 1000RR, and AMA Champion Josh Hayes’ Yamaha R1, cafe bikes from Shinya Kimura, Richard Pollock, Chris Redwing.
Together with beautiful Calendar Kittens and offical SBK World Superbike grid girls Chrissy Blair, Jitunka and Petra, Caitlin O’Conner, Halle Arbough, Kinsey Ray, Sabella Shake and Lizzie. The world's fastest roadracing motorcycles and beautiful swimsuit models - what more could you want!
This is your exclusive 16-month pit pass to the world's top custom bmotorcycles and beautiful centerfolds in
revealisng lingerie. Calendars are highest quality full color 15 x 15" wire spiral bound printed on heavy art stock
revealing 16 months beginning with September. $17.95 each - Order Now!
This Month in the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar ....
2014 Fast Dates Calendar Cover Kitten l and offical SBK World Superbike umbrella girl Chrissy Blair looks incredible next to Lorenzo Zanetti's Ducati 1198RS World Superbike. You'll find Calendar bikes like this with beautiful Kittens featured in the Calendar Bike Garage with full specifications and screensaver size pictures.
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2014 Fast Dates
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2013 Fast Dates
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SBK World Superbike, Performance Machine
ISBN 1578651514 |
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FastDates.com Calendar Kittens and official SBK World Superbike Umbrella Girls, Jitka (left) and Petra (right) are featured in the
2014 Fast Dates World Superbike and Garage Girls Calendars, and the new 2014 Fast Calendar Digital Magazine.
Fast Dates brings Czech SBK girls Jitka and Petra to
Laguna Seca World Superbike and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in July 2014!
January 10, 204 - The FastDates.com Calendars and producer / photographer Jim Gianatsis are excited to announce an agreement with SBK World Superbike and the international model agencies PetrasAngles.com and UmbrellaGilrsUSA.com to bring beautiful Czech Republic SBK grid girls Jitka and Petra to the United States this July 2014 to appear at Laguna Seca SBK World Superbike round and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show.
These two 6-foot 2-inch tall long legged, blond hair professional supermodels hail from the capital of the Czech Republic, Prauge, and have been featured on SBK world TV race broadcasts the last 3 years standing at the front of the SBK World Superbike starting grid towering above the race bikes and riders in their uniforms with umbrellas to showcase SBK's title sponsors Pirelli Tires, Agip Fuels and Lubricants, and Alfa Romeo Automobiles. In their official uniforms with 6-inch heels on their platform boots, Jitka and Petra tower nearly 7 feet tall and can intimidate the bravest factory racers and experienced photographers!
Both these Czech mates are already official FastDates.com Calendar Kittens having shot for the Calendars with contributing Italian photographer Max Oliana at the 2012 and 2013 SBK rounds at Bruno and Silverstone for the current 2014 and upcoming 2015 Fast Dates World Superbike and Garage Girls PinUp Calendars.
"The FastDates.com Calendars have always been renown for showcasing the world's top factory race bikes and custom builder bikes, together with the world's most beautiful celebrity glamour and centerfold models", explains producer Jim Gianatsis. "Jitka and Petra are two of the most beautiful and enjoyable models we've ever had the pleasure of working with, and being able to bring them to America this year finally gives me the chance to shoot with them myself, plus it's an exciting working vacation for them, to thank them for being great spokes models for both SBK World Superbike and the FastDates.com Calendars!"
This year, 2014 will be the first ever trip to America for the girls, which will begin with a transcontinental flight from Prauge to Los Angeles, where they will be picked up at the airport by Jim Gianatsis, then driven up the breathtaking Pacific Coast along historic Highway One to Monterey and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. There the Kittens will begin the race weekend of July 10-12th shooting on Pit Lane with Jim and Max, with all the top World Superbike factory team bikes for the next FastDates.com Calendars. Then as the weekend progresses towards Sunday, race day the girls will change modeling roles from bikini swimsuits into their official SBK uniforms for Saturday's Superpole and Sunday's starting line, podium and SBK Paddock Show duties.
After the WSBK race weekend at Laguna Seca , Jim and the Kittens will return to Los Angeles for a continued fun week of Calendar shooting and visiting the top tourist sites around the city like Griffith Observatory / The Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Boulevard / Grumman's Chinese Theatre, and the Santa Monica Pier/ Venice Beach.
2014 LA Calendar Motorcyc;e Show Moves to the Malibu Golf Course
Then it will be the next weekend and the exciting 2014 23rd annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show & Concours on Sunday July 20th at the Malibu Golf Course, 901 Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu, CA 90265 in the mountains above the California coast. The world's top custom bike builders will gather once again to show off their latest rolling masterpieces on the rolling greens of the exclusive golf course, together with great food and beverages, live Calendar Girl Music, select vendors and bike displays. Calendar Kittens Jitka and Perta will help host the day's activities and then shoot with the day's top placing bikes for the FastDates.com Calendars.
Then the two beautiful Calendar Kittens will be back on a jet plane returning to Prauge, giving them half a day in the air to reflect on their memorable adventures in America, before making plans to attend the next rounds of the SBK World Superbike Championship. For additional information on the Laguna Seca USA World Superbike round July 10th, the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show July 20th, to see more of Jitka and Petra in the Fast 2104 Calendar OnLIne Digital Yearbook , and to order the Fast Dates, Garage Girls and Iron & Lace Calendars go to http://www.FastDates.com.
 The Bimota BB5 powered by the BMW 1000RR inline 4-cylinder motor made its world premier 2 months ago at 2013 EICMA Show. This is the first serious Bimoto Superbike in years and features race track quality components like Ohlins suspension and Bremo Monobloc brakes.
Alstare Racing And Bimota Motorcycles become Racing Development Partners
Liège, Belgium, January 12, 2014 - The prestigious Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota and Alstare - both renowned for their engineering expertise and racing success - are happy to announce that they have agreed a long-term partnership of five years.
The partnership will see Alstare create a new Global Racing department for Bimota in their headquarters in Belgium. From there, they will provide technical support to all official Bimota teams worldwide, together with the supply of parts for track use.
Alstare will be responsible for Research and Development for Bimota and will work on improving Bimota’s Moto2 bikes as well as the Bimota BB3.
In addition, the R&D Department will work on developing Bimota’s new sports and supersport models. Alstare communication agency’s vast knowledge, and ability to innovate will be dedicated to Bimota’s Racing Marketing and Communication strategy. They will also conduct market research on Bimota’s behalf, while taking care of all their campaigns and events. The new agency will actively promote Bimota and raise the famous marque to the high level it deserves.
Alstare aim to improve Bimota’s business network and increase the level of communication withimporters and dealers worldwide. A global customer base will be established, an official online community will be created and all Bimota fan clubs will be fully supported.
About Bimota:
Bimota is an Italian manufacturer of exquisitely designed esoteric motorcycles. Production engines are used, together with high quality materials and components – many of which are produced in house. The company was founded in 1973, in Rimini, by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri and MassimoTamburini and celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.
It was also last year, in September, that Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni bought Bimota with the intention of rejuvenating this prestigious and famous marque. Thanks to their passion, determination and commitment, together with Alstare’s partnership, this process is already gathering pace.
About Alstare:
Alstare have been involved in motorcycle sport since 1982, when they provided hospitality for the FMI (Federazione Motociclistica Italiana) and later for Lucky Strike. After that, Alstare’s owner, Francis Batta, worked as Team Manager of Cagiva in GP500, before going on to become General Manager of the Superbike World Championship in the early 1990s. He formed his own team in 1996, taking one World Superbike, two World Supersport and three Superstock titles in the following years with Suzuki.
In addition to running a race team, Alstare successfully ran Corona Extra Europe, Asia and Africa’s communication strategy for nine years and was fully involved as a ‘brand builder’ – specialising in promotional events – for Diesel Jeans when it was created by Renzo Rosso. Alstare’s headquarters, near Liège, in Belgium are situated in a totally revamped marmalade factory of the late 30’s which has been converted into a high-tech facility able and ready to cope with all the current and future needs of modern motorcycles and motorcycle sport.
Surprise! - Alstare and Bimota Go World Superbike EVO racing in 2014
Liège, Monday 13th, Jan 2014 - One spin-off of the newly formed long-term partnership between the legendary Bimota brand and Alstare – the most experienced team in World Superbikes - is the formation of Team BIMOTA ALSTARE RACING which will compete in the EVO class in this year’s World Superbike Championship on the formidable Bimota BB3*.
Engineer Acquaviva and his team at Bimota’s headquarters in Rimini have taken the bullet-proof BMW engine and married it to a beautifully designed chassis – designed and built in their own workshops - together with high level components in all areas. The result is a stunning looking bike, but one that hides a powerful beast within.
It will be Alstare’s job to develop this bike, with Bimota’s full co-operation, and turn it into a race winner and bring success on track to both companies. The team will attack the EVO class with two riders – Italian Ayrton Badovini and Briton Christian Iddon .Ayrton is no stranger to Alstare, having ridden for them last year – in what proved to be a very challenging season. Now fully fit again, the Italian is comfortable with the team and ready to go to fight for glory right from the start.
Christian may well be new to the team, but there is a Bimota connection as his father rode a Bimota YB3 in the opening years of the championship. Christian comes from a successful background in motocross and supermoto and only switched to roadracing in 2008, but has begun to show his huge potential and is definitely one to watch for the future.
Ayrton Badovini - “The early part of this year is going to be a bit difficult because of our late start, but having said that, I’ve
got such a good team backing me, I know we can do a nice job.
Although the BB3 is a new bike, I know the engine characteristics very well, from my two years with it in 2011 and 2012. It is a nice engine – fast, but very usable at all speeds. I don’t think we’re going to need to do a lot of work on the engine, which leaves us to concentrate of the rest of the package.
For me, this year is a lot about improving the bike and being ready for next year and in this respect I’m sure that we’ll do a good job. I’m really, really happy to be back with Alstare again and feel I am returning to a family I know well. The team is very professional. I learnt a lot from them last year and expect to learn more from them this year.
If things go well, and I see no reason they should not, my target is to develop the bike quickly and win the
EVO title this year.”
Christian Iddon - “This is an amazing opportunity for me and I am very excited about the challenge ahead. Alstare is a
famous team, with a big history and I am sure that I am going to learn a lot from them. They have loads of
experience and that is going to help me, in what is going to be a very interesting season.
I have ridden a Superbike before, four rounds in the British Superbike Championship, but I know the new Bimota BB3 is going to be very different to what I am used to. Although we are starting from scratch, as long as we can find a good base setting we can progress quickly. I think many teams in this year’s championship are new and probably have not done much testing, so we’re going to be in the same boat as them. I don’t like to talk about targets, but I always set high goals for myself and this year will be no exception. I would like to think we’d be challenging the top guys in the EVO class well before the latter part of the season and
I’d be disappointed if we weren’t.
I know I’ve got a great team behind me and I am looking forward to working with them and maybe surprising a few people.”
Ever since Alstare boss Francis Batta met Bimota’s new owners, Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni in EICMA last November, things started happening. The trio clicked straightaway and it wasn’t long before plans were being drawn up. The early plans were really not a lot to do with racing, but Bimota and Alstare’s success and history in World Superbikes was bound to lead to the formation of a race team.
Bimota have long been renowned for their esoteric and beautiful bikes. Ever since their creation, they have designed unique bikes, using hand-crafted components from their own workshops married to a variety of engines from different manufacturers. Ever since day one, their mission statement has all been about quality, regardless of cost and that still holds true to today. It seems therefore fitting that they have taken Alstare as a partner – as Alstare, in their own way, have also stood out from the rest
of the field. They may not have always had the best bikes, but they have always been one of the most professional teams in the paddock and have supported the World Superbike Championship longer than any other team. This new partnership marries two greats of motorcycling and a long and illustrious future beckons - both on the road and on the track. Francis Batta’s new contact with Giuliano Rovelli is already yielding fruit. The final decisions are about to be concluded, but ParkinGo will become a partner and one of the team’s sponsors. As part of the deal, the team will be promoted via ParkinGo in their airport buildings.
Francis Batta - “I am very happy and excited about this long-term global project with Bimota – a famous and highly
thought of brand. It all started at the EICMA last November, when I met the new owners Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni and immediately got on well with them. After that first meeting, I had a really good feeling about our prospects together.
We knew our companies would complement each other in every way and such a symbiosis would be of enormous benefit all round. We both have enjoyed success in racing and putting our expertise together will be like a marriage made in heaven.
The BB3, designed by Engineer Acquaviva and his team in Rimini, is a fantastic bike and full of potential. We at Alstare are excited to help develop it, get it on the track and unleash the beast within. Ayrton was very unlucky with injuries last year and, realistically speaking, was never at 100%. Despite the difficulties we all faced, he managed a podium in very trying conditions and also took a superb Superpole in Germany – the first of his career.
I truly believe Ayrton’s potential is very high and I am sure that we’ll do things well together - not least because he fits the Alstare spirit perfectly.
I followed Christian’s progress in Supersport last year and know that the guy is a genuine talent, with an ability to go far. His manager, Giuliano Rovelli, and I spoke a lot during the holidays and we seemed to be on the same wavelength. I will be collaborating with Giuliano and ParkinGo at some level and will give further information once it has all been decided.”
* subject to approval of Homologation by FIM and its members
 Above, Davide Tardozzi talks to former SBK President Paolo Flammini at Brads Hatch WSBK in 2005.
Our Fast Dates Calendar Kittens Monica and Gemma try to keep warm in the background.
Davide Tardozzi returns to Ducati Corse to coordinate MotoGP Team
Ducati Corse Press Release, January 13th, 2014 - Ducati Corse wishes to announce that it has reached an agreement with Davide Tardozzi, who returns to work again with the Borgo Panigale, Italy based manufacturer after a period of four years.
Team Ducati Corse, Bologna Italy, January 13th - Davide Tardozzi, born in Ravenna on January 30th 1959, will have an important role within the Ducati Team and will be in charge of the organization and logistics of the Italian squad in the MotoGP World Championship.
The former racer had a very successful career as Ducati team manager in Superbike, collaborating with champions of the calibre of Fogarty, Bayliss, Corser, Toseland and Hodgson, and contributing to the conquest of seven Riders’ titles in the production-based racing series.
Davide Tardozzi will report directly to Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Sporting Director and MotoGP Programme Director, and will begin his new role in the Ducati Team starting with the first MotoGP test at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia from February 4th to 6th.
A bit of Secret Undisclosed History: The popular former Ducati Corse Superbike Team manager Tardozzi was let go by previous factory management at the end of the hard fought 2009 WSBK season where Ben Spies won the title for Yamaha with 462 points, followed closely by Team Ducati's Noriyuki Haga with 456 points, and team mate Michel Fabrizio with 382 points. At the season's final round a Portimao, Naga had DNF'ed in Race One to loose the Championship Points Lead to Spies. The two Ducati riders then dominated in the 2nd Race, Fabrizio winning with teammate Haga just 1.2 seconds behind in 2nd place, and Spies a good 5.8 seconds back in 5th position. If Tardozzi had issued team orders (which he didn't) for Fabrizio to slow on the last lap and let Haga past to win the race, then Haga and Ducati would have won the 2009 SBK Riders World Championship over Yamaha's Ben Spies. Making maters worse for Tardozzi was the fact he had a conflict of interest in also being Fabrizio's personal manager, and as such might have wanted his rider to win the race to help with his rider's contract negotiations going into the 2010 season. Either way, Tardozzi's failure at the final race to invoke obviously needed team orderscost Ducati the World Championship.
Mule Motorcycles Triumph Bonneville Tracker now in the Calendar Bike Garage!
Check out this awesome Triumph Bonneville Streetracker built by one of our favorite Calendar Bike Builders, Richard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, now featured in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Garage with complete details and large screen saver size pictures. We might just even have included this picture of beautiful Sara with the bike.... Go to Calendar Bike Garage
Mule Motorcycles "Web Surfer 2" now in the Calendar Bike Garage!
Check out this awesome new Buell powered Streetracker built by one of our favorite Calendar Bike Builders, Richard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, which is now featured in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Gatage with complete details and large screen saver size pictures. You'll even find this Calendar picture of beautiful Sara with the bike.... Go to Calendar Bike Garage
And now, a word from our sponsor...
2013 / 2014 International Motorcycle Show at Long Beach
Report and Photos by Jim Gianatsis - Click on any Photo to Enlarge
More 2013 / 2014 IMS Show Coverage Here
Long Beach, CA - Dec 6-8th 2013 - As the annual Advanstar produced (IMS) International Motorcycle Show makes its way across America every winter, with 3-day stops in every major city, it's the perfect time for motorcycle enthusiasts to come in from the cold and see the latest new 2014 bike offerings from all the major motorcycle manufacturers and fill out your Christmas wish list. With much of the the motorcycle industry and media based in Southern California, we like to think the Los Angeles stop at the Long Beach Convention Center the first weekend in December is the best IMS weekend to get together with our motor head friends, celebrity builders and racers, and many of the FasatDates.com Calendar Kittens working the bike displays for top manufacturers..
 Naked and not affraid, the 180hp Super Duke 1290 will be stiff competion to Ducati's new Monster Testastretta 1200.
The best sportbike display at Long Beach was actually put on my KTM, and thier new wheelie monster naked 1290cc V- twin Super Duke ($16,999) and the sweet 690cc Duke ($8,999) single ccylider looked and felt quite the "bomb"! Perfect city busters and canyon carvers. Fulling spec'ed out with Brembo brakes, White Power suspension and lightweight race wheels.
I was drooling over the Super Duke as my favorite must-have bike at the show, especially after it pased my bouncing on the saddle and twisting the throttle test. More 2013 / 2014 IMS Show Coverage Here
 MV Agusta's new 800cc Brutale naked streetfighter.
2013 EICMA Motorcycle Show
Milan, Italy, November 7th-10th 2013 - The 71st International Motorcycle Show, the world's largest annual media, trade and consumer event for motorized two wheeler manufacturers and accessory companies continued to excite again this year with some very exciting new motorcycle model introductions and beautiful spokesmodels. It's great to see that despite the down trodden world economy, aging buyer demographics and world ecological conditions, performance motorcycle are more the rage than ever. And in this regard the European manufacturers continue to lead the world with new bike introductions and increased sales, while the once dominate Japanese Big Four manufacturers continue to struggle with warmed over big bikes and smaller displacment enty level bikes that are 20 years to late to seduce the younger generation who no longer have an interest or the financial income to own an expensive 2-wheel toy. More 2013 EICMA Coverage Here
2013 Venice Vintage Motorcycle Rally and Show
Venice, CA - Sept 14th 2013 - The Venice Vintage Motorcycle Rally and Show has been taking place in downtown Venice, California (next to the bigger city of Santa Monica inside greater Los Angeles) for a few years now organized by the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club. The event starts early at 9am on a Saturday with an easy 10-mile straight road motorcycle ride up the California Coast on Pacific Coast Highway 1 from Santa Monica to Peperdine University in Malibu. The ride then returns back down the coast to a Venice city parking lot for an afternoon Bike Show, featuring a display od participant and show bikes, venders, together with BBQ food and rockabilly music. More 2013 Venice Vintage Rally Coverage Here
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
Click Above for a full size screensaver of our Gianatsis Design offices Computer Monitor as we select pictures from this year's World Superbike photo shoots and begin production of the next Fast dates World Superbike Calendar!
Shooting the next FastDates.com Calendar at Laguna Seca Wold Superbike!
Go behing te scenes with photographer Jim Gianatsis and senen (!) beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Kittens - the offical SBK World Superbike Umbrella Girls, as we shoot the next edition of the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this past September 26-28th 2013. The Complete Story in FAST DATES NEWS.
Ingenious 2-Stroke Custom Racebike!
How cool is this ingeniously creative custom 2-stroke racebike we came across on Facebook without any information on where it was photographed or who the builder might be. It's powered by a 2-stroke motocross motor which is then mounted in a roller bearing suspended chassis with the rear wheel and swingarm mounted solidly to the inner rotating chassis. The roller bearing wheel hubs look to have enclosed drum brakes. The design concepts and craftsmanship is simply amazing. Of course, this particular bike isn't practical or comfortable for riding, but the different design elements make you think would could be incorporated in a real motorcycle. Click on the pictute to enlarge.
Retro Board Track Racer
How cool is this V-Twin Retro Board Tracker Racer from a European builder which we found profiled in Extreme Bikes magazine. Check out heir free ditial issues now for FREE from: www.xtremebikes.es / and... Enjoy it!
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New Superpole Format for World Superbike
Dec 23rd - The 2014 edition of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship will see the introduction of a new Tissot-Superpole format, based on two sessions of 15 minutes each. Twenty riders will battle for the best placing on the grid, with the combined times in free practice to play a bigger role in the chase for pole position.
This change is part of an effort to make WSBK and GP Sporting Rules as similar as possible, to create a common ground in terms of regulations that can help circuit organisers, marshals and everyone involved in both series.
Tissot-Superpole - New procedure
- The top 20 riders classified after the Free Practice 1, 2 and 3 sessions will take part in Tissot-Superpole
- The ten fastest riders will be seeded directly into to Superpole 2 while the riders classified 11th to 20th will take part in Superpole 1
- The fastest two riders in Superpole 1 will progress to Superpole 2, making a total of 12 riders competing for the first 12 grid positions
- Both Superpole sessions will run for 15 minutes each. There will be a break of 10 minutes in between Superpole 1 & Superpole 2
Althea returns to World Superbike as Ducati's reference team for the World Superbike EVO class
Dec 20th- The Althea Racing-Ducati duo is back together for the 2014 eni FIM Superbike World Championship, as the team will run a 1199 Panigale in the EVO class. The Italian outfit will be Ducati's reference team for the newly born EVO category and its staff remains totally unchanged from last year.
Piloting the Althea Racing 1199 Panigale EVO will be Niccolò Canepa, a long-time Ducati rider. The 25 year old from Genova was runner-up in last year's FIM Superstock 1000 Cup with Team Barni, again on a Panigale, and took part in two WSBK rounds with Team Ducati Alstare, one of which as substitute rider for Carlos Checa.
Genesio Bevilacqua: "We are delighted to be back with Ducati as we achieved tremendous results together in the past, and we are looking forward to do the same now. Niccolò Canepa is the right rider for our new project, I have a lot of respect for him. We are fully committed and we want to thank Ducati for the trust put in us, I'm sure we will reward the company with some good performance."
Niccolò Canepa: "I'm so happy to be part of this new project, it was really important for me to step up to WSBK and I feel Althea Racing is the right team to do so. 2014 will be a crucial year for World Superbike, due to the introduction of the EVO class, it will be interesting to see how things will shape up. It's nice to stay with Ducati, my second family, and an honour to race for the 2011 Championship winning team. We need some testing before Phillip Island, so we can find a base set-up for the Panigale and gel together, but I know the bike quite well - in both STK and WSBK versions - and the team has an incredible amount of experience, so I think it won't take too long. I'm sure we'll do great things together."
Laguna Seca World Superbike USA to return to One Day, 2-Race format in 2014
With the release of the 2014 SBK World Superbike Calendar we can see that the USA round of World Superbike at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has returned to the traditional mid July motorcycle race weekend date at the west coast track which, having most recently been used by the MotoGP round, which is not returning to Laguna in 2014.
It's know that this past Septembers WSBK race weekend at Laguna was a disappointment as far as spectator attendance - we estimated perhaps 4,000 spectators at best, far from break-even profitable for the track.
Part of the problem for low spectator attendance was probably running the combined WSBK / AMA extended 3-day race weekend in September, so soon after their July combined MotoGP / AMA race weekend. That and the fact the traditional one day, 2-race format for WSBK had been spread out over 2 days, Saturday and Sunday, like the AMA does with its Superbike races.
The problem being in this difficult economy, spreading the feature event WSBK and AMA Superbike races over 2 days, Saturday and Sunday, together with Friday Practice, makes the races an expensive 2-4 day race weekend for spectators flying or driving in from Southern California.
That includes another day or two of expensive Monterey hotels, restaurants and lost days of work back home.
By now returning in 2014 to the traditional 2-day WSBK weekend with Qualifying Practice and Superpole on Saturday, and both Superbike races on Sunday, fans can now experience a much more affordable 1-3 day weekend at Laguna Seca to see both SBK races on Sunday.
We haven't heard yet how the AMA will schedule its Pro Racing classes during the 3-day WSBK race weekend which also includes Practice on Friday.
FINALLY!
AMA Pro Racing Annouces News Class Structures beginning in 2014, with Superbikes to eventualy conform to new World and National EVO Rules
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 4, 2013) - Officials from AMA Pro Racing announced today the future plans for the AMA Pro Road Racing class structure and rules package. The changes, which are planned for the 2015 AMA Pro Road Racing season, are being made with the goal of fostering a cost-effective and competitive racing platform for America's premier motorcycle road racing series.
"These long-term, strategic moves have been planned with careful consideration and after many conversations with our motorcycle manufacturers, teams, riders and event promoters," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "We feel that these changes will help us elevate the sport of professional motorcycle racing in North America to greater heights."
AMA Pro Racing will further refine the Series' tiered performance structure comprised of production-based classes. The performance characteristics of the motorcycles raced in each division will be configured so as to provide appropriate platforms for riders to compete and hone their skills as they climb the ladder to the premier AMA Pro SuperBike division.
AMA Pro SuperBike will be entering its 40th year of competition and will once again be featured as the headlining class for the Series. Following consultation with both World and National Superbike championship governing bodies, incremental changes will be made to the technical rules package over the next two seasons in the interest of rule commonality, performance parity and cost containment.
Equally as important to the class restructuring, the 2014 SuperSport season will be reconfigured as an overall National championship; the class will no longer be separated into East and West divisions. In 2015, a consolidated middleweight category will be established by combining the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike and AMA Pro SuperSport classes.
To complete the progressive class structure in 2015, AMA Pro Racing is investigating the potential of adding an entry-level division showcasing the smaller-displacement machines which are currently in large demand in showrooms across North America. The Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series is planned to enter its sixth season as part of the AMA Pro Road Racing class structure in 2015.
The 2014 AMA Pro Road Racing season will kick off once again at Daytona International Speedway. The event is scheduled for March 13 - 15, 2014 and will have the same three-day format featured in recent years, highlighted by the 73rd running of the DAYTONA 200 on Saturday afternoon. For tickets and information, please visit DaytonaInternational
Speedway.com
About AMA Pro Road Racing: AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. Learn more about AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/.
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
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Ducati Corse
World Superbikes
by Alan Cathcart
& Jim Gianatsis
The Official SBK
World Superbikes
1987-2012
25 Year History Book
The Official SBK
2013-2014 Yearbook
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!
The Ride
The new generation
of sport customs
SBK World Superbike Video Game
Official Print Media Partner
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
Order the Official
FastDates.com &
LA Calendar Bike Show
T-Shirts!
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