NEW! FAST 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 ... Digital Calendar Magazine Yearbooks the Bikes, the Builders, the Riders, the Kittens,
the Calendar Bike Show, the World Superbike races
all the Calendar Pictures, and Special Features...
We take you around the World for the making of the
2015 FastDates.com Calendars Now in Members Corner
Fast Dates Calendar Celebrates 22 years of SBK World Superbike in America
with 2018 Fast Dates Calendar SBK Umbrella Kittens Kaustin & Alissa at
Laguna Seca World Superbike and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show
By Jim Gianatsis Photos by Jim Gianatsis • Clink on any Photo to Enlarge It
California, USA, July 17-20th 2016 - For the 22nd year since SBK World Superbike first came to America at Laguna Seca Raceway in 1995, the FastDates.com Calendars and myself, producer / photographer Jim Gianatsis were excited to continue
our ongoing association with SBK World Superbike and the UmbrellaGirlsUSA.com to bring 2 more beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Kittens; Kaustin Lanae and Alissa Bourne to shoot with me at the 2016 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca United States SBK World Superbike and AMA National race weekend July 8-10th. There they served as the official SBK Podium Girls and helped me shoot the next Fast Dates World & AMA Superbike Calendar. Then, two weekends later the Kittens would work the
26th annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show and Calendar shoot in Los Angeles on July 23-24th. CONTINUED HERE
FAST 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 Digital Calendar Magazines
Go Behind the Scenes for the Making of the FastDates.com Calendars!
New FAST 2018 Calendar Yearbook!
Go behind the scenes for the shooting of the 2018 FastDates.comMotorcycle PinUp Calendars with photographer Jim Gianatsis and the Calendar Kittens. Travel to Laguna Seca World Superbike with the official SBK Umbrella Girls, the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show with the Top Custom Bike Builders, and take an Edelweiss Bike Tour across France from the Palace of Versailles to the World War II beaches at Normandy. Plus Editorial features on the Calendar Bikes and Kittens , and see every page in the new 2018 Fast Dates Superbikes, Iron & Lace Custom Bikes and Garage Girls Calendar. Now in FastDates.com Members Corner
Each year's FastDates.com Calendar Digital Yearbook features 120- 138 pages of exciting hi-resolution digital photography that takes you with us behind the scenes to our photo shoots at SBK World and AMA Superbike, the LA Calendar Motorcyle Show, and in our photo studio. You'll meet the beautiful Calendar Kitttens in sexy biography pictorials, the top Factory Racers and Custom Bike Builders,and see detailed photo features on the top calendar and race bikes. Take a track day with World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss at Misano, take an Edelsweiss Ducati World Superbike tour of the Ducati Factory & Museum and across Italy, ride a Vespa scooter around Paris and party at the Crazy Horse and the Moulon Rouge. Hang with beautiful teen rock star Taylor Momsen of the Pretty Reckless. Did we forget anything?
Oh yes, and you'll see every page in the new Fast Dates, Garage Girls, Iron & Lace Calendars!
Fast Dates goes to World Ducati Week 2018!!
By Jim Gianatsis and Elia Mirashi
photos by Jim Gianatsis, Ducati Communications Dept. - Click on any Photo to Enlarge it
The Adriatic Coast and Misano World Circuit, Italy, July 20-22nd 2018 - What better way for a hard core Ducatista to spend their summer vacation than attending the 10th edition of World Ducati week for 2018 at Misano Adriatico on the north east coast of Italy at the famous race circuit Marco Simoncelli. This was my 3rd visit to a World Ducati event weekend which normally takes place every 2 years, having last attended when the event was less well known back in 2004 and then in 2012 when it had really grown. Needless to say, this year's 2018 event was even bigger and offered up more activities and sights than you could handle during the expanded 3 day weekend. Making it even more enjoyable, i always fly in a few days early from my home in Los Angeles to Ducati's home in nearby Bologna, Italy, to tour the factory, its museum, its factory retail store for bikes and official apparel, and now a cool American 1960's diner restaurant named Cafe America with a full menu of American burgers, diner food classics and drinks.
To make this year's WDW2018 week even more exciting I wanted to have someone to share it with and make the pictures more fun, so I booked beautiful local Italian model Elia Mirashi to join me. It was cool to discover that Elia's boyfriend owned a Ducati, and that she worked at a local Rimini nightclub that is often frequented by famous riders including Valentino Rossi who she knows! Above, Elia and I are joined by Ducati CRO Claudio Domeniciali.
You'll never see more Ducati Paniagle V4S in one place at one time!
Ducati invoted a few of it closest friends which this year included MotoGP race winners Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, superbike riders Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri, along with legendary retired riders included Casey Stoner and Troy Bayliss, to meet with fans and put on display races. On Friday the riders took to the track for a few exhibition laps on their race bikes. Then on Saturday they returned to the Misano track for a 12 lap race on the new production Panigale V4S Superbikes in the "Race of Champions".
Ducati Premiers the Monster 1200 25th Aniversary Edition at WDW2018
Bologna, Italy, 27 June 2018 – The Monster was first presented at the Cologne trade fair in 1992, production began on 5 March 1993 and in just a few years the bike reached icon status in the world of motorcycles. The model was responsible for launching the category of Naked sports bikes and an ever growing and ever more devoted community of riders grew up around it: the Monster fans. To celebrate 25 years of history of the most iconic of the Bologna-based manufacturer's motorcycles – over 325,000 of them have been made since 1993 – Ducati has decided to create the Monster 1200 25° Anniversario.
Only 500 numbered motorcycles will be produced of the Monster 1200 25° Anniversario, which for Ducati embodies the maximum expression of a Naked sports bike. It is characterised by an exclusive livery featuring the three colours of the Italian flag on the nose fairing, fuel tank and passenger seat cover, inspired by the 2008 Monster S4RS Testastretta Tricolore. The special colour scheme partners perfectly with the prestige seat which is embroidered with the 25th anniversary logo. The gold coloured frame and forged Marchesini wheels with W spokes in the
same colour are another distinguishing feature of this Monster, which also has numerous other prestigious details machined from solid, such as the mirrors, frame plugs, handlebar end weights and the petrol cap, which is a standard fitting. The articulated brake and clutch levers as well as the plate holder are also in aluminium, while the front and rear mudguards, the keyhole cover and the exhaust heat guard are in carbon fibre. The Monster 1200 25° Anniversario also comes with a bike cover, decorated with the particular logo of this special limited edition.
As for the chassis set up, the Monster 1200 25° Anniversario boasts the best anyone could wish for on a Naked sports bike. The tubular steel trellis frame and single-sided swing arm in aluminium arepaired with a fully adjustable Öhlins fork with 48 mm diameter stanchions, an Öhlins rear suspension which is also fully adjustable, as well as a steering damper also supplied by the Swedish firm. The first-class braking system is made up of two 330 mm diameter Brembo discs paired with Brembo M50 monobloc callipers. The rear 245 mm diameter disk is matched with a Brembo caliper.
The Monster 1200 25° Anniversario is equipped with the latest evolution of the Testastretta 11° DS which guarantees high levels of power and torque as well as fluid and full delivery even at low revs and a manageable accelerator response that's always gradual, ensuring maximum riding fun. The twin-cylinder Monster 1200 25° Anniversario puts out 147 hp at 9,250 rpm and a maximum torque of 124 Nm at 7,750 rpm.
Thanks to the constant attention paid by Ducati to quality and reliability, the Testastretta 11° DS engine of the Monster 1200 25° Anniversario guarantees long maintenance intervals - the regulation of the valves, for example, is due every 30,000 km.
Melandri was all smiles at World Ducati Week 2018 in July where he was sure of remaining on theDucati SBK team fro 2019.
WSBK Superbike Shocker!
Ducati Re-Signs Davies, Lets Melandri Go for 2019 in a Budget Cutback!
August 17th 2017 - In an (almost) official news shocker, Ducati leaves Marco Melandri without a ride for 2019 and is looking to the Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, soon to be unemployed in MotoGP, now to join the Ducati Aruba.it World Superbike team next season. With Melandi's already 2 race wins this season, and team mateChaz davies 2nd in points behind Kawasaki's Jonthan Rea, Ducati had potentially the strongest 2-rider team going into the 2019 season with their all new Panigale V4RS Superbike. The former 125 GPchamp Bautista will join the British Chaz Davies, is confirmed. A surprise move, given that for months Ducati itself, and sponsor Aruba.it and the team had declared they wanted to confirm the Italian driver again for next year. And the Bologna Italain company has always wanted to keep their 2nd team rider as Italian, if possible.
This news source comes from very close to Melandri, so it can be defined as safe, even if in Ducati everything is silent at the moment. So we are heading towards a 2019 Superbike without leading Italian riders: even Lorenzo Savadori, currently in Aprilia, is currently without a direction, given that the agreement between the Noale brand and the management of the SRM English team has not yet been renewed (Shaun Muir Racing). At this point it will be interesting to understand that there will be repercussions for the World Superbike on the sponsor front (Aruba is also the owner of the official team ...) and TV: Mediaset has not yet renewed its rights with Dorna. We talked about it here.
The Ducati and the owner-sponsor Aruba.it had repeated it until exhaustion: "We want to confirm Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies". The last famous words ... But that something did not square was understood for some time: the weeks passed and did not decide nor signed anyone. The story of the failure to confirm Melandri and its replacement with Alvaro Bautista is full of incomprehensible passages and after the official announcement (question of days?) It will be interesting to know the truth from those directly involved: Ducati, sponsor and pilot.
LOW COST ENGAGEMENT - Meanwhile, startling details begin to emerge: Melandri's banishment may be more than a question of just money. Although Ducati Motor Holdings is the latest to announce a sales decline of 7.4% in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period last year, so rider slaary budget cutbacks were in order.
To race the Ducati V4 in 2019, Marco would have been satisfied with a low costcontract : it seems that in the two years as an officer it cost just 75 thousand € (per season), against the 650 thousand € collected by Chaz Davies, who was reconfirmed, presumably to a lower figure of € 450 thousand. Practically in Ducati is much more paid the Welsh to make the Superbike that Danilo Petrucci to run as an officer in MotoGP: for Umbrian we speak of 300 thousand per season. Rumors of MotoGP source speak of an Alvaro Bautista who also not to remain on foot would be satisfied with a contract of zero, balanced by a (substantial?) Table of prizes based on race finies and the World score. But who knows, only those directly involved know the truth.
TEST - A couple of months ago both Melandri and Davies, asked why their contract renewals had not arrived,but also saif said that "first we would like to have the chance to try out the V4, to realize the potential". But the negotiations went ahead without any audition being organized. Davies at the end, missing alternatives, he signed anyway, Melandri would have liked to do it but was stopped by the alternative Bautista. On the other, the driver market is just one of the mysteries that hover around the Ducati 2019. Very insistent rumors report that the development of the V4 would have suffered a strong slowdown, and the activity of the test team that until last winter was engaged with Lorenzo Zanetti there is no trace for a long time. The tests were secretissimi, or were not there?
WHO CHOOSE? - At the moment it is difficult to know if the choice of the Spaniard was Ducati Corse or if the pressure of Dorna was decisive. In Spain, the attention of the public, TV and media for the Superbike is just over zero: it is difficult to think that the arrival of Bautista could suddenly change the situation. Surely a training with two foreigners, a Welshman and a Spaniard, does not make much play to Aruba.it that, it should be remembered, is not only sponsor but also owner of the official Ducati team. "We'll talk after the official announcement" they let you know from Aruba Racing.it It will be interesting to have explanations from the CEO Stefano Cecconi. Meanwhile, Marco Melandri and Michael Rinaldi, his pupils, are on foot.
FastDates.com Calendar Kitten Elia with Aruba.it CEO Stefano Cecconi at World Ducati Week last month.
Rea (1) takes command of the led in Race One ahead of Davies (7), Lowes(22) and Salvadori (32) and Sykes has alarady fallen back to 5th from Pole and his early race lead.
2018 SBK Motul World Superbike Championship, Misano, Italy , Round 9 of 13
Jonthan Rea Doubles at Misano W9rld Superbike Misano, Italy, July 6-8th 2018 - After taking a third win on the trot for the first time this year, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) continued his incredible form with another impeccable triumph in Race Two at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, increasing his gap at the helm of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to 92 points.
Unlike in Race One, where his win was from lights to flag, on Sunday Rea scored perhaps his toughest victory of the season. The Northern Irish rider had to run through several riders also in top form at the Riviera di Rimini Round, all of them unafraid to bite back against the defending champions attacks. Particularly impressive were Rea’s bouts with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), with both Ducati machines taking the Kawasaki to its absolute limits and more.
Rea passed Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) with less than three laps left, securing his second consecutive double. “I couldn’t have imagined that coming here, especially after the last results we’ve had”, he says. “We just did a really good weekend right from Friday morning and worked together with the team, even in the hot conditions the bike felt really good”.
When WorldSBK returns from the summer break, there will be eight races remaining to see if the Northern Irish rider can grab his fourth crown: “To go into the summer break with that advantage is really nice. It makes the end of the year something we can manage a little bit. I just want to stay injury-free and healthy through those last races. We’re one step closer to the target, race by race, but there’s still eight races left and anything can happen so we have to be clever”.
Rea also had kind words for the family of motorcycle racer William Dunlop, who passed away this weekend and to whom Rea dedicated his win: “I really wanted to win that race for William Dunlop and his family. I’m still thinking of them. I can’t imagine what they’re going through, so I hope that gives them some power”
Jonthan Rea Leads from Start to Finish in Race One
RACE ONE, Satuday 7th - Jonathan Rea (KRT) secured his ninth race win of the 2018 WorldSBK season with a start-to-finish leading display that gave him his 63rd career win. Tom Sykes (KRT) had qualified on pole but slowly dropped back from Rea’s slipstream in the early laps to finish fifth. Rea was the dominant rider in the first race of the Misano weekend, after he made a perfect start and got clear of his opposition by over 0.3 seconds on lap one. His latest win was the 119th individual race victory for Kawasaki in WorldSBK, drawing the Akashi manufacturer into equal second place in the all-time rankings.
Rea took the holeshot and led his team-mate Sykes into the first complex of corners, with the KRT duo sitting 1-2 until the fifth lap. With Rea powering on ahead at a high pace Sykes started to experience some issues with the front end of his machine not following the contours of the track surface after releasing the front brake and he slipped down to finish fifth, scoring valuable championship points in the process.
Rea’s latest success has seen him take more than 50% of the races on offer so far this season, with one more Misano race still to come before the summer break begins.
In Superpole 2 at Misano on Saturday morning, KRT had locked out the leading two positions, with winner Sykes extending his total to 46 career Superpoles in all, and seven pole positions at this venue across his career.
Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) finished tenth today and recent returnee from injury, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 11th. Roman Ramos (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) scored points for 13th place, but the luckless Yonny Hernandez (Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) crashed at turn five and had to retire.
The second Misano race of the weekend will take place on Sunday the 8th of July, at 13.00 local time in Italy.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “We had good pace all weekend and the idea was to try and make a holeshot and then set my rhythm. I got a good start and I was able to put my bike in a good position in turn one and then make my rhythm from there. It was kind of a textbook race and in the first three laps with the bigger profile tyres, especially the rear tyre, it just kind of takes a few laps to find its rhythm. Once I found that I was able to increase the gap lap-after-lap. That made the last seven laps more stress free. My bike was quite balanced all the way through and I did not feel I was riding over the limit at all.”
Tom Sykes, stated: “I thought we would be much stronger. In the first few laps I was comfortable and happy with the way things were going and then we started to have the same kind of issue we had in Thailand. As soon as I started to release the brakes the front bounces and it would not follow the road. I started to lose a lot of time and even in the early laps something was not quite 100% right. Sitting behind Jonathan in the first couple of laps, in the slipstream, that is where you can normally take an advantage. From about one–third distance it started to get worse. Considering the problems we had I was happy to finish fifth. Hopefully our race tomorrow will be less interrupted. ”
Race One Results - Complete Results HERE
1. Jonthan Rea, Kawsaki Racing Team
2.Chazdavies, Arubia.it Ducati
3. Eugene Laverty, Milwaukee Aprilia
Tom Sykes recored another 5th place ffrom Pole forTeam Kawsaki as bike problems persisted. Two weeks alater it was anouched that the former World Champion would be leaing Team Kawasi at the end of the 2018 season after 9 yers aboard the Kawasaki.
Johnny Again on Sunday
RACE TWO, Sunday 8th - Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes finished first and fifth respectively in the second 21-lap WorldSBK race at Misano, with Rea coming from the third row of the grid to record his tenth race win of the season. Sykes ended up fifth, with a better machine set-up than he had during the first race on Saturday.
Three–time world championship Jonathan Rea had to use all his skills and determination to secure the second race win of the Misano WorldSBK weekend, and with it his third double win of the season.
Having to pass several riders, some of them after more than one attempt, Rea seized a late opportunity to take the lead from long time front-runner Michael van der Mark, Jonathan eventually won by a narrow 0.334 seconds from van der Mark, with the third placed rider Marco Melandri just 0.595 seconds from Jonathan.
Rea set the fastest lap of the race, a 1’34.944, on lap ten, after breaking free of one of the riders who started ahead of him in the race.
Sykes had been in second place from laps three to four but gradually dropped back to take fifth place and with it defend his fourth place in the championship standings.
In winning race two today, Kawasaki now has a total of 120 race wins in WorldSBK since its inception in 1988, making the Akashi manufacturer the second most successful of all time in its own right. Kawasaki leads the 2018 Manufacturers’ Standings by 59 points.
Entering the long summer break Rea has a points total of 370, Chaz Davies has 278, van der Mark 248 and Sykes 218.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 12th in race two, despite his recent foot injury. He is ninth overall. Roman Ramos (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) placed 15th, for one more championship point. Yonny Hernandez (Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) finished 16th and Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) 17th, despite suffering a crash.
With a long summer break looming, but an official test session at Portimao beforehand, the next round of the championship itself will take place at the same Portuguese venue, between the 14th and 16th of September.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “That was a super-super hard race. Yesterday I controlled the race. I could lead from the front, make my rhythm and go away. Today I could not make that in the beginning and I spent so much tyre and energy coming through the traffic. The bikes are so evenly matched now it is so hard to make a pass and make it stick. It was a hard job to track down Mikey and when I arrived I was starting to panic a little bit with five laps to go. I wanted to be in the lead by that stage and make a gap. I was worried about getting through because he was not making mistakes, but then he ran into the last corner a little bit deep, and I was able to pull alongside and outbrake him in T1. I made a lot of passes in that race and it was really hard work.”
Race Two Results - Complete Results HERE
1. Jonthan Rea, Kawsaki
2.Michale Van der Mark, Pata Yamaha
3. Marco Melandri, Arubi.it Ducati
Fast Bike Magazine Tests the Top 2018 Superbikes
The Aprilia RSV4 comes out on top as their track favorite.
Los Angeles Downtown Arts District, CA - March 31st 2018 -The 2nd annual Outlier's Guild Moto Show held in the old warehouse district of downtown Los Angeles, now being revitalized by the City as the "Arts District" with upscale Apartments,Restaurants and Art Galleries, blew the lid of the retro custom bike scene, drawing tsome 3,000 spectators and the nicest turnout of custom built bikes on the West Coast since the heyday of the legendary LA Calendar Motorcycle Show until the 2008 Recession decimated America's big ticket custom bike industry.
5-Time 600cc Supersport Champion Kenan Sofuoglu
retires from racing after Imola swansong
May 13th 2018 - Turkish racing legend Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) has taken to the grid for his last ever race this weekend at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo d Dino Ferrari di Imola, as the five time FIM Supersport World Champion looks ahead to a new chapter of his career in rider coaching and mentoring. Read Sofuoglu's complete Race Bio at right.
The 2018 Rider RoundUp at the Ranch
& Calendar Bike Building Championship! • Sunday Oct 7th 2018
The 2018 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show continues its now 28-year tradition as one of the premier outdoor custom street motorcycle events in America now in partnership with the Rider RoundUp at the Ranch & Calendar Bike Building Championship taking place on Sunday October 7th 2018 in the Western Town movie set at Paramount State Park, Agoura, CA, produced by Calendar Bike Builder Russell Mitchell / Exile Cycles and Jim Gianatsis / FastDates.com. Featuring top Celebrity Custom Bikes & Builders, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, Live Music performances. And the world premier of next year's new 2019 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars featuring the world's top Sport and Custom Motorcycles with the beautiful Calendar Kittens in attendance at the Show. Select Builders and their Bikes will be invited to be photographed by producer Jim Gianatsis for the next FastDates.com Calendars. More Information on our Bike Show Page
Calendar Bike Show Winner
Now in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Garage!
Mike LaFountain's 2016 LA Calendar Bike Show class winning 1967 Kawasaki W1 Cafe Racer with SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar Kitten Jessica Harbour in Big Screen Saver Size Pictures and bike details - http://www.FastDates.com/IronLaceGarage.HTM
Now in the Calendar Bike Garage!
Winston Yeh's exciting new MV Agusta "Ballastic" Custom with Calendar Kitten Jillian Janson with complete Build Details and a Large Screen Size Photo Gallery. - http://www.FastDates.com/IronLaceGarage.HTM
We're Back! Riding Edelweiss Motorcycle Tour - From Paris to Omaha, France
Versailles, France, August 2016 - How we spent our summer vacation! On the exciting Edelweiss Bike Travel 2016 Paris to Omaha Beach 10-day motorcycle tour across western France visiting the histroric battle sites of World War II where editor Jim Ginatsis father, B26 bomber pilot Capt. James Gianatsi played a pivital role in te D-say invasion and liberating France. We rode 2-up two-up with awesome FastDates.com SBK World Superbike Calendar Kitten Kaustin "Kaussie" Rose in a story for the FastDates.com Website. Our bike of choice would be the newly introduced BMW R 1000 XR Sport Tourer, based on the potent BMW R 1000 RR Superbike. For the Complete Story Click on the Photos or Check Out the Complete Story Here
Now in the Calendar Bike Garage... The World's Coolest Naked Ducati!
Beauitful FastDates.com Calendar Kitten Sara takes us for a ride on the world's most exotic and expensive Ducati streetbike
ever - a $110,000 Vyrus NCR 983 Superleggera in the Calendar Bike Garage and in Members Corner.
Now in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Garage!
David Beckham's Amazon Triumph Scrambler build by legenday Calendar Bike Builder Rickard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, photographed with Calendar Kitten and Penthouse Pet Aleska in BIG full screen saver size photos.
Now in the Calendar Bike Garage... Samuel Kao's Calendar Bike Show class winning BMW R 90T Bar Hopper with beauitful FastDates.com SBK World Superbike Calendar Kitten Sara featured in the Calendar Bike Garage / Members Corner and in the new 2016 Iron & Lace Calendar
Dovizioso (04) fights off Lorenzo and Marquez to the finish line.
2018 MotoGP World Championship, Monster Energy Grand Prix České Republiky, Round 10 of 17
The Battle of Brno
Dovi fights off Lorenzo and Marquez in a Czech classic Assen, Netherlands, Sunday August 5th, 2018 -Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) has taken his second win of the season in incredible style in the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky as a three-way fight for the win raged between the 04, his Ducati teammate Jorge Lorenzo and reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). By the flag it was a Lorenzo vs Marquez classic on the final lap to decide the podium positions, with the ‘Spartan’ taking second and Marquez, on his 100th MotoGP™ start, forced to settle for third – nevertheless marginally extending his Championship lead. It was also an anniversary for 'DesmoDovi' as the Italian celebrated his 100th race for Ducati with the win.
It was Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) who took the holeshot from second on the grid, with polesitter Dovizioso just losing out and shuffled back a place as Marquez retained his P3 through the first corner. Lorenzo wasn’t able to make a move from the second row and settled into fourth, with drama then hitting the early stages as a multi-rider incident saw Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and wildcard Stefan Bradl (HRC Honda Team) crash out.
At the front ‘DesmoDovi’ was quick to strike for the lead and he and Rossi dueled it out, but it was the 04 Ducati ahead over the line. Marquez then began to attack Rossi, before Lorenzo struck instead and picked the pocket of the number 93. Dovi led Rossi led Lorenzo led Marquez and it seemed it could be in for another Dutch GP battle royal – but that wasn’t to become the story of the race.
It first became a long train with Dovizioso at the front and squabbles breaking out throughout, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) vs Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) vs both and the fight at the front stretching all the way from Dovi through Rossi, Marquez, Petrucci, Crutchlow, Zarco, Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins and Andrea Iannone and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team).
By ten laps to go, however, a group of six had begun to emerge, including those who would fight for the win. Dovizioso, Marquez, Rossi, Crutchlow, Lorenzo and Petrucci had pulled out a gap, and the final showdown would be whittled down further. With expected race pace within the 1:56s and no one putting that in, it was a game of high speed chess – before five laps to go saw Lorenzo take Crutchlow to put Marquez in the middle of the Ducati duo at the front. The pin was soon to be pulled.
A lap later and the laptimes dropped – with Dovizioso, Marquez and Lorenzo all bolting in unison to suddenly pull out a gap on Crutchlow and Rossi on the chase. The trio slammed down into the 1:56s and showed their hand, setting up the Czech GP for an incredible final few laps.
Lorenzo was the first to make a serious move, attacking Marquez on the inside of Turn 14 and carrying the momentum up the inside of Dovizioso at the final corner in a stunning almost-double overtake...but it didn’t stick. ‘DesmoDovi’ took it back as Lorenzo headed a bit wide and was forced back into second, but the gloves were off. On the penultimate lap Lorenzo attacked for the lead again but again headed wide, with Dovi slicing back through before Marquez tried it near the end of the lap against Lorenzo. It was, however, as-you-were over the line for the final lap...
Marquez attacked Lorenzo at Turn 4 as the duel began, but the ‘Spartan’ hit back with a stunner into Turn 6 that sat up the reigning Champion. With Dovizioso then with a bit of margin at the front, the number 99 Ducati threw everything at it to chase down his teammate – but through the final corner neither was just close enough for that final attack. That made it an impressive second win of the season for Dovizioso and his first at Brno, with Lorenzo second and Marquez completing the podium on his 100th MotoGP™ start.
The fight wasn’t over, however. Just behind the breathless battle for the lead, another duel was lighting up the final lap, and it was Rossi who was able to pick the pocket of Crutchlow and beat the Brit to the line by just hundredths – taking the rider from Tavullia over the 6000 career points mark 22 years after his first ever GP win taken at Brno. Petrucci took sixth ahead of Zarco, with Pedrosa pouncing on the Suzuki riders to take eighth by the end. Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) was also able to move forward and took ninth in his 150th premier class race, with Iannone beating Rins to the honour of completing the top ten.
Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) was P12 ahead of top rookie Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) back from injury, with fellow debutant Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) for pretty close company in fourteenth. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), also returning from injury, completed the points scorers.
So that’s it from a frenetic fight for the win at the incredible Czech adrenaline factory of the Automotodrom Brno – but don’t worry, there’s not long to wait for more as MotoGP™ heads for the hills of Austria and the Red Bull Ring for a back-to-back thriller.
MotoGP™ Race Results- Complete Results Here
1 - Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI 41'07.728
2 - Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI +0.178
3 - Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA +0.368
Lorenzo, Marquez and Dovizioso started on the front row and finished 1,2, 3 in Austria.
2018 MotoGP World Championship,Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, Round 11 of 17
The Battle of Brno
Dovi fights off Lorenzo and Marquez in a Czech classic Red Bull Ring, Austria, Sunday August 12th, 2018 - Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) put on a show to remember at the Red Bull Ring in the eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, with the two dueling down to the wire in an instant classic and Lorenzo coming out on top for his third win of the season. Teammates in 2019, the five years in which Lorenzo and Marquez have shared the track have produced some legendary different battles at different circuits, but the number 93’s search for a win at Spielberg will have to continue. The man who beat him to the honour last season, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), completed the podium in third this time around.
It was Marquez who had the initial advantage as he bolted away into the distance over the first laps, putting the hammer down early and leaving the Ducati duo of Lorenzo and Dovizioso trailing him by half a second, a second, then seven tenths as the gap was a constant concertina but a sizeable one nonetheless. In clear air the number 93’s tactics seemed immediately clear, and the bigger focus over the first laps was on the two Ducati men locked together behind him – almost close enough to look like one bike at a passing glance.
Dovizioso looked threatening and feinted a number of times but the Italian didn’t make a move. With the gap at the front staying constant and Marquez no longer gaining ground, the tide then began to turn as Lorenzo slowly reeled him in. By 11 laps to go the Ducatis were right back on the tail of the Honda but Lorenzo just ran it wide at Turn 3. Using the grunt of the Borgo Panigale machine, however, the number 99 recovered quickly to fire himself back into second and the lead trio remained in line, nothing between them... before Lorenzo decided to make his move.
Right on Marquez’ tail over the line and passing the reigning Champion into Turn 1, Lorenzo pulled the pin and took over at the front as teammate Dovizioso ran wide and dropped off the lead duo. But that lead duo didn’t stay the same way around for long as they dueled it out, heading a bit wide at one point before Lorenzo was back ahead and the two regrouped.
With 3 laps to go Lorenzo went wide at Turn 3 and Marquez went through, but of course the Ducati struck back – with a brutal move at Turn 9. On the penultimate lap Marquez again attacked at Turn 3, but Lorenzo led the two over the line to begin the final lap - and the gloves were most definitely off.
Locked together, the big attack came again at Turn 3 as Marquez dived straight for the inside – but Lorenzo held his line and was able to regain the ground immediately on the exit. Pushing hard and the Repsol Honda in second squiggling around in the braking zones, Marquez looked threatening around the remainder of the final lap but the 'Spartan' was not for being caught – taking the victory in style and denying Marquez the chance at a final lunge.
Behind 'DesmoDovi' in third, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) put in an impressive performance to take fourth as top Independent Team rider to put his Spielberg demons to bed after two fifteenths over the past two years, with Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) also able to bounce back after a tough race at the venue last season to complete the top five. Petrucci now leads the Independent Team standings by a single point from Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), with Crutchlow only another point back.
Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) put in a stunning ride through the field, with the rider from Tavullia moving through from fourteenth on the grid to fight off Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) in a high-calibre battle for sixth. Behind the two, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) took eighth after mixing it at the front nearer the start, making for a solid result at a more difficult track for the Hamamatsu factory.
Johann Zarco took ninth as he beat with Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) to the line – with Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) for close company. The three took P9, P10 and P11 respectively.
Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), meanwhile, took P12 in a more difficult race after a difficult weekend, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in thirteenth following an early run off for the 2016 winner. Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took points for home factory KTM and put in a good race for fourteenth, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completing the points as top rookie – just ahead of Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).
MotoGP™ Race Results- Complete Results Here
1 - Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI 39'40.688
2 - Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA +0.130
3 - Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI +1.656
Ducati Corse
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Ducati Sales Down First Half of 2018
August 1st - When analysts said regarded the worldwide motorcycle as “soft,” they weren’t kidding. Ducati Motor Holdings is the latest to announce a sales decline of 7.4% in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period last year.
Total units sold were 32,250 motorcycles, representing €448 million revenue for the Audi-held motorcycle brand.
To analyze further, Ducati’s second quarter sales were down by 8.9% compared to Q2 2017, translating to 20,319 units compared to 22,300 in the same quarter last year.
Sales in all segments took a hit except for the manufacturer’s sport category which includes the SuperSport and superbike models. This sport category is what keeps them doing reasonably well despite the slump in sales for the other models, as there was a 29% increase with 7,683 units sold in the first half of this year.
That report leads to the Panigale V4 being the key driving force. Sportbikes are dead? We don’t think so. The manufacturer had also iterated that the Mutlistrada 1260 had also performed well.
Leon Haslam to Replace Tom Sykes at Ream Kawasaki WSK for 2109
July 19th - Currently leading the British Superbike Championship on his JG Speedfit Kawasaki Leon is set to join Rea and Kazuma Watanabe next week to compete in the 41st Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hour race as part of the official Team Green effort. Haslam has been Rea’s WorldSBK team-mate before, shortly before Rea first joined Kawasaki.
Leon is an experienced WorldSBK campaigner, with five race wins and 39 podiums to his credit. He has recently competed as a wild card for Kawasaki at selected WorldSBK events, in between his regular commitments in BSB for Kawasaki Motors UK. Haslam has won six races from twelve in the British championship so far and enjoys a lead of 80 points.
A rider of vast experience in almost all forms of racing, Haslam’s best WorldSBK season to date was 2010, when he finished championship runner-up. Leon will begin his working relationship with KRT during this year’s winter test programme.
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “It’s understandably tough to replace a rider of Tom’s quality and the final decision to sign Leon for 2019 was made after considering many factors, some obvious and others to answer internal team factors. There’s a complex sporting strategy behind this decision, and to satisfy our team goals we felt that Leon was the best possible rider for the job. Rumours and speculation have filled many of the last weeks and we are happy to finally confirm Leon as the KRT choice.
KHI knows, I know, he knows, and crew chief Marcel Duinker knows that he takes onto his shoulders a big responsibility and, at 35 years of age, to get this opportunity is his best chance to prove he still has something extra to contribute. We have a clear idea where to find this contribution and I’m personally motivated to use his experience matched to ours to try to make a stronger package that nobody has yet witnessed from Leon. As we say in KRT… "Results are the greatest evidence of endeavour”.
Steve Guttridge, KME Racing Manager, stated: "Bringing Leon into the KRT WorldSBK team is a great way to show that within the Kawasaki racing structure there is a pathway to the top! Since he joined Kawasaki UK’s BSB team, we've enjoyed a very fruitful relationship that included Leon assisting KHI inside our Team Green squad at Suzuka and with additional rides and good feedback in WorldSBK for the Puccetti and Pedercini teams. Most important to us is his enthusiasm to work hard, his boundless energy, proving age is just a number. I have no doubt that his personal motivation will be to push Jonathan at every round next season for podium places. From the upcoming winter test onwards I'm excited to support the very best potential from Leon, back inside the World Superbike arena but now on our Championship winning KRT machinery.
Ken Ondo, Senior Manager Kawasaki Heavy Industries Racing Department, stated: “It is a great pleasure for all at Kawasaki to have Leon as a KRT rider. He is on the top of current BSB ranking and put Team Green on the Suzuka podium twice as well as helping development in KHI Japan through his wild card entry in the JSB series. The upcoming Suzuka 8 hour race will be a very good preview for the 2019 KRT duo. Leon, together with Kazuma Watanabe, has spent a lot of time in Suzuka to develop the 8-Hour machine. Now is harvest time!”
Leon Haslam, stated: “I have to say a big thanks to Kawasaki for this opportunity. Returning to the World Superbike Championship is something I’m really looking forward to. After scoring race wins, lap records, pole positions and a championship runner-up position in my seven years there it’s going to be great to get back to WorldSBK. The support of Kawasaki throughout my three years in the British Superbike Championship and via KHI at the Suzuka 8-Hour race has been exceptional. The like-minded approach from Kawasaki UK and KHI in Japan has been really appreciated and I’m now hoping to repay them with the 2018 British Superbike title and then to challenge for next year’s WorldSBK Championship. The 2019 season will throw up some new challenges as the competitiveness between the manufacturers continues to be at the highest level but I’m confident that with the professional and successful team behind me we can enjoy plenty of success.”
Tom Sykes and Kawasaki to part ways after 2018 WSBK Season
July 18, 2018 - After nine successful years on Ninja machinery and with the official factory Kawasaki Racing Team in WorldSBK, Tom Sykes and the Kawasaki Racing Team have mutually agreed to end their sporting relationship at the end of the 2018 season. Credited with changing the way Kawasaki approached the rigours of superbike racing while playing a large role in the development of the Ninja ZX-10R racing package, Tom will seek a new challenge for 2019 having delivered maximum effort across a total of nine years of racing and development on Kawasaki machinery in WorldSBK. As the 2018 season is far from over, Sykes is still pushing with KRT in a bid to add to his landmark 2013 WorldSBK championship, the first title for Kawasaki after 20 years following the 1993 success of Scott Russell.
Not simply a winner, Tom also achieved championship second place status in 2012, 2014 and 2016 with the 2012 attempt being closest ever runner up finish at just 0.5 points between himself and a second world championship. With the remainder of the 2018 season yet to be completed the most successful Superpole winner in WorldSBK history still has a chance to increase his amazing tally of qualifying and race successes on KRT machinery. Fully motivated and with the full support of the Kawasaki Racing Team and his pit crew, Tom remains a racing force to be admired by fans and feared by rivals in equal measure.
Tom Sykes: “I feel the time has arrived; the moment to make a change in my career and seek new challenges. Having the motivation to push to your limits and that of your machine is all the more important when you look for the victory at every race and I feel I have given all I can within KRT. I am now the best rider I have ever been, and I have the experience and performance to keep winning.
So now I have decided to make a step away from the KRT project for 2019 and look for new goals and challenges. I will now concentrate to finish on the podium for the last four rounds of 2018. I am determined to enjoy my racing and making this announcement effectively ends all speculation. The timing of this big career decision is never easy but it is especially difficult as my personal life also faces big changes. Regarding this I feel the weight of pressure has been slightly lifted from my shoulders and I am sure 2019 will allow me to operate at full capacity”.
Guim Roda - KRT Team Manager : “It has been a busy few weeks recently and for sure we have talked many hours internally. In the most recent rounds Tom’s concentration was not able to be the best, as he was dealing with a big decision - apart from some family points to solve - this has taken a lot of his concentration over the past two years. I hope this final confirmation will give us room to finish the year in the same way we dominated in Assen. We have big job to do until end of year, so is not time to say good bye yet. Of course this is an announcement of intentions for 2019 but the more important is to work hard to finish the year with the same determination that we started with”.
Rea and KRT Join Forces Again for 2019-2020
June 1st 2018 - Jonathan Rea has signed a new contract with Kawasaki to remain in the WorldSBK championship as an official KRT rider for two more years. This is an agreement that seals the commitment of both the three-time World Champion and the most successful WorldSBK manufacturer of recent years to each other - and to WorldSBK racing.
Rea had several options for 2019 and beyond, including possible MotoGP rides, but has elected to stay loyal to Kawasaki and the WorldSBK championship paddock he has ridden in since 2008. Rea has secured three consecutive World Championships since he joined the Akashi based manufacturer in 2015.
Rea and Kawasaki has been a winning partnership since their first season together, with Rea becoming the most successful WorldSBK rider ever, in terms of race wins, at the most recent event in Brno.
Jonathan’s legendary self-belief is mirrored by his confidence in the future of both Kawasaki’s WorldSBK racing efforts and the increasing profile of WorldSBK racing.
Over the past three-and-a-half seasons Jonathan has enjoyed a wins-per-race ratio of just under 50% since he joined Kawasaki. He is already the most successful Kawasaki WorldSBK rider in history, with his 45 victories taken on either the Ninja ZX-10R or Ninja ZX-10RR.
Re-signing Rea underlines Kawasaki’s commitment to be an integral part of the WorldSBK Championship itself and its desire to continue its development of ever-improving machines for both the marketplace and WorldSBK racing use.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “I am more than happy to continue in these next two seasons with the Kawasaki Racing Team. Since the end of last season we have already started to talk about continuing our partnership, so it’s nice to finalise everything now, so that we can concentrate on the remaining races of 2018. From the moment I arrived at the end of 2014 I was welcomed into the Kawasaki family and since then we have achieved success beyond our wildest dreams. Here is where I want to stay. Of course it feels natural to keep writing this incredible story together, and I want to thank everyone in the Kawasaki Racing Team for believing in me and for this opportunity. Together we will work harder than ever to keep the ZX-10RR at the front of WorldSBK in the future. I have the best team of people around me to ensure that we can continue fighting for the World Championship.”
Steve Guttridge, Kawasaki Race Planning Manager, stated: “Signing Jonathan originally was so cool. The foundation for his dominance was built up very quickly. JR deciding to say with KRT after three World Championships and breaking records is actually even cooler. All those strong relationships can remain in place. It is the same goals and motivations that we share with JR, and the dedicated KRT crew, engineers and team staff. To continue making history together with Kawasaki inside WorldSBK.”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “We can celebrate that Johnny decides to stay two more years in Kawasaki and running in WorldSBK. It is important that he has decided that WorldSBK is the place that still makes him motivated. I’m sure many fans would like to see him running with the top guys in MotoGP, but we can ask the guys from MotoGP to come here to see the battle too. The level Rea has now is so high and this only will make the level of other riders and manufacturers in WorldSBK increase. All will be forced to give their maximum to beat Johnny, so we all must be happy and motivated. Of course, we all will continue working to improve the package so I’m sure the show will continue. Other riders and manufacturers will need to work hard if wants to have the honour of being a WorldSBK Champion. The show must go on.”
Desmo Dovi Sets new MotoGP Top Speed Record of 356.4 kmh / 220.968 mph at Mugelo!
Friday June 1st 2018, Gran Premio d'Italia Oakley. Mugelo, Italy - It was a dramatic Friday at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with some big headlines, a shake-up on the timesheets and a record broken as Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) became the fastest man in MotoGP™ when he set a new top speed record of 356.4km/h – up from the previous best of 354.9km/h set by compatriot Andrea Iannone in 2016.
For comparison, the higest top speed for the equivalent premier 4-wheel car Formaula One race cars was set by Juan Pablo Montoya. A year after setting F1's fastest ever lap at the 2004 Monza GP at 262.242kph (162.950mph), Juan Pablo Montoya returned to Monza in to set another all-time record during the 2005 Italian Grand Prix weekend, hitting a top speed of 372.6kph (231.523mph) the fastest ever recorded in Formula One which still stands today.
Friday MotoGP Practice News continued...
Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Iannone was, however, the quickest man overall on Day 1 at Mugello – 0.387 ahead of Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) less than a tenth further back to make it three different bikes in the top three. Marquez did crash on Friday and suffered a run off, rider ok, but some bigger headlines instead came from two Red Flags in FP2.
The first went out following a high-speed crash for Michele Pirro (Ducati Team) into Turn 1, with the Borgo Panigale factory’s test rider tumbling through the gravel following a highside. After being treated by the track, it was confirmed that Pirro was conscious and the Italian was then transferred to Ospedale Careggi in Florence for further checks.
Action then got back underway, but not for long – with Dovizioso then suffering a mechanical problem into Turn 1 and flames briefly appearing around his Desmosedici. After going third in the morning and setting the fastest top speed, the incident put a dent in the day for the 2017 Italian GP winner and he was P13 on the combined timesheets on Friday – with fellow big name Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) also out of provisional Q2 graduation in P14, 0.022 off the Italian.
Back at the top behind the fastest trio and the headline incidents, it was a solid day for top Independent Team rider Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) in fourth overall, with Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) confirming more good speed on the Ducati to complete the top five just 0.038 in arrears. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was also in close company, however, just 0.030 behind the Queenslander to take P6 and show some good pace as he gets back to full power following his highside at Le Mans.
Home favourite Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) closed the gaps up even more as he took seventh only 0.012 back, edging out VR46 Academy and EG 0,0 Marc VDS rookie Franco Morbidelli by less than half a tenth on home turf. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) made for more home delight in ninth, with the top ten completed by multiple-time Mugello winner Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team).
The Devil Made Us Do It!
Testing the Ducati Diavel in Italy
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2018 MotoGP
Season Preview Click Date for Race Report
DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK Mar 8 Qatar, Losail Apr 8 Argentina, Rio Apr 22 America, Austin TX May 6 Spain, Jerez May 20 France, Le Mans Jun 3 Italy, Mugello Jun 17 Spain, Catalunya
July 1 Netherlands, Assen
July 15 Germany Sachenring
Aug 5 Czech Rep, Brno
Aug 12 Austrian, Red Bull
Aug 26 UK, Silverstone
Sept 9 San Marino, Misano
Sept 23 Aragon Motorland
Oct 7 Thailand, Chang
Oct 21 Japan, Motegi
Oct 28 Australia, Phillip Is
Nov 4 Malaysia, Sepang
Nov 18 Spain, Ricardo
2018 British Superbike DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK
Apr 31-2 Donnington
April 13-15 Brands Hatch
May 5-7 Oulton Park
June 15-17 Snetterton
July 6-8 Knockhill
July 20-22 Brands Hatch
Aug 3-5 Thruxton
Aug 17-19 Cadwell Park
Sept 7-9 Silverstone GP
Sept 14-16 Oulton Park
Sept 28-30 Assen NL
Oct 12-14 Brands Hatch
2018 MotoAmerica DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK
April 13-15 Road Atlanta
April 20-22 Circuit Am TX
May 4-6 VIR VA
June 1-3 Road Am, WI
June 22-24 Laguna SecaCA
July 20-22 Miller UT
Aug 10-12 Sanoma CA
Aug 24-26 Pittsburg PA
Sept 7-9 Jersey MotorSp
Sept 21-23 Barber, AL
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APRILIA FACTORY RSV4 MACHINES RETURN IN WORLD SBK 2017-18 WITH MILWAUKEE APRILIA RACING TEAM
Riders Italian Lorenzo Savadori and Noethern Irishman Eugene Laverty
Sept 22nd 2016 - Two Aprilia RSV4 bikes will be on the track in the 2017 World Superbike Championship with the Milwaukee Aprilia Racing Team colours.
This is a two-year contract, so it will also be valid for 2018.
The agreement specifies that technical material and related direct assistance and support will be provided by Aprilia Racing, including bike development, which classifies Milwaukee as a Supported Factory Team.
This means that Aprilia Racing - the Piaggio Group racing department and technological point of excellence in the Italian motorcycle industry - is confirming its high level presence in the premier competition for factory derivative bikes, alongside its important efforts in MotoGP.
The goal is to compete at top levels in World SBK in order to emphasize the competitiveness of the Aprilia RSV4, capable of taking no less than seven World Titles (three Rider and four Manufacturer) between 2010 and 2014, proving to be the most victorious bike in recent WSBK history.
The result of a project intended to create a true racing bike that any enthusiast could have, the RSV4 astonished from its rookie season, winning a race in its maiden year and then racking up repeated championship wins in both the Manufacturer and Rider competitions (twice with Max Biaggi and once with Sylvain Guintoli). All this while the street version - obviously also characterized by an exclusive narrow 1.0 litre V4 - continued to win comparative reviews year after year with the best competitors in the world, both European and Japanese.
The team run by Shaun Muir, which boasts two British titles, will be able to count on a top shelf rider lineup: in addition to the 2015 Superstock Champion Lorenzo Savadori, who quickly drew attention this year in his rookie World Superbike season, Northern Irishman Eugene Laverty will be back in WSBK, 2013 runner up astride none other than an Aprilia RSV4.
Romano Albesiano - Aprilia Racing Manager
"Shaun Muir's team, after making a good name for themselves in the British championship, wants to get to the top of a world category. Our agreement includes, in addition to providing bikes and materials, support from Aprilia Racing personnel to manage and develop the RSV4, within a Factory Support type relationship.
The birth of the Milwaukee Aprilia Racing Team also marks Eugene Laverty's return to WSBK, a rider who we know well and whose professional and personal qualities have our utmost respect. He will have Lorenzo Savadori working alongside him, a young rider who has been part of our sports project for two seasons in which he won the Superstock 1000 title first and then drew attention in WSBK with an extremely positive rookie year".
Shaun Muir - SMR General Manager - "For SMR, collaboration with Aprilia Racing for 2017 and 2018 means a real chance to fight for the win. Aprilia has a strong and victorious history in World Superbike and we are determined to continue on the same path. Having Eugene and Lorenzo on board makes this a dream team. Without a doubt, Eugene is coming back to WSBK for one reason only - to win. Lorenzo, on the other hand, is the fastest rookie and a sure protagonist. I wish to thank Milwaukee, Gulf and all of the partners who are supporting our project".
Eugene Laverty - "I'm excited to return to Superbike with Aprilia and the RSV4, a bike with which I took ten wins and second place overall in the championship. I hope to be able to pick up where I left off with those results, thanks to the support of Aprilia and a fantastic team like Shaun Muir's. Everything is in place for us to be competitive straight away".
Lorenzo Savadori - "I am very happy to continue my adventure in World Superbike with Aprilia. This is another chance to achieve great results, with one more year of experience on the RSV4 for me. In a demanding rookie season I was already able to express a good performance level, learning a lot, both about race management and working in the garage, but I do not want to stop here. We will definitely be highly motivated at the start, with an ambitious project and a great desire to do well".
Jason Chiswell - Vice President of Marketing Milwaukee Tools
"At Milwaukee Power tools our vision is always to win and that same mentality is shared with the SMR team. We see the next year with Aprilia as being an exciting and a new winning chapter in our World Superbike program”.
Frank Rutten - Vice President of Gulf Oil International- "As the world’s fastest growing oil brand we are very excited by the prospect of moving forwards with what we believe will be one of the most rapid teams in SBK next year. We have been extremely impressed by the way SMR has entered the World Superbike arena. They are one of the best organized and most professional outfits in the paddock and we have developed an excellent working relationship with both them and the team’s title sponsor, Milwaukee Tools.
We are very excited by the prospect of moving forwards with them as team sponsor and official lubricant partners”.
FastDates.com Calendar Kitten Elia with Aruba.it CEO Stefano Cecconi at World Duc
Lorenzo, Marquez and Dovizioso started on the front row and finished 1,2, 3 in Austria.
