Former Mot02 rider and KTM test rider Joan Olivé has tweeted that he’ll be riding in this weekend’s Moto3 race at Estoril filling in for disqualified Niklas Ajo.

The TT Motion Events Racing team rider was slapped with a disqualification penalty related to the incident with Jerez’s marshals last Sunday, where he refused to obey instructions given to him after his crash and then pushed one of the marshals, who didn’t want to help him return to the race.

The last time we saw Olivé on track was the 2011 season where he took part in the last six races for the Aeroport de Castello team on a FTR/Honda and in 2012 didn’t find an official ride, so he is currently mentoring KTM riders like Danny Kent and Arthur Sissis.

Source | plusmoto.com

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Many of you guys may remember that 2008 case study that said riding motorcycles for too long could cause erectile disfunction and impotency, well a California man has just messed up those statistics as he is suing BMW North America and seat maker Corbin over a severe case of priapism (medical term for a persistent, lasting erection)

Apparently, the plantiff Henry Wolf, is claiming that in May 2010 after a four-hour ride on his 1993 BMW equipped with a Corbin Pacific seat caused him to suffer from a painful erection that still hasn’t gone away 20 months later, and this has resulted in lost wages, personal injury, medical expenses, negligent infliction of emotional distress and inability to engage in sexual activity, so he is seeking compensation from both companies.

We doubt that BMW’s legal department has ever had to handle something as hard as this.

Source | asphaltandrubber.com

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Niklas Ajo (TT Motions KTM) has been disqualified from next weekend’s Moto3 race at Estoril after he pushed one of the Jerez marshals following his crash. The FIM released the following statement:

“Gran Premio bwin de España: Decision of the Race Direction

On Sunday 29 April during the Moto3 Race, rider Niklas Ajo (FIN) didn’t obey the instructions given by the track marshals and push down one of them. The Race Direction has decided to impose on the rider a disqualification from the next event in Estoril, Portugal on 4, 5, 6 May. An appeal has been lodged to the FIM Steward. The FIM Steward confirmed the decision of the Race Direction. The Decision of the Race Direction is final.”

On his Facebook page, the Finnish rider explained what happened (we personally missed this altercation) and commented the decision:

“Due to a wet spot on the track the rear end of my bike swang out from under on the third lap and I ended up to sand where I fell. However, the bike was just fine and all I needed to do was to shake the sand off and then I would have been ready to continue the race. But the clerk of the course didn’t allow me to do that and tried to take my bike away. At that situation I lost my temper a bit but there was nothing special.”

“Ok, I need to suffer my punishment but it does feel quite hard one. One should remember that riders are full of adrenaline during the competition. When I saw that the bike was fine I really wanted to continue the race.
Ajo reminded that the GP in Jerez was really unusual due to the difficult circumstances and only half of the 34 riders reached the finish line. So many crashes caused lot of work to the clerk of the courses and possible also caused some confusions. My opinion is that the jury should have taken into account that it was so unusual race.”

Continue reading: Niklas Ajo disqualified from upcoming Moto3 race at Estoril

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When Ducati decided to officially withdraw their factory effort in World Superbikes at the end of 2010, but continue to support private teams, there was some massive complaining from offended fans, who blamed Gabriele Del Torchio for re-routing the funds for the team to hire an expensive Valentino Rossi (we know how that’s working out) in MotoGP, but by the end of the 2011 season all the mumblings were swept away as Althea Racing’s Carlos Checa went on to win the World championship title with Ducati scooping up the manufacturer’s title as well.

To celebrate the accomplishment, Althea Racing is releasing their official book this month, Our Best Lap or Il nostro “giro” migliore published by Faenza Editrice that gives an in-depth look at their winning season with exclusive photos, ancedotes, racing strategies and it also contains all the 2011 statistics.

The 124 page book is in Italian and English and can be ordered at letsbookandapp.com website for €29.

Source | motorpasionmoto.com

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Effenbert Liberty Racing team has announced that they will not be replacing injured Brett McCormick in next week’s World Superbike round at Monza (May 6th - which clashes with MotoGPs Estoril round).

20-year old McCormick suffered serious, but not threatening multiple fractures to his vertebrae following a crash in race 2 at Assen and will be out of action for at least two to three months, but team owner Mario Bertuccio doesn’t want to find a substitute rider for the Canadian yet, despite receiving numerous offers.

“We are still shocked, and very sad, for what happened to Brett McCormick at Assen,” said the team Owner Mario Bertuccio. “For this reason, in his respect, during the 4th round of the Sbk Championship that will be held at Monza next week, we have decided that nobody else will ride the 4th bike, and we haven’t accepted the offers recently received. The 4th bike belongs to Brett, we have in high esteem him and this is our sign of our great affection for him.”

Effenbert Liberty will be fielding only Sylvain Guintoli (Assen race 1 winner), Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger at the Temple of Speed.

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Kawasaki Provec Racing has released a new statement (in Spanish) regarding the condition of its rider Joan Lascorz following his serious accident during World Superbike testing at Imola.

The new press release reports that Lascorz is now breathing unaided and is able to comunicate with family members and friends and has left the Intensive Care Trauma Unit of the Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona and is currently in the spinal treatment ward.

The Spanish rider will soon be transferred to the Gutttman Institute just outside Barcelona, a specialized neurorehabilitation hospital to begin his long and difficult rehabilitation program.

“Joan Lascorz these days is showing progressive improvements in his physical condition, particularly in regards to his respiratory system. The Spaniard is conscious, and breathing without the aid of machines and is talking with his doctors and family.

Joan was transferred from intensive care unit and is now in the spinal injuries division at the University Hospital Vall d’Hebron and in the coming days, is expected to be transferred to the Guttmann Institute to continue his rehabilitation program.

Joan, his family and the team wish to thank again all the doctors, nurses and medical staff of the Hospital Vall d’Hebron, as well as all the people who have been close to Joan in these recent weeks. Special thanks also to the two Superbike winners at Assen, Sylvain Guintoli and Jonathan Rea, who dedicated their victories to Joan on Sunday. ”

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German manufacturer Horex announced that the beginning of the production of its own V6R Roadster - which was scheduled to happen this month - had been pushed back to the end of May. The decision was taken after the bike narrowly made it at the latest CO2 emission test. The bike is characterized by its peculiar 1281 cc V6 engine with 3 camshafts, which will develop 161 hp in its standard ‘naturally aspirated’ engine or 200 hp when boosted by a supercharger.

In addition to the dual catalytic converters, Horex will now provide its bike with a secondary air injection system, which has designed to reduce its carbon footprint and make it meet the future emission standard. The Ausburg-based manufacturer has already pointed out that no further delays will get in the way of the production.

“This technically sophisticated solution cost us a little more time, but it puts us on the safe side - said Horex CEO Clemens Neese - This is important: everything on the engine we are bringing to market is perfectly matched. Changing our production plan was anything but easy, but our ultimate goal is to introduce the new Horex in the best-possible quality. Since we are unwilling to compromise on this point, we decided to reschedule the production launch.”

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Just the other day, Brett McCormick personally informed fans during a phone interview with CBC Radio on his health and of his two fractured cervical vertebrae and one in his lower back, but luckily he didn’t sustain any spinal damage and that he expects to return to complete fitness very soon.

However, his team Effenbert Liberty, in a press release issued today says that McCormick will probably need a recovery and rehabilitation period of two or three months (more or less in August for either the Silverstone, but more likely the Moscow round) and that he will have to wear a collar and a back brace for a few weeks and will be returning to Canada in an air ambulance in order to avoid any unnecessary movements.

Effenbert Liberty press release after the jump.

Continue reading: Brett McCormick to return to racing in 2 or 3 months

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Slovenian freestyler Rok Bagoros has a brand new toy to play with: after stunning the international crowds on the KTM Duke 125, the skillful 22 years old has now recived from personal sponsor KTM a special 690 Duke stunt factory bike that will soon become part of his show. All Rok needs to do now is get acquainted with the new machine: take a look at the video above and at the photo gallery to see him in action on th new machine.

“There’s a BIG difference between the two bikes - Mr.Bagoros said - The bike has five times more power then the Duke 125 and any mistake can result in a crash, as I’ve already discovered. The bike has amazing power but I’m slowly getting it under control. I have to remember that this is my first big stunt bike and so I have to learn how to handle the extra power and convert it into spectacular tricks that will be fun to do and thrilling for the fans.”

The move doesn’t mean that the 125 Duke is now going to collect dust in Rok’s garage: the talented stunt rider will in fact use both bikes in his show to make it more exciting, more noisy and more spectacular than ever. His new 690 Duke was especially tuned for stunt riding at the KTM headquarters in Mattighofen, Austria, and comes with a number of special features that you can read after the jump.

Continue reading: Rok Bagoros steps up his game with the KTM 690 Duke

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Former 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz and racing’s most famous runner-up, Randy Mamola will be Arai’s guests this year at the Isle of Man TT Races to take part in the parade lap on Wednesday June 6th.

Schwantz will be riding a Suzuki GSXR-1000, while fellow American Mamola will taking Ducati’s newest Superbike, the Ducati 1199 Panigale around the 37.73-mile circuit.

“The Isle of Man is rightly considered a mecca for Motorcycle Racing and when I was offered the opportunity to experience a closed road parade lap I jumped at the chance. The top TT racers are respected around the world and I’m really looking forward to experiencing the famous Mountain Course first hand,” said Schwantz.

Mamola, who will be making the trip for the first time said, “I have a long connection with Arai and it will be a real honour to represent them in a parade lap around this iconic race circuit. I’ve met many TT racers over the course of my career and I’m pleased to get the chance to see the races live.”

Joining the two Americans will be eleven-times TT winner Phillip McCallen who’ll be on a Honda RC45 and former British and World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson who will also be on a Ducati Panigale and Swan Yamaha’s and multi-TT winner Ian Hutchinson who is still recovering from his latest leg injury, but is still able to ride as he demonstrated during the TT press launch.

To represent the current crop MotoGP riders (after Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Jorge Lorenzo, and now retired Loris Capirossi) and back for the second straight year, will be Yamaha’s Tech3 rider Cal Crutchlow, who last year rode alongside five-time world champion Mick Doohan.

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