Since it first appeared at the end of 2011, we all got mesmerized by the jaw-dropping beauty of the new Ducati 1199 Panigale, the new flagship model from the legendary Italian manufacturer. In order to emphasize its fascinating lines, USA’s biggest Ducati dealership MotoCorsa has come up with a set of pretty arty pictures featuring the beautiful Panigale with an equally gorgeous model, whose name remains unfortunately undisclosed. Excellent set of pics though, check them out.

View the full seDUCATIve 1199 Panigale photo gallery

via | MotoCorsa.com

Japanese motorcycle mag Young Machine reports that Honda is working on a new mid-size sportsbike that will be positioned in the current range between the CBR250R and the CBR600RR. Apparently, the model is being developed with the home market in mind, where this segment of the market is clearly on the rise, and it is supposed to continue the tradition of the classic VFR400 (NC30) and RVF400R (NC35), although the Japanese magazine reveals that the new model will be powered by a flat twin engine (that is likely to bear some resemblance with the CBR250R’s single) as opposed to the V4 that equipped the aforementioned couple of bikes..

According to VisorDown, this new Honda CBR400R should be able to count on about 50 hp, which is twice as much as the CBR250R but less than half the power of the CBR600RR, making it an ideal motorcycle to complete the transition between the two models.

The shockwaves caused by the steady fall of the sportsbike market worldwide surely hit the main guys in Tokyo, and the concurrent renaissance of the sporty 400s market did not go unnoticed either: putting two and two together, it sounds like there are a lot of customers out there that would be interested in this kind of product.

foto | TMCblog

Italian manufacturer Vyrus releases through its facebook page the first images of the street legal version of the 986 M2, the latest creature of Vyrus’s mastermind Ascanio Rodorigo. The model is basically a Moto2 racer that has been tweaked in order to make it road legal, and therefore it is powered by the same 600 cc in-line four engine that is used in that class, which is the one of the Honda CBR600RR.

The brand new chassis of this bike uses the superior styling and technical accuracy that are typical of all the various Vyrus models we have seen throughout the years: the front wheel uses a swing arm (it steers through the wheel spindle), the frame is an upside-down Omega frame and the rear shock is mounted transverse. The shape of the front is very pointed, both the top fairing and the lower fairing, incorporated in the tank, reduce the turbulences at high speeds.

Other highlights of the model include Brembo brakes, Zard ‘4 into 2 into 1′ exhaust system, ultra light alutex fairings (a material also known as ‘white carbon’) and forged aluminum wheels courtesy of Marchesini. The mastery used for its creation and the stunning aesthetics surely make this bike a ‘head turner’: basically, it is a Moto2 bike with lights, indicators, wing mirrors and number plate holder. If you are wondering how this bike would actually feel like on a track, here is a nice video showing an early prototype in action on the Misano track.

French team Kawasaki SRC has won the 2012 Bol D’Or, first round of the Endurance World Championship (EWC). Riders Julien Da Costa, Grégory Leblanc and Olivier Four took their Ninja ZX-10R top the top spot to clinch the first victory for Kawasaki at the event since it moved to the Magny Cours circuit, 12 years ago.

Intermittent rain and low temperatures made it all pretty difficult for the teams, with the Kawasaki guys claiming victory in front of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, whose riders Fabien Foret, Anthony Delahalle and Philippe Vincent completed the same amount of laps of the winners (781), but with a gap of 1 minute and 20 seconds. Third place for the Monster Energy Yamaha team of Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani, which completed 776 laps.

The Bol D’Or turned out to be quite a disappointment for the Honda TT Legends team of John Mc Guinness, which clinched 6th place among the EWC teams with 747 laps but closed 9th in the race overall behind the top three teams of the Superstock class (which registered yet another win for Kawasaki, with riders Debise, Delegue and Holub taking the ZX-10R of the 3D Endurance Moto Center team to the top spot). When their Fireblade was in 5th position, Cameron Donald lost the front end on the back straight and suffered a high speed crash. In line with EWC rules, the uninjured Australian pushed the Honda CBR1000RR back to the pits, where the team set to work repairing the extensive damage. However, the accident forced the team to lose quite some time, jeopardizing the final result. Classification and comments right after the jump.

View the full 2012 Bol D’Or photo gallery

Results 24H of Bol d’Or 2012
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS RESULTS

1. SRC KAWASAKI / Da Costa - Leblanc - Four / KAWASAKI / 781 / 24:00:23.531
2. S.E.R.T. / Philippe - Delhalle - Foret / SUZUKI / 781 / 24:02:04.586
3. MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA / Jerman - Martin - Giabbani / YAMAHA / 776 / 24:00:23.775
4. YAMAHA - GMT 94 - MICHELIN / Checa - Foray - Lagrive / YAMAHA / 776 / 24:01:19.039
5. YAMALUBE FOLCH / Ribalta Bosh - Dos Santos - Tizon / YAMAHA / 765 / 24:00:31.983
6. HONDA TT LEGENDS / Donald - McGuinness - Andrews / HONDA / 747 / 24:01:59.143
7. 18 SAPEURS POMPIERS / Molinier - Prulihere - Briere / BMW / 736 / 24:00:31.459
8. DUNLOP MOTORS EVENTS / Charpin - Maccio - Wolf / SUZUKI / 730 / 24:00:28.431
9. TEAM R2CL / Capela - Dumain - Cheron / SUZUKI / 727 / 24:01:23.776
10. SH TECHNOLOGIE-SCRUBS / Pouhair - Teramoto - Demarey / BMW / 722 / 24:01:29.039
11. NATIONAL MOTOS / Monge - Bocquet - Masson / HONDA / 704 / 24:00:32.759
12. SPACE MOTO / Nouvellon - Deneque - Gallerand / SUZUKI / 700 / 24:02:23.188
13. LEMAN RACING / Villarroya - Monnot - Vinet / BMW / 675 / 24:01:39.332
14. MAX ET YANN RACING TEAM / Thepaut - Cury - Laniel / SUZUKI / 668 / 24:00:27.251
15. FLEMBBO DIJAMANT SERBIA / Bosio - Cersosimo - Dehaye / KAWASAKI / 648 / 24:02:20.427

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS POSITIONS

1 Team SRC Kawasaki - 40
2 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team - 33 pts
3 Monster Energy Yamaha YART - 28 pts
4 Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube - 24 pts
5 Yamalube Folch Endurance - 21 pts
6 Honda TT Legends - 19 pts
7 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers - 17 pts
8 Team Dunlop Motors Events - 15 pts
9 Team R2CL - 13 pts
10 SH Technologie Scrubs - 11 pts
11 National Motos - 10 pts
12 Space Moto - 9 pts
13 Leman Racing 8 pts
14 Max et Yann Racing Team 7 pts
15 Team Flembbo Djimiant Serbia 6 pts

SUPERSTOCK CLASS RESULTS

1. 3D ENDURANCE MOTOCENTER / Debise - Delegue - Holub / KAWASAKI / 750 / 24:01:41.594
2. Penz13-Kraftwerk-Herpigny / Buisson - Fastre - Vallcaneras / BMW / 749 / 24:01:40.197
3. STARTEAM 67 / Lucas - Hardt - Diguet / SUZUKI / 748 / 24:01:28.775
4. DGSPORT HEROCK / Van Keymeulen - Cudlin - Vizziello / YAMAHA / 741 / 24:02:01.334
5. ATOMIC MOTOSPORT / Muteau - Jond / SUZUKI / 737 / 24:01:16.362
6. RACING TEAM SARAZIN / Gerouah - Kokes - Bernon / KAWASAKI / 735 / 24:01:59.649
7. LOUIT MOTO 33 / Baz - Guarnoni - Chevaux / KAWASAKI / 732 / 24:00:51.884
8. MOTO AIN RACING TEAM / Haquin - Mizera - Varesco / YAMAHA / 718 / 24:00:24.025
9. MCS RACING - IPONE / Devoyon - Belluci - Saseta / SUZUKI / 711 / 24:01:45.283
10. APRILIA LE MANS 2 ROUES / Boue - Parisse - Le Royer / APRILIA / 690 / 24:00:43.260

Julien Da Costa (Kawasaki SRC): “It’s my second victory here at the Bol d’Or, but maybe the most difficult one. I’m really tired now, but it’s a really good feeling to share this victory with the team.”

Grégory Leblanc (Kawasaki SRC): “It’s a really great moment in my career. Last year we were on the second spot of the podium and to be on the top stage today is a really sweet feeling. I’m sure we will be having a big party tonight to celebrate this victory!”

Olivier Four (Kawasaki SRC): “Under dry conditions I was lacking a little bit of race, but when I saw that the weather conditions turned to be very tricky I understood that it would be a perfect race for me. I’m really pleased to share my third victory in the Bol d’Or race with the Kawasaki SRC team.”

Gilles Stafler (Team Manager Kawasaki SRC): “We fought with an incredible pace during most of the race, despite the really poor conditions. I would like to thank all the team for this fantastic result, not only the riders, because today it’s the victory of the whole team. Of course Julien Da Costa, Grégory Leblanc and Olivier Four have done an incredible job. It was a really tough race and we were ready for the difficult conditions, but I think that the biggest contributor to our success has been that we didn’t make any mystake during the race.”

John McGuinness (Honda TT Legend): “Not the result we came for but it was one of our strongest rides yet. We were holding fifth and looking good in very difficult conditions. It was a gruelling race with temperatures as low as 2 or 3 degrees through the night. I got caught up in some of the bad weather and had to pit for tyres changes which meant I then had to do double stints with 50 or 60 laps at a time and that is hard work. After Cameron slipping off at probably 150mph and the bike cart wheeling its way though the gravel, luckily Cam was alright and the team did amazing job at getting the bike back out there. We wanted to be a bit further up but at least we’ve picked up some world championship points.”

Cameron Donald (Honda TT Legend): “After starting and finishing Le Mans last year I got to start and finish the Bol d’Or, which is really special. It was an absolute ordeal of a race. Everyone had their moments to shine and it was a big teem effort, but unfortunately we just didn’t quite come up with the goods. It was a little bit of bad luck and me skidding up the road didn’t help, but just to finish another 24-hour is a massive achievement.”

Simon Andrews (Honda TT Legend): “It feels good to finish my first 24-hour race. Ten months ago I was lying in a hospital and my first race back I’ve completed a 24-hour so I feel triumphant and I’m pretty happy. We were quick and we were safe, I did everything to the best of my ability and I’m going home with a smile on my face.”

Neil Tuxworth (team Manager Honda TT Legends): “I think the best we could have expected was fifth in that race. We couldn’t have come any higher at the pace we were going at. We still finished sixth overall in the EWC race which is good considering we lost time doing repairs after Cameron’s crash. It’s certainly been the most difficult endurance race that we’ve done and the one with the most problems. We’re going to analyse everything that has happened, figure out where the issues lie and continue from there. Hopefully we can have a better race the next time out.”

Lapo Elkann may not be buying Ducati, his was more of a patriotic outcry that the Italian company doesn’t end up in foreign hands, but he is certainly buying a customized Ducati Hypermotard.

The very eccentric heir to the Fiat empire (and possible future president of Ferrari) has ordered a special Hypermotard with a longer saddle and is said to be working on the paint job with Ducati’s design center.

Since Elkann is a super fan of military style liveries - he has a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Fiat 500 Abarth all customized with the military/camouflage theme - this Hypermotard is expected to match the same colour scheme.

Hopefully Elkann will be a better rider than driver, just check out where he parked his Ferrari - motorcycle and scooter parking spaces and last year he also parked his SUV on the tram rails in Milan disrupting traffic for over a half and hour.

Source | corrieredibologna.it

Designer Luca Bar introduces a captivating concept bike that envisages an hypothetical Moto Guzzi sportbike, a model that many fans of the Italian brand around the globe have been dreaming about for years. Mr. Luca has come up with a graphic concept that uses a modern and athletic frame hosting a typical ‘Guzzi’ V-Twin engine, and the result is pretty cool indeed.

The design of the chassis and the rear section are clearly inspired by the Aprilia RSV4, while at the front we have a Hossak-type suspension in place of a ‘regular’ fork that - in the worlds of the designer himself - “allows for a shorter wheel-base to the benefit of the bike’s overall handling, which is Guzzi’s usual weakest link.” The single-sided swingarm is a nice and classy touch, as are the carbon fiber fairings, also quite reminiscent of the RSV4.

The fact this Guzzi concept is so heavily influenced by Aprilia’s flagship actually makes perfect sense as both brands are controlled by the Piaggio Group: if the idea of a Moto Guzzi sportsbike is ever to be considered, having it growing out of the same project that generated the RSV4 would save the Piaggio guys a lot of money, but in reality the chances to see such a project taking off are quite slim, possibly not-existent at all. With Aprilia steadily established as the sport/racing brand of th group, the role of the Moto Guzzi brand within the group is still quite blurred and unclear. However, dreaming doesn’t cost a thing, does it?

via | Luca Bar

It was a disastrous round one at Phillip Island for WSBK rookie Raffaele de Rosa, a DNS (due to broken handlebar bracket) in race one and a 17th spot in race 2 with a quick-shifter issue has convinced the Italian rider from Naples to split from his Pro Ride Real Game team.

Apparently the split with the team run by Marco Nicotari was amicable, but the 25-year old De Rosa speaking from the Motodays show in Rome said that Pro Ride team doesn’t have the “technical means to compete at World Superbike level” and that he’s looking for another ride in WSBK even if he knows that is impossible at the moment, so he’s interested in finding something in Supersport or Stock 1000.

In an official press release Pro Ride Motorsports has announced that the team has already signed an agreement with Lorenzo Alfonsi who will be replacing De Rosa for the rest of the season.

Alfonsi is a former European Superstock 1000 champion (2004), and is well known both in the Italian CIV and World Superbikes championships having raced in 2005 with Yamaha DFX Corse and in 2006 with Yamaha France at Valencia, and at Monza and Misano with Ducati PN Corse

Eng. Marco Nicotari, Team Manager and Technical Director said, “I’ve know Lorenzo since 2007 and I’ve always talked with him about our projects, but every year we ended up on different roads, but I’ve always saw him as a great rider. A sportsman that has grown up inside the paddock in a very honest and professional way and that absolutely deserves to return to World Superbikes. A rider that will bring to Pro Ride his talent and a lot of “kilometers” on 1000cc bike and we’ll give him a reliable bike based on his style. There’s a lot of work to be done ahead for his first race with us at Imola. We are confident and I’m personally happy regarding this new challenge”.

“I am very happy to return to World Superbikes!” said Alonsi. “I want to immediately ride the bike, the Pro Ride staff and I are motivated to make everything wors well in this season. I’ve know Marco for such a long time and we get along well together. I really want to make things work and I believe in this project. It’s a great opportunity to get back into World Superbikes and I want to thank both Pro Ride and Helios for believing in me and for the support. We will work together and try to get as many points possible in the championship, and since we’ve know each other for some years, we are already working well and with a lot of energy and head to Imola to get results.”

The new Nikon D800 is one of the most awaited new machines in the world of photography. In order to promote its new product and show off what it is capable of, the Japanese company has decided to put out a five-minute long video entirely shot with its brand new reflex full frame toy, starring a biker/doctor riding its shiny black bike at night in a desert town. Surprisingly enough though, this bike is not a Jap, it is the new and beautiful BMW S 1000 RR.

This promotional video is called “Joy Ride”, and was directed by renowned portrait photographer Sandro Miller. To give credit where is due, we have to say that the quality of the footage is absolutely astounding. It is always a pleasure to watch this kind of high-quality video starring a sportsbike, and if you are wondering how they did all that with the Nikon D800 only, after the jump there’s a short ‘behind the scenes’ clip showing just that. By the way, the man on the bike is TT racer and recently appointed BSB rider Mark Miller. Sit back and enjoy.

It is an old story by now, but apparently in China there’s no such a thing as plagiarism. We present you with the images of the Genata RC-125, a sportsbike ‘made in China’ that we would not hesitate to call a sub-par copy of the Yamaha YZF-R125: same looks, same size (2015 x 660 x 970 mm), same wheelbase (1355 mm), and same name too. Yes, because the official website of the Chinese manufacturer might call it ‘RC-125′ but, if you look at the stickers on the fairings, you will see the abbreviation ‘GM 125 YZF-R’ written on there. No, we are not joking.

According to the same website, the maker of this bike is the ‘China Genata Vehicle Holdings Limited’, which is controlled by the ‘Japan Genata Industry Limited’. ‘So it’s Japanese’, you might think. Well, no: it seems like the word ‘Japan’ was added to name just to give the company some sort of ‘Japanese feeling’. No, we are not joking.

Looking through the specs of the two bikes, it is clear that these models are worlds apart, but this is not the point here. Surely this is not the first time that such a thing happens (remember Kaitong Motor’s three wheeled scoot seized at the last EICMA?) , and it won’t be the last either, but we better let Yamaha’s legal army to take care of it. For now you can compare the two bikes in our photo gallery.

via | VisorDown

If saying MV Agusta and reading Trepistoni gives a Pavolovian response, then you’ll be happy to know that the Italian manufacturer is alive and well and reporting a sales increase of +12% in 2011 and for 2012 have already received orders that are +100% compared to 2011, thanks to the new and stunning 3-cylinder mid-size models: F3 675 and Brutale 675 and the increase of the maxi Brutale family.

The above video shows off their new production lines designed by Porsche Consulting AG, and they have already started operating at double capacity to meet production demands, so obviously the sales of supersport bikes is not exactly waning for the Varese based company who prides themselves on giving the best of Made in Italy.

The PR blurb that accompanies the video is after the jump.

Every great motorcycle is made up of many small acts of magic. Each MV Agusta is the ideal combination of thousands of intricate pieces. Assembled with passion, skill and innate precision. Thus was born F3, three-cylinder that has changed the concept of supersport.

Imagine an area that is organized, compact, modeled after a project that is at the same time rational and creative: this is the assembly line in the MV Agusta F3. Where emotions take shape, where the idea becomes substance. Metal. Composite materials. Light alloys.

The assembly line is the heart of the company. Here, every gesture is designed, programmed and designed to be efficient, accurate, necessary and effective. It is the core of the quality that defines MV Agusta, synthesis of craftsmanship and versatility. The workers know the intricate detail of the manufacturing process of the F3: their overall vision allows the maximum production flexibility, the exchange of personnel between various workstations and rigorous controls at each stage of assembly.

To ensure quality and meet the production timing goals, you need a clear strategy of action. Each F3 is composed of about 1,200 pieces, checked one by one before, during and after installation to ensure the compliance of the quality, assembly accuracy and function.

The engine, a 675 cc in-line three cylinder, utilizes the unique solution of a counter-rotating balance shaft. This innovation solution neutralizes the forces of inertia of the motorcycle, enhancing the handling by reducing the effort to change direction.

During the assembly process it is subject to continuous tests which include, for example, the electronic verification of all of the tolerances. Each step is recorded so that all the dimensions remain under full control.

At the end of the assembly line each of this unique three-cylinder engines are subjected to the tests on the test bench: hot firing cycle, warm-up period and then they are subject to tests of power and torque. Each engine is tested for thirty minutes. And only after the successful completion of this test can the engine be transferred to the vehicle assembly-line where it is mated with the beautiful trellis frame complete with sideplates fabricated from aluminum alloy.

The tightening torque of the nuts, screws and bolts are recorded by a data management system that stores and encodes the information of each item to allow the traceability of each F3 produced.

Everything moves along the assembly line according to the principle of “just in time”, which becomes reality in the form of kits that are hooked–up to the same assembly line and providing all the necessary parts to the operators at just the right moment.

The F3 is finally assembled, perfect in every detail. 1,200 pieces transformed into a unique feat of engineering, creativity and charm. Made in Italy. But, it is not over yet: prior to being prepared for shipment, the F3 is subject to a final test on a chassis dynamometer which allows MV Agusta to verify the correct assembly and impeccable functionality of the wheels, engine, brakes and all the components, that when combined, form the most advanced supersport bike ever.

The partnership between Mercedes AMG and Ducati is going full speed ahead after the Ducati Diavel AMG Special Edition, the SLK 55 AMG in Ducati Streefighter Yellow this is latest advert gives us a behind the scenes look of another of their commercials featuring once again the C63 AMG Coupé and the Ducati 848 Evo.

Two blinding white hot machines that compliment one another and the same two sexy models, what more could one ask for in a commercial and we can’t wait to see if they’ll also come up with something for the 1199 Panigale.