Not that we’re jealous or anything, but the guys at Motoblog.it got to see: Ben Spies‘ Superbike live, Max Biaggi’s Aprilia live, Troy Corser’s BMW live and new Superstock champion Xavier Simeon’s bike as well. The Akrapovic stand also has the (very hot) limited edition Akrapovic KTM RC8R 1190 on display.

Stand Akrapovic Eicma 2009

Continue reading: Akrapovic live at EICMA: Ben Spies, Max Biaggi and KTM limited edition on display

The New Variante Bassa at the Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari at Imola has come under stinging criticism by SST Alstare Suzuki rider Claudio Corti.

“The chicane is really s..tty. You arrive very fast, the entrance is flat and you can’t see the line. The race is going to be a mess, because the turn is so tight that only one rider at a time can pass, if you’re lucky …. Our bikes do it in first at about 45 km/h. They’ve ruined a piece of the circuit that was just fine before, and left the rest the same. The asphalt in the other turns is completely ruined, they should have resurfaced the track instead of fixing the garage complex.”

The New Variante Bassa situated half-way along the pit garages, and is made up of a sharp left-right designed and constructed in record time to meet FIM homologation, but at the present does not have a sufficient run off area. When the official SBK tests are concluded, the circuit fencing will be moved back another 100 metres, which will increase the run-off area by more than 3 metres.

After the jump yesterday’s Superstock test results:

Continue reading: WST Rider criticizes revised Imola circuit

Even the WSBK Championship like MotoGP is trying to save pennies in the global economic crisis and are thinking of reducing practice time and limiting the number of engines used in each race weekend.

The Superbike Commission composed of Paolo Falmmini, Claude Denis and Paolo Bardi met March 1st at Phillip Island and have decided that in the next meetings they will discuss further cost saving measures.

At the moment the only rule change to come into effect from March 31, 2009 are practice restrictions and will affect all three championships: Superbike, Supersport and Superstock.

Continue reading: WSBK Cuts Friday morning practice

A unique race is in the making during the French MotoGP weekend on May 15-17, called the Speed Queen Race and it’s an amazing opportunity for women only to race at the famed Le Mans venue.

The race will be part of the organizers aim to entertain the public and the format of the race will be for 600cc bikes, Superstock/Supersport specs.

The 600cc class will create a more exciting race where the public will see the true winner. This will be a real chance for female riders and teams to compete at the highest level, the French MotoGP.

Continue reading: Speed Queen Race during Le Mans MotoGP weekend

The Sterilgarda GMB Team has completed its line-up for the 2009 World Superbike Championship. The Italian rider Alex Polita will join team mate and newcomer Shane Byrne in the team.

Alex Polita will race next year with the Ducati 1098 RS09 and will test the 2008 Ducati for the first time together with Shane the week after the Portimao round.

Alessandro Polita #53 was born in the Italian town of Jesi, is 24 years old and won the European Superstock 1000 FIM Cup in 2006. Also this year Alex is riding in the Superstock 1000 class with the Sterilgarda Team, holding a second place in the general standings with 127 points and only four points behind the leader, the Belgian Suzuki Alstare rider Xavier Simeon.

Source | SBK

Continue reading: Alex Polita will ride in WSB 2009

Not only Superbike at Magny Cours, also all the teams and riders from the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup arrived and fought for points. For the Ducati Xerox Junior Team it was a difficult weekend. Some technical problems came up with the gearbox of both riders and prevented them competing for a win.

Brendan Roberts said after the race: “It’s a very difficult moment because I am so disappointed. I understood immediately that something was wrong but I just gritted my teeth and did everything to stay with the front-runners for the first half of the race. After that it became really difficult as the gears were slipping which nearly caused me to fall more than once. I still tried to finish in the points zone but it wasn’t possible, in fact I had to stop the second I crossed the finish line. We still have a chance at the title and I have definitely not lost any of my determination or motivation. We will win in Portugal!”

Also for Brendan’s teammate Domenico Colucci things didn’t go well: “This morning in the warm-up everything was fine but as soon as we started the race I could tell there was a problem with the gears. It wasn’t easy to finish the race in those conditions but I did it, and at least brought home a few points. I am sorry for Brendan but in Portugal we’ll both be back.”

Continue reading: Disappointing weekend for the Ducati Junior Team

“The RG Team will ride next year also in the Superstock 1000 series and in World Superbike. If things develop in a good way the RG Team will have also a second rider in World Superbike,” said RG Teammanager Rossela Tosetti Gianfardoni to Twowheelsblog on Saturday in Magny Cours.

About Lorenzo Lanzi she also: “We don’t know yet if Lorenzo will stay with the team, we still have to talk about it with him. He did good things this year, he rode very well and he is a very nice person.” To my question if they will keep on riding Ducati she answered:” Yes, we will. We have a good relationship with Ducati and we really like to ride Ducati.”

The main sponsor for the RG team is the europe painting group and according to Rosella some new sponsors will come for the 2009 season. Lorenzo Lanzi is 14th in the general standings and holds 104 points today.

Photo | Koen

Continue reading: SBK 2009: second rider in RG Team?

Xavier Simeon won the Donington race in the FIM Superstock 1000 class. In the general standings, Roberts is still leading the championship, holding 122 points, followed by Xavier with 120 points.

The Alstare Suzuki rider was very happy with his win, describing the race on the team website:

“I had a feeling that this would be a good day for us and I am very happy about the win. After a disaster at Brands Hatch in the last round, I knew I really had to win today to keep my title hopes alive. The track was wet, but it wasn’t raining and parts of it did sort of dry up towards the end of the race, but not enough to cause a dry line. I followed Polita for a few laps, to see where he went and how the track was and then made my move on lap six. After I went past, there was no response from him and I was able to increase my lead bit by bit. Towards the end, I had a big gap, so I knew that all I had to do was keep my concentration and the victory would be mine. Now I am only two points behind Roberts and I feel that I can go to Magny-Cours and go all-out for another win.”

Continue reading: FIM Superstock 1000: Xavier Simeon won at Donington

This Triumph has some truly splendid livery, from the Daytona 675 Replica of Team SC Caracchi - with which Gerry McCoy raced at the World Supersport Championships. Stefano Caracchi, team manager and great fan of two wheeling, reveals the pecularities and the characteristics of Hinckley’s technique.

“The bike has been studied down to the smallest detail in our racing department,” says Caracchi in a chat with RacerGP: “It’s been examined to the umpteenth degree in both chassis and engine, with a Superstock configuration. The engine is aimed at fans who want a bike with greater performance than what the Triumph Daytona 675 already expresses.”

This is a sports model ready for track use, but also for some escapades on the road. “Obviously the bike is suitable for the road with a two-seater seat. We’re talking about a little gem you can show off with. With this splendid livery, the same as used by McCoy in the Supersport championships, you certainly won’t go unnoticed.”

Continue reading: Triumph Daytona 675 McCoy replica by SC Caracchi