Barber AMA Superbike: No Ben Bostrom

It was a last-minute decision, but Ben Bostrom has decided to not race in the final round of AMA Superbike at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend.
The Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha R1 rider highsided during race 2 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the penultimate round of AMA Pro Racing. During the crash, he broke his fourth and fifth ribs. Bostrom reported he'd be able to race, but after a recent canyon ride in his native California, he realized he couldn't hang off the bike due to pain.
Bostrom will finish the 2010 AMA Superbike Championship with 295 points, in fourth-place unless Foremost Insurance Ducati rider Larry Pegram is victorious; Pegram is 19 points behind Bostrom.
This wasn't the first injury of the year for Bostrom. During practice at Mid Ohio, Bostrom tweaked his right thumb in a turn-one crash. He was later operated on, and even while riding with a painful, healing thumb, he managed a win at Laguna Seca, and three consecutive podiums up to his race-2 crash Jersey.
If Bostrom was competing this week, and kept his consistent podium finishes, he may have been a tiny factor in deciding the 2010 AMA SBK Champion. The current leader, Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes, has a 22-point lead over Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Tommy Hayden.
The two are the only ones with a shot at the title, and if Bostrom was having good results, he may have made it more interesting to see who will be crowned for 2010. But then again, with the two almost 100 points ahead of the grid, maybe Bostrom wouldn't have been a factor at all...this we'll never know.

EICMA: Dainese & AGV Innovations

From November 2-7, over half-a-million visitors will attend the EICMA 2010 Show (Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo e Motociclo e Accessori), or better know by English speakers as the Milan Motorcycle Show, the annual trade show in Italy featuring motorcycles and motorcycling gear.
Dainese and AGV have reported that they will be at the EICMA 2010 Show for the presentation of two very important technological advancements.
They return to EICMA for the 68th edition of the International Motorcycle Show to provide a preview of the research projects that are the driving force behind the company's safety innovation for the next few years.
The Dainese and AGV display will be entirely dedicated to these two motorcycle safety apparel projects: 1) the D-Air airbag for motorcycle riders, 2) and AGV Standards, an authentic revolution in the motorcycle helmet design and creation process.
The display for the D-Air project will host both the "Racing" version, which will be officially presented, as it is now ready for a much-anticipated market launch, and the "Street" version, which the prototypes are in an advanced state of development but not quite ready for primetime.
Show visitors will be shown the biggest steps in the D-Air evolutionary process that began back in the year 2000, including the different prototypes that have finally led to the final product, soon to go on sale.
AGV will be presenting AGV Standards, the innovative helmet design method that allows motorcycle helmets be literally constructed around the wearer's head thanks to the accurate scanning of his or her head (cranium), with the end results leading to improved comfort and safety.

First and foremost, I would like to thank XDL for having a women's competition. Now people could see the real female stunt riders who were clutching it up at the XDL Series throughout the country. After fellow SHIFT teammate Brian Bubash informed me that XDL was having a women's class this year, I was pumped! I now had a place to show what I've been practicing, instead of asking permission here and there simply to do a short run. XDL was a huge learning experience. I made mistakes and learned from them along the way. I got better at putting together a run, adjusting to different riding surfaces, and how to bypass the nerves. I also got to watch, hang out, and pick the brains of the best riders in the country, which was pretty cool. At first, I thought maybe the guys didn't favor the girl's being there, but I soon realized that they were open minded and willing to share pointers from personal experience. I had a lot of help along the way thanks to Brian Bubash and Luke Duke. Now that I have a better idea of how XDL works, I'm going to keep grinding. The entire XDL Series will be airing on the VERSUS Channel, October 12th. Stunt riding is making its way and I couldn't have done it without the support from SHIFT, Racing 905, Shinko Tires, BC-Freestyle.com, and of course my fellow riders.

First and foremost, I would like to thank XDL for having a women's competition.  Now people could see the real female stunt riders who were clutching it up at the XDL Series throughout the country.
After fellow SHIFT teammate Brian Bubash informed me that XDL was having a women's class this year, I was pumped! I now had a place to show what I've been practicing, instead of asking permission here and there simply to do a short run.
XDL was a huge learning experience. I made mistakes and learned from them along the way. I got better at putting together a run, adjusting to different riding surfaces, and how to bypass the nerves. I also got to watch, hang out, and pick the brains of the best riders in the country, which was pretty cool.
At first, I thought maybe the guys didn't favor the girl's being there, but I soon realized that they were open minded and willing to share pointers from personal experience. I had a lot of help along the way thanks to Brian Bubash and Luke Duke. Now that I have a better idea of how XDL works, I'm going to keep grinding.
The entire XDL Series will be airing on the VERSUS Channel, October 12th. Stunt riding is making its way and I couldn't have done it without the support from SHIFT, Racing 905, Shinko Tires, BC-Freestyle.com, and of course my fellow riders.

On October 2, 2010 the international freestyle motocross elite will gather for the ultimate title showdown at the season finale of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 in Rome's Stadio Flaminio. With young gun Levi Sherwood (NZL) being forced out of the event due to injury, the home stadium of the Italian national rugby team will play host to a head-to-head battle for the 2010 crown between overall points leader Andrè Villa (NOR) and the reigning champion Nate Adams (USA). For the best FMX riders in the world, all roads lead to Rome... ROME (ITALY). There can be no better location for the final event of an international tour which has visited five of the world's most famous cities across three continents than the metropolis known for centuries as "caput mundi", the capital of the world, thanks to its role as the power centre of the almighty Roman Empire. Now, more than 1500 years after the spectacular fall of the Empire, the city which has borne witness to so many gladiatorial battles is once again set to become the location for an all-or-nothing duel on two wheels. After his victory at the penultimate stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 in London (GBR) in August, 18-year-old shooting star Levi "Rubber Kid" Sherwood (NZL) was tipped by many to go on and claim overall victory in a three-way battle against Villa and Adams in Rome. However, in a cruel twist of fate Sherwood fell heavily at an event in Los Angeles in early September after inadvertently shifting into neutral between jumps, breaking his right femur and dislocating his left wrist. The injury means that the most successful season in young New Zealander's career has been brought to an early end. Sherwood's bad luck means that it will come down to a straight two-way shoot-out for the 2010 title. Andrè Villa has lead the way all year after triumphing at the season opener in Mexico City (MEX), but the Norwegian hasn't won since and missed out on the chance to seal the title in London by finishing only ninth in the British capital. Adams, on the other hand, hasn't managed a single win all season, but his consistent performances around the globe mean the man from Arizona lies just five points behind Villa going into the season finale. That means the situation in Rome couldn't be simpler: whoever wins the personal battle between Villa and Adams becomes the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Champion 2010. With the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour set to touch down on Italian soil for the first time in the event's ten-year history, the Stadio Flaminio has been sold out for weeks.

On October 2, 2010 the international freestyle motocross elite will gather for the ultimate title showdown at the season finale of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 in Rome's Stadio Flaminio.
With young gun Levi Sherwood (NZL) being forced out of the event due to injury, the home stadium of the Italian national rugby team will play host to a head-to-head battle for the 2010 crown between overall points leader Andrè Villa (NOR) and the reigning champion Nate Adams (USA). For the best FMX riders in the world, all roads lead to Rome...
ROME (ITALY). There can be no better location for the final event of an international tour which has visited five of the world's most famous cities across three continents than the metropolis known for centuries as "caput mundi", the capital of the world, thanks to its role as the power centre of the almighty Roman Empire.
Now, more than 1500 years after the spectacular fall of the Empire, the city which has borne witness to so many gladiatorial battles is once again set to become the location for an all-or-nothing duel on two wheels.
After his victory at the penultimate stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 in London (GBR) in August, 18-year-old shooting star Levi "Rubber Kid" Sherwood (NZL) was tipped by many to go on and claim overall victory in a three-way battle against Villa and Adams in Rome.
However, in a cruel twist of fate Sherwood fell heavily at an event in Los Angeles in early September after inadvertently shifting into neutral between jumps, breaking his right femur and dislocating his left wrist.
The injury means that the most successful season in young New Zealander's career has been brought to an early end.
Sherwood's bad luck means that it will come down to a straight two-way shoot-out for the 2010 title. Andrè Villa has lead the way all year after triumphing at the season opener in Mexico City (MEX), but the Norwegian hasn't won since and missed out on the chance to seal the title in London by finishing only ninth in the British capital.
Adams, on the other hand, hasn't managed a single win all season, but his consistent performances around the globe mean the man from Arizona lies just five points behind Villa going into the season finale.
That means the situation in Rome couldn't be simpler: whoever wins the personal battle between Villa and Adams becomes the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Champion 2010.
With the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour set to touch down on Italian soil for the first time in the event's ten-year history, the Stadio Flaminio has been sold out for weeks.

Japan MotoGP: Bridgestone Race Report

Both riders used the softer rear tire, but Rossi used the harder front slick whereas Lorenzo opted for the softer compound.As had been indicated all weekend, the overall performance of both option front tires was very similar, and this was highlighted by the Rossi and Lorenzo battle in which the pair were very evenly matched throughout the 24 laps.
Only Lorenzo and Nicky Hayden used the softer option front slick tires, but all riders favoured the softer rear slicks.
Colin Edwards scored his best result of the season in fifth for Monster Yamaha Tech3, triumphing in his own battle with Marco Simoncelli.
Teammate Ben Spies finished eighth after recovering from an early off-track excursion with Nicky Hayden, and Loris Capirossi retired having also been fighting with Edwards and Simoncelli.
Mikio Masunaga (Vice President and Official Member of the Board, Bridgestone Corporation) says: "I would like to congratulate the Ducati Team and Casey Stoner for their excellent victory here today. This year's Japanese Grand Prix was delayed because of the Iceland volcano but we are very glad that it was rescheduled. We are honored to have been able to support our second Japanese Grand Prix as MotoGP's Official Tire Supplier, and Bridgestone will continue to strive to provide tires of consistent quality and safety and a fair tire service to all teams."
Tohru Ubukata (Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Development Department) says: "I'm pleased with tire performance in (Sunday's) race, especially with the consistency of our softer spec rear. Conditions for the race were almost the same as last year but the pace was much faster which indicates the improvement in performance from using our asymmetric rear tires here. I'm also happy with our tyre compound selection for this grand prix as all weekend we have seen that both specs of rear tyre were performing well and in the race our softer front slick was also very consistent, even in the intense battle between Valentino and Jorge that pushed the tyres to the maximum right to the end of the race."

Can Celebrities Better Motorcycle Racing?

Sponsorship and fan attendance is what keeps the sport of national and international motorcycle road racing alive. Much like everything else it's a business. Promoters, circuit owners and team owners look for success on the track and revenue off of it.
The money comes in the form of sponsorship and ticket and merchandise sales. The presence of Michael Jordan at New Jersey Motorsports Park for the penultimate round of AMA Superbike prompted me to wonder about the possibilities of Star power and motorcycle road racing promotion.
The power of celebrity is strong and used in everything from promoting movies, endorsing products and advocating charities. Oprah can send books to the top of the Best Sellers List by sometimes simply mentioning it on her show. Then there's George Forman, who has sold over 100 million Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machines better known as the "George Forman Grill."
Can celebrity bring exposure to racing? It was attempted during Round 11 of this year's MotoGP race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with famed Tonight Show host Jay Leno acting as Grand Marshall. On race day, Sunday, Aug. 29 Jay presented a trophy to fellow American and podium finisher Ben Spies who rode his Monster Tech 3 Yamaha M1 to a brilliant second-place behind race-winner Dani Pedrosa on the Repsol Honda.

Malaysian MotoGP: No Pedrosa at Sepang

After hoping to return this weekend for the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, Dani Pedrosa has decided to not compete.
The Repsol Honda rider will continue his rehabilitation program, and plans to return at the following round in Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix.
This is bad news for Honda fans; Pedrosa is the only rider capable of catching Jorge Lorenzo in the 2010 Championship. With a result of ninth or better this weekend at Sepang, the Fiat Yamaha rider may possibly clench the title four races early.
Pedrosa said he would hold off until the final minute before this weekend's MotoGP event in Sepang, but due to the severity of his injury, and the recovering time associated with it, Pedrosa has been forced opt out.
Pedrosa, who sustained a double fracture to his collarbone at Practice for the Motegi Grand Prix last Friday, underwent surgery Saturday at USP Dexeus clinic in Barcelona.
After being discharged from the clinic on Monday, Pedrosa immediately began functional rehabilitation, and his doctor, Xavier Mir, says Pedrosa is making positive progress.
A Repsol Honda release reads: "However, the condition of his collarbone, the bruises he suffered in the fall and the lack of strength in his left arm and shoulder have forced him to take the difficult decision of postponing his return to the competition. Now Dani will work hard to be ready for the Australian race."

2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200 (S) | Preview

Upon its release last year, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 quickly became the bike of choice for many motorcyclists worldwide due to its versatility across four modes of riding - Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro.
The same reliability and flexibility in the machine that is basically four motorcycles in one returns with the 2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200. The new Multistrada 1200 is available in the standard form with optional ABS, and the Multistrada 1200 S arrives stock with ABS and Ducati Electronic Suspension by Öhlins as standard equipment.
The 1200 S is available in ‘Sport edition' with carbon fiber accents, or ‘Touring edition' with side luggage, heated grips and center stand.
All of these features are offered with the powerful, 150 hp Testastretta 11° engine, a class-leading dry weight of just 189kg (417lb) and the application of advanced ergonomics.
Multistrada 1200: Four Modes, Four Styles
The four-bikes-in-one concept is achieved by selecting, even while riding, from a choice of four pre-set modes programmed to instantly change the engine character and chassis set-up of the Multistrada 1200. The four modes are made possible by combining a number of class-leading technologies.
An electronic Ride-by-Wire (RbW) system administers different mappings to regulate power delivery by interpreting the rider's throttle input, while the world-beating Ducati Traction Control system (DTC) uses eight levels of system interaction to enhance control by reducing wheel-spin.
For the ‘S' version, Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES), by Öhlins, instantly configures the suspension set-up with electronic adjustment. At the touch of a button, four different motorcycles to suit the specific needs of the rider and not the other way around.
The Sport riding mode provides the rider with an adrenalin-fuelled 150hp ride with a sport-oriented throttle response and, on the ‘S' version, an instant high performance suspension set-up.
In character with its Superbike bloodline, the sport mode also changes the DTC system intervention to level 4 for expert riders whose ‘comfort zone' is a little closer to the limit.
The Touring riding mode is also programmed to produce 150hp, however, the power characteristics are designed in a touring configuration with a smoother, more user-friendly delivery.
Active safety is enhanced by increasing DTC system intervention to level 5, specifically intended for an enjoyable and relaxing ride and, on the ‘S' version, the suspension automatically dials-in a set-up ideal for long distance touring, ensuring maximum comfort for both the rider and passenger.
As navigation of the urban jungle can require an even more user-friendly motorcycle, the Urban riding mode instantly transforms the Multistrada 1200 into the most manageable, everyday transport. Power output is reduced to 100 hp, and the suspension, on the ‘S' version, to a setting perfect for tackling the maze of city streets full of speed bumps and drain covers. DTC is further enhanced to level 6 to provide high system intervention during the most chaotic of stop-start traffic.

2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE

When Aprilia entered the RSV4 into the 2009 World Superbike Championship, the Italian company had one goal in mind - win a title. Well, it didn't get the title in its debut year, but it did this year after Max Biaggi took the 2010 WSBK Championship aboard the RSV4.
This technology spills over into their street RSV4 Factory, one that has already received much praise due to its technological advantages.
So what does Aprilia do? Improve on an already amazing machine. At Intermot 2010, Aprilia released the RSV4 Factory APRC Special Edition, born from technology that helped the Aprilia dominate World SBK this year, and also garner 45 championships in MotoGP.
The RSV4 Factory APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) Special Edition builds upon the already popular RSV4 Factory, allowing Aprilia to set a new standard for future road bike development.
The new features of the RSV4 Factory APRC SE are: unique adjustable traction control capable of self-adjusting to suit different types of tires, wheelie control, launch control and quick shift.
This is added to all the features that made the RSV4 Facotry famous: the first 65° V-4 engine ever in a sports production bike, a chassis worthy of a 250 GP, Ride By Wire, and multimap engine management.
Aprilia's vast technology capacity made it possible to create the electronic engine management system of the RSV4 Factory SBK that dominated the 2010 World Superbike Championship with Max Biaggi fully in-house.
Thanks to new insights earned in racing and the close collaboration between racing team, Racing Department and R&D, know how is nearly immediately passed on to production. This is how the Aprilia people were able to turn out the fastest, most effective bike on the track, a bike whose only goal is to post the fastest lap.
State of Art Technology

2011 KTM Duke 125 | Euro Preview

One of the motorcycles to make a big splash at the recent Intermot Show in Cologne, Germany was the little KTM 125cc Duke.
The bike is slated to reach European dealerships Spring of 2011. The 125cc Duke (which certainly had influence from KTM's new Indian partner/investor, Bajaj) retains the design cues of its bigger brothers, the 690cc and 990cc Dukes, and is aimed squarely at entry-level riders.
The liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 125cc engine is reported to produce 15 horsepower-presenting an easily tamed and unintimidating motorcycle for newbies-without the reciprocal goofy looks that often accompany smaller bikes.
Aside from the notion that the new mini-Duke must be a blast to ride, the small displacement motorcycle was obviously targeting the burgeoning business in affordable transportation for daily commuters in traffic-congested cities (read: the many densely populated cities of India).
A six-speed gearbox, chain drive, and signature chromoly trellis frame of its bigger brothers, the 125 Duke strikes a much more impressive stance than its 125cc displacement would suggest.
WP suspension components provide 6.3-inches of wheel travel front and rear and Brembo developed the single disc units.
The new Duke weighs in at 282 pounds fully fuelled. The 31.9-inch seat height, although somewhat high for some, will be quite manageable with the light weight.
Attractive graphics and loud, signature KTM orange hints infuse the 125 Duke with a sense of flare.

2010 Honda Fury Review: A Factory Custom Chopper for the Masses

sportsbike

Sportbikes

Sportbikes offer the most advanced motorcycle design technology available and are designed for optimum speed, acceleration, braking and maneuverability. They have a more aerodynamic design than other classes of bikes and are a thrill to ride for experienced motorcyclists, especially in high-performance situations such as a trackday down at your local racetrack. However, comfort and amenities usually suffer at an inverse proportion to how quick they are around a racetrack.

suzuki

few weeks and I decided to buy a new bike instead. I have a '02 Suzuki GSX1400 now (I'm not a rich guy, the money was loaned from a bank). This site was at first mostly about these two bikes, but there's now some stuff of hundreds of other Suzuki bikes and even some motorcycle related products. And it's growing...

There are over 700 different pages and thousands of photos on this site for the moment and there will be even more! If you bookmark this page and come by from time to time, you will notice that I'm a guy who wants to fill the Internet with everything about things that excite me. And Suzuki motorcycles thrill me right now so...

The ”Crazy Finn” they called me on one discussion group (I was born and raised in Finland). Maybe I am crazy, sitting in front of computer hour after hour, trying to build new pages about some currently uncovered Suzuki models... Yes, sometimes I get tired of it but most of the time is simply fun!

I get more and more detailed e-mail questions about Suzuki bikes - I am not a mechanic and I can't answer to that kind of questions. Also, I don't know the value of your motorcycle or where can find a certain type of bike. Please mail your question to My Suzuki Discussion Group instead. I see the questions as well and I will reply if I know the answer. But there are others on the mailing list that might know more! See even the FAQ page.

2011 Kawasaki Vaquero Photo Gallery: A Chopped, Dropped, and Bagged Vulcan 1700

Bagger fans rejoice: the Vaquero is Kawasaki's new Vulcan 1700 spinoff, a low-slung cruiser with a touring-friendly 1,700cc v-twin, tall gears (with overdrive in 5th and 6th), and nearly 20 gallons of lockable, side-loading hard bags. The Road Glide Custom-like ride comes standard with cruise control and an AM/FM/WX stereo that's iPod and XM capable, and is priced at $16,499.

2010 Honda Fury Review: A Factory Custom Chopper for the Masses

What happens when a respected mainstream manufacturer like Honda tries their hand at the chopper genre? Well, if you remember the rumors and subsequent shocking reality when the bike was unveiled a couple years ago, you'd think Honda was off their rocker. Now that the dust has settled, I've spent some time aboard the Fury, which I discuss in this 2010 Honda Fury Review.
Give it a read, and stay tuned for a review of the Fury's new competitor the Star Stryker, which I just sampled at the bike's launch in Austin, Texas.

2011 Star Stryker Review: Yamaha's More Affordable, Raked-Out Factory Chopper Alternative

Here we are barely bottomed out from the Great Recession and, strangely enough, two major Japanese manufacturers are building custom-style choppers. Choppers are textbook examples of discretionary purchases, bikes that you ride for fun, not to get from A to B. Maybe Honda built a chopper in response to the various independent bike builders who declared bankruptcy, in order to fill the vacuum for reliable, warranty-supported customs? Perhaps Yamaha jumped on the chopper bandwagon to steal some market share away from Honda's strong selling Fury?
In any case, the virtual ink had barely dried on my Honda Fury review when I sat at my laptop to reflect on the new Star Stryker, after a day's worth of riding it in Austin, Texas.
For those unfamiliar with its spec sheet, the 1,304cc Stryker-- though visually similar to the big-bore Raider-- wears an all-new frame, bike-specific pipes, and a radiator tidily tucked between its steel downtubes. It also runs up to $2,000 cheaper than the Fury, despite its nearly identical engine displacement.
How does does the Star compare against the raked-out Honda? I offer my take in this 2011 Star Stryker Review.

The bike, seen here in customized prototype form courtesy Ducatinewstoday.com, is being described by Ducati as a motorcycle that "will take the man-motorcycle relationship to the next level in absolute comfort." What little we know of Diavel's mechanicals-- at least officially-- includes Ducati Traction Control and Riding Modes (a la Multistrada 1200), ABS, a Superbike-derived Testastretta 11 degree engine (which, if tuned like the Multi, will produce 150 horsepower), and 456 lb weight, presumably dry (as is the usual measurement Ducati offers.) A few power cruiser wet weights, for comparison: Suzuki M109R (764 lbs), Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle (673 lbs), Star VMAX (683 lbs, 685 lbs for the California version.)

Ducati Officially Teases Upcoming Diavel Cruiser

 

What a long, strange trip it's been; just a few short years ago Ducati-- Italian builder of pulse-quickening performance bikes-- would have never been mentioned in the same breath as power cruisers, the bike genre known for its oddball combination of laid back seating position and big-engined thrust. Enter 2010, and Ducati is on the cusp of releasing its first ever power cruiser, which will be called Diavel (pronounced Dee-ah-vel, seen above in the first photo officially supplied from the manufacturer.) According to Ducati, Diavel means "devil" in the Bolognese dialect, and was coined when a Ducati employee muttered, ""Ignurànt comm' al diavel!" upon first seeing the bike-- which translates to, "Evil, like the devil!"*

2011 Triumph Buyer's Guide

In addition to familiar bikes like the Bonneville, Thunderbird, and Rocket III, the 2011 Triumph lineup features four new bikes: the Sprint GT, Thunderbird Storm, Speedmaster, and America.

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Kawasaki Tests 2011 ZX-10R at Valencia

The next step in the evolution of the Kawasaki Racing Team's 2011 ZX-10R took place at high speed in Valencia this week, with impressive times being set by WSBK riders Tom Sykes and Katsuaki Fujiwara.
The Spanish track offered good conditions for the test, but high afternoon temperatures made it hard - if ultimately rewarding - work.
Despite the heat and busy schedule the new Ninja ZX-10R machinery ran faultlessly throughout. Fujiwara's test bike had only recently arrived from KHI in Japan, to give the team two machines to work with from now on.
On the second day lap times fell to the mid 1:34s on fresh race tires. Real world pace is already in the mid 1:35s after race simulations were carried out.
Effective new geometry and Showa suspension settings were found in what was only the second European test for the new bike, which is still very much at the start of its final development program.
The next test will be the first public one for the new Ninja ZX-10R, to be held at Magny-Cours, after the final race of the current World Superbike season.

Aragon MotoGP: Bridgestone Friday Report

Proceedings were different today at the Grand Prix of Aragon as the Friday morning practice session, scrapped at the end of the 2008 season, was reinstated temporarily as a trial ahead of a potential permanent return next season.
Riders not only sampled the Motorland Aragon circuit for the first time on their 800cc MotoGP machines, but they also got to run in both the dry in the morning and the wet in the afternoon session.
Spaniard Dani Pedrosa was fastest in the dry using the softer option front and harder rear slicks, favored for their greater durability in the dirty track conditions, ahead of Nicky Hayden and Jorge Lorenzo.
Hayden was the only rider in the top five to set his best lap on the softer option rear slick at the end of the session.
The afternoon's free practice session was wet for the duration, giving riders and teams a good opportunity to develop their wet setups after a distinct lack of wet running this season.
Casey Stoner finished the 45-minute session fastest, over 0.5seconds clear of Jorge Lorenzo with Nicky Hayden third.
In the morning the track was dirty because it hasn't been used a great deal recently and the surrounding area is very dusty, and whilst it cleaned throughout the morning sessions, the rain in the afternoon prevented the track conditions from improving further as the rain made the surface greasier still.
Tohru Ubukata (Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Development Department) says: "In the morning we could evaluate our softer option slicks, but the track was very dirty and that led to slight graining especially of the rear tires."

Aragon MotoGP: Qualifying Quote Roundup

The 16-rider grid is set for the inaugural Aragon Grand Prix, Round 13 of the 2010 MotoGP Championship, with Ducati Team rider Casey Stoner on the pole.
It's the second pole for the Australian, his first being at the season-opener race in Qatar. Stoner posted a blistering 1:48.942, the only rider under 1:49.
Joining him on the front row are the two Spaniards that are in a intense battle for the title, Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo and Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, respectively.
The second-row riders were the last three to post under the 1:50 mark, and it consists of Stoner's teammate Nicky Hayden, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Ben Spies and LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet.
The reigining world champion, Valentino Rossi, qualifed in seventh. The field is missing a rider, Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi, who will miss the Motorland Aragon GP due to a hand injury he sustained at Misano.
Here's what the riders were saying after Saturday's qualifying results:
Dani Pedrosa says: "I'm happy to be on the front row as this was our main target for this afternoon's session. I just made a little mistake and ran wide on my last fast lap when I was going well and was 0.2s ahead, so I think pole position could have been possible, but the front row is the important thing. So now we must just stay focused and get a good start because the first corner is quite near to the start line which means it will be important to get a clean run into there." 


"It's a new track where we haven't raced before so the main question is how the tires will work over a full race distance. Our performance over the last few races has been great and I want to try as hard as possible for the victory here. Everyone has come into this weekend with a blank sheet of paper so maybe it could be one of the most open races of the season."
Andrea Dovizioso says: "Our race pace is reasonable, but to be honest I'm not very happy with the session, and starting from the third row is not where we wanted to be. It's difficult because we're lacking some speed and we haven't narrowed it down to one particular problem. So we need to look at the data and try to analyze what changes we can make for the warm-up tomorrow."
"

We need to improve our speed in the centre of the corners and also the fluidity of the handling. For the race our pace is not so bad but starting from the third row is a handicap - especially because the first corner is very slow and so you cannot easily recover positions there. Still, we've proved previously that we can have good a race from this position and that's what we'll try to do again."

Ducati debuts Surfer & Rider Apparel

Ducati, the world-famous motorcycle manufacturer, has signed a co-branding agreement with Bear, the popular "activewear" brand based in California, famous for its surf apparel and "stylosophy".
Iconic in their respective fields, Ducati and Bear have used their expertise and tradition to design and create the stunning new collection.
With both motorcycling and surfing communities sharing a strong passion for the freedom, performance and challenge that their favorite leisure activities provide them, the new partnership has produced an innovative and exciting line of apparel that is sure to be a hit for both lifestyles.
Ducati and Bear have cooperated to create the "capsule collection", surf and beachwear items with a distinctive motorcycling inspiration.
The unique combination of motorcycling and surfing has created a new style, recognised by the characteristic "curve", which forms a theme throughout the collection.