Ducati Hypermotard Motorcycles in Covina, page #37

Moto blog

Effenbert Liberty Promotes McCormick to WSBK Team After Talks With Bayliss Fall Through

Another Troy Bayliss comeback attempt has fallen through. The Effenbert Liberty Racing Team announced it was in discussions with Bayliss over entering a couple of World Superbike rounds this season as a wild card entry. Those discussions did not develop into a return for the three-time WSBK champion; instead the team will promote rider Brett McCormick to the now four-member Effenbert Liberty WSBK team.

For Sale by Owner: A Look at Potential Ducati Buyers

For Sale by Owner1 of 8Next Last Last month, news broke that Ducati is once again up for sale, with its owner, private equity firm Investindustrial is looking for a “world-class industrial partner” for the noted Italian manufacturer. Since then, a number of potential suitors have popped up as being interested in acquiring Ducati. Audi has reportedly cut to the front of the queue to negotiate with Investindustrial.

For Sale: Rossi’s and Stoner’s Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP Race Bikes

What do you get for someone who already has a Ducati Desmosedici RR replica? What about the real thing? Ducati is auctioning a pair of actual MotoGP racebikes, the Ducati Desmosedici GP10 raced by Casey Stoner and a GP11 raced by Valentino Rossi.

Audi Poised to Buy Ducati

German automaker Audi is reportedly in exclusive discussions with Investindustrial to acquire Ducati. British automotive publication CAR Magazine cites high-level sources within Audi in reporting the car maker has won first dibs to negotiate a deal. Audi reportedly has until mid-April to decide whether to buy out Ducati.

2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale Makes Racing Debut

The 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale made its worldwide racing debut this past weekend, winning a race in Spain and scoring a pole position and a pair of podium finishes in South Africa. Ducati‘s latest sportbike isn’t due to make its international racing debut until the Superstock 1000 Cup race, April 1 at Italy’s Imola circuit, but the 1199 has already found success in domestic racing. Ismael Bonilla (pictured above) of EMS Competicion scored the Panigale’s first win in the opening race of the Castellano-Manchego Championship in Spain at the Albacete circuit last weekend.

Vintage Bike Stash Found in Ohio

Brim’s Imports is a vintage motorcycle shop disguised as a used car dealership, and chances are you’ve never heard of the place or its proprietor, Tom Brim. If you’re in the market for a rare vintage motorcycle, however, it may behoove you to give Tom or his brother, Ralph, an old fashion phone call. A website does exist, brimsimport.com, but its for searching the inventory of late model car and truck parts — the cash flow supporting Tom’s motorcycle obsession.

Ex-Ducati CEO Michael Lock Lands at Lamborghini

Former Ducati North America Chief Executive Officer Michael Lock has landed a job at another exotic Italian vehicle manufacturer: Lamborghini. During his seven-year tenure with Ducati North America, Lock reorganized the company’s marketing, distribution and service operations, helping Ducati increase its share of the North American market to record highs. Lock is also believed to have been a driving force behind the development of the Ducati Diavel.

Ducati Recalls Monster 1100 EVO for Cracked Spokes

Ducati is recalling the 2011-2012 Monster 1100 EVO because of potential cracks developing on the rear wheel spokes. The affected units have rear wheels labeled “DU6-RR“. Rims with the code “DU6N-RR” are not included in the recall campaign.

Rossi and Hayden Find Improvement but Disappointed with Results

The good news for Valentino Rossi is he managed to narrow the gap in lap times between his Ducati Desmosedici and Casey Stoner‘s Honda RC213V. The bad news is other riders improved more than he did. Rossi completed 57 laps and set a time of 2:01.550 on the third and final day of the second MotoGP test at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit.

2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale S Receives FIM Superstock Homologation

It was only a matter of time but finally the news is official: the 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale S has been added to the list of homologated motorcycles for the Superstock 1000 Cup The Panigale was noticeably absent from the initial homologation list the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) released a couple of weeks ago. Now, with a month until the 2012 Superstock 1000 Cup starts at Italy’s Imola circuit, the 1199 has been cleared to complete. The delay was merely a formality however, and teams such as Effenbert-Liberty Racing have already begun testing the Ducati 1199 Panigale S in racing trim.