Ducati Superbike Motorcycles, page #22

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Greg Tracy to Ride Amarok P1A Electric Sportbike for Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Canada’s Amarok Racing has secured quite a coup in signing six-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winner Greg Tracy to ride its P1A electric superbike for the 2013 edition of the event. Tracy has six class victories in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, winning in 1996, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. His victories have come riding motorcycles from several manufacturers: Honda, Yamaha, BMW and, more recently, Ducati.

Rainy BSB tests are nothing new

THE combination of bad weather in the UK and a European testing ban means that most BSB teams will now start the season with very little track time. This sounds like a disaster for the top teams but history has proved this isn’t necessarily true and it sometimes doesn’t matter how much pre season preparation has taken place.  Back in 2002 Sean Emmett won on the IFC Ducati at the opening Silverstone round after first riding it in unofficial practice the same weekend. Steve Hislop took the other win on Pauls Bird’s well sorted Ducati. More recently in 2009, Leon Camier took an untested new model R1 Yamaha to victory at the Brands Hatch opener after GSE took delivery of the bike just the week before. Sylvain Guintoli won the other race on a well developed, well tested Crescent Suzuki. You could argue if no one has had testing then it is a level playing field but you have to feel for riders moving up to the superbike class in the world’s toughest national series.  Tyco Suzuki’s PJ Jacobson is one such rider but having spent some time with him over the past few weeks he seems to be taking it all in his stride. It may be the confidence of youth or maybe the fact he has won in every other class he has entered in his short BSB career, but I suspect he fancies at least standing on the Superbike podium at Brands (He also does a bit of ice racing which is not dissimilar to the this year’s UK testing).  The testing ban was implemented with all the best cost cutting intentions and if it had been any other year in the past decade all would be well. The teams may be feeling frustrated but the fans should be excited. With so many unknowns, the 2013 BSB opener at Brands Hatch could be the best ever!

Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies Ride the 2013 Ducati 1199 Panigale R at Circuit of the Americas

Ducati was absent at a recent MotoGP test at the Circuit of the Americas track in Austin, Texas, attended by Honda and Yamaha‘s riders. But that doesn’t mean Ducati‘s American riders Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies won’t get a chance to ride their newest home track. The Kentucky Kid, Hayden, and Texas’ own Spies recently hit the COTA track on the new Ducati 1199 Panigale R for the sportbike’s press launch.

1199R: wrapped and ready

Here's a pic from inside the Ducati factory in Bologna. These Ducati 1199R Panigales are destined for the USA; the bikes are being shipped to Texas for the 1199R launch at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The picture above reminds me of the picture on the right, which was one of the first wallpapers I had on my PC way back in 1997.

Ducati Announces Record Sales in 2012

Ducati sold a record 44,102 motorcycles in 2012 while reporting a 16% increase in revenue over 2011. The positive news was announced as part of new parent company Audi‘s annual press conference in Igolstadt, Germany. Worldwide revenues totaled 606 million euros (US$789 million) including more than 200 million euros since Audi officially acquired Ducati in July 2012.

FIM Superstock 1000 Homologation List Updated, Adds MV Agusta F4RR and Ducati 1199 Panigale R

The International Motorcycling Federation has updated its homologated model list for the 2013 World Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Endurance racing seasons. The list is largely unchanged from the list released in February with the exception of a couple of additions. The Superstock 1000 and Formula Endurance World Championship list now includes the 2013 Ducati 1199 Panigale R and the MV Agusta F4 RR.

Filippo Preziosi Resigns from Ducati

Former General Manager of Ducati Corse Filippo Preziosi has resigned from the company, ending his 19-year career with the Italian manufacturer. Preziosi led Ducati‘s racing program for the last decade including its lone MotoGP championship in 2007, but the 44-year-old engineer also carries a lot of the blame for Ducati’s recent struggles including the doomed Valentino Rossi era. Preziosi held the position of GM of Ducati Corse until last November when he was replaced with former BMW Superbike manager Bernhard Gobmeier.

WSBK 2013: Phillip Island Race Report

Max Biaggi who? The Roman Emperor’s retirement after winning the 2012 World Superbike Championship marked the end of an era for Aprilia, with the 2013 campaign marking the first without Biaggi since the Italian manufacturer came back to the WSBK scene with the RSV4. If Aprilia misses its two-time WSBK Champion, it sure didn’t show it with a dominating display at the 2013 season opener in Australia.

Former World Champion Franco Uncini Named Grand Prix Safety Officer

The International Motorcycling Federation has named Franco Uncini the FIM Grand Prix Safety Officer and circuit inspector. The 1982 500cc Grand Prix World Champion (pictured on the left above) takes over for the retired Claude Danis (right in the photo) to oversee safety in MotoGP. The now 58-year-old Uncini won the 1982 World Championship for Roberto Gallina‘s factory-backed Suzuki.

Ducati 1199 Panigale RS13 unwrapped

Maybe I'm wired up wrong but these pictures of the Alstare Ducati 1199 Panigale are, to me, more exciting than the latest Sports Illustrated cover. Just look at that tight chassis, the flowing curves and those cans tucked just out of sight and then compare that to the model on the right. I know what I'd rather spend the day with.