Polaris Anniversary Two Tone Victory Vegas Motorcycles, page #23

Moto blog

848 Challenge: Silverstone race results

Race 1: Race 1 produced another memorable 848 Challenge race, with Mike Edwards (MSKworks.com) in determined mood to record his first race victory of the season. But Kenny Gilbertson (AOR/Boast Plumbing), Leon Morris, and Robbie Brown (Ducati Manchester) were to push him all the way, with the front four riders each having held the lead by the half way point. Further back Mark Cheetham (Shorrocks Motorcycles) was trading places with ex-Champion Darren Fry (JHP/Buildbase Ducati) with Aaron Brown (Ladybirds Ducati) and Ricky Holden (Holden Racing) less that a second apart.

Himmelmann Dominates FIM e-Power & TTXGP Combined Event

Germany’s Matthias Himmelmann dominated the FIM e-Power & TTXGP combined event held Sept. 23 at the Le Mans circuit, in opening of the renowned FIM 24 Hours Endurance race. Not to discount Himmelmann’s win, but the most remarkable thing about the race is how much faster the electric-powered motorcycles lapped the Bugatti circuit this year.

Suzuka Eight Hour capers

Chatting to TT legend John McGuiness recently about his first Suzuka Eight Hour experience got me thinking of a few capers the boys and me managed a few years back at what is still Japan's most important race of the season. It is a unique event that starts at 11am and finishes at 7pm making  it a pukka endurance race as the last hour is run with headlights on in the dark. It is essentially an eight hour sprint that showcases the trickest endurance machinery and manufacturer’s sales can be affected the following year depending on who wins or loses.

Capirossi Announces Retirement at Conclusion of 2011 Season

Loris Capirossi announced he will retire at the end of the 2011 MotoGP season, closing off a quarter century of racing including 22 years at the Grand Prix level and three World Championships. “It’s an important moment in my career, and the decision I made has come about after a lot of reflection,” says Capriossi. “I’m happy that after 25 years, of which 22 were in the world championship, I’m at a point where I can still have a smile on my lips as I part ways, even if it’s difficult to think that I won’t be riding a bike next year.” The announcement was made during a press conference at Misano for the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix, the final Italian stop of the 2011 season.

MSF Begins Year-long Real World Motorcycle Safety Study

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has started what it calls the first-ever naturalistic study of motorcycling, with 100 motorcycles equipped with data logging equipment to record real-world riding situations over the course of a year. The information will valuable data that will help shape the MSF’s rider education and rider training program and other safety initiatives. “Our priority with this research is to observe the participants on a day-to-day basis,” says Dr.

Obama Signs Lead Ban Exemption Bill

President Barack Obama has signed H.R. 2715, enacting a law that will make it legal to sell youth off-highway vehicles again. The bill amends the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 which barred the sale of items with lead components, a ban which had unintentionally included off-highway vehicles.

US Motorcycle Sales First Half 2011 Results

The U.S. motorcycle industry saw a 4.6% decrease in year-on-year sales over the first six months of 2011, thanks mostly to a 17.3% drop in ATV sales. Motorcycle and scooter sales however saw a 1.7% bump in the first half .

Polaris Reports Q2 2011 Results – Victory Sales Revenue Up 99%!

Polaris Industries reported a 99% increase in on-road vehicle (i.e. Victory Motorcycles) sales, and a 90% increase in overall net income over the second quarter of 2011. For the quarter ended June 20, 2011, Polaris reported $30.9 million in product sales from its on-road division which consists primarily of Victory Motorcycles.

Victory Motorcycles Announces 2011 Sturgis Rally Plans

Victory Motorcycles announced its schedule of events for the 71st annual Sturgis Rally, Aug. 8-14 in Sturgis, S.D. The Medina, Minn., manufacturer returns this year as an official sponsor for Sturgis events at the Legendary Buffalo Chip, with a special one-off Victory Kingpin customized by Klock Werks Kustom Cycle to be given away on the Buffalo Chip stage.

Monza: Brown and Morris share the spoils

After a month off, the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge took to the air for the second of its fly-away rounds this season; this time to the historic Monza circuit. Scene of so many memorable races, a quick glance at the circuit map surely raised the expectation just a little higher than normal as the riders faced the prospect of tackling one of Europe's fastest circuits. Free practice on Saturday afternoon was fought out in over 31 degree sunshine as the riders took advantage of the three sessions available to them to learn the circuit.