Victory Vision Tour Motorcycles in Elizabethtown, page #9

Moto blog

Day 2 Dakar 2014: Sunderland Wins First Special Stage

Honda won the second day of competition with Team HRC’s Sam Sunderland claiming victory in the first special stage of this year’s Dakar. Sunderland has had a frustrating time at previous Dakars, dropping out after three days of racing in 2012 and withdrawing a month before last year’s event due to fracturing both his wrists. Today, however, Sunderland made a grand entrance into the club of elite riders by brilliantly winning his first special stage of this year’s Dakar. Having started well behind his teammate, Joan Barreda, the 23-year old Brit superbly overtook Michael Metge and Juan Pedrero on the first part of the route.

Team HRC CRF450 Rally Prototype Video

In a just released video HRC Team Director Katsumi Yamazaki describes Honda’s Dakar weapon, the CRF450 Rally. Warning: Yamazaki-san’s monotone delivery manages to snuff the excitement factor of what is an incredibly trick motorcycle, but it’s still interesting to watch. Honda returned to the Dakar Rally for the first time in 24 years in January 2013.

Classic Race Finishes: 1991 250cc Misano Grand Prix – Video

More than just a medium to view countless hours of cat videos, YouTube allows us to look back at classic motorcycle races otherwise lost to the depths of the VHS tape. This time around features the no-holds-barred, back-and-forth action between Luca Cadalora, aboard the Rothmans Honda NSR250 and Helmut Bradl, father of current MotoGP rider, Stefan Bradl, riding the HB Honda NSR250. The stage is the 1991 250cc Italian Grand Prix at Misano — back when it was run in the correct, counter-clockwise, direction.

Nine-Time World Rally Champ Sebastien Loeb Races Motorcycles

Known as arguably the greatest rally car driver of all time, Sebastien Loeb has accomplished a lot behind the wheel of a car. Most victories in WRC history, most podium finishes, most points, nine World Rally titles, a dominating victory at Pikes Peak, and even a second place finish at the 24-hours of LeMans. So what does Loeb do to relax?

Victory Launches in Malaysia

Polaris opened its first Victory Motorcycles dealership in Malaysia, bringing its large V-Twin cruisers and tourers to the Asian nation. The Naza Group is importing Victory to the country through its subsidiary Harmony Fabulous Sdn Bhd. The Naza Group also holds the Malaysian distribution rights for Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Indian, and the Piaggio brands Aprilia, Vespa and Gilera.

Doriano Romboni Killed in Simoncelli Memorial Benefit Race

Retired Grand Prix racer Doriano Romboni suffered fatal injuries in a crash during practice for benefit race in memory of Marco Simoncelli. Romboni, 44, reportedly lost control during the second practice session at the second-annual Sic Supermoto Day, running into the grass before swerving back onto the track and into the path of Gianluca Vizziello. Romboni was air-lifted to Santa Maria Goretti hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

2014 Hesketh 24 Revealed

British manufacturer Hesketh Motorcycles is producing an all-new model honoring the brand’s Formula One roots. The new Hesketh 24 features a massive 1950cc V-Twin engine and will be available in the U.K. in February.

Win A One-Off Victory Cross Country Customized By Arlen & Cory Ness

For 11 years the National Motorcycle Museum has offered the chance to win a motorcycle by making a charitable donation to the non-profit fundraiser. This year the prize is a one-off Victory Cross Country customized by none other than Arlen and Cory Ness. More than $10,000 in Ness custom parts and paint were used in the creation of the bike raising the grand total retail value to nearly $30k! It takes only a few minutes to donate to win on the National Motorcycle Museum website, and you could be the lucky person riding this Ness-customized Victory Cross Country into the new year.

Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction Featuring Silverman Ducatis

Silverman Museum Racing will add a number of rare and historic Ducati motorcycles to the upcoming Bonhams motorcycle auction at Bally’s Hotel and Casino, January 9, 2014. This is in addition to the impressive collection of Harley-Davidsons from the Pierce collection headlining the auction. Comprised of Italian thoroughbreds, the Silverman collection is one of the most renowned in the world and is based largely around competition models. For instance, featured is a 1973 750SS Imola Short Stroke.

475cc NS400R. Marquez and Spencer.

Winter may be here but I seem to be as busier than ever, maybe the economy is finally turning around. At my last UK track day of the year I had some fun testing this little beauty.  It’s a late eighties NS400 triple bored out to 475cc and it felt sweet as I zinged round the GP Arena track at Silverstone.   Being stripped bare to reduce weight gives it a very respectable power to weight ratio which means it could live with 600s (on the twisty bits at least).