Ducati Superbike Motorcycles in Santa Monica, page #17

Moto blog

Carlos Checa Announces Retirement

After 20 years of world-level racing and a world championship in World Superbike in 2011, Carlos Checa has officially decided to retire from the sport. Checa, who turned 41 just a few days ago, made his debut on the world scene back in 1993, when he took part in the GP 250 championship. In the twenty years that followed, he went on to compete in the 500cc, MotoGP and Superbike championships.

Casey Stoner To Be Named MotoGP Legend

There’s no question Casey Stoner was (and still is) one of the best riders ever to throw a leg over a motorcycle. His accomplishments on two wheels, especially his championships on both Ducati and Honda machinery, are proof. Next week at the MotoGP round at Phillip Island in Australia, Stoner will join a distinct group of riders as he will be officially inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame.

Ducati Targeting Aprilia Racing Manager Gigi Dall’Igna

Ducati has reportedly signed Aprilia Racing manager Gigi Dall’Igna to take control of its struggling MotoGP program. Neither Ducati Corse or Aprilia Racing have confirmed the reports, but several sources in the European motorsports press such as Motociclismo.it, not to mention a tweet from retired World Superbike Champion Max Biaggi, claim the deal is done. Dall’Igna has been an instrumental figure in Aprilia’s racing success since the manufacturer’s return to WSBK racing with the RSV4 in 2009, helping guide Biaggi to two championships and, pending the result of the 2013 season finale at Jerez, likely three manufacturers titles.

Limited Edition 2014 Ducati 1199 Panigale S “Senna”

Twenty years after the passing of Brazilian F1 superstar, Ayrton Senna, Ducati is offering special version 1199 Panigale. Built exclusively for the the Brazilian market, only 161 models will be produced in honor of the amount of Grand Prix races in which  Senna competed. The special grey with red wheels color scheme was chosen by Senna during a visit to the Ducati factory only a few weeks before his last race in Imola in 1994. Scheduled to begin arriving in June, 2014 the Senna models will come equipped with a racing exhaust system and each will have its individual production number inscribed on the top fork clamp.

Ultra-Exclusive Ducati 1199 Panigale R Superleggera On the Way

For most people, the Ducati 1199 Panigale is more than enough bike for them to handle. For those who want something a little more special, Ducati offers the 1199 Panigale S. Those seeking even higher performance for the race track could move up to the 1199 Panigale R.

Concept 'Audi motorcycle'

'Don't they call Audi motorcycles, Ducatis' you say? Well, you could be right. However this concept motorcycle is worth surfacing.

Dainese Made To Measure Tour Starts This Weekend

In the fashion world, nothing fits quite like a well tailored suit. Dainese is applying this same ideal to the moto world by once again offering its custom tailored services to North America. The tour, called Fitnet, will start this weekend and make its way to six locations throughout the country, finishing on October 19.

Ducati 1199 Panigale Superquadro Engine to Power Volkswagen XL1 Sport

Ever since Audi acquired Ducati, we’ve been anticipating the first cross-brand technological developments between the Italian motorcycle maker and the German automaker. Sure, there have been some cross-promotional tie-ins, but we’ve been waiting with baited breath to see what Audi, and its parent company the Volkswagen Group, had planned with Ducati‘s small engine technology. Well we don’t have to wait for much longer, as VW Chief Executive Officer Ferdinand Piech revealed the first product of the “DucAudi” union in a speech at the University of Vienna: a new sports car concept called the Volkswagen XL Sport powered by the Superquadro engine from the Ducati 1199 Panigale.

Ducati CEO Domenicali Talks 899 Panigale, Audi and MotoGP Performance

Following the debut of the new 899 Panigale during Audi‘s presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Ducati held a separate, smaller press conference with the motorcycle press at its headquarters in Bologna, Italy, to discuss the new “Supermid” sportbike and the company’s Chief Executive Officer Claudio Domenicali discussed the state of the company after a year under its new ownership. “Audi is a stakeholder who wishes to be involved in the technical development of the company and to focus its efforts on product development. Now, a year after the acquisition, it is time to take stock of the initial results and look to the future with a positive and proactive attitude,” says Domenicali.  “Ducati achieved record sales in 2011 and again in 2012 when over 44,000 motorcycles were delivered to customers.

Used: Alpinestars Joey Canvas shoes review

The brief I gave to my girlfriend before packing for our little California road-trip was simple: “No hair straighteners, no high-heels and no hand bags!” So, I had to honour the whole ‘packing light’ thing too ...or risk a week of abuse. I picked up these shoes as I thought they’d double as decent riding gear for the Yamaha XVS650 and Ducati Diavel we had lined up but they also looked perfect for wearing with jeans when we’d dumped the bike and were heading out to explore the sights. They don’t feature any ‘real’ armour but they are made from a tough yet flexible canvas and they feature additional protection around the ankle.