Ducati Monster Motorcycles in Longmont, page #50

Moto blog

Leo Vince LV-ONE exhausts for Ducati Monster

Press release from MotoGB: For those Ducati Monster owners that only want to add pure Italian made products to their Ducati, then look no further.   Top Italian performance exhaust manufacturers, LeoVince, have just released some new slip-on exhausts, called the LV-ONE,  for the Monster.  After a years research into what customers want from an exhaust, namely high quality, better sound, better performance ...and all at a good price...LeoVince  came up with their LV-ONE design.  The casings special finish looks like titanium, the exhausts are all 'E' approved for road use, and finished off with their new techno-polymer tailcones.

Max points haul for Morris at Assen

Leon Morris (Buildbase/JHP Ducati) took both wins at Round Two of the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge rounding out a very challenging weekend for all the rider and teams at Assen. The changeable weather conditions made for last-minute tyre decisions and tricky racing conditions as the rain came in heavy bursts throughout the weekend, leaving a number of riders out on track on the wrong tyres. Qualifying on Saturday was typical, as the weather rendered two of the three qualifying sessions damp, leaving only the early afternoon session in which all the riders posted a fast time.

848 Challenge heads to Holland

This weekend sees riders and teams heading across the North Sea to the famous Assen TT circuit for Round 2 of the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge. After two stunning opening races at Brands Hatch BSB three weeks ago, the expectation is that the racing will be similarly closely fought and exciting at the historical home of bike racing. Leon Morris left Brands with a double win, continuing his strong form from last season and will no doubt be the man to beat in Assen, while Darren Fry, the current Champion, will hope for better luck this weekend after breaking his coccyx at Brands Hatch in a heavy crash. But the Buildbase/JHP Ducati team-mates will be wary of the challenge from Mike’Spike’ Edwards (MSKWorks.com), who will be riding his upgraded Ducati 848EVO for the first time this weekend, and Mark Cheetham (Shorrocks Motorcycles) and Kenny Gilbertson (Art of Racing/Boast Plumbing) who were the main challengers for podium finishes three weeks ago.

£4 part (almost) stops play

When I dropped off my trashed 848 to George White, along with a box of parts, I didn't realise how much work would be involved in preparing the bike for the 848 Challenge. If I did, I probably wouldn't have had the front to show up, point to a date on the calendar two weeks ahead, make everyone a cup of tea and then clear off. Truth be told, it's taken a huge effort to get the bike to a place where it's got everything it needs to go racing and I wouldn't be heading to Assen without the effort of Paul Sands (Sandzee) and Mike Collis at George White who worked all sorts of hours to get it sorted.

Pedrosa: most wins, least successful

Should Dani Pedrosa win at Le Mans this coming weekend he will become the most successful rider In the premier-class not to win the coveted title. After his triumph in Estoril the Repsol Honda rider currently finds himself on 13 wins and in joint first and a win, at a circuit that sees him rank as one of riders with the most victories in all classes, would make him a clear leader. Joining Pedrosa at the top of the ranking is Max Biaggi and Randy Mamola, two riders who became associated with the number two.

It started with a good clean...

"So when's your first race" says Paul Sands, George White main mechanic. "In 10 days' time" says I, wincing in anticipation of his response. To his credit, he didn't flinch.

Win a Ducati Diavel with Rizoma

Purveyors of motorcycle art Rizoma have put up the new Ducati Diavel as a prize in a unique art competition. 'Unlock Your Ideas' gives you a blank canvas to turn the range of Rizoma products into an inspired piece of artwork. Creativity is rewarded with the latest piece of Ducati art, the Diavel.

Nuggets from Estoril

 HRC Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto and Ducati General Director Filippo Preziosi attracted some major media attention as they enjoyed a lengthy but very public chat in the Estoril paddock. Some speculated they were chewing the fat over Stoner’s brilliance now that even Rossi is struggling to get close to the podium on the D800cc Ducati. Others had no doubt it was the rule change for Moto GP machines moving to 1000cc in 2012 that was being debated.

George White & Visordown: 848 Challenge

I've never met a motorcycle dealer who isn't flat-out 24/7 and Steve Gannicott, the big cheese at George White Motorcycles, is no exception. George White's have 7 dealerships across the country and 6 outlet stores - a lot to keep on top of so Steve probably didn't need me pestering him all day but that's exactly what he got. When I managed to get hold of Steve, he was really supportive of my entry to the 848 Challenge and wanted to get behind it because George White now has a Ducati dealership.

Stats ahead of Estoril MotoGP round

The MotoGP circus moves into it's tenth appearance at the Estoril circuit, with the Portugease circuit playing host to a Grand Prix event in each of the previous nine years since the introduction of the four-stroke MotoGP formula at in 2002. Below is a reminder of the highlights of the previous nine MotoGP races held at Estoril: 2002 – Having won the last 500cc GP race at Estoril in 2001, Valentino Rossi (Honda) won the first of the MotoGP races held at the circuit. This was a race that was run in very wet conditions and Sete Gibernau had led for most of the race only to crash out with four laps to go.