Yamaha YZ Motorcycles in York, page #20

Moto blog

MotoGP Teams Complete First Sepang Pre-Season Test

Preparations for the 2014 MotoGP Championship are well underway, with the first pre-season test at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit complete. As the first test of the year, we shouldn’t take too much stock into the results, but they do provide a basis for later comparison. Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez was the fastest rider on all three days of the Sepang test.

Mystic Mac's 2014 MotoGP predictions

There is no real off season in Moto GP.  Although we complain about being starved of racing, for those at the sharp end, in little more than two months they have new bikes to assemble, team staff to put in place and sponsors to nail down that will pay for it all.  This time frame is also tight for riders, as it seems more every year go straight under the surgeon’s knife after the last round and spend the short winter recuperating for the season ahead. The 2014 Moto GP championship looks like a cracker as apart from the ten full factory riders we now have at least eight non factory riders with properly competitive machinery.  We also have five Brits on the grid, two with podium potential.  Whatever happens though (providing you have BT Sport) you can just sit back and enjoy watching the incredible Marc Marquez do things that shouldn’t be possible. Speaking of whom, I didn’t believe a Rossi replacement would come this soon.  And when I say replacement, I mean a rider that is the full package.  Although in some ways quite different to Vale, he’s an equally phenomenal talent plus a very likeable character that appeals to the masses and although respectful to his rivals off track, deadly competitive in the heat of battle.  Being young and good looking he’s obviously a dream for sponsors and the sport in general.  Marquez has evolved in his own way but thankfully into a perfect replacement for our sport when the VR steps down.

Dirt First By MotoVentures

MotoVentures, the long-running (since 1998) dirt bike riding instruction company is changing its name from simply MotoVentures to the more descriptive Dirt First by MotoVentures. The new moniker more appropriately describes the company’s training activities and philosophy about the best way to learn how to ride a motorcycle begins in the dirt. “Our Dirt First training curriculum is very practical with no ceiling or limitations,” says MotoVentures President, Gary LaPlante. ”Our highly qualified, well-trained instructors are capable of teaching everyone from kids to adults and beginners to experts.

Custom Motorcycle Inspired By…A Stove?

The custom motorcycle scene is different in Indonesia. Just take this 1968 Yamaha XS650 for example. Built by Barata Dwiputra of Thrive Motorcycles, his inspiration came from a very unsuspecting source: wood-burning stoves.

EBR Announces More Than 60 Founding Dealers

Erik Buell Racing (EBR) today announced its founding dealerships across the United States. The recruitment process began shortly after the American International Motorcycle Expo in Orlando, Florida, where the company took the wraps off the 1190RX production superbike. More than 60 dealers will be the first to carry the 1190RX.

2013 US Motorcycle Sales Data

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) reported a modest 1.4% growth in U.S. motorcycle and scooter sales in 2013, with consumers purchasing 465,783 vehicles. The sales data represents numbers from the MIC’s member brands which include BMW, Can-Am, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, the Piaggio Group (which includes Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa), Victory, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha.

2014 AMA Supercross – Anaheim 3 Results

Chad Reed tasted victory for the second time in three weeks at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., leading all 20 laps and fending off a last-lap challenge from rookie upstart Ken Roczen. Reed, who also won the Jan. 18 round in the second of three Anaheim races, now trails fellow Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto by just two points in the 2014 AMA Supercross championship race.

Tommy Aquino Dies in Motocross Accident

California racer Tommy Aquino has died after a crash involving another rider at Piru Ranch MX in Piru, Calif. According to the Ventura County Star, the 21-year-old professional racer died in a head-on collision shortly before 12:30 pm on Feb. 2.

Zero-mile, still crated Yamaha RZ500N for sale

This brand new, unregistered, never-even-been-fired-up Yamaha RZ500N has been revealed in the warehouse of a motorcycle dealer in Australia. We know it was the RD500LC but over in Australia (and Canada) it was called the RZ500N. It comes exactly as it arrived from Japan, with two keys, the service manual, mirrors etc.

2014 World Supersport Provisional Entry List

The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) released a provisional entry list for the 2014 World Supersport Championship, with 23 riders including two to be announced at a later date. The provisional lists includes riders representing four different manufacturers: Honda, Kawasaki, MV Agusta and Yamaha. Honda is the most popular manufacturer with ten riders (though two are listed as TBA).