SuperSport Road Atlanta Race 1 Results 2012

By Byron Wilson

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

James Rispoli trailed for most of Race 1 in Road Atlanta, but was able to grab the checkers by the end of the race.

Celtic Racing/Orient Express Suzuki’s James Rispoli took his second win of the 2012 SuperSport series, claiming victory in the opening SuperSport race at Road Atlanta. The West Division rider spoiled the show for his East rivals, taking the victory and points away from Vesrah Suzuki’s Jake Lewis. Triumph Daytona 675 rider Dustin Dominguez rounded out the Road Atlanta podium. East Division points leader, Corey Alexander, finished 10th.

Rispoli opened the 16-lap SuperSport race from pole position, followed by Lewis. The AMA rookie overtook Rispoli on Lap 2, in a tight battle that would last throughout the race. The Suzuki riders continued to battle for position up front, but JR was able to swoop ahead in the final laps to win the checkers.

The battle for the podium included Road Race Factory’s Hayden Gillim and SuzukiScoop rider Elena Myers in the early laps. But Dominguez took fourth position on Lap 6 aboard his Triumph Daytona 675. By Lap 11, Dominguez had advanced to third position over Gilim, posting laps more than three seconds faster than he’d scored during the second round qualifying session.

Gillim and Meyers faded out of the top five as eventual fourth and fifth-place riders Travis Wyman and Kneedragger.com’s Stefano Mesa climbed ahead. Wyman impressed on the Harv’s Harley-Davidson Suzuki besting Myers, who would drop to eighth. Mesa, a SuperSport podium finisher at Daytona, would round out the top five.

The Yamaha R6 duo of Gillim and Miles Thornton claimed sixth and seventh. Myers, who had wrist surgery following her Daytona winning opening round, completed the race in eighth. LTD Racing Yamaha’s Tomas Puerta finished ninth. Meanwhile Daytona Race 2 runner-up, National Guard Suzuki’s Corey Alexander, finished 10th.

Despite his lackluster Road Atlanta Race 1 result, Alexander retain the East Division lead. But the Suzuki rider’s advantage is narrowed to two points over Lewis and Mesano – both tied at 51 points. Puerta is eight points adrift of Alexander, with Thornton fifth overall.

2012 Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport  Road Atlanta Race 1 Results
1. James Rispoli (Suzuki) 
2. Jake Lewis (Suzuki) 
3. Dustin Dominguez (Triumph)
4. Travis Wyman (Suzuki) 
5. Stefano Mesa (Suzuki) 
6. Hayden Gillim (Yamaha) 
7. Miles Thorton (Yamaha) 
8. Elena Myers (Suzuki)
9. Tomas Puerta (Yamaha)
10. Corey Alexander (Suzuki)
11. Jacob Morman (Yamaha) 
12. Rocco Horvath (Yamaha) 
14. Eric Stump (Yamaha) 
15. Colter Dimick (Yamaha) 

2012 AMA SuperSport East Division Points:
1. Corey Alexander, 53
2. Jake Lewis, 51
3. Stefano Mesa, 51
4. Tomas Puerta, 45
5. Miles Thornton, 38
6. Dustin Dominguez, 35
7. Travis Wyman, 24
8. Ryan Kerr, 24
9. Jacob Morman, 23
10. Eric Stump, 19

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

World Superbike Assen Superpole 2012

Bart Madson

Managing Editor For Motorcycle-usa.com

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Tom Sykes takes another Superpole, the KRT ZX-10R rider seizing pole during a wet qualifying session.

Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes keeps his pole position streak in check. The KRT rider took top honors in a wet Superpole session. Honda’s Jonathan Rea joins Sykes on the front row, alongside Liberty Racing Ducati’s Jakub Smrz and Sylvain Guintoli. Defending champion Carlos Checa was fifth-fastest, while Aprilia’s Max Biaggi did not make it into the 16-rider Superpole and will start from 17th on the grid for Sunday’s doubleheader.

SBK officials declared the Superpole wet, so the usual three-session knockout format was replaced with a pair of 20-minute sessions. Guintoli, the fastest SBK rider on Friday, finished atop Superpole 1. Key riders to miss the Superpole cutoff were BMW’s Marco Melandri, Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty and Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier. The RSV4 pilot crashed in the Superpole session, meanwhile Camier suffered a nasty spill during the preceding morning practice.

Sykes maintained top position throughout the closing session; the Englishman was the first to dip under 1’37 and later 1’36. None could match the Kawasaki rider, whose 1’35.399 was a full second ahead of his nearest competitor. Sykes will line up next to Rea, winner of three of the last four Assen SBK races. Liberty Racing Ducati riders Smrz and Guintoli edged their 1098R comrade, Checa, off the front row.

Max Biaggi had a difficult qualifying, missing Superpole and starting the Assen doubleheader from 17th on the grid.

Checa slot right behind Sykes, one of his prime title challengers in the early season, leading Row 2. Alongside the Althea Racing ace is BMW Italia's Michel Fabrizio, the top placing S1000RR rider, who got one up on factory man Leon Haslam. American John Hopkins had one of his better results in another injury-plagued season - the Crescent Fixi Suzuki rider slipping into Superpole 2 and qualifying eighth-fastest.

Biaggi's dismal qualifying result was foiled by the weather. With rain spoiling Friday afternoon and Saturday qualifying sessions, the opening dry laps on Friday proved critical in making it into the top 16 Superpole cutoff. The 2010 SBK champion missed by one position and will start from 17th.

2012 World Superbike Superpole Results:
1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’35.399
2. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1’36.432
3. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) 1’36.566
4. Sylvain Guintoli (Ducati) 1’36.875
5. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1’37.156
6. Michel Fabrizio (BMW) 1’37.311
7. Leon Haslam (BMW) 1’37.592
8. John Hopkins (Suzuki) 1’37.913
9. Marco Melandri (BMW) 1'40.516
10. David Salom (Kawasaki) 1'40.523
11. Chaz Davies (Aprilia) 1'40.627
12. Leon Camier (Suzuki) 1'40.681
13. Brett McCormick (Ducati) 1'41.962
14. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) 1'43.947
15. Maxime Berger (Ducati) 1'44.022
16. Ayrton Badovini (BMW) 1'44.500
17. Max Biaggi (Aprilia)
18. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati)
19. Davide Giugliano (Ducati)
20. Leandro Mercado (Kawasaki)
21. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda)
22. Mark Aitchison (BMW)
23. Lorenzo Zanetti (Ducati)

World Supersport

The difficult conditions on Saturday kept the Supersport qualifying order static from Friday. The front row remains dominated by Honda riders with Bogdanka PTR's Sam Lowes on pole position, followed by Ten Kate's Broc Parkes and PTR's Jules Cluzel. Kenan Sofuoglu nicked fellow Kawasaki ZX-6R rider Fabien Foret for the final front row position. Instead the current points leader and former WSS champion will head Row 2. American PJ Jacobsen will start his first World Supersport race from 24th - the 18-year old lining up alongside compatriot and fellow AMA Pro Racing alumn Josh Day.

2012 World Supersport Assen Qualifying:
1. Sam Lowes (Honda) 1'38.900
2. Broc Parkes (Honda) 1'38.939
3. Jules Cluzel (Honda) 1'39.450
4. Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1'39.548
5. Fabien Foret (Kawasaki) 1'39.730
6. Imre Toth (Honda) 1'40.040
7. Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki) 1'40.090
8. Vladimir Leonov (Yamaha) 1'40.289
9. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha) 1'40.326
10. Mathew Scholtz (Honda) 1'40.390
11. Valentine Debise (Honda) 1'40.524
12. Jed Metcher (Yamaha) 1'40.618
13. Andrea Antonelli (Honda) 1'40.727
14. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Triumph) 1'40.762
15. Ronan Quarmby (Honda) 1'40.797

Source: motorcycle-usa.com

AMA Starts AMA Get Out and Ride Smart! Week

Courtesy of American Motorcyclist Association

Saturday, April 21, 2012

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announces the beginning of the fourth and final week of the AMA 2012 Get Out And Ride! Month: AMA Get Out and Ride Smart! Week.

The weeklong theme promotes rider training and smart choices regarding motorcycle and rider preparation to help ensure that every ride is enjoyable and safe. Throughout AMA Get Out and Ride Smart! Week, the AMA will be engaging riders on its Facebook page at Facebook.com/AmericanMotorcyclist on topics that focus on ways to "ride smart."

AMA members are also invited to enter the AMA Get Out and Ride! Month trivia contest. Helmet House, a dedicated AMA supporter, is rewarding one lucky AMA member each week with a Tour Master Saber Series 3 riding jacket during the trivia contest. The weekly winner will be drawn at random from correct AMA member submissions in the contest, and the winning name will be posted next Friday on both the AMA Facebook page and AMA website. Contest rules are posted at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Riding/GetOutAndRide/TriviaRules.aspx. 

Another cool AMA activity taking place during AMA Get Out and Ride! Month is AMA Flash Tours. At the start of each AMA Flash Tour, the AMA announces a theme or challenge designed to get riders on the road to visit interesting destinations. Participants then tackle the challenge and document their effort with a photo emailed to flashtours@americanmotorcyclist.com. AMA Flash Tours run for approximately two weeks, and a lucky participant from each tour will be selected to win a prize pack from AMA partner organizations or the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. For details, visit Americanmotorcyclist.com > Events > AMA Flash Tours.

AMA Get Out and Ride Smart! Week is one of four weekly themes highlighted throughout April during AMA Get Out And Ride! Month. The virtual campaign spotlights AMA members and motorcyclists everywhere doing what they love to do: riding on the street and trail, and riding and racing in AMA-sanctioned events.

AMA members are also encouraged to submit riding stories, photos and videos throughout AMA Get Out and Ride! Month to submissions@ama-cycle.org. The best stories will be featured on the AMA Get Out and Ride! Month blog.

For more on AMA Get Out and Ride! Month, and to find out how you can participate and win cool prizes, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/GetOutAndRide. 

Road Atlanta AMA Pro Racing: Friday Report

APR
04/21/2012 Source: Ultimatemotorcycling.com

2012 AMA Pro Racing

Defending champion Josh Hayes watched the final ten minutes of Friday's AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike qualifying session tick off from pitlane alongside a pair of crashed No. 1-plated Monster Energy Graves Yamaha YZF-R1s.

Despite encountering a lot more drama than he might have hoped for, Hayes ultimately walked away from the opening day of action for the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta presented by Dunlop Tire and LeoVince with the provisional pole after turning a lap time of 1:25.380 around Road Atlanta's 2.55-mile natural road course.

Hayes also crashed out of the day's free practice, but in each session no rider proved capable of taking advantage of Hayes' absence and bettering the mark he had previously set.

"It's been a rough day," Hayes admitted. "I had another good (lap) going before I made my second big mistake of the day. It's been a while since we've seen the place, but I have a lot of laps around Road Atlanta. This is, I think, the 18th year that I've raced here. Every year I seem to get some laps in here, except for last year. Still feels like home and I still remember my way around pretty well. All in all, things have gone pretty well except for a couple of miscues."

The champ promised that he'll be fully ready to fight on Saturday. "I'm a little beat up but overall everything works. I'm running out of suits and helmets. Other than that, I have a few abrasions on my knee but nothing that will keep me from performing well."

It came as little surprise that Hayes' title rival, Blake Young, was the man who came closest to knocking him off the top spot in qualifying. The Yoshimura Racing Suzuki pilot threw down a 1:25.508 to put a scare into Hayes whose fast lap had previously appeared to be unassailable.

Local favorite Geoff May, who hails from nearby Gainesville, Georgia, put in an outstanding effort for the Team Amsoil/Hero EBR squad on Friday. May's 1:26.551 put him third overall, trailing only the superstar duo of Hayes and Young.

May is no stranger to success at Road Atlanta, of course, having won the Superstock race at the venue in 2008, and then finishing on the podium twice in the premier SuperBike class a year later.

Hayes' rookie teammate, Josh Herrin, also considers Road Atlanta to be his home circuit. And the Dublin, Georgia native was also quick, rounding out the provisional front row on his Monster Energy Graves Yamaha on the provisional front row at 1:26.572.

The provisional second row was an all-Suzuki affair, led by Yoshimura Racing Suzuki's Chris Clark. Teammates Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) and Ben Bostrom (Jordan Suzuki) were next, followed by an impressive David Anthony on the Kneedraggers.com/Motul/Fly Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Steve Rapp headed the provisional third row on the Attack Performance Kawasaki ZX-10R, with Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing BMW), Jake Holden (EvanSteelPeformance.com BMW), and Chris Fillmore (KTM/HMC Racing) in line behind.

Hayes will look to add to his burgeoning bonus point tally in final qualifying on Saturday morning before the SuperBike stars turn their attention to the day's 20-lap final.

AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike

Martin Cardenas (GEICO Suzuki) earned provisional pole in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike division with a lap time of 1:28.938.

After earning only one pole in his AMA Pro career, the former series champion won pole last month at Daytona before setting the provisional best time today. Has there been a change in his approach? "No," Cardenas said, "I think this bike suits me very well and gives me a good feeling so I can push harder. So far it's been good."

Jason DiSalvo (Latus Motors Racing) led the morning practice and finished second in qualifying, ahead of fellow veteran Jake Zemke (DucShop Racing.) Dane Westby (M4 Broaster Chicken Suzuki) produced a strong session to finish on the overnight front row. Daytona 200 winner Joey Pascarella (SGA Yamaha) was fifth quickest. He was joined on the provisional second row by Cory West (Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki), Huntley Nash (LTD Racing) and Tommy Hayden (Yamaha Extended Services Graves Yamaha.)

AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport

In AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport, the battle for provisional pole went to reigning series champ James Rispoli (Orient Express Celtic Racing) who set a Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport track record with a lap time of 1:30.337, besting Jake Lewis (Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki) and Dustin Dominguez (Castrol Triumph) in the process. This trio were the only riders in the 1:30 bracket on the challenging Georgia circuit. Hayden Gillim (Red Bull/RoadRace Factory) closed out the front row.

Find out who will become the next Big Kahuna in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike and AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike by tuning in to SPEED for a set of same-day delayed broadcasts scheduled to begin Saturday at 8:30 p.m. EDT (5:30 p.m. PDT) and Sunday at 11 p.m. EDT (8:00 p.m. PDT). Follow along live as the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series riders battle for their boards by logging onto speed2.com. SPEED2 is a broadband service available to customers of Time Warner, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, DISH and Cox. For more information and instructions on gaining access to all of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com and AMA Pro Live Timing & Scoring of all on-track sessions will be available at http://live.amaproracing.com/rr/. Between the races, stay connected with AMA Pro Road Racing at twitter.com/AMAProSBK and facebook.com/AMAProRoadRacing.

Source: Ultimatemotorcycling.com

AMA Pro Racing Road Atlanta Preview 2012

Bart Madson

Managing Editor at Motorcycle-usa.com Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

Bashing away at an MCUSA keyboard for more than half a decade, Madson lends his scribbling input on everything from bike reviews to industry features and motorcycle racing reports.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

After a year’s absence AMA Pro Racing returns to Road Atlanta for Round 2 of the 2012 series. Josh Hayes and Blake Young headline the AMA festivities, as the Yamaha and Suzuki riders fight for the American SuperBike points lead. The duo will also vie for title of Big Kahuna, as the M1 Powersports-promoted RA round features a unique moto-style scoring format to crown a top rider in each of the four AMA classes. The Big Kahuna in each series will get a one-of-a-kind trophy designed by Roland Sands and Motorcycle-Superstore.com.

AMERICAN SUPERBIKE

The expected battle between Hayes and Young promises close racing for the ASB doubleheader. Opening his campaign for a third consecutive ASB title, Hayes appeared the stronger rider at Daytona. The Graves Yamaha pilot seems to have found some extra speed on the R1 in the offseason, tallying a convincing victory in the first Daytona race and losing Race 2 to Young in a photo finish. Hayes was in control throughout most of the second race and appeared to have just miscalculated his finish line draft. 

Young rebounded for the Race 2 win at Daytona, acknowledging he’d been off the pace the day prior. The Yoshimura Suzuki ace may have evened the 2012 win total, but remains down in the title fight owing to Hayes sweeping the pole position and most laps led bonus – bonus points behind the title difference in his breakout 2011 campaign. To Young’s advantage, Road Atlanta was the site of another breakout for the Wisconsin rider, logging a double victory performance there in 2010.

The Jordan Suzuki squad should run strong at Road Atlanta. Roger Hayden secured a third-place double podium finish at Daytona, one of the best performances ever for the Jordan team. Teammate Ben Bostrom fared worse at Daytona, with run-offs and crashes spoiling the opener with a disappointing 13-15 byline – a result that should improve dramatically in Georgia.

The top riders at Graves and Yoshimura have a pair of young teammates on the prowl at RA. Graves ASB rookie Josh Herrin impressed in his debut. The 21-year-old had a strong Race 1 start foiled by a mechanical DNF, but pounced back with a fourth-place finish in Race 2 – giving Hayden fits for the final rostrum position. As for 20-year-old Chris Clark, the Las Vegas native managed a 9-7 result in his debut on the coveted Yoshimura seat.

Motorcycle USA test rider Steve Rapp showed top-five pace at Daytona. Riding the Black Ops ZX-10R – sponsored by Attack Performance, Motorcycle-Superstore.com, LeoVince and M1 Big Kahuna – Rapp raced to a 5-6 result at the opener. Rapp and Attack team owner Richard Stanboli are contesting select rounds of the 2012 schedule, including Road Atlanta, and are also prepping for a CRT MotoGP wild card effort. At RA the two will try to vault up from top-five to podium pace – with Rapp having won at the circuit back in his 750 days.

BMW rider Larry Pegram poached a position from Rapp in both ASB Daytona races right at the finish line. The S1000RR rider rests fourth in the series and will hunt for the first ASB victory for the German marque. Jake Holden also campaigned the Beemer to solid results in Round 1 – the EvanSteelPerformance prepped BMW finishing 7-8 and looking for improvement in Georgia.

Also fixing to bump up the ASB rankings is the Erik Buell Racing duo of Geoff May and Danny Eslick. The two riders flipped top-10 finishes and a poor result. Eslick, the two-time DSB champ (the first with Buell), pulled in during Race 1 with bike issues, but rebounded with a ninth-place Race 2 finish. May impressed with a sixth-place result in Race 1 and a forgettable 20th in the second contest. A top-five from any EBR1190 rider will be a memorable milestone for the American firm.

DAYTONA SPORTBIKE

The Daytona SportBike class saw a critical personnel change in the run-up to Round 2. The 2012 Daytona 200 winner, Joey Pascarella, appeared out in the cold after the Project 1 Atlanta squad was unable to secure season-long funding. But AMA Pro Racing reports the Californian will continue his title fight after all on a Yamaha sponsored by The Jon Block Group, SGA/Katra Racing and Yamaha Champion Riding School (YCRS).

The welcome news means Pascarella will defend his six-point title advantage against D200 runner-up Jason DiSalvo. The Team Latus Triumph rider will be a leading challenger along with Geico Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas. The Colombian finished fourth at Daytona, but the pole position D200 starter was amongst the four front-runners with a shot of the checkers on the final start-finish charge. Cardenas has past DSB success at RA, taking both wins at the circuit during his 2010 title-winning campaign.

Pascarella’s deal is a spot of good news for Yamaha, as two top R6 riders are out of commission. The tuning fork brand’s top squad, YES Graves, lost Garret Gerloff to a broken leg at Daytona and later D200 podium finisher, Cameron Beaubier, smashed up his leg in a scooter accident. Tommy Hayden parachuted in to fill Gerloff’s seat for a seventh-place finish at Daytona, and the eldest of the Hayden clan will be the lone Graves R6 rider at RA. Hayden is no stranger to success the 600 series, having won consecutive Supersport titles (2004, 2005).

Another AMA veteran and former champ battling with Hayden at Daytona, Jake Zemke’s DucShop Racing debut ended with a sixth-place result. Expect the 848 pilot to be hustling up front with his younger rivals this weekend, the Road Atlanta circuit a home race for the Georgia-based Ducati team.

Lost in some of the Daytona shuffle, Dane Westby recovered from a couple poor pit stops to finish fifth. Having led the D200 at times, the M4 Broaster Chicken Suzuki rider will look gain lost points during Round 2. Another Gixxer rider to watch is Vesrah Suzuki’s Cory West, with multiple DSB podiums under his belt and a 10th-place D200 finish to make up for.

The DSB roster is flush with extra Yamaha talent too. One R6 pilot that should battle for the podium is RoadRace Factor/Red Bull rider JD Beach, who claimed the SuperSport double victory at RA in 2010. Beach’s teammate, Jake Gagne, is another R6 to watch. As for SGA Racing/YCRS rider Tommy Aquino, after a ninth-place D200 finish he’s bolting overseas to race Moto2 in the Spanish CEV series.

MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM SUPERSPORT

The rising stars of AMA Pro Racing will be hard-pressed to deliver the same thrills they managed during the Daytona opener. Both races featured a mad dash to the finish, with Celtic Racing/Orient Express Suzuki’s James Rispoli and SuzukiScoop rider Elena Myers splitting wins. The massive 49-rider field that qualified for the SuperSport mains at Daytona whittles down some for Road Atlanta, with RA the first East Division only round (Daytona points counted for both the East and West Divisions of the SS series).

Despite the SS roster paring down, key West Division will still be battling for the RA wins. The group of West riders is headlined by Daytona winners Rispoli and Myers. RoadRace Factory Yamaha’s Hayden Gillim is another strong candidate from the Western fold looking to horn in on the East Division points.

As for the East Division contenders, National Guard Suzuki rider Corey Alexander leads the points. The pole position rider at Daytona scored a 5-2 result, and will look to extend his seven-point advantage over Yamaha rider Stefano Mesa. RoadRace Factory/American Supercamp Yamaha rider Tomas Puerta just skirted an SS podium at the opening round, the Colombian a constant podium threat.

One rider that could jump ahead of all the point leaders is SuperSport rookie Jake Lewis. The Vesrah Suzuki rider placed second in Race 1 and was battling toward the front in Race 2 when a mechanical DNF dropped him to fourth in the East Division points 17 behind the leader. Lewis could easily vault back into title contention with an impressive showing this weekend.

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

World Superbike Assen Preview 2012

Bart Madson

Managing Editor|  At Motorcycle-usa.com

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi will continue their SBK title duel as World Superbike arrives at Assen. The third round of the 14-round season sees its past two champions atop the points, however, there are several riders looking to gain ground in the series. Top amongst these challengers are Tom Sykes aboard the resurgent Kawasaki and BMW’s Leon Haslam.

The previous Imola round couldn’t have gone better for Checa. The Althea Ducati rider claimed the double at the Bologna manufacturer’s home round. Even better, the Spaniard vaulted ahead of Biaggi to take a four-point advantage in the championship. Checa has managed to eliminate the 25-point void earned in his Race 1 DNF at Phillip Island (via vicious high-side while leading). The Ducati ace will be keen to get as many points as possible at Assen, as Biaggi is expected to gain ground at Monza where the 1098R isn’t favored.

Biaggi’s 1-2 performance at Phillip Island was completely dominating. The second-place finish was arguably more impressive than the win, as the Italian clawed his way back from last place after a first-lap incident. At Imola, however, Biaggi faltered, unable to crack the podium and losing his points lead. Biaggi is winless at Assen in his SBK career, though The Emperor took wins there during his GP glory days, twice with Aprilia in 250cc and once in 500cc with Yamaha. Biaggi’s new teammate, Irishman Eugene Laverty, has yet to break into the top five aboard the RSV4.                                                                                                           
Kawasaki has long struggled in SBK, but Assen was the site of a rare triumph – with British rider Chris Walker taking a win in 2006. As with Sykes’ win last year at Nurburgring, wet weather evened the playing field enabling the Kawasaki to be competitive. This season, however, Sykes needs no weather handicaps to figh for the rostrum. The Englishman has three podiums this season (tied with Checa for most on the year) and sits third overall in the points. Fast in qualifying and testing, Sykes will be keen to crack the dry race winless streak for Kawasaki. Tragically KRT team rider Joan Lascorz will be absent the Assen round, as the Spaniard remains hospitalized in Barcelona after fracturing his C6 vertebra during post-race testing at Imola.

The Motorrad crew remains winless in SBK, though Haslam’s 3-3 result at Imola represents its best ever WSB round. Assen has the potential to break the winless streak for the Bavarian marque, as BMW riders have already tallied three rostrum appearances at the Dutch circuit. Haslam continues to improve fitness following his Phillip Island injuries and surgery, meanwhile Melandri seems to be getting more confident in the Beemer. Assen has the potential to be history-making for the Germans.

Jonathan Rea is Honda’s best bet for glory at Assen. The Ten Kate Honda team always shows up strong for its home round. And, as in years past, the team tapped the Netherlands circuit for some extra testing, with Rea and teammate Hiroshi Aoyama completing a two-day test last week. Rea has a strong track record at Assen, the Northern Irish rider claiming three of the last four victories there. Aoyama continues to struggle in his SBK transition, the Japanese rider getting skunked from the points at Imola. The fortunes of the Honda World Superbike team have been hard to predict, capable of wins but shut out of the podium thus far.

The Suzuki team has struggled as well. English rider Leon Camier has finished in the points only twice this year. On the bright side, his best result was the last – an eighth-place Race 2 finish at Imola. American teammate John Hopkins fought hard to return to action at Imola, but was still hindered by his ailing hand – injured during Phillip Island testing. The British-based Crescent Suzuki team touts a new engine spec for Assen. Camier tested the new engine at the Imola post-race test with impressive results, the former Aprilia factory rider lapping third-fastest and under the existing lap record.

WORLD SUPERSPORT

In the Supersport ranks Fabien Foret holds the points lead. The Kawasaki Intermoto Step rider holds a solid 14-point lead after only two rounds thanks to fellow ZX-6R rider Kenan Sofuoglu’s black flag DQ at Imola. For not obeying a ride-thru penalty, the Turkish rider will now have to make up 20 points on his French rival. Caught in the middle is British youngster Sam Lowes, who rests second in the points with Bodanka PTR Honda. Alongside Lowes in the Bodanka garage will be American PJ Jacobsen. Originally slated for PTR in World Supersport, and then dropped from the team, the 18-year-old Jacobsen will make his belated debut as a replacement rider for Pawel Szkopek.

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

2012 Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC First Ride

Bart Madson

Managing Editor Motorcycle-usa.com

Bashing away at an MCUSA keyboard for more than half a decade, Madson lends his scribbling input on everything from bike reviews to industry features and motorcycle racing reports.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Aprilia Tuono once ruled the Streetfighter roost. A perennial winner in MotoUSA’s annual Streetfighter Shootouts, the two-cylinder Tuono turned the Noale factory’s RSV Mille Superbike into a thrilling street bike. When Aprilia engineers scrapped the long-in-the-tooth Mille for the all-new RSV4 Superbike, a new Tuono seemed to be the logical progression. The result is the new Tuono V4R, which after early release in Europe is finally arriving on American shores as a 2012 model.

Racetrack performance in a street-friendly package. It's the goal of every streetfighter, and one of the best interpretations returns to American shores in the Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC.

Tuono means Thunder in Italian, and thumbing the starter on our test bike the nomenclature immediately rings true. Aprilia’s stout exhaust tone gives riders an audible inkling of what’s on tap. Crack the throttle and things start to get interesting. Even bozos lacking clutch finesse (not that I’m talking about myself…) can yank the front end up with a stern twist. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves… For now let’s just say engine performance is exhilarating, with the impressive V-Four the defining feature of this latest Aprilia.

It should surprise no one that the Tuono mill is a ripper. Remember, this is the 65-degree V-Four engine platform that has won numerous World Superbike races, as well as the 2010 SBK Rider and Constructor titles with Max Biaggi at the controls. Adding to that impressive feat, the Aprilia RSV4 engines are powering the majority of the new Claiming Rule Team (CRT) entries in the 2012 MotoGP series. Now in its fourth year of development, this engine already boasts an impressive racing byline.

While the Tuono engine architecture is identical to the RSV4, including 78mm bore and 52.3mm stroke, Aprilia engineers didn’t plop in the Superbike engine without alteration. Valve timing has been revised, with the RSV4’s variable intake system tossed for a fixed intake ducts that are 20mm longer. These modifications target improved performance in bottom and mid-range. Meanwhile a heavier flywheel aims to smooth out the power delivery. The engine's redline drops to 12,300 rpm, with peak horsepower and torque also arriving at lower revs than its racy SBK sibling.

Such “street-friendly” alterations in the Streetfighter class can translate into a restrictive de-tuning that neuters the Superbike-derived powerplant. Thankfully the Tuono doesn’t suffer. The new Aprilia registered 152 peak horsepower on our in-house dyno, which ranges from 16 to 43 hp more than its class rivals (as measured in our 2011 Streetfighter Shootout). Compared to the RSV4 R we tested last summer, the Tuono’s 152.1 peak horsepower and 76.18 lb-ft torque register earlier in the revs. And compared to its Twin-powered predecessor, the V-Four Tuono churns out 40 more ponies.

So, to sum up – 152 horsepower at the rear wheel, on a street bike… Street-friendly indeed! Ample power is found everywhere, without flat spots in the power curve. Linear power builds from down low, packing a particularly robust pop around 9K. From there the Tuono keeps on churning as it growls to redline, the top-end kick showcasing its Superbike lineage.

The Tuono also inherits sophisticated electronics from its RSV4 kin. The APRC electronics package utilizes gadgetry, like gyro and accelerometers, to harness raw engine power with a series of systems. Foremost is Aprilia Traction Control (ATC), which offers eight variable settings ranging from minimal interference that allows for rear wheel slides to more restrictive levels which reduce wheel spin for rider safety. The ATC is easily switched via toggle button on left switchgear. The APRC system also incorporates three settings for Aprilia Wheelie Control (AWC) and Aprilia Launch Control (ALC).

The Tuono offers three engine maps, which alter power delivery and maximum output. Track (T) is the unfettered full power delivery, while Sport (S) delivers maximum power in a smoother manner, with Road (R) also smoothing out delivery but cutting power by 25%. The three engine maps can be swapped out via ignition switch on the right side switch gear.

The Aprilia Tuono showcases a sophisticated electronics package that includes three selectable engine maps and an eight-level traction control system as well as wheelie and launch control. It's also got a quick shifter too.

In practice the extreme ends of the ATC spectrum make a noticeable difference for even regular Joe riders like me. It ranges from minimal invasiveness to a more intrusive setting throughout a range of 1 to 8. It helps to have a track for sorting out the subtleties of the various ATC settings in between (as well a discerning expert-level rider). I monkeyed around with the numerous electronic settings, and opted to stick it on ATC 3 and the Sport mapping. We barely plumbed the depths of the electronics, but it’s a dialed system and best of all, it offers the benefit of electronic aids while still allowing riders to control the settings.

Our favorite electronic do-dad is the Aprilia Quick Shift (AQS). A quick shifter may be a track luxury, but it sure proves convenient on the street. Open the throttle and riders can bang up through the Tuono’s six-speed gear box sans clutch input. The AQS represents the highlight of a stellar transmission, with a slipper clutch smoothing out downshifts as well. Gearing has been altered in the bottom three gears from the track-biased RSV4. First gear still feels tallish, and Neutral proved sticky, at times, but we’re reaching for complaints, as the transmission is top rate.

The chassis shares some traits with the RSV4, including fully adjustable Sachs suspension components. The aluminum frame appears identical too, but Aprilia claims the Tuono unit has been revised for road performance. Changes include lowering the engine in the frame, and steering geometry has also been relaxed slightly, with rake pushed out a half degree (25 degree), trail increased fractionally (by 2.5mm) and wheelbase lengthened by an inch (56.9 inch).

The previous Tuono distinguished itself with its taut racing chassis. This latest version is perhaps overshadowed by the amazing engine, but still offers sportbike handling performance. The Sachs components feel stiffly sprung, but full adjustment options allow for fine-tuning. The Tuono is pleasantly neutral but with a sporty demeanor – eager for riders to press on the wide, tall handlebar and dive into a corner. The chassis boosts confidence with excellent feedback and stability, with the rider always feeling what’s going on beneath. Handling is only enhanced by the aforementioned electronics package, and its ATC safety net.

The Tuono V4R adds a tall handlebar placement and lowerd pegs to improve its street-friendly ergos, though it is still a sporty mount with handling to match.

Oddly enough the myriad of electric assists doesn’t include ABS. In fact, the new Tuono’s braking package doesn’t quite match up with some of its modern Streetfighter competitors. The four-piston Brembo stoppers are radial mount, but are not the up-spec monoblocs design, nor does the Tuono use a radial master cylinder. It’s an easy spec sheet gripe, but mortal riders such as I have a difficult time finding reason to complain. Stopping power is strong, with good feel. Only compared side-by-side with the uprated components will riders find justification for critique.

The Aprilia’s styling left us nonplussed. Maybe it was the wasp-y yellow and black motif that did it... It doesn’t stand up to the likes of the Ducati Streetfighter and Monsters, but that’s a subjective opinion on aesthetics. We’ll let the reader decide. (Is there a class of motorcycles where the styling is more open to interpretation – the Triumph Speed Triple with its new headlamps and the Z1000 with odd four-pipe exhaust.)

Regardless of the individual taste, most riders would agree that the Tuono seat is a problematic design asset. Even if the two-tone coloring jives, it already looked the worse for wear during our testing – with the yellow fading to black. Hate to think what it would look like after a couple seasons. It’s the one detraction from overall solid fit and finish. Even the unconventional Piaggio switchgear is starting to grow on us.

The ergonomics package is comfortable, if on the sporty side. A tall handlebar is set at an accommodating reach and provides good leverage for handling. Our 6’1” dimensions found the footpegs a skosh on the high side, though thankfully moved down compared to the RSV4 Superbike. The riding triangle translates into a forward lean, but lacks hard pressure on the wrists. As for the seat, we did enjoy it comfort-wise – firm without being hard and stiff. The seat doesn’t provide much grip though, causing the rider to slide around.

The 2012 Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC is available now at American dealers, retailing for $14,999.

All told the Tuono is amenable to an ambitious daily mileage tally. And riders will pack a lot of action into the miles they ride on the revamped Tuono. It’s near impossible not to hammer the throttle, and its Superbike-engine doesn’t shy away from chugging down the high-octane (we netted 29.9 mpg). And speaking of fuel, it’s irritating to have more than 100 electronic settings available, with the various APRC gizmos, but not be able to get a simple fuel reading. Instead of a fuel gauge the Tuono kicks on a fuel light when it hits reserve, about 90 miles by our reckoning.

For all its performance on the road, the headlining feature for the new Tuono might be its $14,999 MSRP. The Tuono V4R APRC delivers a premium engine and electronics package at a price point that challenges top-shelve European rivals like the Triumph Speed Triple R ($15,999) and Ducati Streetfighter S ($18,999). In fact, the new Tuono is more affordable than the up-spec version it replaces – the Tuono Factory (which cost $16,999 five years ago!). Only when compared to the Japanese entries, and base Triumph Speed Triple, does it seem pricey. Not sure how the Piaggio suits crunched up the magical $15K price point, but American riders should just nod and be thankful.

The Tuono is back, make no mistake. This latest edition improves on its predecessor’s reputation. The Tuono V4R APRC advances the performance threshold in the liter streetfighter class, and comes with a competitive price tag. This Italian thunder should make some noise on the 2012 sales floor.

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

2012 AMA Get Out And Ride! Month Week 2

Courtesy of American Motorcyclist Association

Friday, April 06, 2012

AMA Get Out and Ride Together! Week kicks off this weekend, marking the second week of the American Motorcyclist Association's (AMA) campaign to promote the fun and excitement of motorcycling in America during AMA Get Out and Ride! Month.

Riding together as couples, families, friends and clubs, hundreds of thousands of AMA members will take to the roads, trails and tracks all week long in celebration of the motorcycling lifestyle and everything that it has to offer.

Riders looking to get out and ride together this year need look no further than the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Riding Series, the AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Series, presented by FMF, plus AMA National Conventions, AMA Grand Tours, AMA Gypsy Tours, AMA Signature Events and -- new for 2012 -- AMA Flash Tours. For complete details on each of these series, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Riding.  

AMA members and riders are encouraged to visit the AMA Facebook page at Facebook.com/AmericanMotorcyclist to share comments, ideas and information about places to ride, and to enter the AMA Get Out and Ride! Month trivia contest. Longtime AMA supporter Helmet House is rewarding one lucky AMA member each week with a Tour Master Saber Series 3 riding jacket during the trivia contest. The weekly winner will be drawn at random from correct AMA member submissions in the contest, and his or her name will be posted each Friday on both the AMA Facebook page and website. Contest rules are posted at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Riding/GetOutAndRide/TriviaRules.aspx.  

Another first for 2012 AMA Get Out And Ride! Month is Freedom Friday, which focuses on issues that threaten motorcycling. This week it's untested E15 fuel (85 percent gasoline/15 percent ethanol), which has not been proven to be safe for motorcycle engines. More details and action steps are available here: capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert/?alertid=54681921.  

Now in its second year, AMA Get Out and Ride! Month encourages motorcyclists everywhere to enjoy the thrill of riding in the dirt and on the street. AMA members are also encouraged to submit riding stories, photos and videos throughout AMA Get Out and Ride! Month to submissions@ama-cycle.org. The best stories will be featured on the AMA Get Out and Ride! Month blog.

For more on AMA Get Out and Ride! Month, and to find out how you can participate and win cool prizes, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/GetOutAndRide

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

Motorcycle Safety Foundation Issues New Video

Courtesy of Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Monday, April 09, 2012 Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has released a new safety video highlighting the importance of motorcycle riders and their passengers wearing personal protective gear. "Fool’s Gear, Cool Gear," based on the MSF’s popular safety poster of the same name, communicates a serious message in an entertaining manner.

Fun, informative and visually striking, the video takes viewers on a guided tour from head to toe, contrasting the benefits of wearing a helmet and a full complement of safety gear to the risks of riding with inadequate protection, and demonstrating that you can be safe as well as stylish when you ride.

"We set out to make a unique video that motorcyclists would remember long after they watch it," said Ken Glaser, MSF's director of special projects. "The eye protection scene alone is so simple, yet so very effective in demonstrating the benefits of wearing eye protection.”

This two-and-a-quarter minute video is now airing on MSF's website (www.msf-usa.org) and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/MotorcycleFoundation). A high-definition version is available for use on broadcast or cable television, and a companion Spanish-speaking version is also available for viewing on the MSF homepage. Contact MSF Media Relations for more details.

To help ensure that every ride is safe and enjoyable, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers a few simple rules for motorcyclists:

1. Get properly trained and licensed – Take an MSF RiderCourseSM and obtain the appropriate motorcycle license endorsement from your state.

2. Wear all the gear, all the time – Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet and eye protection, as well as over-the-ankle boots, gloves, riding jacket and pants.

3. Ride unimpaired by alcohol or other drugs – Riding under the influence dramatically decreases a rider’s necessary skills, especially vision and judgment.

4. Ride within your own skill limits and obey traffic laws – Every rider should know their personal limits, and never ride faster or farther than their abilities can handle.

5. Be a lifelong learner by taking refresher RiderCourses – Riding skills are perishable, so take an occasional refresher course. No matter how often or how long you’ve been riding, there is always room to learn something new.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation promotes safety through rider training and education, operator licensing tests and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. Standards established by the MSF have been recognized worldwide since 1973. The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, BRP, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha. For safety information or to enroll in the RiderCourse nearest you, visit www.msf-usa.org or call (800) 446-9227.

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

MotoGP Jerez Test Day 3 2012

Bart Madson

Managing Editor|Articles|Articles RSS|Blog|Blog Posts|Blog RSS For Motorcycle-usa.com

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com

Bashing away at an MCUSA keyboard for more than half a decade, Madson lends his scribbling input on everything from bike reviews to industry features and motorcycle racing reports.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Casey Stoner returned to the top of the timesheet on his final lap, during the final day of testing at Jerez.

Casey Stoner returned to his familiar place in the MotoGP order, leading the timesheet at pre-season testing concludes at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit. The final day of testing featured improved weather, with Day 2 hampered by wind and rain. Only bothering with three laps on Saturday, Stoner turned 61 on Sunday – his best lap being the final one, with edged out rival Jorge Lorenzo for bragging rights heading into the season opener at Qatar.

Stoner and Lorenzo, the respective 2011 and 2010 MotoGP champions, were the only riders able to dip under the 1’39 mark. Lorenzo held the top position for most of the test, until Stoner’s final lap bested the Mallorcan by 0.173. The Repsol Honda and Yamaha Factory aces were followed by their teammates, Dani Pedrosa third and Ben Spies fourth. Pedrosa spend a large portion of the day on a 27-lap racing simulation, in preparation for the April 8th opener.

Cal Crutchlow was the fastest of the satellite riders. The Brit lapped fifth on the day, with teammate Andrea Dovizioso seventh-fastest. Staggered behind the Tech 3 Yamahas were the factory Ducatis, with Valentino Rossi in seventh and yesterday’s fastest rider, Nicky Hayden, in eighth. Rossi improved more than a second from Friday, his 1’39.733 on Sunday almost a full second off Stoner’s best.

Alvaro Bautista’s ninth-fastest time was earned during a challenging day in the Gresini Honda RC213V saddle. The Spaniard crashed twice during a racing simulation, losing a bit of confidence and unable to get under the 1’40 marker. Fellow Honda satellite rider Stefan Bradl rounds out the top 10, the MotoGP rookie testing various setups for the LCR Honda.

Unlike Friday, Randy de Puniet was unable to embarrass the satellite Ducatis. The Team Aspar rider finished 13th, at the head of the CRT class – a couple tenths off the pace of Hector Barbera (Pramac Racing) dead even with Karel Abraham (Cardion AB). De Puniet was a full second ahead of the next CRT, his Aprilia-powered Aspar teammate Aleix Espargaro.

Danilo Petrucci finished 15th-fastest for Iodaracing, the next fastest CRT. Colin Edwards was 17th aboard the Forward Racing BMW/Suter machine. Mattia Pasini (Speed Master), Michele Pirro (Gresini Honda) and James Ellision (Paul Bird Motorsport) were next on the timesheet. Bringing up the rear are the two Kawasaki/FTR Avintia Racing mounts of Ivan Silva and Yonny Hernandez.

Next stop for the MotoGP paddock is Qatar, where the 1000cc era begins in full for Round 1 of the 2012 MotoGP Championship.

2012 MotoGP Jerez Day 3 Test Results:
1. Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) 1'38.780
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory) 1'38.953
3. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) 1'39.157
4. Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory) 1'39.495
5. Cal Crutchlow (Tech 3 Yamaha) 1'39.585
6. Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) 1'39.733
7. Andrea Dovizioso (Tech 3 Yamaha) 1'39.860
8. Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) 1'39.919
9. Alvaro Bautista (Gresini Honda) 1'40.017
10. Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda) 1'40.098
11. Hector Barbera (Pramac Racing) 1'40.287
12. Karel Abraham (Cardion AB) 1'40.579
13. Randy De Puniet (Team Aspar) 1'40.601
14. Aleix Espargaro (Team Aspar) 1'41.645
15. Danilo Petrucci (Iodaracing) 1'41.926
16. Franco Battaini (Ducati Team) 1'42.057
17. Colin Edwards (Forward Racing) 1'42.073
18. Mattia Pasini (Speed Master) 1'42.184
19. Michele Pirro (Gresini Honda CRT) 1'42.212
20. James Ellison (Paul Bird Motorsport) 1'42.437
21. Ivan Silva (Avintia Racing) 1'42.446
22. Yonny Hernandez (Avintia Racing) 1'42.906 

Source: Motorcycle-usa.com