Shane Byrne
Shane Byrne finally managed to secure his staying in the World Superbike Championship for the 2010 season, as the double British Superbike Champion inked a one-year deal with Althea Ducati. The British rider will therefore switch teams in the series, as he previously debuted in the WSBK in 2009 for Sterilgarda.
In his very first season in the series, Byrne took his customer Ducati to 4 podium finishes – 2 runner-up spots in the US and Brno and two 3rd places at the Nurburgring – and finished the year as the 8th best rider in the series. He was the second-best placed privateer in the 2009 WSBK standings, after Stiggy Honda's Leon Haslam.
The British rider will therefore join Spanish veteran Carlos Checa in the Althea Ducati lineup, as the former MotoGP rider terminated his deal with Honda's works team Hannspree Ten Kate after the 2009 season. In addition, the team will also switch bike suppliers from Honda to Ducati for the 2010 campaign.
“I'm extremely happy to say that I will join the Althea Ducati racing team for the 2010 WSB championship. Genesio Bevilacqua has been fantastic and from my talks with him so far I already understand he is a very serious, enthusiastic and ambitious person,” said Byrne after the move was announced.
“I'm really enthusiastic to have signed Shane Byrne for our 2010 team. He's proved to be a very skilful and successful rider in world Superbike and I'm are sure he will be a great combination with Carlos Checa,” added team manager Genesio Bevilacqua, whose best placed rider last year was Matthieu Lagrive, in 19th place overall.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
superbike
Just like one of those fairy tales …a poor commoner fell in love with a beautiful princess. It was love at first sight, and they both fell so deep as if there’s nothing could tear them apart. So the commoner grab princess’s hands, took her away from her castle. Together they ran away to a place where nobody knows, and live happily ever after…
That’s what playing in my mind when I saw that Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory with Spain No. 1 paint scheme in Bangsar Moto Millia. How I wish I could just sit on that Aprilia and ride her home and live happily ever after. Too bad I live in a real world. I need to pay other bills, I need to eat, I need to save money so I don’t have to work till I’m 80 years old to retire… I just can’t fork out that money eventhough it is a freakin’ good bargain!
The asst. GM of the show room said that there were only three Spain No. 1 RSV 1000 R Factory brought into Malaysia. One was crashed; one still on the road; and the last one, sitting here, not registered yet. I can’t seem to find any information about Spain No. 1 paint scheme RSV 1000 R Factory anywhere in the internet. So I have no idea if this is really from the factory or not. But who cares. Just imagine the paint scheme on this Spain No.1 RS 125 on a RSV 1000 R Factory:
That’s what playing in my mind when I saw that Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory with Spain No. 1 paint scheme in Bangsar Moto Millia. How I wish I could just sit on that Aprilia and ride her home and live happily ever after. Too bad I live in a real world. I need to pay other bills, I need to eat, I need to save money so I don’t have to work till I’m 80 years old to retire… I just can’t fork out that money eventhough it is a freakin’ good bargain!
The asst. GM of the show room said that there were only three Spain No. 1 RSV 1000 R Factory brought into Malaysia. One was crashed; one still on the road; and the last one, sitting here, not registered yet. I can’t seem to find any information about Spain No. 1 paint scheme RSV 1000 R Factory anywhere in the internet. So I have no idea if this is really from the factory or not. But who cares. Just imagine the paint scheme on this Spain No.1 RS 125 on a RSV 1000 R Factory:
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Superbike 2000 Review
EA's reputation of producing thoroughly detailed sports titles is further engraved in stone with Superbike 2000, the latest 2-wheeled racer from the kings of PC sports titles.Read the Review Play the Demo Game Ratings
8.0IGN SCORE
"Impressive"
8.0Press Score
4 ratings
7.5Reader Score
53 ratings
0.0
Optional: Write a full review
EA's reputation of producing thoroughly detailed sports titles is further engraved in stone with Superbike 2000, the latest 2-wheeled racer from the kings of PC sports titles.Read the Review Play the Demo Game Ratings
8.0IGN SCORE
"Impressive"
8.0Press Score
4 ratings
7.5Reader Score
53 ratings
0.0
Optional: Write a full review
Friday, November 13, 2009
Closeouts: ARAI - Vector Eagle Helmets
Vector Eagle Helmets
New for this year, the Vector is really a major renovation of the Astral Series introduced a few years ago.
Think of a new and improved Astral with a removable liner!
Its most striking features, visually, are the unique molded lines running front to back along the lower shell, making the new Vector look different than other Arai helmets.
The shell itself has Arai's exclusive CLC (Complex laminate construction) that is both strong yet light in weight, and Arai's latest "Organic Shell Shape", designed to be both more natural looking and to enhance the helmet's abliity to cut through the wind more cleanly, thereby reducing buffeting and making it more "still" in turbulence than previous models.
The slim, sleek SAJ faceshield sidepods are the same ones used on the latest RX-7 Corsair model, as is the new breathguard design that better directs fresh air to the inside surface of the shield while at the same time directing hot breath down and away from the inside surface of the shield.
The Vector Series of helmets was born of Arai's never-ending search for the best fit for the most riders.
It represents Arai's third distinctive fit package, providing a fit not found in other Arai models.
Is it the right one for you? Try each one on - and when you find the Arai that cradles your head in a way you've never felt before, you'll know why Arai go to so much effort to enhance your riding experience..
Monday, November 9, 2009
Q&A: Troy Bayliss on SBK-08
Sports games have long known the value of the superstar tie-in. It's big news when the cover athletes for Madden and FIFA games are revealed each year, and even smaller games are getting in on the act; Bruno Senna, the rising star of the GP2 Series, is closely associated with Ferrari Challenge.
However, when it comes to the high-octane racing of World Superbikes, Troy Bayliss is the one who's riding high. Already a world champion twice over, he currently leads the points table for the 2008 season. Bayliss has lent his expertise to Milestone and Koch Media, who are releasing SBK-08 Superbike World Championship on the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PSP in late June. We raced down to the starting grid to ask Bayliss a few questions about the upcoming game and the current Superbike World Championship season.
Two-time SBK world champion Troy Bayliss.
GameSpot UK: Explain your involvement with the developers of SBK-08. Do they look at you for advice about real-world racing, and do you have any opinions about how the game should play?
Troy Bayliss: I had a certain level of input as I was asked to give the guys some info about how the bike behaves and the way in which I ride it. The developers of the game are all experts, though, and probably worked on the last edition of the game too, so they know what they're doing!
GSUK: Before last year's SBK-07, there hadn't been a game in the series for many years. How important do you think it is for a major sport to have a video game tie-in?
TB: It's a nice idea. A lot of the SBK audience are young people who also play video games, so being able to play the sport that they follow as a game is bound to be pretty popular, I guess. Just like all the football fans play those games, this is a great game for the bike fan.
GSUK: We hear that a lot of football players play FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer during their time off. Is that the case with this game, and SBK riders?
TB: Well, I don't know about a lot of them--I couldn't say--but yeah, I know some of the guys play it, and when you're going to a new track, for example, it can be pretty useful too!
GSUK: What do you think is the most important feature of an SBK game? Do you want it to be realistic, or fun to play?
TB: Combination of both. Personally speaking, I want it to be realistic too, but for the fans it's got to be fun for sure.
GSUK: Your season has started very strongly--do you feel confident about retaking the Superbike World Championship this year?
TB: Well, we've made a strong start and I am happy with the points advantage that I have at the moment, but things can change and it'll be a tough year--we've only done five rounds, so there's still a long way to go!
GSUK: New riders/drivers such as MotoGP's Jorge Lorenzo and Formula One's Lewis Hamilton are getting motorsport back into the headlines. Who do you think are the new stars of Superbikes?
TB: Well, Neukirchner is obviously the young guy who's going strong at the moment--he's the one who stands out so far this year.
GSUK: Can a game ever re-create the buzz of the speed and adrenalin experienced during real-life racing?
TB: Well, no, it will never be exactly the same, but as most people will never race in real life, it's the next best thing!
GSUK: What's your favourite circuit in the game? Is it the same in real life?
TB: Yeah. I'd say Monza and Phillip Island--tracks I like in real life too.
GSUK: Thanks for your time.
However, when it comes to the high-octane racing of World Superbikes, Troy Bayliss is the one who's riding high. Already a world champion twice over, he currently leads the points table for the 2008 season. Bayliss has lent his expertise to Milestone and Koch Media, who are releasing SBK-08 Superbike World Championship on the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PSP in late June. We raced down to the starting grid to ask Bayliss a few questions about the upcoming game and the current Superbike World Championship season.
Two-time SBK world champion Troy Bayliss.
GameSpot UK: Explain your involvement with the developers of SBK-08. Do they look at you for advice about real-world racing, and do you have any opinions about how the game should play?
Troy Bayliss: I had a certain level of input as I was asked to give the guys some info about how the bike behaves and the way in which I ride it. The developers of the game are all experts, though, and probably worked on the last edition of the game too, so they know what they're doing!
GSUK: Before last year's SBK-07, there hadn't been a game in the series for many years. How important do you think it is for a major sport to have a video game tie-in?
TB: It's a nice idea. A lot of the SBK audience are young people who also play video games, so being able to play the sport that they follow as a game is bound to be pretty popular, I guess. Just like all the football fans play those games, this is a great game for the bike fan.
GSUK: We hear that a lot of football players play FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer during their time off. Is that the case with this game, and SBK riders?
TB: Well, I don't know about a lot of them--I couldn't say--but yeah, I know some of the guys play it, and when you're going to a new track, for example, it can be pretty useful too!
GSUK: What do you think is the most important feature of an SBK game? Do you want it to be realistic, or fun to play?
TB: Combination of both. Personally speaking, I want it to be realistic too, but for the fans it's got to be fun for sure.
GSUK: Your season has started very strongly--do you feel confident about retaking the Superbike World Championship this year?
TB: Well, we've made a strong start and I am happy with the points advantage that I have at the moment, but things can change and it'll be a tough year--we've only done five rounds, so there's still a long way to go!
GSUK: New riders/drivers such as MotoGP's Jorge Lorenzo and Formula One's Lewis Hamilton are getting motorsport back into the headlines. Who do you think are the new stars of Superbikes?
TB: Well, Neukirchner is obviously the young guy who's going strong at the moment--he's the one who stands out so far this year.
GSUK: Can a game ever re-create the buzz of the speed and adrenalin experienced during real-life racing?
TB: Well, no, it will never be exactly the same, but as most people will never race in real life, it's the next best thing!
GSUK: What's your favourite circuit in the game? Is it the same in real life?
TB: Yeah. I'd say Monza and Phillip Island--tracks I like in real life too.
GSUK: Thanks for your time.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Honda and Kawasaki: coming soon
Honda has released pictures and details of its much anticipated VFR1200F, the sophisticated sports-tourer with the daunting task of replacing the aclaimed VFR800F.
The bike is powered by a 1.2-litre, 76-degree V-four with offset crankpins designed to give it the smoother balance characteristics of a 90-degree V, and single overhead camshafts are used for their compactness compared with more common double overhead cams.
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Agni X01 review Honda says that the bike is an all-rounder with a sporting bias, in the same vein as the current VFR but with a lot more power. Output is quoted as 170bhp at 10,000rpm with a healthy torque peak of 95lb ft of torque at 8,750rpm.
The styling takes its cues from the Fireblade superbike, characterised by its blunt nose, a look which has polarised opinion but which Honda is clearly happy with.
The throttle uses a fly-by-wire system while the brakes are a sophisticated linked front-rear design combined with anti-lock, although other expected advances are likely to appear on later, higher-spec models. These include an automatic twin-clutch transmission and fuel-saving cylinder shut-down on low throttle openings.
The fuel-tank capacity is disappointing at 4.1 gallons. Honda quotes an economy of 43.7mpg, but we generally expect to achieve 10 per cent less, meaning the range will be only 160 miles.
The bike is likely to be available at the end of this year. No price has been announced.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki is introducing an all-new Z1000 street bike for 2010 with radical styling and a 90cc bigger engine at 1,043cc than the current model. The capacity increase is designed to improve low- and mid-range power rather than the peak, although the claimed 136bhp at 9,600rpm should give it strong performance for an unfaired machine.
The engine is all new and features a balance shaft to reduce vibration, with additional mounting points to enhance chassis stiffness. The frame features twin aluminium spars which curve over the top of the engine rather than to either side, as is more usual, a move made to help keep the bike slim and easy to handle.
But it's the style that will grab most attention. The bike has an overtly aggressive look with a menacing visage and its visual weight carried well forward for a muscular, bulldog stance.
It will be available early next year, with the price yet to be announced
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