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Barry Sheene Faster and Faster MotoGP Motorcycle News Suzuki

Suzuki GB to celebrate 40th anniversary of Barry Sheene's 1976 500cc GP roadracing world championship

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For fans of the late, great Barry Sheene, Suzuki GB are offering a chance for you to be able to see his race-winning GP bikes and his two FIM world championship medals

Suzuki will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Barry Sheene’s first 500cc motorcycle grand prix roadracing world championship, which the British rider won in 1976, by showcasing a collection of Sheene’s championship-winning bikes at this year’s Motorcycle Live in the UK. Seven of Sheene’s racebikes will be on display, including the two Suzuki XR14s that took him to world championship glory in 1976 and 1977. Also forming part of the display will be the XR05, which used a Seeley chassis and TR500 engine, and the XR14 that Sheene raced the season before his championship-winning years in 1976 and 1977. Other display bikes will include the Heron Suzuki XR27 that Sheene was racing in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone when he made the famous ‘V’ gesture to rival Kenny Roberts in 1979, as well as the XR35 and XR45 which Sheene rode in 1983 and 1984.

Sheene’s two FIM world championship medals will make a rare public appearance, alongside seven sets of leathers worn by the twice 500 Grand Prix champion, and two helmets that don the famous duck graphic. ‘We’re all incredibly excited to see this display pulled together at Motorcycle Live this year. It’s going to be really great way to celebrate the achievements of arguably Britain’s greatest world champion. Sheene is still a hero to many motorcyclists and we feel privileged to be able to put this feature together at the biggest bike show of the year,’ says Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordinator, Tim Davies. For Motorcycle Live tickets and more information, visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

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Faster and Faster Intermot 2016 KTM MotoGP Motorcycle News News

2017 KTM RC16 MotoGP bike displayed at the Intermot, full tech spec revealed


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With 250bhp V4 and steel tube trellis frame, the 2017 KTM RC16 MotoGP bike will take on the big boys next year. We admire the small Austrian company's courage…

From 2017, KTM will take one more step forward with their 'ready to race' tagline. And this time, it will be with the big, bad boys of MotoGP. Designed and built in Austria, the KTM RC16 MotoGP bike will go head to head against Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Ducati and Aprilia next year, in the merciless world of MotoGP. And for this, KTM have built their first 1000cc V4-powered racebike, with a unique tubular steel trellis frame – the only one of its kind on the MotoGP grid. The KTM V4 produces more than 250bhp at 19,000rpm and features pneumatic valves, a seamless shift transmission, Akrapovič 4-in-2 titanium exhaust, Magneti Marelli ECU and full ride-by-wire throttle management, with traction control and quickshifter etc. With an aluminium swingarm and 1400mm wheelbase, the KTM RC16 is equipped with fully adjustable WP suspension, Brembo brakes, carbonfibre bodywork, 22-litre fuel tank and weighs 157 kilos.

"Sooner or later, some of the MotoGP innovations, that need to be kept confidential for now, will also find their way into series production. Guaranteed," says a press note from KTM. We can hardly wait.
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Faster and Faster KTM MotoGP Motorcycle News News

KTM RC16 MotoGP bike unveiled in all its Red Bull-liveried glory, prepares to do battle in 2017

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With its 250+ horsepower V4, KTM’s racing DNA and the talents of Bradley Smith and Pol Esparago, the KTM RC16 is expected to do well in MotoGP in 2017

KTM are now all set to enter MotoGP fray in 2017 and have unveiled their 2017 RC16 MotoGP bike, which will be ridden by and next year. “Almost two and a half years ago we made the decision that when we become number one in Europe we would be forced to join MotoGP. We’re now selling more than 60% of our 200,000 bikes on-road and to get accepted at the highest level of the sport, you must take part in MotoGP, the F1 of motorcycle racing,” says KTM Group CEO, Stefan Pierer. “Racing is our philosophy, our motivation and if we enter the segment, for sure we will have a learning curve but we will reach to podium. My life’s dream is to be the world champion in MotoGP,” he adds.

“It was not difficult to convince them because the spirit of competition is in the heart of KTM. This is a very important step for us. We have a balance of Japanese and European manufacturers and KTM has proved its capability in all sporting activities. I am very impressed with how KTM does things, and not just with MotoGP. When they started with Moto3 they were immediately very competitive. KTM does things in the proper way. Races are races and you need some luck, but they prepare everything in the right way,” says Dorna Sports CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta.

There seems to be a positive buzz in the MotoGP paddock about KTM’s entry into the premier class and the RC16, which is rumoured to already produce more than 250bhp from its V4 engine, is expected to do well in the hands of Bradley Smith and Pol Esparago. The bike uses White Power suspension instead of MotoGP-standard Öhlins, and has a steel tube chassis which is also rather unusual in MotoGP. KTM have four tests lined up for the RC16 over the next few months and the bike will compete in the last race of the season, in Valencia, in November this year.




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Barry Sheene Faster and Faster MotoGP Motorcycle News News Suzuki Two-stroke

Barry Sheene's championship-winning bikes from 1976-77 to be displayed at Oliver's Mount in July


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In July this year, there will be a rare opportunity to see Barry Sheene's 500cc championship-winning bikes from 1976 and 1977. Oliver's Mount is where the action will be, next month!

Forty years ago, Barry Sheene won the first of his two 500cc motorcycle grand prix roadracing world championships. For Barry, and British fans of motorcycle GP racing, 1976 and 1977 were the glory years – no other British rider has ever won the 500cc crown after Barry's last championship win in 1977. Now, as part of 40th anniversary celebrations of Sheene's first world title, his championship-winning racebikes will be displayed during the Barry Sheene festival at Oliver’s Mount next month. The bikes have already arrived at Suzuki GB from Australia and are now being readied for display in July.

'With it being 40 years since Barry’s first world title, this year’s Barry Sheene festival marks a very special anniversary. The display of his two championship-winning bikes is the first time that they have been displayed together at such an event in the UK,' says Suzuki GB’s Tim Davies. 'Suzuki's commitment to the Barry Sheene festival at Oliver's Mount is absolutely fantastic and for them to step it up again this year by displaying Barry Sheene's actual race winning machines is every roadracing fan's dream. This could be the only opportunity in our lifetime that we see these machines and we are very proud that Suzuki has chosen Oliver's Mount to display them,' added Scott Beaumont, Oliver’s Mount’s Marketing Director.

The Barry Sheene Festival will take place at Oliver’s Mount on 23-24 July, 2016. For more information visit Oliver's Mount
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Faster and Faster MotoGP Motorcycle News News Short Films Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi: The Doctor Series – All Episodes

‘The Greatest of All-Time’ is the first of five episodes from the ‘Valentino Rossi: The Doctor Series’ and examines the appeal and reach of arguably the fastest and most popular motorcycle racer in MotoGP history. Opinions and insight are provided by Valentino himself plus Colin Edwards as well as the Italian’s inner circle and from the close-knit community back in his hometown of Tavullia. What makes an icon? What causes people to utter the words ‘the greatest’ when it comes to the inescapable and irrepressible no. 46? This first chapter attempts to dive into these questions and more with exclusive and special opinions on Valentino’s career, character and two-decade global impact and burgeoning legacy.

Episode 2 – Racing Mugello will be released at the end of May 2016. The Series will continue by visiting his Ranch, business empire and focus on the man behind the myth. We will continue to update this page and will post all five episodes of this series here. Stay tuned!




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Aprilia Faster and Faster MotoGP Motorcycle News News

2016 Aprilia RS-GP makes its debut at Losail


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With an all-new V4 engine and completely updated chassis, suspension and electronics package, the 2016 Aprilia RS-GP just might be a force to reckon with. We’re sure Aprilia riders Bautista and Bradl will give it their best this year

Aprilia, which already has 38 world titles in motorcycle grand prix racing (20 in the 125cc class and 18 in the 250s), now seems to be getting ready for a serious assault on the premier class in MotoGP. The 2016 Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP racebike made its debut today at the Losail Circuit, where it will participate in the final IRTA tests before the start of the 2016 MotoGP season.

“Aprilia Racing is the most advanced technological experimentation and development platform for the entire Piaggio Group from which all of our products and brands benefit. For this reason, from this 2016 season, the Piaggio Group logo stands out prominently on the bikes’ livery. In fact, the technology developed for racing operations is not intended only for racing, but will also be applied to our streetbikes – from supersport bikes all the way to scooters – with the end goal of improving our products in terms of performance and safety,” says Roberto Colaninno, CEO and Managing Director of the Piaggio Group.

Spaniard, Alvaro Bautista, and German rider, Stefan Bradl will be riding the 2016 Aprilia RS-GP this year. A former world champ in the 125cc class, Bautista is now in his sixth year in MotoGP and his second with Aprilia. Bradl won the Moto2 world championship in 2011 and came to MotoGP in 2012, where his best result has been a second place finish in the 2013 USGP. With new tyres and electronics, both riders understand that developing the new bike into a race winning contender will be tough, but they seem to be commited to doing whatever it takes to win.

With its new ‘narrow’ V4 engine that features counter-rotating crankshaft and pneumatic valves, more than 250bhp power output, new Magneti Marelli ECU, 6-speed seamless transmission, Ohlins suspension, Michelin tyres and Brembo brakes (twin 340mm carbon discs at front, single 255mm steel disc at the back), the 2016 RS-GP MotoGP machine looks pretty good. And we hope the new RS-GP will be as successful in MotoGP as the RSV4 has been in World Superbikes!

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Casey Stoner Ducati Faster and Faster MotoGP MotoGP-2007 Motorcycle News

Casey Stoner, the two-time MotoGP world champ who left MotoGP to go fishing, is back with Ducati as their brand ambassador and test rider



Casey Stoner, MotoGP world champ in 2007 and 2011, has changed his mind about not wanting to have anything to do with MotoGP anymore, and will be back in 2016 as Ducati's test rider and brand ambassador

Back in 2007, Australian rider Casey Stoner had an unbelievable season in MotoGP, decimating the competition, winning 10 of the 18 races that year on his Ducati Desmosedici GP7, and winning the MotoGP championship in great style. Valentino Rossi took Stoner’s championship crown away in 2008, but Stoner made a comeback in 2011, on the 800cc Honda RC212V, beating the 2010 MotoGP world champ Jorge Lorenzo to take his second (and last) MotoGP title.

In a surprise move, Stoner quit racing at the end of the 2012 season, saying he would rather stay home and maybe go fishing. Over the years, he has strongly denied the possibility that he might change his mind and return to MotoGP, saying that he was done with racing and wanted to have nothing more to do with it whatsoever. But now, the rather dour, humourless Aussie seems to have changed his mind. Well, no, he’s not going to go racing again, but he is making a comeback to MotoGP as Ducati’s test rider and brand ambassador.

Between 2007 and 2010, Casey won a total of 23 races for Ducati in MotoGP, which might explain why Ducati are keen to have him back in their camp. “The 30-year-old Australian from Southport, Queensland, who is widely considered to be one of the fastest and most talented riders ever, will become brand ambassador for the Bologna-based manufacturer and, as part of the agreement, will appear at the 2016 edition of World Ducati Week, scheduled to run from July 1-3. He will also take part in a selected number of MotoGP tests for the Ducati Team next year,” says a press note from Ducati, explaining Stoner’s return to MotoGP.
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Faster and Faster MotoGP Motorcycle News Valentino Rossi Yamaha

Valentino Rossi attends the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed



The Doctor attends the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the very first time…

Valentino 'The Doctor' Rossi was a special guest at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed (the 23rd edition of this event), where Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. celebrated its 60th anniversary. Rossi, who won the Dutch TT at Assen yesterday – his third win this season and the 111th race win in his career – made his first ever appearance at the Goodwood FoS, alongside other motorcycle GP racing legends including Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Phil Read, John Surtees, and Freddie Spencer.

Specially invited by Lord March himself, The Doctor flew down to Goodwood straight from the Dutch TT and was accompanied by Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director, Lin Jarvis, and other top brass from Yamaha. Rossi and Lord March unveiled The Doctor's Yamaha YZR M1 today, which was painted in Yamaha's retro-style yellow-and-black livery to commemorate Yamaha's 60th anniversary. Phil Read‘s 1965 Yamaha RD56, Giacomo Agostini‘s 1975 Yamaha YZR500 OW23 and Kenny Roberts‘s 1978 Yamaha YZR750 OW31 were also on display alongside Rossi's M1.

"It‘s been an incredible weekend. I‘m very happy that I got to attend the Festival of Speed at Goodwood – it's even more impressive than I imagined. I want to say a big thank you to Lord March for inviting and hosting me at this year's event," said Rossi, who rode his YZR M1 up and down Goodwood's 1.16-mile Hillclimb and later joined F1 driver Nico Rosberg for lunch. Indeed, The Doctor is that one rider who actually personifies this year's Goodwood FoS' them, "Flat-Out and Fearless: Racing on the Edge."
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Faster and Faster Honda MotoGP Motorcycle News News

Honda unveil the US$184,000 RC213V-S, a MotoGP bike that you can ride on the street



We're sure 210+ bhp is nice to have in a streetbike, but US$184,000 for the Honda RC213V-S?!?!? Really?? We'd much rather have a Kawasaki H2R, Yamaha R1M, BMW S1000RR, Aprilia RSV4 RF and Ducati Panigale R

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there were the Honda RC30 and RC45, full-on race-bred exotica, street-legal versions of Honda's World Superbikes racebikes of that time. But, of course, even that wasn't enough for some people, who wanted Honda to do a street version of their MotoGP bike. Now, while there's never really been an NSR500 that you could ride down to the local supermarket back then, it seems that we're moving on to more interesting times. Yes, Honda have finally unveiled a roadgoing version of their RC213V MotoGP bike, the RC213V-S, which you can buy as long as you have US$184,000 lying idle in your bank account. Or 188,000 euros if you live in Europe, or 21.9 million yen if you live in Japan. And just in case you were wondering, the European and Japanese prices are even tax inclusive, so you can't possibly have a reason to complain.

Over the last 15 years, riders like Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez have won MotoGP world championships aboard the Honda RC213V and its closely related predecessors, so we're sure the RC213V-S will certainly be a bit special. As it damn well should be, given the fact that for what the RC213V-S costs, you can buy a Yamaha R1M, BMW S1000RR, Kawasaki H2 / H2R, Ducati Panigale R and Aprilia RSV4 RF, and still have some money left over with which to buy aftermarket exhausts, tyres, suspension components or whatever else that you fancy. So yeah, it really is f***ing ridiculous.

According to Honda, the RC213V-S "has inherited the specifications of the RC213V to thoroughly ensure mass concentration and reduced friction, as well as all key aspects in manufacturing that set the RC213V apart as a MotoGP machine from ordinary mass production models, with overwhelming differences which involve light weight and precise machining of the components, plus superior expert skills required in manufacturing." Changes made to the streetlegal RC213V-S, as compared to the actual MotoGP bike, are relatively minor. The RC213V-S has the MotoGP bike's camshaft gear train structure, but uses a coil spring system in place of the RC213V's pneumatic valves. Also, the MotoGP bike's seamless transmission has been replaced with a conventional 6-speed transmission. And, of course, unlike the MotoGP bike, the RC213V-S is fitted with a headlamp, taillamp, turn indicators, rearview mirrors, horn, speedometer, muffler with a catalyst, license plate holders, a self starter and a side stand etc. The steering angle is less extreme and the RC213V-S rides on Bridgestone RS10 rubber. A kit exclusive for use on closed circuits is offered as an option, though this is not available in the US.
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Aprilia Faster and Faster MotoGP Motorcycle News News

2015 Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP bike unveiled, team to use 2015 season for R&D


The V4-engined Aprilia RS-GP will be up against heavy hitters like the Yamaha YZR-M1 and Honda RC213V

Aprilia will be back in MotoGP this year and the Italian company fully understands how big a challenge that's going to be. While the RSV4 has done very well in World Superbikes in recent years, MotoGP is going to be a whole new world and the V4-powered Aprilia RS-GP will be up against heavy hitters like the Yamaha YZR-M1 and Honda RC213V. So, of course, it's only right that Aprilia will use the entire 2015 MotoGP season for research and development, with Alvaro Bautista and Marco Melandri doing the honours. In 2016, Aprilia will mount a full-on challenge, with a factory team in MotoGP.

“We have already been on the track for the first testing sessions of this new adventure that officially starts today. We chose to move up our start date, getting into the mix in the 2015 MotoGP World Championship because we believe that this is the solution which is certainly the most risky but also the best one to become competitive as quickly as possible," says Romano Albesiano, Aprilia's Racing Manager. "We certainly could have avoided the pressure and waited until next year, but that's not what Aprilia wanted. In terms of development we are starting on a solid foundation which is the result of our winning experience in Superbike and the ART project, the only CRT that was able to show potential close to real MotoGP bikes. For us this will be a year of testing, development, to be taken full advantage of as we look toward 2016 when we will be able to ride a real Aprilia prototype bike onto the track," he adds.
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