Yoshimura uses the experience gained in AMA Superbike racing to create a limited edition Suzuki GSX-R1000. Features such as the high-lift cams, a quick shifter, numerous suspension upgrades and a full titanium-carbon exhaust are surely enough to help make an impression on the bike that comes as a clearly superior alternative to the recently unveiled Buell 1125RR racing motorcycle, which will compete in the AMA Superbike series.
The fact that the Buell motorcycle is not for sale to the general public determined Mat Mladin, former AMA Superbike Champion, to contest the AMA’s decision to let Buell’s turnkey racer compete in the series. As a contradiction to this fact, the Suzuki GSX-R1000RR is street-legal and also available to the public, which shows how racing experience always stands out when it all reduces to the facts/benefits.
Price and availability are yet to be announced, but those who miss their exemplar can very well built their own by simply buying the Yoshimura aftermarket parts and having them mounted on a standard Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Hit the jump to read the bike’s impressive features.
Piaggio Group USA President and CEO Paolo Timoni told Hell for Leather how the Aprilia RSV4 will eventually be sold in the United States during the final quarter of 2009. Although first revealed last September, Aprilia’s 180bhp, 85lb/ft, 179 kg (dry) superbike barely makes it for the 2009 introduction and mostly because of SBK homologation requirements. Accordingly to these, a returning manufacturer must build at least 250 units for initial homologation and 1000 units by June of the first year in racing and that’s precisely the scenario we’re witnessing.
Independently of their motives for introducing the Factory version of the RSV4 till the end of the year, we’re extremely happy to find a potent European contender going against the dominating Japanese crowd.
2009 is a very important year for ‘The Yamaha World Superbike Team’ as it now entirely belongs to the Yamaha Motor Europe operations. The new racing livery for 2009 shows the team’s new sponsors and ‘war paint’ for the new season starting at Phillip Island. The new R1’s will be ridden by two riders that need no presentation: Ben Spies gets to ride the bike with the number 19 and Tom Sykes, the one with the number 66.
Michael Schumacher was testing team’s Holzhauer Honda CBR1000RR at the Cartagena circuit in Spain when he crashed, lost conscience and had to be immediately transported to the Virgen de la Risaca hospital.
Apparently, Schumacher suffered a serious hit to the head and multiple neck contusions, but after carefully examining him, Dr. Francisco Martinez decided that Schumacher’s state doesn’t require internment, only a neck support collar.
So we’ll be seeing more of Schumacher in April when the IDM German Superbikes Championship begins.
It is now less than a month until the WSB championship will debut on March 1st and the factory Aprilia World Superbike team makes the final optimizing of their all new Aprilia RSV4 basing on the wind tunnel results.
Aprilia race technicians are trying to find ways of improving both bike and rider aerodynamics in the 2009 racing season and, obviously, they needed a rider. So who better (for the moment) to tuck into RSV4’s fairing than Shinya Nakano? The Japanese rider spend a day in the wind tunnel at the Department of Industrial engineering at the University of Perugia, Italy and has shared his impressions.
Nakano said: "It has been a very positive and interesting experience and I was impressed by the ability of engineers and the staff at the University of Perugia.
"We conducted several tests on my riding position, making the last little adjustments to obtain the best possible aerodynamics. The data that we collected will work to bring new solutions during the course of the season.
"I have to say that the current aerodynamics of the RSV4 are already good and did not need any immediate action.”
The Intermot saloon in Cologne, Germany was THE event for BMW to unveil the S 1000 RR model on which pilots Ruben Xaus and Troy Corser will compete in the World Superbike Championship.
The Bavarian house doesn’t give much information about the racing model apart from the fact that the engine will deliver 180 horses which will be harnessed by ABS and traction control, but the way it looks says all for the moment.
Suzuki Great Britain announces GSX-R1000 Cameron Donald and GSX-R600 Bruce Anstey replicas as celebration of the Suzuki Relentless by TAS team victories in the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport categories.
The special edition motorcycles are production-based and, certainly, a dream came true for fans of motorcycle racing. They feature the team’s coloring and graphics and exert a magical attraction even from the pictures.
George Cheesman, marketing manager of Suzuki GB referring to this subject, "The Relentless by TAS team achieved incredible success at this year’s TT, almost delivering a clean sweep of wins. To celebrate this, we are pleased to offer these special edition models via the authorised dealer network in the team livery, with celebratory graphics in addition too."
Retail price for the GSX-R1000 Donald replica is £9,170 while for the GSX-R600 Anstey replica is £7,403.
Manufacturers that are successful on the track often apply this strategy in order to get more money on virtually the same product and for customer paid commercial. But as you take a look at the bikes you understand why each and every time fans compete for these bikes and then compete on them.
Remember the news about Michael Schumacher riding Team’s Ten Kate Honda Fireblade? Well, this is the video which completes it. Looks like the two wheels offer a whole new kind of excitement for a seven times F1 champion. Just look at him go around those corners!
Vectrix first unvieled its first Electric Superbike prototype at the Milan 2008 autoshow. It is claimed to be the first of its kind. Vectrix an established electric scooter company is willing to begin production of this electrifying concept as soon as it gets 500 orders at €55 000 . Vectrix is hoping to be in production within two years.
The Vectrix SBK concept is driven by a 240V, 60kW permanent magnet, brushless DC motor that delivers peaktorque of 102Nm at zero revs, with a 7.5kW/hour, lithium-ion battery that makes up 64kg of the bike’s all-up 204kg.
Range is claimed to be:
200km at a steady 40km/h
100km at 80km/h
70km at 120km/h
Vetrix claims top speed will be 200km/h and a standing quarter mile within 12 seconds. The batteries will hold enough charge for 20 flat-out laps of the Vallelunga circuit in Italy "in eerie silence". Gives a new meaning to ride the lightening!
Former F1 pilot Michael Schumacher had the opportunity to get a feel of the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade rode by Carlos Checa in the World Superbike championship and he made the most out of it. The bike is being tested on the French circuit of Magny-Cours by Checa and the Ten Kate team before the 3-5 Octomber round of the championship so that is where Schumacher tested the bike.
Having embraced motorcycle racing after he retired in 2006 as a seven times F1 champion, Schumacher raced a Honda CBR1000RR in this season’s IDM Superbike series so it was up for the challenge.
That is exactly what HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team manager, Ronald ten Kate, said: "I’m always a little nervous letting someone ride our bikes before the end of the season, but with Michael, I was happy to make an exception. He’s proved to be more than capable of handling the power of our CBR1000RR and he’s really a very good rider".
Schumacher said: "It was interesting to see how a professional superbike team works. It was difficult to understand the machinery fully with such a short amount of time but it was a great experience. It was also good to be a team-mate with Carlos who I have known for a number of years. I would like to thank Mr ten Kate for giving me the opportunity to try things out".
