The Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory will be available on the Italian market this month, with local pricing released and an offer “you can’t refuse” for March only. Until March 31, the Dorsoduro Factory will be available with sports slip-on exhaust for just 9,990 euros in Italy in a move likely to please the lucky local population, and try and gain some ground against Ducati.

It’s a fiercely competitive market in Italy and an Aprilia Factory version, the more performance and track oriented bikes in the Aprilia range, at that price is a steal. The Dorsoduro Factory comes with a 750cc engine, plenty of carbonfibre finish and ride-by-wire technology.

Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 Factory 2010 new pics

Source | Motoblog.it

Last night’s MotoGP official test at the Losail circuit in Qatar confirmed Valentino Rossi’s continuing form on the Yamaha M1 and the always lightning fast Casey Stoner, and the super impressive “rookie” Ben Spies. Here’s what all the rider’s had to say after the first day. Testing continues and concludes tonight.

Valentino Rossi - 1st 1′55.402 Laps: 64

“I am so happy today because this isn’t one of our best tracks and to come here and be fastest shows what a great job Yamaha has done with this new M1. To start with the track was quite slippery but anyway we were still fast, and as the track started to improve I felt better and better. We are quite competitive and this gives me a good feeling, and I was happy to make this quick lap right at the end. We still have to decide the right tyre and the best setting for it, and we will keep working on the electronics but the most important thing is that we’re faster than last year! Tomorrow we will continue with our work and try to finalise everything before the race.”

Casey Stoner - 2nd 1′55.717 Laps:48

“We tried a few different set-up solutions but the main focus tonight was the tyres. I used the same set for thirty laps and set some of my best lap times towards the end, so we are satisfied with that. We have also worked on the balance of the bike because the conditions here are very different to Malaysia and I prefer the bike to be more rigid. So far so good.”

Ben Spies - 3rd 1′55.954 Laps: 44

“I know this track from last year but riding under the floodlights is definitely a bit different and nothing I’ve experienced before. The perception of speed is much faster with it being at night but I’m having a lot of fun. It’s really well lit up but there are a couple of darker spots on the track that you have to get used to but I’ve not done too bad in adjusting to the lights. I know the track but any track I go to on a MotoGP bike makes it definitely different because of the lines you take. Some of the lines I’d take on the superbike just don’t work but I felt like it was coming together good and following a couple of people it felt like I was doing more of the right things than I was in Malaysia. Obviously it is great for me to be high up the timesheets but I’m still taking baby steps to improve and not getting carried away. The crash was nothing too serious. I was running the hard front and I wasn’t getting a good feeling from it. We changed the pressure to try and help for my second run but I just lost the front at the second corner. But to be third is fantastic for my guys at Monster Yamaha Tech 3. They have been giving me great support.”

Colin Edwards - 4th 1′56.541 Laps: 59

“It was a good night. It didn’t start off too great and it took me a while to get into the groove. We played around with the set-up using some of the new parts I’d liked in Sepang and also running some of last year’s pieces to get some good information. The lap time was about the same so around this track the new parts aren’t making the difference like they did in Malaysia. I did a long run on the hard front and I like it. I did race distance on it and it felt really good. I ended up doing 27-laps on it, which is five more than race distance, and it still felt really good. I’m getting the feedback I need at full lean angle and it holds the turn much better.”

Randy De Puniet - 5th 1′56.588 Laps: 54

“Well.. apart from the stomach pain I am very satisfied. When I arrived here two days ago I was ok but this morning I felt the first cramps and it has not been easy to do my job in these conditions. Anyway when we left Sepang some weeks ago I knew that we have found a good base and today my positive feeling has been confirmed. I lapped consistently fast both on hard and soft tyres and I think we can get a further improvement on soft ones. We will see tomorrow…”

Andrea Dovizioso - 6th 1′56.811 Laps: 65

“I’m quite satisfied because I could lap consistently tonight - which gives us a good base for tomorrow, when the target for us will be to lap in the low 1m 56s. Today we changed my riding position a little bit and the feeling was very good. We also tested a different swing arm which allows us to use some different set-up options. Compared to the Sepang test I’m more satisfied with where we are and we could lap well in the first part of the session, although after 10pm the grip changed each time we went out on track. We didn’t reach our full potential today, so I think that tomorrow we can improve further.”

Jorge Lorenzo - 7th 1′56.838 Laps: 45

“It’s really good to be back on my bike and actually when I went out on track the first time today my hand felt better than I had expected. The pain has decreased a lot in the last few days and I’ve been doing a lot of physio to make sure I’m in the best possible shape for this test. I was able to do quite a lot of laps today and my time is not so bad in the end, it’s definitely interesting and important to be here and see our level after missing the last test. Dainese have made me a bigger glove and I have some protection on the hand; changing direction is okay, it’s just the hard braking areas where I have some problems. I need more practice but I think we have made a good start.”

Nicky Hayden - 8th 1′56.855 Laps: 77

“Things went well for the first half of the session then we kind of got stuck. The general feeling of the bike is quite good but I would like to be a step closer to the top guys. The biggest problem is that we’re not able to get the most out of the soft tyre - we can’t seem to get it working at the right temperature so I have to keep using the harder compound. It happened in Malaysia and we’ve struggled with it again today at a circuit where the conditions are very different, so it is important we work out the reason.”

Mika Kallio - 9th 1’56.923 Laps: 72

“We can feel satisfied with the work done today. Our lap times are very similar to those recorded last year and this gives us great confidence, as tomorrow we will have other hours to improve. For my opinion on this track I can ride my Ducati very well. I feel that we can improve and tomorrow we will do everything to find the best technical compromise.”

Dani Pedrosa - 10th 1′57.047 Laps: 60

“We made some progress today and moved forward from where we were at the last test in Malaysia - this is positive. I’m confident that tomorrow we can take some further steps and get closer to the front, and we’ll be working hard to make sure that happens. Our issues are still with making the rear suspension work well for us and also with the bike feeling quite nervous under acceleration and going into the corners. So these are the areas we’ll be thinking about overnight and focusing on tomorrow. We’ve got one testing session to go so we’ll be looking to make the most of it.”

Loris Capirossi - 11th 1’57.100 Laps: 40

“I think that the bike is a bit better compared to last year’s, but I didn’t make many laps today because I don’t feel so good. This will now make tomorrow very important because we have some big things to try and some other bits to fix. I am really optimistic and think that the new bike is a step in the right direction and we have an opportunity to make an improved performance in the championship.”

Marco Melandri - 12th 1’57.605 Laps: 63

“We have completed 63 laps and tried a lot of things in a variety of directions but we kept running into problems. We are still struggling to find the right way forward but we still haven’t lost faith and tomorrow we will try and find something working from the base we established today. Sometimes when you find yourself in this situation it can be discouraging but given the fact that other riders are going better on the same bike we know we are not far from putting the pieces of the puzzle together and making up positions. ”

Hector Barbera - 13th 1′57.822 Laps: 62

Today (yesterday) we started to experiment with various things and I think in the next race on April 11th will be important and positive. At first I went out with a basic setting, but little by little we have changed various aspects of the bike that made me really work well. Basically we tried to improve the ergonomics and the feeling with the front wheel and we were happy with new solutions. In addition to this we also tested several different rubber compounds. It’s’clear that when I’m on a new track it will be more difficult, but I am very happy with the result today. ”

Hiroshi Aoyama - 14th 1′57.888 Laps: 75

“Today we did many laps (75), so I can understand the track better. We tried to find a good set up for Qatar. I have to get used to this track. All is new for me and it is difficult here. If you lose the line of the track it can be very dangerous as it is so slippery because of the sand.”

Marco Simoncelli - 15th 1’57. 891 Laps: 63

“This first day was important for me after the Sepang crash. I want to and have to rediscover my confidence in myself and in the bike and I did that, which was the main thing. We continued to work on the set-up, trying to find a solution that improves my feeling with the bike and we have taken another step forward. Obviously we still have a lot of work to and on one hand I am worried because we only have one more day but on the other hand this is the situation we are in and there’s no point despairing. The important thing is that we maintain the faith that we will eventually find out way and leave these difficult times behind us.”

Aleix Espargarò – 16th 1’57.897 Laps:

“In the first day of each test I always have some difficulties but I think is normal as this is my first year in MotoGP. Maybe I go on track too aggressive and I need to relax a bit. However in the final stage of this day I found a good set-up on my Ducati that allowed me to improve. Not enough, that’s clear: tomorrow we will have to take a major step forward.”

Alvaro Bautista - 17th 1’57.960 Laps: 56

“The first day here has not had the same feel for me as I had on the last day in Sepang, this is because it is a new track for me on a MotoGP bike with new reference points and I don’t feel 100% yet. The problem I have is in the exit of corners, I can keep a good line and go out through them, but it is difficult to get it right every time and enjoy it. We’ve tried different solutions, but I don’t have a good feeling. We decided to stop a bit early because it has been a long day and my body is not feeling the changes we are making to the bike. Tomorrow we have another day and I hope to be 100% and to enjoy riding the bike and to go much better.”

Here’s Bri Stiles introducing herself as a candidate for last year’s Miss Arenacross competition. Not only can she ride, work hard in promotions and pull off her own publicity, she’s also a very attractive blonde motocross rider. Don’t let the pink put you off - Bri is a real biker babe meaning she actually knows how to ride.

Source | MasMoto

Take a look at this Triumph Thunderbird 1600 in café racer guise. The bike has been put together by Swede Sivert Raask from Raask accessories specialist, and has a new tank, seat and fairing. The exhaust has also been given an overhaul.

Raask has also built café racer versions of the Bonneville and Rocket III and thought the Thunderbird would equally lend itself to a few modifications. The tank comes from a Ducati 900 and the seat is all home-made. A new speedometer and rearsets have also been fitted. The Triumph Thunderbird 1600 Café Racer is the latest in Raask’s career, which first started back in 1967 with the rebuilding of a Norton Atlas.

Triumph Thunderbird Cafe Racer

Source | MCN via Motosblog.fr

The new Nolan N90 helmet has both full face and jet-helmet style capability. The chin part can be opened or closed with the external shell made from polycarbon. The visor part has a rapid release function, and features solar tinting and anti-scratch material.

The internal lining of the Nolan N90 can be removed and washed, and is made from Clima Comfort material with antibacterial treatment. The N90 is perfect for mid season use and can be adapted for summer and winter depending on the full face or jet option. It costs about 234 euros.

Check out this absolutely fantastic promo video of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, starring Trials Champion Dougie Lampkin who takes on the estate again and this time he’s searching for Formula One stars Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Besides leaving you open mouthed and in awe of Lampkin’s riding talent, it will also give you a smile with the antics he’s come up with.

Source | mcn

The night test in Qatar was lead by Valentino Rossi who continues to dominate in this year’s MotoGP pre-season testing. The Italian Yamaha rider led the entire test except when he stopped for dinner and a massage, and Casey Stoner and Ben Spies out lapped him. Finished his dinner break Rossi went out and did a best lap in 1.55.402 in the final minutes of the session in warm, but very damp conditions.

Casey Stoner was second, a little more than three tenths of second from Rossi, but stopped before the end of the test with problems on his GP10 according to Ducati team manager Vitto Guareschi who called in on Italian TV show Griglia di Partenza. Stoner’s best lap was done on a used tire that already had 34 laps on it.

Ben Spies was third with his satellite Yamaha. The American continues to impress everyone in the paddock and finished 0.553s from Rossi, but suffered a small crash in the final hour of the test, but fortunately did not injure himself.

Fourth was Colin Edwards on the other satellite Yamaha. The Texas Tornado was more that a second from the top of the chart.

Randy DePuniet was the best Honda rider tonight with his private RC212V, taking fifth place and putting behind him the two factory Honda riders Andrea Dovizioso who was sixth and Dani Pedrosa who continues to have problems adjusting to his Ohlins and finished Day 1 in 10th.

Jorge Lorenzo who is still recovering from his hand injury was seventh, stopping occasionally to rest and make a quick trip to the Clinica Mobile.

Ducati rider Nicky Hayden who ran up to third in the first part of test could not better himself and he too had problems with both his bikes finished in eighth and Mika Kallio was ninth.

Qatar ‘Day’ 1 Test Times:

1. Valentino Rossi 1.55.402
2. Casey Stoner 1.55.718
3. Ben Spies 1.55.954
4. Colin Edwards 1.56.540
5. Randy De Puniet 1.56.588
6. Andrea Dovizioso 1.56.811
7. Jorge Lorenzo 1.56.838
8. Nicky Hayden 1.56.855
9. Mikka Kallio 1.56.923
10. Dani Pedrosa 1.57.047
11. Loris Capirossi 1.57.099
12. Marco Melandri 1.57.605
13. Hector Barbera 1.57.822
14. Hiroshi Aoyama 1.57.888
15. Marco Simoncelli 1.57.891
16. Aleix Espargarò 1.57.897
17. Alvaro Bautista 1.57.960

Carmelo Ezpeleta will have to open his wallet and buy dinner for the entire MotoGP Safety Commission. Dorna’s CEO lost his bet with Loris Capirossi. The FIM has just announced that the Hungarian Grand Prix at Balatonring has been cancelled.

The Grand Prix of Hungary, scheduled on September 19, is cancelled - the construction work cannot be finished on time - and will be replaced by the Grand Prix of Aragon at the reserve circuit of Motorland Aragon on the same date.

The construction work was depending on a massive loan by Hungarian state owned bank Magyar Fejlesztési Bank, who was expected to underwrite 70% of the construction costs while receiving 30% stakes in return, but the bank baulked refusing to underwrite the loan because due diligence risks showed that no one had calculated a return on the investment and there were also reports of corruption.

Source | motomatters.com

Julian Simon, the reigning 125cc World Champion and one of the hotly tipped riders to rule in Moto2, got the chance to test an evo version of Ducati Desmosedici GP10 the other day at Jerez.

With Vitto Guareschi in Qatar with the Ducati team for the final pre-season test and new test rider Franco Battaini out due to a wrist injury, the Ducati management decided to contact Julian Simon’s team manager Aspar Martinez to ask if the Spanish rider could carry out two days of testing. The test was overseen by Filippo Preziosi who wanted to prove once again that the Ducati isn’t a one rider bike.

Simon did 115 laps and a race simulation with a best lap of 1′41.4, only 1.6s from Valentino Rossi’s lap record on this track.

The Aspar Mapfre rider will be back on track with his RSV always at Jerez for the official Moto2 test scheduled for March 27-29th.

Source | as.com

Some riders find photoshoots tedious, but Guy Martin, Marco Simoncelli and Jorge Lorenzo seem to be enjoying themselves at Dainese’s headquarters, kidding around and showing off the Italian company’s newest Motorbike Collection.

Good news for Chris Vermeulen and his PBM Kawasaki team, the Aussie rider will not have to undergo surgery to repair the extensive knee damage that he picked up in his high speed crash at Lukey Heights during race 2 at Phillip Island.

Despite not having full movement in his leg, Vermeulen has stated that he wants to try race in the upcoming WSBK round at Portimao that takes place from March 26th to 28th:

“I saw my doctor again on Wednesday 17th March and the good news is that I do not need an operation on my leg. He said it would take a long time to heal, however, because there is a fair bit of damage in there. The main reason he did not want to operate is because it would not reduce the healing time and at this stage it is better to stay out of it. I don’t have enough bend in my knee joint to get my foot onto the footpeg at the moment but the race is a bit away yet, so hopefully it will be right by Portimao. I will be able to cycle quite soon, which will get more blood flow through it and help it heal faster.”

“I get to Europe on Wednesday 24th and I told the doctor I want to race. I am having physiotherapy and acupuncture on alternate days over here and I am working on it as much as I can to try and get enough movement in it. It has been improving every day. I sleep with the knee elevated each night and do some treatment to get the swelling down before I go to bed. The specialist says it won’t do more damage to my knee by riding the bike but he is a little doubtful I can get my knee into the position I need to ride and move around. But everybody heals at different rates so hopefully my rate of healing will be quite quick. I am aiming to be able to ride at Portimao.”

While the rumors regarding that private equity firm KKR could be taking over Harley Davidson with a leveraged buyout continues to put a spin on the Milwaukee based company’s stock, which which jumped big 6% on Tuesday, Italy is continuing with it’s own rumors on the sale of MV Agusta.

After the rumors of a consortium of Italian entrepreneurs led by Geox’s Mario Moretti Polegato that could take over MV Augusta from Harley Davidson, the name of Paolo Berlusconi, brother of Italy’s Prime Minister, has come up as another buyer interested in buying out the Italian company who makes such high performance and expensive bikes as the Brutale and the F4.

Berlusconi is no stranger to the two wheel world having bought out historic Garelli brand name back in 2006, which produces scooters made in China for the European market.

Sources | motociclismo and hellforleather