These are ‘Top Trump’ superbikes – the kind of machines you’ll probably only ever see in pictures and rarely in the flesh. The new Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC, BMW HP4 Carbon, Ducati 1199R Panigale and MV Agusta F4RR are all about the big numbers: power, capacity, top speed, electronic rider aids and, of course, price. If you’re in the market ...
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 13 May 2013
1. Kawasaki Z800Bystanders gawp at the new Z800 and take photographs in this preposterous video from Kawasaki Australia. It's as though they've found a portal to another universe and not a mass production motorcycle. A trucker radios his mates and weirdly gets a nod from the passing rider. Two hairy Antipodeans applaud and give thumbs up to the parked bike. Clearly ...
- Motorcycle News
- General news
- 26 April 2013
Factory Aprilia man Eugene Laverty stole provisional pole position from his friend and rival Chaz Davies on his final lap of qualifying at Aragon today. The current championship leader posted a 1:58.548 best to move ahead of Davies after overcoming a number of small electronic issues during this morning Free practice session and this afternoons qualifying.Speaking to MCN, he said: ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- World Superbikes
- 12 April 2013
An Italian motorcycle dealership has suffered a second failed theft attempt in six months. CCTV footage shows four thieves spend three minutes breaking into an Aprilia showroom before fleeing. The four are seen arriving on two scooters shortly after 11pm. One cuts through the shop’s metal shutters with a disc grinder while the others keep watch. Once inside, three struggle ...
- Motorcycle News
- General news
- 28 March 2013
Alstare Ducati rider Carlos Checa went some way to answering the critics of the new Panigale superbike by putting it on pole for the opening round of the 2013 World Superbike Championship. The UK riders showed their form earlier in Superpole, with Tom Sykes topping Superpole 1 and Eugene topping SP2, before Laverty eventually finished second to the veteran Spaniard ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- World Superbikes
- 23 February 2013
Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia) underlined the unpredictable nature of SBK racing at Phillip Island by posting the fastest lap of the first qualifying session, a 1’31.31, on his leased Aprilia, to ease out the factory Aprilia Racing vee-four of Eugene Laverty. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) was third despite continuing to struggle with a shoulder injury, while Leon ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- World Superbikes
- 22 February 2013
‘Outstanding’, ‘amazing’, and ‘work of art’ are all labels liberally applied to the exotic race bikes built by John Britten, but in reality the Britten deserves a unique accolade to celebrate its existence. In many peoples’ minds it’s simply the greatest bike ever made. For me it transcends everything, it’s a dream bike, it was the poster bike I had ...
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 24 January 2013
In what will be the final week of World Superbike testing of 2012 before the winter testing ban comes into effect all of the top teams descended on the Jerez circuit in southern Spain. With action scheduled for the full week not all the teams are testing at the same time. Honda, Kawasaki and Aprilia were the main teams to ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- World Superbikes
- 28 November 2012
Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes secured pole position, smashing the lap record with an outstanding Superpole lap, while championship rival Max Biaggi struggled finishing an unexpected 10th. Sykes took his ninth pole position of the season, setting the new circuit best lap with a 1.36.950. Factory Aprilia rider Biaggi failed to make Superpole three, unable to link a hot lap together in ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- World Superbikes
- 06 October 2012
World champion Carlos Checa secured a convincing provisional pole position ahead of his Althea Ducati team-mate Davide Giugliano at the Nurburgring today. The 39-year-old Spaniard who won race one last year set a best time of 1’55.307 – 0.443s faster than the young Italian. Tom Sykes was the first of the main championship contenders, finishing third onboard his factory Kawasaki. ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- World Superbikes
- 07 September 2012
