Tag Archives: a-friend-via
13-year old motorcycle racer killed during warm-up lap at Indy
Posted on 30. Aug, 2010 by admin.
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Tragic events unfolded at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend when Peter Lenz, 13, was killed after falling off of his motorcycle and being hit by another rider during a warm-up lap.
Ben Spies, who took second place during Sunday’s MotoGP event, commented on the unfortunate events:
“I told myself before the race, I was riding my heart out for him today. I’ve lost a teammate in the past, my best friend. He was at an age at least he knew what he was doing; he obviously loved it. He knew how dangerous it could be.“
Lenz was set to compete in a USGPRU series race, which is for riders ages 12 to 18 who would like to gain experience for higher-level competitions like MotoGP. This was the first fatality in the nine-year history of USGPRU. Our condolences go out to Lenz’s family and friends.
[Source: | Image: ]
originally appeared on on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:57:00 EST.
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Ben Spies moves to Yamaha MotoGP Factory Team
Posted on 27. Aug, 2010 by admin.
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Shocking, we know. What’s been called the second-worst kept secret in has officially been confirmed. MotoGP rookie and current World Superbike champion Ben Spies (shown at right, with Yamaha’s Lin Jarvis) will be saddling up with the factory crew starting next year. Rumors to that effect have been buzzing around the inteweb for some time and were recently fueled by from the Fiat-Yamaha stable in favor of the Ducati Corse team.
Spies has been an absolute terror on two wheels in MotoGP while riding with the Tech 3 Yamaha team. The Texan is currently 7th in the overall standings thanks to a slew of top 5 finishes, and even managed to podium at Silverstone. Not too shabby for the guy’s first year out. There’s some indication that he’ll be riding alongside Jorge Lorenzo, though Yamaha hasn’t solidified anything with the Spaniard just yet.
Those who follow the MotoGP world will have likely noticed the conspicuous lack of a certain prefix from this post. Interestingly enough, ‘Fiat’ was nowhere to be found in the Spies announcement. Odds are we’ll be hearing something about that from the former Fiat-Yamaha team sometime soon. Hit the jump for the full press blast.
[Source: ]
originally appeared on on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EST.
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Video: KTM teases new 125cc heathen
Posted on 25. Aug, 2010 by admin.
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The poor little 125cc bikes of the universe rarely get the love of their larger-displacement siblings. Typically banished to the rider education programs of the world, the one-and-a-quarters are quickly forgotten in favor of bikes with more serious muscle. But 125’s have their advantages. For one thing, they’re typically a fraction of the cost of larger bikes, and since that tiny engine weighs next to nothing, they’re also incredibly flingable contraptions. So when showed off a pair of four-stroke 125cc concepts at last year’s EICMA show in , our curiosity was sufficiently piqued.
Now KTM has dropped a teaser video showing development of the production model. The Austrian manufacturer hasn’t said word one about whether the bike will be available on American shores once it drops, though we’ve got our fingers crossed. The wrench-spinning montage of bike-building awesomeness after the jump has only made us nervously eye our checking account in anticipation. We could think of plenty worse ways to get to and from the office than a fuel-sipping moto with plenty of spunk to boot. to have a look for yourself.
[Source: ]
originally appeared on on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST.
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Video: Jay Leno rolls like a million bucks on $80,000 BlackTrail BT-01
Posted on 13. Aug, 2010 by admin.
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You know who you are. You care deeply about the environment and know the importance of looking cool. Also, you’ve got buckets of cash. You’ve been waiting to throw down $80 grand on a but you’re tired of the seemingly endless . Well, here’s another eco-friendly vehicle on which to spend that stack o’ cash – the BlackTrail BT-01.
Yes, it’s a bicycle. But it’s not just any bicycle. This, my affluent amigo, is an avant-garde, hybrid-electric piece of rolling retro art. It’s got a classic leather saddle with matching handlebar grips, power pack cover and valve stem covers. We repeat, leather-wrapped valve stem covers! Oh yes, it also comes with its own theft deterrent device in the form of a set of leather-padded handcuffs. You heard us.
What, you want more? Okay. It’s got integrated LED lights front and rear. OLED display with speed indicator and battery status. At its 30-50 km/h (20-30 miles per hour) cruising speed it will carry you 160 – 200km (100 – 120 miles). If that’s too pokey, you can travel 25 – 30 miles at its maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)!
While it’s not yet offered for sale in America, we expect it soon will be. Production is limited to 667 units with at least 41 already being sold at €59,500 ($75,930 U.S. at today’s exchange rate). Throw in the airfare to go get it and you’re looking at $80,000.
for a better look at this breakthrough bicycle with someone who could actually afford to buy one if he wanted to, Jay Leno. Scroll a little further down for bonus video of an on-sidewalk presentation.
[Source: via ]
originally appeared on on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST.
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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Women, motorcycles and stunts throughout history [w/video]
Posted on 06. Aug, 2010 by admin.
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When Margaret Gast made her first attempt at conquering the Monodrome (a.k.a. ‘The Wall of Death’) back in the early 1900s, no one would have dreamed of sporting the pink leather chaps or high-healed riding boots found in modern motorbike dealerships. In fact, it would not be until the age of disco when a women named Kerry Kleid fought for her right to race that the AMA gave out its first professional license to a female rider. It probably didn’t hurt that she had a reputation of being able to wheelie whatever she was riding…
Those pioneering women of motorcycle stunt might just say that girls like Tena “Stunt Blondie” Colbert, JoJo Farmer or Suzanne “Gixxie” Hamilton have it too easy these days. But the truth is, these girls are still raising their front wheels in a largely male dominated sport. And, at least judging by the photos, we don’t think they will be taking a back seat anytime soon. For the full chronology of stunt crazy moto-women, head on over to , and be sure to check out the video of Jessica Maine … apparently gravity has no gender barriers. Thanks for the tip Ken!
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[Source: ]
originally appeared on on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:29:00 EST.
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Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart moving from off-road trucks to… electric bikes?
Posted on 30. Jul, 2010 by admin.
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Off-road racing fans will no doubt be familiar with the name Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, winner of 17 Baja 500s and three Baja 1000s over his 37-year career. Apparently, even an iron man can only take so much pounding and Stewart has decided it’s time to ride off silently into the sunset.
Stewart has decided to auction virtually all of his off-road racing memorabilia, race truck building business and vehicles. Instead of pounding dirt, Stewart will be peddling electric bicycles out of a new shop in San Diego, California.
The Ivan Stewart Electric Bike Center will sell, service and rent battery-powered bicycles from an initial shop in downtown San Diego, followed by two additional stores in La Jolla and Del Mar to the north.
[Source: via ]
originally appeared on on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST.
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MotoGP 2010 Sachsenring: Shake-up, crack-up and the return of The Doctor [Spoilers]
Posted on 19. Jul, 2010 by admin.
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Call it a feeling of shear uncertainty, nervousness if you will… or better yet anticipation. That is exactly what the German round of MotoGP racing provided for fans around the globe. Not only was the Sachsenring round the mid-marker of this season’s racing schedule, but more importantly it would give life back to the shake-up that can only be described as “.” A turn-nine crash by Randy de Puniet, which would take out two other riders culminating in his motorcycle bursting into flames, didn’t hurt the action either.
Just as the rest of the field were settling into their respective places in the championship fight, and only six weeks after the brutal high-side that would leave a bone poking through his skin, Valentino Rossi – who had to hobble out to his bike using crutches – returned to racing with the goal of salvaging valuable championship points and proving that no one should relax just yet. As racing reached blastoff – and after the Puniet crash and re-start of the abbreviated 21-lap race – Jorge Lorenzo was able to fall into a familiar position at the front of the pack, but pilot and runner-up in overall points Dani Pedrosa was not about to let Lorenzo run away with the German round.
After swapping positions several times, Pedrosa finally took firm control of the lead and proceeded to set a blistering pace around the , setting a track record only to best that time two laps later on his way to a 3.5-second margin of victory. Lorenzo admitted to happily playing it safe on his way to second place, collecting valuable championship points, when he said, “Dani was very, very strong and I was at the limit trying to stay ahead.”
Stoner, Rossi and Dovizioso competed the top five in just that order, with Rossi almost edging his way on to the podium as he and Stoner had a wonderful battle that would last right up to the final turn. for the full top ten results, including that of Spies and Hayden. To put it mildly, we can’t wait to see what develops as the action comes Stateside. See you at Laguna!
[Source: | Image: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images]
originally appeared on on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EST.
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Report: Smart to reveal electric scooter at Paris Motor Show
Posted on 14. Jul, 2010 by admin.
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When you’re already known for producing what basically amounts to the smallest vehicle currently available for public consumption, what do you do for an encore presentation? Go even smaller, of course. In the case of the brand, that means cutting the total wheel count in half. That’s right, a scooter.
According to Autocar, Daimler’s littlest auto brand is planning to debut a new plug-in electric scooter at the upcoming . According to a “senior official”:
Smart was originally established to tackle the need for improved mobility, especially in congested city environments. Up to now we have concentrated our efforts on four-wheel solutions. The next stage is to look at how to expand beyond this with other environmentally friendly vehicles.
If true, this electric scooter may be seen as a response to longtime German rival efforts in the two-wheeled arena. In fact, BMW recently showed off an of its own called the C1-E, which was based on its previous production C1 covered scooter.
Just one last question: What are the chances this electric scooter will be called the ForOne?
[Source: ]
originally appeared on on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:01:00 EST.
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Motus Motorcycles V4 engine impresses, puts out over 160 horsepower [w/video]
Posted on 12. Jul, 2010 by admin.
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America has quite a heritage of classic motorcycles. Interestingly enough, though, just about all of America’s great motorcycles share a remarkably similar ethos. From , undoubtedly the standard bearer of American motorcycle design, to Indian and even to new players like Victory, bikes coming from The Land of the Free have historically been designed to cruise along in a straight line in style.
There have been exceptions to the rule – most notably being the – and another new motorcycle manufacturer is looking to add its name to America’s storied past on two wheels: . Motus is doing things drastically different from all other American motorcycle brands currently in existence by starting out with a completely new and innovative engine design… except that it’s not entirely new at all.
In fact, the powerplant currently going through the finishing stages of its development was designed by Katech and Pratt and Miller of Racing fame and would look much more familiar inside the engine bay of an American muscle car than a motorcycle. Intriguing, to say the least. As is the wrapper for this exciting powerplant, a sport tourer unlike anything else seen on American roads.
And there’s more. Lots more. to find out what else Motus has in store for its new engine and motorcycle platform and to see the KMV4 engine in action.
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originally appeared on on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST.
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Pikes Peak 2010: Ducati takes top honors in the "big boy" class aboard stock Multistrada
Posted on 29. Jun, 2010 by admin.
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Ducati’s freshman effort racing the Multistrada 1200S at “” in the 1205-or as we like to call it, the Big Boy-class was a great success as not one, but two Multistradas took the high and low position on the podium, locking up fist and third. Of interest was winning pilot Greg Tracy’s comments about his victorious factory Ducati: “This is my first year on a factory motorcycle and I’ll tell you that bike was box-stock. It had some carbon, and few tweaks and that was it.” From what we can see, other than a few bolt-on items, suspension tweaks and special paint, it appears that Mr Tracey is telling the truth.
Although all of this leaves us very impressed, wanting nothing more than to get our hands on a shiny new Muti and head for the nearest fourteener, it must be mentioned that the win comes in a class lacking some of the major competitors who traditionally show up to send a beast up the hill (including BMW). But hey, maybe Ducati will have so much confidence leaving Colorado they can challenge BMW to a head-to-head type shootout? For now, we’ll just say congratulations to Ducati, Greg Tracey and Alexander Smith for some fine work. to read the full press release straight from the horse’s mouth.
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[Source:]
originally appeared on on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:39:00 EST.