Marcf4i - 15 September 2009 01:26 PM

In terms of WSB, it will be great if KTM enters the series ...

KTM, with what bike? I was in my local dealer and noticed theirs gone and when I asked if someone had bought it they said KTM asked for it back. Apparently, KTM has asked all of the dealers to return any units on the floor. I think KTM finally realized that they came out with that bike a little too late. Wasn't it around 2002 when they first showed it? Unfortunately, specs that were class leading seven years ago just aren't as impressive today.

that the ktm costs twice as much as a typical japanese liter bike prolly had something to do with it, too.

KTM had a test ride set up at the Indy GP and they had their superbike, super duke, duke, adventure and a couple of dirt models available to ride.

If factory Yamaha pull out of WSBK and Spies goes to Tech 3 then would the Stiggy Yamaha team riders be Haslam and Sykes?

sykes is all but gone from yamaha italia. meregalli wooing deangelis. if crutchlow stays in wsbk (he has indicated he wants to try moto2), then he is guaranteed a wsbk ride, which would be either stiggy or italia. it all seems to hinge on spies decision however.

http://www.motomatters.com/

It doesn't sound like Yamaha Italia is going anywhere, contrary to previous rumors - but GPOne has been wrong before as well. There are rumors that De Angelis is wanted at LCR, and if he gets the shot at staying GP he will.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Sep/090921z.htm

haga and febreze confirmed for 2010.

So much for Haga retiring!

highlander179 - 15 September 2009 06:26 PM

Marcf4i - 15 September 2009 01:26 PM

In terms of WSB, it will be great if KTM enters the series ...

KTM, with what bike? I was in my local dealer and noticed theirs gone and when I asked if someone had bought it they said KTM asked for it back. Apparently, KTM has asked all of the dealers to return any units on the floor. I think KTM finally realized that they came out with that bike a little too late. Wasn't it around 2002 when they first showed it? Unfortunately, specs that were class leading seven years ago just aren't as impressive today.

KTM's problem is price. Bottom line is if the Italians are beating you on price you're doing something wrong. The RC8 is a pretty darned good bike but at $20k it's up against the 1198S which gives it a good kick in the teeth on value (more power, lighter, TC, etc.).

I rode the RC8 at NJMP last year and the handling is really good but there are some details that let it down a bit. Shifter is a bit gimpy (spent 30 seconds in pit lane trying to shift into first), it's a bit down on power, and the handlebars vibrate like a sex toy at high rpm.

Anyway, good first try from them but I think price kills them. At $15k it's a great buy, at $20k not so much. Maybe if it had more power and a touch more refinement.

Best bike for the money right now is a leftover Aprilia RSV1000R. The standard model (not the factory) comes with Ohlins, and there are huge discounts on them. You can get a new '08 here in Italy for around 8K if you look hard enough. I'm sure there are some in the states as well.

Gary, don't confuse GPone.com with Kryptonite. I know he loves to use them as a source (which means taking something they mention and re-stating it as fact)... but GPone is VERY careful to indicate when things are rumors (usually mentioning how reliable the source is) and when they are fact.

And speaking of which, GPone.com is reporting that Simoncelli is testing the Aprilia RSV4 at Mugello today (along with Hoffman on the Prilia and Pasini on a Ducati GP09). If the test goes well and he is ok about racing at Imola (which a lot of riders are still not happy with), he could fill in for Nakano. If not, Hoffman will probably be the sub (no mention of Rolfo). Hopefully Simoncelli will take the ride though!

Also GPone says the Worm did an interview with a local Aussie paper, and told them he has two offers for MotoGP (Pramac and a "new team"), but that he is more interested in going back to WSBK on a top team. I think Vermin is a huge catch for a WSBK team, and would be a more than worthy replacement if Speis left. And I can't believe that Ducati already signed Haga and Fabri, when Vermin is better than them both and would be dominant on their bike.

robertorolfo - 22 September 2009 07:35 AM

Best bike for the money right now is a leftover Aprilia RSV1000R. The standard model (not the factory) comes with Ohlins, and there are huge discounts on them. You can get a new '08 here in Italy for around 8K if you look hard enough. I'm sure there are some in the states as well.

Gary, don't confuse GPone.com with Kryptonite. I know he loves to use them as a source (which means taking something they mention and re-stating it as fact)... but GPone is VERY careful to indicate when things are rumors (usually mentioning how reliable the source is) and when they are fact.

And speaking of which, GPone.com is reporting that Simoncelli is testing the Aprilia RSV4 at Mugello today (along with Hoffman on the Prilia and Pasini on a Ducati GP09). If the test goes well and he is ok about racing at Imola (which a lot of riders are still not happy with), he could fill in for Nakano. If not, Hoffman will probably be the sub (no mention of Rolfo). Hopefully Simoncelli will take the ride though!

Also GPone says the Worm did an interview with a local Aussie paper, and told them he has two offers for MotoGP (Pramac and a "new team"), but that he is more interested in going back to WSBK on a top team. I think Vermin is a huge catch for a WSBK team, and would be a more than worthy replacement if Speis left. And I can't believe that Ducati already signed Haga and Fabri, when Vermin is better than them both and would be dominant on their bike.

On the twitter page of Alex Hoffman he is saying that Simoncelli will be Biaggi's teammate at Imola . http://twitter.com/Alex_66