Reports out of Italy say Ducati's street-going Desmosedici RR has been spotted, and it looks similar to the MotoGP machine but fitted with light and mirrors from the 999 line of bikes.
Starting off this month in Italy, the road-going version of
Ducati's V-4 GP bike has been seen undergoing tests at the Adria circuit in Northern Italy. The Desmosedici RR was fitted with lights and mirrors from the 999, but these are likely a stopgap measure, as there is still a long way to go before the bike is launched at next year's World Ducati Week event.
Expert analysis of the spy shots show that the bike is
almost identical to the 2004 GP machine in appearance, but with a massive silencer at the rear to try to cut down the awesome noise of the bike. This will obviously change for production versions, as will the bike's appearance as it develops. However, the lights were working in the pictures, showing that the motor is now geared up with the larger alternator to power all the electrical hardware for a road-based machine. Obviously, development is fairly well advanced, but Ducati declined to comment on the pictures, as you would expect!
It is rumored that Benelli's Andrea Merloni is on the hunt for an investment partner to help with finances for his beleaguered company.
, as the Pesaro, Italy-based firm has just laid off 40 staff. The chairman, Andrea Merloni, is seeking an investment partner to help with finances, suggesting that his father has refused to bankroll his son's company any longer. Vitorrio Merloni is the head of Europe's largest white goods manufacturer, now run under the Indesit brand, and his largesse has helped keep Benelli going since 1995 when the brand was revived by his son.
Unfortunately despite some stunning machines like the Tornado and TNT, running Benelli has always been seen as a hobby for Andrea. Therefore, it is hard to see anybody wanting to pump money in, even with steady sales of the premium priced machines. Despite Benelli's financial problems they are still working on the development of a three-cylinder Multistrada-styled machine based on the TNT. If they do survive, expect to see this bike launched in 2006.
On a more positive note,
Moto Guzzi has just appointed 47-year-old Daniele Bandeira as chief executive, reporting directly to Aprilia Chief Executive Rocco Sabelli. Bandeira is a qualified engineer with an impressive career in the Italian car industry, including Alfa Romeo, and his appointment shows that Piaggio is committed to reviving the Guzzi brand despite the rumours that it might sell it off. To reinforce this new stance, Guzzi also gets a cash injection of about $37 million to help Bandeira turn things around!
Sadly, his appointment coincided with the death of
veteran Moto Guzzi designer Umberto Todero, who died aged 82 on the 1st of March. Despite having reached an age when many would be sitting reading quietly or playing golf, he was still working at the factory most days. During his 66-year career, he was involved in virtually every Guzzi made during that time, including the legendary V-8 GP racebike. He even had some input in the very latest MGS/O1, so he will therefore be sadly missed by the historic company and their workforce.
Moving back up to France,
Michelin has just launched its first dual-compound street tyre. The Power Race now replaces the Pilot Race at the top of the range. The tyre is inspired by their MotoGP rubber and is manufactured using the same C3M process. Basically the tyre uses different compounds on the centre and shoulder areas to ensure maximum grip under acceleration and braking.
France's
Paul Ricard Circuit, once home to both car and bike GPs, will be hosting riding schools throughout the year. Now used for high-performance testing, it will cost 12 Euros for two laps of the 5.8km track, in addition to 30-minute 'Free practice' sessions for machines over 500cc.
In the French capital of Paris, its mayor is intending to
ban all cars and bikes from the city centre. The ban is expected to be phased in over the next seven years!
Further, the French government now requires new riders to be on 'probation' for the first three years of their riding careers and have just six points to play with. Unlike the English system which allocates points for speeding etc, up to a maximum of twelve before they are disqualified, the French debit the riders tally. If it reaches zero in the three years after passing their test, they revert to learner status and have to take another test, after a ban of six months!
In Spain, the Montesa Honda factory has just started production of the new the Supermoto-styled Honda FMX which broke cover at last year's Intermot show. This model will only be built at the Catalan factory where 14,000 models have been scheduled to roll into the Spanish sunlight over the next year. Let's hope they have got their quality control sorted out and the standards are as high as the Japanese factories.
Honda, though, is doing well in Spain having just had the CBR1000RR Fireblade voted as the best sportsbike by the weekly motorcycle magazine, Motociclismo. Ducati and Harley-Davidson also featured in the listings that also included Derbi, Yamaha and BMW taking top slots in the various categories.
KTM is rumored to have a new double-overhead cam mill in the works for the 2006 450cc models.
A safety study into Spanish motorcycle accidents by the Winterthur Foundation has shown a marked
drop in fatalities and accidents in general. The study, which analysed official figures between 1993 and 2003, showed that the number of general collisions fell by 22% and fatalities saw a 33% drop. The biggest decrease was the category for serious injuries, which dropped by a massive 54%, although scooters were not included in the study!
In Austria,
KTM has had to cancel its yearly gathering for the cognoscenti at its home town in Mattinghofen. This is due to complaints from local residents about the noise levels. As a result it will now be run in Hungary starting next year.
KTM has a new engine in its works dirt racer. The 450cc motor now has a double overhead cam valvetrain instead of a single-cam system. This probably means that the bikes going on sale to the public in 2006 will be similarly equipped.
In
KTM's world of road racing, the Austrian company have had to delay the debut of its 250cc machine until the French GP at Le Mans. Development delays resulted in rider Anthony West missing the first three GPs.
Is Triumph building a parallel Twin based on the Rocket III's monster Triple? Maybe, and it is believed to be in the neighborhood of 1500cc.
are rumoured to have a
1500cc parallel-Twin on test in a Bonneville chassis. It is believed the new engine is based on two cylinders from a Rocket 3 that have been turned through 90 degrees!
Norton Motors, a rotary-engine specialist company set up with parts and tooling when Norton's Shenstone factory closed in 1993, will be building replicas of Steve Hislop's 1992 TT-winning bike. Based on the F1 Sport, the 588cc rotary-engined NRS will cost £25,000 and be made to order.
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