Sandra Stammova to Race Rossmeyer's Harley Davidson at Daytona International Speedway

Well known British Superbike Championship rider, Sandra Stammova, will make her U.S. racing debut in the opening AMA round at Daytona International Speedway in a few weeks. She will race a Harley Davidson here in the states, at Daytona International Speedway in the XR1200 class.  Here's the full story.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=55624

Race simulations the focus as Pedrosa leads final Sepang outing

The last day of testing was today at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, for MotoGP, in preparation for 2013.  Dani Pedrosa was quickest in race simulations.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Sepang+Test+Day+3+midday

World Superbike round 1: Phillip Island

No TV for the WSBK this year.  But, race winners will be announced for each class and each race, on this blog.  So, not to worry, fans.

Here are the winners from round one, at the Philip Island circuit, in Victoria, Australia.

World Superbike race 1: #50 Sylvain Guintoli       FRA.      Aprilia Racing Team, Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Superbile race 2: #58 Eugene Laverty        IRL.       Aprilia Racing Team, Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Supersport race: #54 Kenan Sofuoglu        TUR.     Mahi Racing Team India, Kawasaki ZX-6R

Other classes for Superstock 1000 and Superstock 600 will begin their seasons later in the year.  The next race on the calendar is at Motorland Aragon, in Aragon, Spain, in mid April.

2013 World Superbike Preview

The only way you'll be able to see World Superbike in the U.S. this year is on BeIN Sport TV.  But, if it is on your satellite TV channel list, it will require a subscription.  So, will have to do short updates from the SBK website.  The races may be available online from the YouTube channel for BeIN Sport, and their USA affiliate.  This weekend, of course, marks round one, in Australia at Philip Island.  So, the races may still be covered this year.  However, in a different way.  Time will tell if yours truly can cover the races completely, or just provide brief highlights.  Check out this video of the preview of what should be another awesome season.

Giacomo Agostini

Here is a video of Giacomo Agostini, another legendary motorcycle racing champion.  This comes from a race he ran at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, in Monza, Italy, in 1968.  Agostini was nicknamed "Aggo" during his career.  He is the all-time wins leader in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, with 122 victories to his credit.  His wins came on 350cc and 500cc bikes.  He's won eight 500cc Grand Prix championships.  His first racing title was in 1963, in the Italian 175cc bike championship.

Agostini was signed to MV Agusta, and was team mate with another motorcycling great mentioned in this blog (Mike Hailwood).  Agostini also did some car racing later in his career.  But, he's most known for his championship wins on two wheels.  He ran for MV Agusta, Suzuki, and Yamaha.  

Agostini's car racing career encompassed European Formula 2 and the British Aurora Formula One Series.  Agostini returned to motorcycle racing in 1982, as a team manager.  He was manager for the Marlboro Yamaha squad with Eddie Lawson and Kenny Roberts as some of the riders.  In total, Agostini was the king of Grand Prix racing, with 15 titles!  Eight 500cc titles, and seven 350cc titles.  Here's the list of years of Agostini's championships.

350cc

1968, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74 (seven consecutive 350cc titles)

500cc

1966, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '75 (seven consecutive 500cc titles, eight total)

So, between '68 and '72, Agostini dominated both classes.  Agostini's career lasted only thirteen years.  But, in that time, his record was cemented.  His first race was the 1963 Nations Grand Prix.  His last, the 1977 British Grand Prix.  Agostini won his first race in the 350cc race in the 1965 German Grand Prix.  Agostini's final win came in the same race (the German Grand Prix) in 500cc competition, in 1976.

Agostini also found much success in the Isle of Man TT.  In eight appearances, he won ten times (meaning he probably had a couple years of winning multiple races).  His first race was the 1966 Junior TT, and his last, the 1972 Senior TT.  Agostini also won the 1974 Daytona 200, in his first race for Yamaha.  Quite the career indeed.  In 1992, Agostini managed the Cagiva racing team in World Grand Prix motorcycle racing.  Eddie Lawson and Alex Barros were the Cagiva team riders that year.   

The video here, (with commentary by the public address announcer, in Italian), is of Agostini's performance in the 1968 Monza race.  Agostini is an undisputed 2 wheel racing legend.

WSBK: Fabrizio Secures Provisional Pole

Michele Fabrizio of Italy and his team, Red Devil's Roma Aprilia, have scored provisional pole for the opening race of the 2013 FIM World Superbike season at the Philip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia.  Follow the link to the story, here.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-fabrizio-secures-first-provisional-pole-of-13

It remains to be seen if there will be television coverage of World Superbike for this season.  Yours truly has not seen any announcements as such, in terms of coverage in the United States.  Results will be presented via some means, on this blog, after the race, though.  Stay tuned.

Daytona 200 race coverage

The annual Daytona 200 that signifies the beginning of the U.S. motorcycle road racing season, is coming up in less than a month.  The race will be fully covered on this blog.  But, also, if you desire, check out this article on speedtv.com for complete details.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-daytona-opener-on-speed/

motorcycle racing news, bits & pieces

First, Yamaha has announced it's 2013 contingency program which gives support of the manufacturer to professional and amateur motorcycle racers, and their teams, including an amateur motorcycle road racing league that is based at Willow Springs Raceway, in Willow Springs, California.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-pro-yamaha-announced-contingency-program/

Next, an update from Suzuki's World Superbike team as they test at Philip Island to prepare for the FIM World Superbike season opener this coming weekend.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-phillip-island-test-day-1-ticker/

Lastly, Ducati continues to struggle in MotoGP against their chief competitors from Honda and Yamaha.  They are seemingly stuck in a development rut when it comes to their MotoGP bikes.  Here's hoping they can turn things around for the upcoming 2013 season.  But, it will be a long, bumpy road ahead.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-ducati-stuck-in-development-hell/

Ducati team development test concludes at Jerez

More prep for MotoGP 2013.  Pramac Racing was the team to shake down their latest Ducati MotoGP bikes with main rider Andrea Ianonne (who ran in Moto 2 last year), and test rider, Michele Pirro. 

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/iannone+test+jerez

World Superbike testing: crashes and smashes

The latest round of test sessions before the 2013 FIM World Superbike season has not been all smooth sailing for some.  Riders for Kawasaki and Suzuki (Tom Sykes, Jules Cluzel, and Leon Camier, respectively), have all crashed at least once in the latest round of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain.Here are the stories on the various incidents.  The season starts just a week from today at the Philip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia.

Cluzel Sits Out Day Two
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-cluzel-sits-out-day-two/

Camier Fastest Before Down Under Fall
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-camier-fastest-before-down-under-fall/

...and

Crashes Cut Kawasaki Test Short
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-crashes-cut-kawasaki-test-short/

MOTOGP: '13 Provisional Entry List

This has been discussed for a while.  But here is the provisional entry list for the 2013 MotoGP season, via SPEED.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-13-provisional-entry-list/

Check it out.

A lap with Martin Cardenas

Check out this video.  Found it on SPEED, but then, checked for the actual YouTube source.  This is Martin Cardenas shaking down his new Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR1000 at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center, California.

MotoGP news

To save posts and space, I urge readers to go to the MotoGP website, and scan through some of the stories, because of the fact that testing for the season ahead definitely continues.  Go here, scroll down, and find any story that really is of interest, whether it's an interview with a rider, or a testing update.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/MotoGP

Ricardo Tormo

Here is a video (in Spanish), about motorcycle racer, Ricardo Tormo.  The recently constructed Circuit Ricardo Tormo, in Valencia, Spain, bears his name.  He was born in Valencia.  Tormo ran in the 50cc, 80cc and 125cc world championship motorcycle racing classes between 1973 and 1984.  He is a two-time national champion, winning in 50cc and 125cc competition in 1978 and 1981, riding for Spanish motorcycle maker, Bultaco.

Tormo ran against other riders whose names are on corners at the track.  These include Angel Nieto and Jorge "Aspar" Martinez.  Tormo died in 1998 from leukemia.  After his death, the track was renamed in his honor.  Here is the Wikipedia article about him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Tormo

Rest In Peace, Ricardo Tormo.

AMA Superbike bits & pieces

First, as reported, Martin Cardenas (last year's AMA Daytona Sport Bike champion), will ride for Yoshimura Suzuki this year.  An editorial on Speed.com asks if he can deliver for the team.  Time will tell.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-is-cardenas-the-answer-to-yoshs-hayes-problem/

Also, it has been announced that Larry Pegram, who ran a BMW S1000RR last year, will race a Yamaha R1 this year, in AMA Superbike.  The full story is at this link, once again, from SPEED.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-pegram-swaps-bmw-for-yamaha/

Aprilia Racing Team officially begins title defence campaign

Aprilia's 2013 defense of their title with Max Biaggi last year, begins... now.  Eugene Laverty, and, Sylvain Guintoli, will be their riders of course.

http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/5-sbk-news/16080-aprilia-racing-team-officially-begins-title-defence-campaign.html

Festival of a thousand bikes

Check out this video.  This is the Festival of a Thousand bikes, and it documents many of the riders already highlighted in this blog.  Giacomo Agostini (working on an individual feature about him), Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer (again, working on a feature about his career), and many more.

2013 World Superbike tires

Here is a profile of the 2013 spec Pirelli tires that will be used in the World Superbike Championship.

MotoGP: Pedrosa Heads Close Opening Day

MotoGP riders and teams are conducting a test session at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia before the season starts.  SPEED has the details.  Dani Pedrosa runs quickest of all.  Here is the full story, with a rundown of the 28 riders and bikes that took part in the test and that should be part of a very large field for MotoGP this season,

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-pedrosa-heads-close-opening-day-in-sepang

1979 Race of The Year

Here's another epic race from 1979 in World Grand Prix motorcycle racing at Oulton Park in Little Buddworth, Cheshire, England.  Watch Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts, Barry Ditchburn, Dave Potter, Mick Grant, Steve Parrish, Graham Wood, and Ron Haslam, to name a few, battle for victory.  This is good.

Barry Sheene vs. Kenny Roberts: the 1979 British Grand Prix

The original plan was to do a profile on motorcycle racing champion Barry Sheene, as a stand alone article.  But, this will be something more.  Sheene was a two-time consecutive World Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion in 1976 and '77.  He actively raced motorcycles between 1970 and 1984.  Sheene won titles on the smallest (50cc) and largest (500cc) bikes of that particular era of Grand Prix racing.

Not only was Sheene a great motorcycle racing champion, but he was also a vocal critic of race track safety during his career, and later on, became a television commentator for car and motorcycle races.  He died in 2003.

Kenny Roberts became the first ever American world champion in FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing, winning the title in 1978, after the two successive championships won by Barry Sheene.  Like Sheene, he was an advocate for motorcycle racing safety, and he also built his own motorcycle, and ran his own racing team.  Roberts went on to win three consecutive 500cc world championships between 1978 and 1980.  His career spanned for nine years between 1974 and 1983.  He won his last ever Grand Prix that he started, the 1983 San Marino Grand Prix.

Roberts had great success, and also battled another successful American champion of Grand Prix racing, Freddie Spencer.  Here is the info on Roberts via Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Roberts 

Rest In Peace, Barry Sheene.  As for Roberts, he successfully fielded a team in the world championship and in MotoGP from 1984 to 2007, before MotoGP regulations were changed, forcing Roberts' team out of the sport.  Both of these riders left an indelible mark on the world of motorcycle racing. 

  

AMA SBK: Yamaha Details '13 Effort

All four of Yamaha's major factory backed riders will be back to run in both AMA Superbike and AMA Daytona Sportbike in 2013.  These include 2012, and two-time defending champion Josh Hayes along with his team mate Josh Herrin, and, the pairing of Cameron Beaubier and Garrett Gerloff.  Gerloff was out of action for most of the season last year, after fracturing his femur in a crash at Daytona.  However, Gerloff did win the Supersport class at New Orleans Motorsports Park, to close out the season last year.  So, he should be back, and ready to go for it this season.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-yamaha-details-13-effort/P1