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 Marco (right) wasn't quite prepared for such cool a reception when he joined new World Champion Casey Stoner (left) on the Ducat MotoGP Team!
Wrooom - Ducati & Ferrari MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2008
Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri Unveil the Latest Desmosedici GP8
Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Jan 7-9th - With a spectacular opening ceremony on Monday, January 7th on the frozen lake in Madonna di Campiglio, the Wrooom ñ MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2008 has officially begun. This now annual event hosted by Ducati, = inaugurates the new sport season for the Ducati MotoGP Team and its riders. Day one at Wrooom - MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2008 was action-packed with a press conference attended by reigning World Champion, Casey Stoner, and his new team mate, Marco Melandri, wearing the official Ducati MotoGP Team gear for the first time.
The Ducati Desmosedici GP8 launch was set in the breathtaking scenery of Madonna di Campiglio in the Trento Dolomites. The two riders ceremoniously broke an ice sculpture to reveal the new bike in its 2008 livery. The press conference began with Marco Melandri revealing how excited he is to wear the Italian World Champion team colours for the first time.
 Joining a new race team is always difficult, but Casey helped Marco cut the ice to quickly feel at home.
"I feel great in red!" He exclaimed. "I'm so happy to have become part of the Ducati family. I'd dreamt of riding a Ducati ever since I first saw one. When I tried on my new leathers yesterday, I felt quite emotional. I'm aware of the big opportunity I have been given this year. It's not going to be easy, but it will be exciting and I'm ready to commit entirely to reward all those who wanted me to be here. I'm really impressed with how people work at Ducati. Although they've already achieved the greatest goal, winning the World Championship, they have continued to work relentlessly. After my first tests, I gave feed-back to the engineers so that my bike could be adjusted to match my requirements, and now, I can't wait to hit the track again to train for this season. As soon as we manage to fine-tune the bike we'll be very competitive."
"This is such a wonderful event," said Casey Stoner taking over from Melandri at the press conference table. "I'm happy to be here although it meant celebrating my first wedding anniversary on a flight from Australia! I hope to be able to have fun and do some skiing too, maybe cross-country skiing. I don't want to run any risks snowboarding. This holiday break after our latest test was just what I needed to unwind after a fantastic, although extremely challenging season. I also needed to recover after my shoulder injury from the Jerez tests. I feel much better now, although I'll only know if I'm completely recovered when I get back in the seat. I'm happy to begin a new season with the same bike and the same team - it's a first for me since I started to race. The feeling is just perfect with everyone at Ducati: Claudio, Filippo, Livio and all of my team. I wouldn't change a thing. As for my bike, I haven't suggested any big changes either, because we already had such a competitive package. We are only going to work on a few details. Winning a World Championship has taken a big weight off my shoulders: all my parents' sacrifices, all the hard times in the past, it's all behind me now. This year, I'll continue to work in order to try and repeat my performance of last year and be even stronger and faster, but I'll be able to do that in a very different spirit".
The event schedule includes Claudio Domenicali's meeting with the press to explain the technical innovations of the Desmosedici GP8 in detail on Wednesday. Stay tuned here....
Claudio Domenicali Reveals the Desmosedici GP8
Wednesday Jan 9 2008 - Yesterday, Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri unveiled the Desmosedici GP8 in its new livery and today, Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding Product Director, revealed the technical details of the new bike. Two hundred journalists from all over the world gathered at Madonna di Campiglio to attend the Wrooom - MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2008 and meet the Ducati Marlboro Team riders and management.
In addition to explaining the 2008 technical innovations, Domenicali also briefly analysed the 2007 Ducati championship and commented on the most interesting aspects of the new championship.
"It is very exciting to be here," began Domenicali. "This event has become traditional over the years, but I must say that it feels different this year. The very special feeling created in 2007 between our rider and our bike and tyres resulted in a fantastic season for all of us. I could sum it up by saying that Casey was able to perfectly interpret our GP7, which had been impeccably built and maintained high levels of competitiveness and excellent reliability throughout the season. The Bridgestone tyres also took a step forwards in terms of performance consistency, thanks to our successful joint efforts which had begun in 2005 and allowed us to basically close the gap with Michelin."
"Our 2008 bike is an evolution of the 2007 model, how could we have done otherwise? There was so very little wrong with that bike," continued Domenicali before analysing the new bike's technical characteristics. "We worked on all areas. In terms of chassis set-up, the new frame is lighter with optimised torsional and flexural rigidity to solve the rather minimal "chattering" that we experienced on a few occasions last year. The rear suspension geometry is also different to reduce the 'pumping' effect observed in certain tracks and in special conditions. As for the engine, we worked on two areas. First of all, performance. We introduced a number of modifications to minimise friction and obtain a small power increase without affecting fuel consumption. Secondly, we worked on rideability, in other words, engine response proportional to the rider's torque requirements. We tackled this aspect to obtain a 'fuller' engine response especially mid-range and maintain peak power for longer.
Finally, with regards to electronics, we modified a few sensors and actuator details to increase reliability and consequently, safety. One of the main reasons of our presence in racing is to develop technology to be transferred to production bikes, improving safety and making them even more fun to ride. Electronics play an important role in all this. An example of this is our new 1098 R, which is equipped with exactly the same traction control system used in Ducati racing bikes, making it the first bike in the world to feature a system able to combine safety with high performance."
Domenicali concluded his presentation by talking about the essentially important support granted by Ducati sponsors in a highly competitive and challenging environment like MotoGP. "We would like to thank Phillip Morris who made it possible to reach these goals. Without them, all this would have been very hard to achieve. Our contract with them runs until 2011 which gives us the peace of mind needed to continue our work," said Domenicali. "Just today, we've renewed our contract with Shell, a technological partner extremely important to us, given the decisive role played by fuel consumption in our championship regulations."
Domenicali also thanked other Ducati partners, among whom Alice, a long-standing sponsor, San Disk, the contract with whom has been renewed until 2009, and Riello UPS. Finally, he mentioned the newly acquired, important partner Enel, now in a two-year agreement with Ducati.
Wrooom, which in its new edition also includes F1 World Champion Ferrari team events, will end on Friday, 11th January.
Ducati and Enel announce new Sponsorship agreement
bringing the top Italian energy group to the MotoGP championship for the first time ever
7th January 2008 - On the day before the official Ducati MotoGP Team launch, the Borgo Panigale manufacturers and Enel have officially entered into a new, top-level partnership agreement. The biggest electric company in Italy, and second listed utility company in Europe by installed capacity, has decided to link its trade mark and corporate image with Ducati, the 2007 MotoGP World Champions famous for their own winning 'power'.
According to the two-year agreement, the Enel brand will feature on the Desmosedici GP bikes as well as the leathers and helmets of both Ducati MotoGP Team factory riders, the reigning World Champion Casey Stoner from Australia and Italian Marco Melandri, who makes his Ducati debut this year on the Italian four-cylinder machine.
"It is not just a sponsorship agreement," commented Gabriele Del Torchio, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. "Ours is a partnership between two major industrial concerns which - through their innovation, productivity and knowledge - typify Italian excellence and winning strength in sport and in business. This partnership, like all the other prestigious agreements that support us in the highly demanding MotoGP challenge, confirms the level of credibility achieved by our brand and professionalism. Enel will be not only our partner in MotoGP, but also our official energy supplier, therefore actually contributing to the growth and development of our company."
"The partnership between Enel and Ducati," said Fulvio Conti, Enel Managing Director and CEO "brings together two companies that are examples of that virtuous Italian spirit acknowledged internationally. Ducati is a world-famous model enterprise. Enel is today a multinational company active in 21 countries, using international expansion as its main asset to become a European leader. Competitiveness, professionalism and innovation combined with loyalty and fair practice are values promoted by Enel over many years. Today, we share these values with a sport and a brand that are part of our national heritage. This is a partnership that goes beyond sporting competition, as starting from today, Enel is also the official energy supplier to Ducati. Hopefully, our combined efforts will help us achieve more and more important goals".
The new partnership with Ducati is part of Enel commitment to sports. Enel, which already supports basketball, volleyball and football, now sponsors a motor sport for the first time and begins in style by supporting the World Champions of the highly prestigious MotoGP class.
 Troy Bayliss turned quickest time the last day in World Superbike testing at Losail in November, and now again in January at Phillip Island on the new Ducati 1098F08.
Bayliss 1098F08 Screensaver
PIRELLI SBK WORLD SUPERBIKE DEVELOPMENT WINTER TESTS
Bayliss Quickest at Phillip Island Testing on new 1098F08
until Crash on Day 3 Breaks His Colarbone
Phillip Island (Australia), Thursday 10th January: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) fractured his collarbone this afternoon after high-siding while attempting to pass French rider Regis Laconi. Bayliss was taken to hospital in Melbourne for further assessment. New signing Michel Fabrizio continued to show great progress, concluding the final session with the third fastest time of 1m32.3s, just one tenth off the pace of his team-mate.
Troy Bayliss 1m32.2s - "Basically I went to pass Regis Laconi around Lukey Heights but when I realised I couldn't make it, I had to brake hard and high-sided coming in to the MG hairpin. I have fractured the collarbone close to the sternum and have also chipped the end of the sternum. I am not in too much pain and for now it doesn't seem as bad as the last break I had to my collarbone. I plan to come straight back to Italy to get further tests and the treatment that I need in order to be back on the bike as soon as possible. Up until my fall we were making great progress, testing a lot of tyres with Pirelli. We made a long-run and I was feeling good about how everything was going. This isn't an ideal outcome of course but I'm happy with the progress we made this week and now just have to concentrate on getting better as quickly as possible."
Phillip Island, Jan 9-10th - DAY ONE: Hometown hero Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) led the times on the first day of SBK testing at Phillip Island, securing a best time of 1'32.5; impressively close to the existing lap record of 1'31.826 at this early stage. Bayliss set a total of 66 laps on the new 1200cc Ducati 1098R, riding to find improvements in his new machine's rear set-up. Second best time came from another perennial SBK challenger, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) on a 1'32.8. Haga's compatriot Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) scored third fastest time, putting three different machines in the top three places.
Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki) set a best of 1'33.2 on his way to putting himself into the top four on the opening day at PI, running just a tenth ahead of current lap record holder Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Bayliss' new team-mate Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox). Fabrizio fell at the top of Lukey Heights, hurting on his right foot in the aftermath of his slide.
Max Biaggi (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) enjoyed his first real experience of competing against his peers on a customer Ducati 1098R, securing a time of 1'33.5 late in the day, after the sun's power had lessened and the afternoon winds had died down. His team-mate Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) set the same time.
With just a short amount of testing on their new model ZX-10R machines completed so far, PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse riders Regis Laconi and Makoto Tamada sandwiched new Alstare Suzuki riders after only one day of action, with Laconi setting a 1'34 flat.
 Ducati Corse's new team mate to Bayliss, Michel "The Wizzard" Fabrizio was 2nd quickest Ducati in 6th just a .10th quicker than Max Baiggi also ridingthe new 1098F08.
SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Broc Parkes (Yamaha WSSP Team) secured the fastest lap of day one after waiting for conditions to improve near the end, setting a 1'32.5 to keep Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Andrew Pitt from the top spot with his 1'35.5. Pitt's team mate and WSS class rookie Jonathan Rea scored third best time after a long lay off recovering from surgery, the former BSB rider proving to be a big hit first time out in his new role in racing life.
Josh Brookes (Stiggy Honda) secured an impressive fourth at a track he has won on in WSS wild card guise, while the progress of the Triumph Caracchi squad was such that it wrote its name large in the consciousness of the Supersport world once more. The 675ccc three-cylinder machine, in the hands of the vastly experienced Garry McCoy, went fifth fastest, ahead of names such as Fabien Foret, Chris Walker, Katsuaki Fujiwara and Robbin Harms. Walker and Fujiwara were having their first test against their 2008 opposition at PI. Fujiwara is new to the team, but Walker is new to Supersport racing in any form, making his 1'36.6 lap time a respectable start to his latest racing adventure.
SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1’32”5 (66 laps); 2. Haga (Jap-Yamaha) 1’32”8 (95); 3. Kagayama (Jap-Suzuki) 1’32”9 (70); 4. Nieto (Spa-Suzuki) 1’33”2 (65); 5. Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1’33”4 (72); 6. Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1’33”4 (77); 7. Biaggi (Ita-Ducati) 1’33”5 (69); 8. Xaus (Spa-Ducati) 1’33”5 (62); 9. Laconi (Fra-Kawasaki) 1’34”0 (70); 10. Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki) 1’35”5 (85); 11. Tamada (Jap-Kawasaki) 1’35”8 (61).
SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Parkes (Aus-Yamaha) 1’35”2; 2. Pitt (Aus-Honda) 1’35”5; 3. Rea (GB-Honda) 1’35”8; 4. Brookes (Aus-Honda) 1’36”3; 5. McCoy (Aus-Triumph) 1’36”4; 6. Foret (Fra-Yamaha) 1’36”6; 7. Fujiwara (Jap-Kawasaki) 1’36”9; 8. Harms (Dan-Honda) 1’37”7.
Day Two, Temperatres Rise as Bayliss Continues to Set the Pace
Wednesday 9th - DAY TWO: Double world champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) trimmed 0.3 seconds off his first day lap time during a hot second day of SBK testing at Phillip Island, leading the SBK pack home once more. He continued to work on chassis set-up improvements on the factory 1098 F08 machine, and ran tyres from the harder end of the spectrum for the most part. Bumps on the track surface since the last visit of SBK teams and a much hotter track surface than the first day conspired to keep the overall times in check. Nonetheless, improvements were found by the top riders, who all now have one final day to set even faster times, before the test winds-up, on Thursday 10th January.
Bayliss, who set a 1'32.2 was harried by a Japanese duo once more, as Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) set a 1'32.3, with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) on a 1'32.4, 0.4 seconds better than his personal first day highlight.
Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) secured a strong fourth place on the stopwatches, with a 1'32.6 paving the way for his final day assault. Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) was even more impressive, as he does not have access to development tyres at this test, taking his all-new machine to an equal fifth best time of 1'32.7. Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was the rider on the same pace as Xaus, some 0.2 seconds ahead of Ducati Sterilgarda Go Eleven rider Max Biaggi.
Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki) improved his best time of the test by 0.2 seconds today, despite encountering set-up issues with his machinery. Sitting on the same time, but arguably in a more impressive fashion, was Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) taking the powerful new Kawasaki up a notch in development. Makoto Tamada (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) could not quite keep pace with his new peers, setting a best of 1'35.5. Illness, suspected to be laryngitis, prevented the third Alstare Suzuki rider, Max Neukirchner, from competing today, but he hopes to return to action on the final day.
WORLD SUPERSPORT
Broc Parkes (Yamaha WSSP Team) was once more the fastest man in the 600cc division, his 1'34.8 heading off rookie WSS rider Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) who ended up with a 1'35.0, despite falling at one stage. His team-mate Andrew Pitt set a 1'35.3; Stiggy Motorsports Honda rider Josh Brookes a 1'35.8. Class rookie Chris Walker (GIL Kawasaki) scored a 1'36.0 lap, equalling Parkes' team-mate Fabien Foret today. Despite setting just a handful of laps, Garry McCoy was immediately fast on the Triumph triple again, until a technical problem put him back in the garage for much of the allotted test time.
Katsuaki Fujiwara and Robbin Harms rounded out the WSS order on day two, and with temperatures predicted to be even hotter in the last day than the previous two, most riders would be looking to set their best of test lap time in the cooler morning hours on Thursday.
SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1’32”2 (99 giri); 2. Kagayama (Jap-Suzuki) 1’32”3; 3. Haga (Jap-Yamaha) 1’32”4; 4. Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1’32”6 (105); 5. Xaus (Spa-Ducati) 1’32”7 (51); 6. Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1’32”7 (70); 7. Biaggi (Ita-Ducati) 1’32”9 (80); 8. Laconi (Fra-Kawasaki) 1’33”0 (88); 9. Nieto (Spa-Suzuki) 1’33”0 (71); 10. Tamada (Jap-Kawasaki) 1’35”5 (77).
SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Parkes (Aus-Yamaha) 1’34”8; 2. Rea (GB-Honda) 1’35”0; 3. Pitt (Aus-Honda) 1’35”3; 4. Brookes (Aus-Honda) 1’35”8; 5. Foret (Fra-Yamaha) 1’36”0; 6. Walker (GB-Kawasaki) 1’36”0; 7. McCoy (Aus-Triumph) 1’36”2; 8. Fujiwara (Jap-Kawasaki) 1’36”7; 9. Harms (Dan-Honda) 1’37”0.
Day 3, Bayliis Crashes and Breaks Colarbone, Kagayama Finishes Quickest
Thursday 10th, DAY THREE: Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) scored the fastest time of all three days of testing today, despite temperatures that climbed to 38°C, as Phillip Island felt the full weight of an Aussie summer. His 1'32.1 just beat the previous best, set by Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) but that was the least of the 2001 and 2006 champion's worries, after he fell at the bottom of MG and broke his right collarbone. Bayliss was in the process of overtaking another rider, but when he realised he could not make the pass, he got on the rear brake and was highsided off. Initial X-Rays at Melbourne Hospital are not 100% conclusive, as the bones are not displaced, but circuit medics say his injury should be healed in around 21 days - enough time for Bayliss to be fit for the start of the season.
Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki) and Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) all shared the lap time of 1'32.3, ensuring that there should be close and intense competition when the season kicks off in Qatar on 23 February. Only one tenth of a second behind this trio of talent came Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia), the 2007 season runner up. Yamaha were testing their variable intake system at PI and should race with it in 2008.
Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was the early pace maker in the previous Qatar tests, but this time around he was not quite in with the fastest, but still only 0.0.6 seconds from Kagayama's best time over three days. The second Ducati Sterilgarda Go Eleven rider Max Biaggi had a good test, despite Ducati twin-cylinder power being a new experience for him, and the multiple 250GP champion set a 1'32.8, only 0.7 seconds from the very fastest.
Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) could not improve on his best of 1'33.0 today, but that was still an impressive time for such a relatively new ZX-10R machine, in its first real test against the very best of its rivals. Makoto Tamada (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) made great leaps in his set-up and pace today, setting a 1'33.4, almost two seconds up on his earlier marks. Illness affected Max Neukirchner's entire test, and thus the Alstare Suzuki rider only scored a best time of 1'35.5.
WORLD SUPERSPORT
Broc Parkes (Yamaha WSSP Team) shaved two tenths of a second from his best time from day two to leave the tests the fastest man, his 1'34.6 a clear 0.4 seconds faster than Hannspree Ten Kate Honda duo Andrew Pitt and Jonathan Rea. On the new Yamaha R6, 2007 PI WSS race winner Fabien Foret (Yamaha WSSP Team) made adjustments in set-up to take him to a new best of 1'35.2, while the man who took his GIL Kawasaki ride over, Katsuaki Fujiwara, was top man in green, securing a best of 1'35.6. Fujiwara's new team-mate Chris Walker proved to have good WSS skills at such an early stage in his first WSS season, setting a best of 1'35.7, equalled by local hero Josh Brookes (Stiggy Motorsports Honda).
Garry McCoy (Triumph Caracchi) set a best of 1'35.9, with Robbin Harms propping up the times, on a 1'36.4.
SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP- TIMES COMBINED
1. Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki) 1'32”1
2. Bayliss (AUS-Ducati) 1'32”2
3. Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1'32”3
4. Xaus (ESP-Ducati) 1'32”3
5. Nieto (ESP-Suzuki) 1'32”3
6. Haga (JPN-Yamaha) 1'32”4
7. Corser (AUS-Yamaha) 1'32”7
8. Biaggi (ITA-Ducati) 1'32”8
9. Laconi (FRA-Kawasaki) 1'33”0
10. Tamada (JPN-Kawasaki) 1'33”4
11. Neukirchner (GER-Suzuki) 1'35”5
SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - TIMES COMBINED
1. Parkes (AUS-Yamaha) 1'34”6
2. Rea (GBR-Honda) 1'35”0
3. Pitt (AUS-Honda) 1'35”0
4. Foret (FRA-Yamaha) 1'35”2
5. Fujiwara (JPN-Kawasaki) 1'35”6
6. Walker (GBR-Kawasaki) 1'35”7
7. Brookes (AUS-Honda) 1'35”7
8. McCoy (AUS-Triumph) 1'35”9
9. Harms (DEN-Honda) 1'36”4
2008 Roadracing Rider and Team Line Ups, Race Schedules
Here's a look at the rider seat changes and confirmed lineup of teams and riders in World SBK and AMA Superbike and MotoGP for 2008. We will be add more teams and riders weekly as they confirm.
In the left sidebar are all the 2008 season MotoGP, SBK, BSB and AMA race dates and venues.
2007 Roadracing Teams
2007 World Superbike
Ducati Corse: Troy Bayliss, Lorenzo Lanzi
Ducati Sterilgarda: Ruben Xaus
Honda Ten Kate: James Toseland, Roberto Rolfo
Honda D.F.X. Corse: Luca Morelli, Michel Fabrizio
Yamaha Italy: Noriyuki Haga, Troy Corser
Suzuki Alstare: Yukio Kagayama, Bax Biaggi
Kawasaki PSG-1: Regis Laconi, Fonsi Nieto
Suzuki Germany: Max Neukirchner
2007 World MotoGP
Ducati Corse: Loris Capirossi, Casey Stoner
Ducati d'Antin: Alex Barros, Aex Hoffman
Yamaha Japan: Valentino Rossi, Colin Edwards
Yamaha Tech 3: Sylvain Guintoli
Suzuki Japan: Chris Vermeulen, John Hopkins
Kawasaki Japan: Randy de Puniet, Anthony West
Honda Japan: Nicky Hayden, Dani Padrosa
Honda Minolta: Shinya Nakano
Honda Gresini: Tony Elias
Honda LCR: Carlos Checa
Honda Roberts: Kurtis Roberts
2007 AMA Superbike
Suzuki Yoshimura: Matt Mladin, Ben Spies
Suzuki Jordan: Aaron Yates, Jake Holden
Honda American: Miguel DuHammel, Jake Zemke
Yamaha USA: Eric Bostrom, Jason DiSalvo
Kawasaki USA: Roger Lee Hayden, Jamie Hacking
MV Agusta Ferracci: Matt Lynn, Lucca
2007 BSB British Superbike
Honda HM Plant: Ryuichi Kiyonari - reigning champ
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2008 Roadracing Teams
2008 World Superbike
Ducati Corse: Troy Bayliss, Michel Fabrizio
Ducati Sterilgarda: Ruben Xaus, Max Biaggi
Ducati Guandalini: Jakub Smrz
Ducati RG: Lorenzo Lanzi
Honda Ten Kate: Kent Sofulguo, Carlos Checa, Ryuichi Kiyonari - reigning 2-time BSB Champion
Honda D.F.X. Corse: Karl Muggeridge, Russell Holland
Honda Paul Bird: Gregorio Lavilla - BSB Champion
Honda Hannspree Althea: Roberto Rolfo
Yamaha Italy: Noriyuki Haga, Troy Corser
Yamaha GMT94 Europe: David Checa, Sebastian Gimbert
Yamaha Grillni: Loic Napoleone
Suzuki Alstare: Fonsi Nieto, Yukio Kagayama,
Max Neukirchner
Kawasaki PSG-1: Regis Laconi, Makoto Tamada
Kawasaki Pedercini: Vittorio Ianuzzo, Ayrton Badovini
Suzuki Germany: Andreas Meklau
2008 World MotoGP
Ducati Corse: Casey Stoner, Marco Melandri
Ducati d'Antin: Tony Elias, Sylvain Guintoli
Ducati other : Guareschi, Canepa, Itoh
Yamaha Japan: Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo
Yamaha Tech 3: James Toseland, Colin Edwards
Suzuki Japan: Chris Vermeulen, Loris Capirossi,
and non'conflicting AMA races with
Ben Spies
Kawasaki Japan: John Hopkins, Anthony West
Honda Japan: Nicky Hayden, Dani Padrosa
Honda Minolta:
Honda Gresini: Shinya Nakano, Alex de Angelis
Honda LCR: Randy de Puniet
JiR Scot Honda: Andrea Dovizioso
2008 AMA Superbike
Suzuki Yoshimura: Matt Mladin, Ben Spies
Suzuki Jordan: Aaron Yates, Geof May
Honda American: Miguel DuHammel, Neil Hodgson
Yamaha USA: Eric Bostrom, Jason DiSalvo
Kawasaki USA: Roger Lee Hayden, Jamie Hacking
2008 BSB British Superbike
Honda HM Plant:
Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow
Suzuki Rizla: Tom Sykes, Atsushi Watanabe - reigning Japanese Superbike Champion
Ducati Airwaves: Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, Leon Camier
Yamaha GB : Rob McElnea
Yamaha AIM: Steve Plater
Kawasaki MMS : |
2008 Pirelli Calendar
Pirelli pays homage to China with its 2008 Calendar
Shanghai, China Dec 2007 - The 35th edition of the iconic Pirelli Calendar, the first to be photographic and premiered int Asia, sees the Italian tire giant Pirelli gives reverence to the world's 2nd largest and fastest growing industrial nation. And certainly the biggest new market for its products.
The 2008 Calendar is set entirely in Shanfhai - the picturesque streets of the old French Concession, the splended garden of the former British Legation, the mysterious and sensual atmosphere of forbidden Chinathe convulsive nanjing Road and the characteristic tea houses constitur the backgrounds for the camera shots that grace 2008 in 23 intense portraits (two for each month, with August having just one).
Patrick Demarchierelier, the influential master of fashion portrait photography, for the second time authors the celebrated almanac z( his first Pirelli calednar was shot in 2005 in Rio de Janerio with many of the worl'ds top supermodels appearing nude. "The casting was a fascinating mix between the West and the orient, an interesting group of faces."
The shooting took place last April and was comprised of eleven models and actresses occupied for ten days of intense location shooting, makeup and wardrope handled by a huge crew of 40 people. And though Pirelli won'r disclose what the calendar costs to produce, we easilly guestimate the 2008 Calendar shoot to be somewhere around Five Million Dollars.
The leading ladies of the edition are rising stars Agyness Deane and Lily Donaldson (UK), Doutzen Kroes (NL), Catherine McNeil and Gemma ward (Australia), Sasha Pivoarova (Russia), Coco Rocha (Ireland) and Caroline Trentni (Brazil). The calendar also features Chinese beauties Mo Wan Dan and Du Jan, along with one renoun actress and Asian beauty: Maggie Cheung known for her roles in Police Story (1985), Super Cop (1992). Actress (1992) Chinese Box (1997), In the Mood for Love (2000) and Hero (2003).
The Pirelli
Calendars
Complete Works 1964-2007 |
Always a high-end seasonal gift to select customers and friends world-wide, the large firmat and expensively printed Pirelli Calendar is not availble to mere mortals, though copies now days, can be found on E-Bay. But you can see many of the images in books on the Pirelli calendar which have been pubished over the years and our available in the FastDates.com Collectors Corner.
This November, the latest book "The Complete Works: the Pirelli Calendar 1964-2007" has been published and becomes available world-wide. It is the result of a long, meticulous project of research and recovery of origional materials.From the sixties to today, the reader takes a passionate excursion through the evolution of fashion, trends and customs of the last 40 years, through the eyes of Pirelli's marketing communication. |
Daytona Board Track Races 1920
Back in the 1910s - 1930s Motorcycle Boardtrack racing was one of the most popular and dangerous sports in America. Huge banked wooden oval tracks were built across America and drew tens of thousands of spectators for weekly races. The track shown here at Daytona Beach (no relation to Daytona International Speedway today) was a full 1-mile banked oval and top riders set average lap speeds of over 130mph (131.44 mph/ 212 kph shown here) on bikes with no suspension, no brakes, skinny bicycle tires and the riders wearing no real protection other than leather helmets and heavy clothing. The sport ended with the Great Depression and by World War II all the tracks were torn down. This is the only known movie to have survived of board track racing from that era.
Jesse Rooke's KTM Boardtracker with Tamara.
Roland Sands & Jesse Rooke
2008 Calendar Boart Track Replica Bikes featured in new DVDs
Three of the hottest custom sportbikes featured in both the 2008 Fast Dates Race Bike and
Iron & Lace Custom Bike Calendars and shown here with our beautiful Calendar Kitten and Playboy Playmate Tamara Witmer are now featured in DVD format and available from FastDates.com!
Then in Roland Sands' own video "New Blood" you'll see how Roland built the revolutionary Kenny Robert's KR 990cc 5-cylinder boardtracer which was also featured in our 2007 LA Calendar Bike show ad campaign. And you'll go with Roland to the US MotoGP at laguna seca where the bike was first premiered, then to the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed in England where Roland put the 230hp bike through its paces. This is another extradordinary must have DVD to keep and enjoy forever withyour Fastdates.com Calendar Collection!
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The Discovery Channel DVD "Sands vs. Rooke" Biker Build Off / Edisode 4 follows two of our hottest custom sportbikes featured in the 2008 Fast Dates and Iron & Lace Calendars being built and raced by Roland Sands and Jesse Rooke for Discovery Channel's Biker Build Off. You'll see Roland's "No Regrets" American V-Twin engined bike go up against Jesse's KTIM 950 V-Twin powered boardtracker, how the bikes were built from scrath, and what happen when the bikes and their builders came together for the raceoff at Willow Springs Raceway. This is a must-have collectors item to keep with your copies of the calendars.
Click Cover to Order |
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Then in Roland Sands' own video "New Blood" you'll see how Roland built the revolutionary Kenny Robert's KR 990cc 5-cylinder boardtracer which was also featured in our 2007 LA Calendar Bike show ad campaign. And you'll go with Roland to the US MotoGP at laguna seca where the bike was first premiered, then to the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed in England where Roland put the 230hp bike through its paces. This is another extradordinary must have DVD to keep and enjoy forever withyour Fastdates.com Calendar Collection!
Click Cover to Order |
 Roland Sand's "No Regrets" with Tamara.
 Roland Sand's KR powered 5-cylinder boadtracker with Tamara.
Many of our Calendar
Kittens can also be seen at Playboy's website...
BikerKiss.com - the largest biker personals site!
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Now Available!
16-month Calendar starts Sept
2008 Fast Dates &
Garage Girls Calendars
New DVD!
New Play Station!
World Superbike 2008 PSP
A truly authentic licensed motorbike racing experience for the PSP system featuring 10 beautifully re-created official tracks and all 14 teams and 22 riders. Experience the thrill and danger of high speed motorbike racing alongside 14 opponents. This incredibly detailed game allows the player to control the level of simulation, start off with multiple riding aids and then as you get comfortable, you can crank up the reality and excitement. Race amazing bikes at hig speeds in variable weather conditions. The definitive motorbike racing game for the system!
Hot New Books!
Despite a Decline in the American Economoy Overall, and in the American Motorcycle Mzrket in Particular
DUCATI NORTH AMERICA REPORTS RECORD 2007 SALES
Cupertino, CA- (January 8th, 2008) Ducati North America is proud to announce that 2007 ended as the company’s best ever year, with retail sales passing the 10,000 mark for the first time. The arrival of ground breaking new models and a decisive victory in the 2007 Moto GP World Championship have brought an unprecedented amount of success to the Italian brand.
Total North American sales grew by 22% in 2007; up from the previous record of 8,200 bikes in 2006. This impressive growth occurred while the overall North American motorcycle market declined in 2007. In addition, Ducati North America’s unit sales have experienced significant growth over the last four years, more than doubling since 2003.
The top sellers in 2007 were the new 1098 Superbike, the Monster family, and the nostalgic Sport Classic line. Although it only arrived for the 2nd half of the year, the category-busting Hypermotard posted exceptional sales as well, totaling over 800.
“Ducatisti the world over had a lot to celebrate in 2007, with class leading new bikes and unprecedented success in Moto GP. Ducati North America is proud to be a part of the success story and we look forward to another outstanding year in 2008; starting with the arrival of the 848, 1098 R, and Desmosedici RR in the first quarter!” said Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America.
Ducati’s record sales in 2007 were not limited to motorcycles - the Ducati Performance Department reported an astonishing growth of 109 percent in accessory sales, and 42 percent in apparel sales. Many Ducati dealers have also made significant store improvements through Ducati’s Retail Design Program and participation in the new DNA sponsored business development program.
For more information on Ducati North America, please visit www.ducatiusa.com.
British Superbike Championship Signs
3-Year Control Tire Deal with Pirelli
Jan 2nd - Following the issue of an Invitation to Tender for the rights to exclusively supply the tyres to teams competing in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 MCRCB British Superbike and Supersport Championships, the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board have carefully considered the bids received.
After deliberation the MCRCB have selected, subject to contract PIRELLI UK Tyres Limited.
Commenting on the announcement; Stuart Higgs, BSB Series Director said “This is a landmark moment for the British Championships. For the selected bidder it represents a great opportunity and responsibility, which I am confident that Pirelli can fulfil. This will be a great leveller for the championships and I relish the start of the on-track competition. In making the announcement of the selected bidder, I also acknowledge the obvious disappointment, the long standing contribution and the professionalism during this process of Dunlop, however the decision was confined strictly to determining the fulfilment of the requirements of the tender and the MCRCB’s sporting objectives.”
New Ducati Corse Superbike Press Officer
Heather Watson
Tagged onto the last press release from the Ducati Xerox team was this brief note:
Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Corse Superbike Project Leader:
"We would also like to welcome Heather Watson to Team Ducati Xerox. Heather will undertake the role of press officer."
No bio was offered on Heather and there was no mention as to what happened with former Ducati Cores Superbike Press Officer Julian Thomas who had been with the team since back around year 2000. And all media contact names and Emails have been removed from the Ducati Corse Press Website.
Ducati Desmosedici RRFor compete details and photos of the new bike go to our
New Sportbike Index
Ducati Desmosedici RR
Yukio Tops Phillip Island SBK Tests
Team Alstare Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama ended the 3-day tests at Phillip Island with the fastest lap, a tenth of a second ahead of Troy Bayliss (Ducati). Yukio posted a lap of 1:32.1 in the morning session and, as the temperature rose steadily, it was clear that it would take something special to beat it. Bayliss looked the most likely, but crashed just after midday and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone. Yukio’s team mate Fonsi Nieto ended joint third quickest and was very happy with the progress made during the three days. Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner was deemed not fit enough to take part today and was forced to watch from the sidelines instead.
Yukio (96 laps, best lap 1:32.10): I am a happy man today, not just because I set the fastest lap here, but because we have done a lot of very good work during these three days. The mechanics have worked very hard (last night they finished after midnight!) and that allowed me to put in a lot of laps and give them a lot of information and data. It was very hot today, so that we had to make a lot of adjustments to the settings. All in all, this test has been very productive and a good way to start 2008.
Corser's Fastest Lap at Phillip Island Roo-inded!
Five minutes from the end of this three-day test, Troy Corser decided to put on a super sticky tyre and try and post the fastest lap of the day. He was on course for his quickest lap, when he was forced to slow down because of a kangaroo on the track! The large marsupial was right in the middle of the track and its presence was enough to destroy any chance Troy had of setting his quickest lap!
Even without the problem 'roo, these tests have given Troy and the team plenty to think about. But, the three days have allowed the team to collect a lot of data and decide in which direction to go next time out. Troy's former team mate Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) set the fastest lap of the tests, with a lap of 1:32.1. Just one tenth of a second behind is Troy Bayliss (Ducati), but the Aussie crashed just after midday and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone.
Troy (best lap 1:32.7)
Well, it's not been too bad, but I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't able to go any quicker - and not just because of the 'roo! We solved one particular problem today - which was good - but it threw up another problem, and that is to be solved.
We've done a lot of work on the rear suspension and linkages, probably more than we've ever done before, trying to get better grip. Also we're trying to get the power curve a bit more usable because the bike feels a bit peaky at the moment - and that's something you don't need at a track like Phillip Island.
Considering I felt I was struggling a bit with the bike, to finish just half a second off is not so bad. The track is definitely more bumpy then last year and that means we have to work a lot harder to get the set-up right. That's hard enough, but then the very high temperatures meant that we also had grip problems, so that was something else to sort out.
Just before my 'fast lap' I saw a marshal waving a yellow flag, but I couldn't see any bikes on the track, just a couple of geese. But on the next lap, I saw why he had waved the flag, because there was a wallaby on the track (not a kangaroo!). It was the biggest wallaby I'd ever seen and it was in the middle of the track, so that was it for my 'fast lap'. I don't think our next racetrack - Qatar - has any 'roos or wallabies, so I guess I should be safe enough there!
See ya! Troy Corser
Gregorio Lavilla Confirmed At Paul Bird Motorsport for World Superbike
Dec 6th -
Following on from their announcement last month regarding the team contesting the 2008 World Superbike Championship, Paul Bird Motorsport have confirmed that they will field a single ride on board factory-supported Honda machinery in the fifteen round series.
2005 British Superbike Champion, Gregorio Lavilla is the rider who has been entrusted to ride for the Cumbrian businessman and the Spaniard will return to the World Championship full time after a four year break.
Bird has secured the necessary backing from his sponsors, although it has yet to be decided as to what branding Lavilla’s bikes will run when the opening round gets underway in Qatar on February 23rd and an announcement will follow in due course.
Paul Bird: “It’s back to our tried and tested formula of a one rider team and that’s where we’ve had most of our successes in the past. The team will be geared around Greg and he’ll get everything he needs to make sure we have the best chance possible. It’s a new venture for us but it’s one that the whole team is very excited about and we aim to start testing very soon in readiness for the opening round in Qatar.”
Gregorio Lavilla: “It has always been my aim to get back into the World Superbike Championship on a competitive bike and I’m very grateful to Paul Bird and his team for this opportunity. I have enjoyed my time in BSB very much and I’m sad to be leaving as I have made many good friends and it has been a good time for my career. I’d like to say thank you to my fans and not only do I have a home race in Spain next season, but I have two more ‘home’ races in England and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
More 2008 Calendars in the Calendar Store
Click to Vist our Calendar Store
Calendar Kitten Joanna Krupa has her own 2008 Calendar
New Pirelli Russo Tire
and Sexy Video
Milan, 8 Nov. - During the EICMA show Pirelli presented the brand new Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO.
This tyre sets the point representing a new tyre generation, thanks to the new approach Pirelli adopted to design this new product for the SUPERSPORT segment and thanks to the new EPT (Enhanced Patch Technology) Pirelli patent.
Diablo Rosso finds its full description in a new section of Pirelli tyre website thanks to a video which represents its world and 'personality' together with a page with the product features.
Soon each country will have its own DIABLO ROSSO area in its proper language, now you can see the preview in the corporate website with a very SEXY VIDEO.
Please check it out by CLICKING HERE
NEW! FastDates.com
Cell Phone Wallpapers!
Sands vs. Rooke
Calendar Bike Build Off
See the world's two hottest custom sportbikes featured in the 2008 Fast Dates and Iron & Lace Calendars being built and raced by Roland Sands and Jesse Rooke for Discovery Channel's Biker Build Off
Roland Sands builds the
KR Tracker Calendar Show Bike
New Blood DVD
features Roland Sands building and riding the extraordinary Roland Sands Design / Kenny Roberts KR 990cc 5-cylinder MotoGP powered Retro Board Track Racer. The bike is also featured in the 2008 Fast Dates race bike and Iron & Lace custom bike Calendars with beautiful Playboy Playmate and Calendar Kitten Tamara Witmer in one of our best calendar shots ever and ,featured in the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show advertsing campaigns
and T-Shirt. |
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