Recently demoted points leader anticipating difficult weekend in America.
Image: Supplied.
Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista has changed his tone ahead of Laguna Seca’s ninth round of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), the recently demoted points leader certain the American circuit won’t play into this favour this weekend.
The Spaniard, who once held a 60-point lead following a dominant start to the series, has seen his former advantage diminish at recent rounds with an array of crashes, allowing four-time defending champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) to overcome him in the championship standings.
“Unfortunately because of my crashes we are now in second place in the standings, which might be interesting for the championship but not so much for me,” said Bautista.
“If I look at the layout of Laguna Seca, for sure I can say that it’s not one of the best tracks for us, because when we have bumps, and uphill and downhill sections, we could struggle, but like I have been saying all year I have no expectations. I prefer to go there, see what happens, start to work hard with my team and get the maximum from the weekend.”
Bautista holds down second in the standings, 24 points behind newly-appointed leader Rea.
KTM will welcome their next MotoGP racer to have come through the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and Red Bull KTM Moto3 and Moto2 ranks when 2016 Moto3 World Champion Brad Binder joins former team-mate Miguel Oliveira at Red Bull KTM Tech3 next season.
Moto3 2016 – Brad Binder
The South African 23-year-old will ride the KTM RC16 next year after three seasons, 3 victories and 8 podiums – to-date – in the Moto2 category.
Binder will join Red Bull KTM Tech3 for what will be the team’s second season in ‘orange’ and the early stages of a young project for both the squad and the brand.
Red Bull KTM Tech3
Hervé Poncharal, Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager
“We are only halfway through our first racing season in MotoGP with KTM, but already we have some incredible, exciting news coming with the signing of Brad Binder for the 2020 MotoGP season. Brad is somebody I have been following since he joined the championship in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and later in the Moto3. I have always been amazed by his talent, his aggressivity and his never-give-up-attitude and when you run a motorcycle race team, this is the profile of rider you wish and you love to have. I think to have the Miguel Oliveira – Brad Binder line-up reunited with us next year, is something that shows the Red Bull KTM organization and path is working. I think Brad Binder more than deserves a MotoGP ride next year after what he has been showing in the Moto2 the past two seasons. I know KTM and I can witness KTM is working incredibly hard to improve the MotoGP bike and I’m quite sure that Brad with the winter test will be very happy and very fast from round one on that bike. It’s going to be a strong team, as I think there will be a great relation between him and Miguel, his teammate and I honestly believe, I couldn’t dream for a better structure. Miguel and Brad know each other, they are both incredible competitors and when you are a team owner, this is all you wish for. So, together with Red Bull, KTM and Tech3 there was never any doubt that this is the line-up we wanted to have and I would like to thank Pit Beirer for his investment, I would like to thank Niki Ruhstorfer for his support. I would also like to thank Bob Moore, Brad’s personal manager, because I think the four of us, we managed to make that happen and this is a great news for MotoGP racing and a great news for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. I would like to say a huge warm welcome to Brad and tell him we are going to follow him even closer during the second part of the Moto2 season. I’m sure he’s going to win some races, why not fight for the title and we are ready to welcome him from the Valencia test.”
The Red Bull KTM Ajo team with Brad Binder celebrate his Moto3 World Championship win
Binder made his Grand Prix debut in 2011 (as a Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race winner) and grabbed his first silverware in 2014. He claimed the 2016 Moto3 world title in just his second term with Red Bull KTM Ajo (becoming South Africa’s first world champion in thirty-six years and just the third from his country), and graduated immediately to Moto2 with the same team. He raced alongside Oliveira in 2017 and 2018.
Brad Binder – 2019 Moto2
Brad Binder
“It is incredible to have this opportunity. I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, my manager and my family for helping me get to the premier class and to be able to give it a try. It is an amazing feeling right now and a dream come true. When you are growing up then this is what you aim for – to be in the MotoGP class with the best riders in the world with the best bikes – so it is a crazy feeling right now.”
Brad Binder – Moto2 2018
In MotoGP Binder will be the first South African to take to the grid in the four-stroke era and to score significant points since Kork Ballington, Jon Ekerold and Brett Hudson in the early 1980s.
Kork Ballington with compatriot Brad Binder, the 2016 Moto3 World Champion
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director
“To be able to sign Brad Binder for our MotoGP project is an exciting moment because he has been with us for five years already and is one of our world champions. We have a strong story and connection and we’re really happy that it continues. It is clear we all have a big challenge in front of us and we also feel responsible for him to be able to maintain this good path we have together. We also like the fact that Brad has this distinctive riding style that allows him to push a bike and project to the maximum. We feel that he ‘fits’ to us, and we cannot wait to see how he handles and attacks a MotoGP bike. I’m sure he can add some extra and special things because he has done that with every motorcycle he has raced so far and it will be a highlight not only for us but for all MotoGP fans.”
Red-plate holder Todd Waters has declared he’s solely focused on winning races as the Pirelli MX Nationals heads to Maitland in New South Wales this weekend, disregarding the fact he leads the championship standings.
The DPH Motorsport Husqvarna ace believes targeting victories in the final four rounds of the series will lead him to a maiden premier class crown, rather than focus on managing the slim three-point advantage he holds over Luke Clout (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy).
The red-plate has donned the bikes of Clout and Hayden Mellross (Raceline KTM Thor) this season, while Waters holds it for a second time currently. It’s a three-rider chase for the title, as just five points separate the trio.
“It’s not really my focus [on the red plate],” Waters explained to MotoOnline.com.au following his Gympie victory. “I just want to win races, and that’s my main focus for the last half of the championship. I just want to keep that ball rolling – I’ve been training hard and I expect to get wins.
“The points lead doesn’t bother me – I had it at the start of the year and I lost it, so anything can happen. For me, I just focus on the race – I don’t really give a rats about the championship at this second. As long as I’m winning races, it will be bring the championship.”
The popular Queenslander has captured five moto wins and three overall victories this season, with a DNF at Wonthaggi’s second being the number 47’s only blemish.
South African Brad Binder will graduate to the premier MotoGP class in 2020 after signing a deal with Red Bull KTM Tech3, joining former teammate Miguel Oliveira for next year’s world championship.
The 23-year-old 2016 Moto3 world champion will steer the KTM RC16 next year after three seasons, three victories and eight podiums to date in the Moto2 category.
Binder made his grand prix debut in 2011 as a Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race winner and grabbed his first silverware in 2014. He claimed the 2016 world title in just his second term with Red Bull KTM Ajo, becoming South Africa’s first world champion in 36 years and just the third from his country before graduating immediately to Moto2 with the same team.
“It is incredible to have this opportunity,” said Binder. “I want to say a huge thank you to KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, my manager and my family for helping me get to the premier class and to be able to give it a try.
“It is an amazing feeling right now and a dream come true. When you are growing up then this is what you aim for – to be in the MotoGP class with the best riders in the world with the best bikes – so it is a crazy feeling right now.”
KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer added: “To be able to sign Brad Binder for our MotoGP project is an exciting moment because he has been with us for five years already and is one of our world champions. We have a strong story and connection and we’re really happy that it continues.
“It is clear we all have a big challenge in front of us and we also feel responsible for him to be able to maintain this good path we have together. We also like the fact that Brad has this distinctive riding style that allows him to push a bike and project to the maximum.
“We feel that he ‘fits’ to us, and we cannot wait to see how he handles and attacks a MotoGP bike. I’m sure he can add some extra and special things because he has done that with every motorcycle he has raced so far and it will be a highlight not only for us but for all MotoGP fans.”
Binder will join Red Bull KTM Tech3 for what will be the team’s second season in orange and the early stages of a young project for both the squad and the brand. His signing indicates Hafizh Syahrin will depart the squad at the conclusion of the year.
Our friends from WESTx1000 are out at the 2019 Silk Way Rally bringing coverage from Day 4 of the event.
Begin Press Release:
Day 4, SS3: Invading the Land of the “Khan”
Who Will Be Worthy of a Title Mongolians Reserve Only for Their Leaders
Special Stage Three: The “Enduro” type trails are now a thing of the past, and the mobile world of the Silk Way Rally is opening up to the vast grasslands in the Mongolian-Manchurian Steppe. What makes this region so spectacular is nothing. An obvious void of established roadways, buildings or signs to sully the immaculate landscape. Hills roll freely like massive waves in the middle of the Pacific. Great herds of cows, goats, horses and sheep roam it with just as much liberty, eating their way through the smorgasbord laid at their feet to each new destination of their nomadic masters.
Mongolia is quite a sight to behold, though the racers may not have seen as much of it as they’d like with fast speeds pace and tricky navigation to contend with. Out the gate, the pace was blazing, and competitors were quick to take advantage of the wide, gravel & dirt avenues. Although, danger lay quietly between the cracks waiting for the distracted driver to slip into its clutches. A trap which Joan Barreda #11 (Monster Energy Honda) literally fell into at the start of the special stage. He nabbed second nonetheless, coming back stronger than HERO Motosport Rally rider Paolo Goncalves who, after disappearing into a crevasse, subsequently dropped into 10th. To add to the risk, river crossings offered equal amounts of peril however peaceful they might have seemed. And when teams started finding their rhythm, halfway through, the route turned gradually towards the sky bringing machines up to over 3,200 feet adding altitude to the reckoning.
By roughly kilometer 150, the remaining section was set on a plateau with so many pathways carved into the countryside it was a dizzying challenge to navigate. Ultimately, the premiere lineup continues to shake things up, with Kevin Benavides #7 (Monster Energy Honda) finishing yet again in First just ahead of his teammate Barreda. This performance increased lead ahead of Sam Sunderland #6 (Red Bull KTM Factory) eight seconds to 2-minutes, 54-seconds overall. Kevin’s brother, #77 Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM) rounded out the trio. Sunderland didn’t have long on the throne, finding himself fourth in this special, but knowing Sunderland, he’s very much still in the running! What we Americans are all waiting for, of course, is word on our man “Shorty.” Andrew Short #29 of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna managed a respectable 5th place bringing USA this much closer to the podium.
“A big contrast in terrain arriving Mongolia after the forests and lakes in Russia. Really nice to have that difference in a race. Not ideal for me to open over such a long day, but I felt pretty good. Made a little mistake and lost a couple of minutes in the middle of the special, but all in all a good stage. It’s a big one tomorrow, and I have a good starting position. The further back the better, hopefully there won’t be too much dust… I’m looking forward to it!” – Sam Sunderland #6, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Quads too had a hell of a fight, though the results mirrored stages past, with Rafal Sonik #101 keeping a keen eye on top that step of the podium. Aleksandr Maksimov #102 hasn’t given up yet, and he does his best to stay on Sonik’s heels. Arkadiusz Lindner #103 is also still in the race, but he’ll have to make up some time if he wants to be on Sonik’s radar. In cars however, for one team, it seems like a cake walk. While the others tear at the ground to pull ever closer to three-time Dakar Champion.
With teammates Yazeed Al Rahji #200 – 2018 SWR winner – out of the race, Nasser Al-Attiya and Mathieu Baumel had one less huge adversary to contend with today. But Al-Attiya is not foolish enough to drive at a comfortable pace, knowing there are plenty of formidable cars and UTVs on the course hot on his tail. It seems his goal is to put as much time between him and the pack as possible. Surprisingly pulling in front of the ultra-determined Side-by-Sides – racing on terrain that is far better suited for their machines – was Russian MINI JCW driver Denis Krotov and co-pilot Dmytro Tsyro #209 who concluding the stage in Second Place pushing Chinese Geely team drivers Wei Han and Min Liao #208 down to the third seed, just ahead of Kun Liu and Hongyo Pan #211 of Shanxi Yunxiang Qimosport. In the SxS class, an all-out war is being waged between Russians Sergei Kariakin and Anton Vlasiuk #220 of Can-Am Mavericks and the American team piloted by American Jones and partner Kellon Walch #229 who have made a miraculous comeback since their accident in the first special stage.
“The day was pretty good for us on a much faster special. We didn’t make the slightest navigation error and that allowed to get in the wake of Al-Attiyah. Tomorrow’s stage should also suit us, and I hope we can do the same result.” – Denis Krotov #209, MSK RALLY TEAM
The third special stage opened-up opportunity to a new alpha of the plains, as the biggest beasts fought like mammoth bulls butting heads until one came out victorious. Winner of the first two stages, #304 MAZ-SportAuto team drivers Siarhei Viazovich, Anton Zaparoshchanka and Andrei Zhyhulun from Belarus finally succumb (for now) to the Russian KAMAZ-Master team ending the day in Third Place behind #300 Andrey Karginov, Andrey Mokeev, and Ivan Malkov (1st) and #303 Anton Shibalov, Dmitrii Nikitin and Ivan Tatarinov (2nd). But the MAZ team isn’t worried yet, as they still sit at the top of the totem pole. Whether that’ll last, we’re yet to see. Right now, the overall standings see Shibalov following Kargoinov in 2nd, with Viazovich now in 3rd. The American CRV truck #310 might have fallen back a bit in the lineup, but they still have a lot of fight left in them, and we hope to see them making strides over the second half of the Silk Way Rally!
When motorcycle industry stalwart Dale Schmidtchen needed an attractive, utilitarian motorcycle at a good price, his research led him to the CFMoto 650 MT ABS.
Dale, who has previously worked for CFMoto, says he needed a bike capable of many types of riding.
“I had set a budget of under 10k,” he says.
Bargain bike
650 MT
Sunstate Motorcycles at Nerang delivered the bike in an attractive “Athens Blue” for the current deal that includes panniers and engine bars for just $7490 ride away.
“I chose to upgrade to the larger aluminium panniers for a small premium extra,” Dale says.
“I have to admit I rode one of the original prototypes at the factory back in 2011, so I was keen to see how much they had progressed since then.
“In a word, refinement.”
Dale is a big lad. Tall and hefty, yet he says he feels comfortable on the 650 MT.
“It’s tall in the seat (840mm) and wide with the panniers fitted, but this is typical of most adventure tourers,” he says.
“The ride position feels very much like a Ducati Multistrada.
Dale says the styling is “very KTM”.
That’s understandable as CFMoto styling is done by Austrian design house Kisha who also design for KTM.
“The LCD instrumentation is easy to read and I am pleased to say has a curved glass, so doesn’t suffer from bright sun.
“The mirrors are clear and do not fuzz, even at highway speeds.
The 649.3cc LAMS engine has 41.5kW of power and 64Nm of torque.
“There is more than adequate torque for acceleration, but I have to say that while it is still tight, at least 3000 revs are required for clean acceleration in the higher gears,” Dale says.
“It ticks over at a bit more than 4200rpm at 100km/h and early indications are that there could be close to 400km range from the 18 litre tank.”
New to CFMoto are the Yuan USD forks, featuring rebound damping, as does the rear shock.
“Ride is very plush, but I have noticed high-speed compression damping is a little harsh,” Dale says.
“Overall, I have to rate the bike as extremely capable and a genuine surprise in terms of value.”
We will get many opportunities to also ride the bike and we will track Dale’s ownership of the bike to see if it stacks up to his demands.
CFMoto 650 MT ABS tech specs
Price:
$7490 ride away
Engine:
649.3cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, 8-valve, parallel-twin four-stroke with 180-degree crankshaft, chain camshaft drive and single gear-driven counter balancer
Bore & Capacity:
83mm x 60mm
Compression Ratio:
11.3:1
Fuel System:
EFI with 2 x 38mm ITT throttle bodies and single injector per cylinder
Power:
41.5kW @ 9500rpm (LAMS restricted)
Torque:
62Nm @ 7000rpm
Gearbox:
6-speed with gear primary drive
Clutch:
Multiplate wet
Chassis:
Tubular steel diamond frame employing engine as fully-stressed member
Harley-Davidson is poised to make history with the launch next week of their LiveWire electric motorcycle while a little bit of Harley history will also go up for sale next month.
I the second instance, Elvis Presley’s last motorcycle, a 1972 1200cc FLH Electra Glide, will go up for sale on 31 August 2019 at Kruse GWS Auctions along with his ’73 Lincoln Continental and ’67 GMC pickup.
The “King” bought the FLHin California, shipped it to Memphis and sold it 90 days before he died in 1977, aged just 42.
The Harley has been on display at the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, South Dakota, since the late 1980s.
Electric history
Next week, Harley will make a significant shift from history to the future with the world media launch of their first electric motorcycle, the LiveWire.
We will be at the event in Portland, Oregon, to ride the bike through the city streets and out into the country.
Unfortunately, we will only be riding a disappointing 61km, which means we won’t even ride the bike’s full range of up to 160km, nor get the opportunity to see them charged up again.
However, this is still a significant event, not just for Harley, but for motorcycling.
Harley will become the first traditional motorcycle manufacturerto bring their own full-size electric motorcycle to the market.
The now-axed Victory Motorcycles slapped their brand name on an electric Brammo in 2015, but it wasn’t their product. (When we tested it on a Colorado racetrack, at least we got to see it being recharged.)
MBW rides the Victory Empulse TT electric motorcycle
Honda and BMW have produced electric scooters, while Yamaha and KTM have a couple of small electric trail bikes.
BMW C evolution electric scooter
Other major motorcycle companies such as Triumph are feverishly working on electric motorcycles.
They will all be watching how this LiveWire is received by you, the motorcycle public, as well as further riders.
Lego and Harley-Davidson have teamed up to release a new kit for building a replica Fat Boy. The latest in what the Danish toy company’s Lego Creator Model Expert line, the 1,023-piece kit will be available on Aug. 1 for $99.99.
Fully assembled, the Lego Fat Boy measures 7 inches in height and 12 inches in length. The front end, sidestand, gear shift and brake levers all articulate, and the pistons and drive belt move when you spin the rear wheel.
Here’s a video of the Lego Harley-Davidson Fat Boy being assembled by Sariel’s Lego Workshop:
For the launch of the Fat Boy kit, Lego also assembled a 69,569-piece life-sized replica of the bike, which you can learn more about in the press release below.
Begin Press Release
RIDERS REJOICE AS LEGO GROUP INTRODUCES LEGO® CREATOR EXPERT HARLEY-DAVIDSON® FAT BOY®
Billund, Denmark (July 9, 2019) – Today, The LEGO Group revealed its latest LEGO® Creator Expert model – a Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® that will cruise into LEGO Stores globally on August 1, 2019.
Developed in collaboration with Harley-Davidson, this detailed LEGO interpretation of the iconic Milwaukee motorcycle captures the beauty of the real-life machine with finishes, surfaces, and design elements crafted to replicate the full-size Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. Featuring 1,023 pieces, the model comes complete with solid-disc wheels, teardrop fuel tank, integrated speedometer, and dual exhaust pipes.
The finished model measures over 7 inches (20 cm) high, 7 inches (18 cm) wide and 12 inches (33 cm) long and features several moveable parts for owners to engage. Spin the rear tire to see the Milwaukee-Eight® engine with moving pistons and dual exhaust pipes, spring to life. Turn the handlebar, move the gear shift and brake levers, and flip down the motorcycle’s kickstand for easy parking. Finished with an authentic dark red and black color scheme with Harley-Davidson® logos on each side reflective of the 2019 Fat Boy motorcycle’s Wicked Red paint scheme, it’s a perfect display centerpiece for any home, office, or anywhere to channel the inspiration to ride.
“Bringing this Harley-Davidson motorcycle to life in brick form is incredibly exciting,” said Mike Psiaki, Design Master at LEGO Group. “The model truly captures the iconic design, advanced engineering and attention to detail of this iconic motorcycle, offering an immersive building experience and a unique collector’s item for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts and LEGO fans of all ages.”
“It’s been exceptionally exciting for Harley-Davidson to collaborate with the LEGO Group – another brand that champions creativity and expression,” said Heather Malenshek, Chief Marketing Officer at Harley-Davidson. “Not only do we want customers to be inspired by the end result, we want them to enjoy the building process.”
“The authenticity of Harley-Davidson design comes by sweating the details from start to finish.” said Brad Richards, Vice President of Styling & Design, Harley-Davidson. “We looked at every nut and bolt on the bike, all the finishes, and every small detail. Working with the LEGO team on this project allowed us to bring that same attention to detail to a collaborative product, and to celebrate a brand that inspired the imagination and creativity of many of us at Harley-Davidson from a young age, including myself.”
To celebrate the launch, LEGO Master Builders created a life-size model of the motorcycle, complete with silver coated parts, Wi-Fi animation control, sound and light effects to imitate a real Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® and 6,000 special LEGO elements. The extraordinary creation took 865 hours to build, is made of 69,569 pieces and will be on display at select LEGO stores and Harley-Davidson events for fans to see.
The LEGO Creator Expert Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® model is available for $99.99 directly from LEGO Stores and shop.LEGO.com exclusively for VIP members beginning July 17, 2019, with general public availability beginning August 1, 2019. Customers in the United States will also be able to purchase on Harley-Davidson.com and through Harley-Davidson Dealers across the country.
A bizarre court battle is looming between a Taiwan company that owns Italian motorcycle brand FB Mondial and a Brit who changed his name to his Italian roots and is developing a V5 MondialMoto (pictured).
Italian company FB Mondial produced bikes from 1948 to 1979, won 10 World Championships in the 1940s and ‘50s.
In 1979, Mondial stopped production and was temporarily revived in 1999 when it was bought by newspaper tycoon Roberto Ziletti. He spent €11m on the company which went broke in 2004.
Mondial is one of many former brands now owned by companies in non-original countries. For example, British BSA and Czech Jawa are now owned by Indian Eicher Motors and Bimota and Benelli are owned by a Chinese company.
Bizarre battle
In 2009, while there was no activity with the Mondial brand, lawyer Matteo Tiezzi in Modena, Italy, registered MondialMoto 2007 SRL and listed the new corporate logo online.
Last year, MondialMoto announced it would manufacture the first road-going V5 Superbike.
V5 S (Image courtesy: www.mondialmoto.it)
In January 2019, the lawyers of FB Mondial accused MondialMoto 2007 SRL of copying their logo and brand.
They demanded MondialMoto relinquish the intellectual property rights to the V5 and pay “3% of all monies that MondialMoto 2007 SRL holds in its bank account”.
FB Mondial also called for MondialMoto director Antonio Matarollo to be arrested for using a fictitious name.
He had changed his name by deed poll last year, taking his grandfather’s Christian name and his Italian mother’s maiden surname. He claims he qualifies to become an Italian citizen.
Antonio also says that in all their media and website they “clearly state that we are not associated with FB Mondial”.
“We do not want to be associated with this company and our company logo has no similarity to the FB Mondial logo,” Antonio says.
We contacted FB Mondial for comment but they said their lawyers instructed them that, “due to pending judicial reviews, we are not able to answer your very specific questions”.
“On the other hand we can confirm you what has been already assessed and recognised in court, which is: The only companies who have title to use the Mondial brand name are Mondial Moto SRL, owner of the brand, and Pelpi International, as exclusive licensee.”
Their website includes this disclaimer at the bottom of their homepage:
This is the only official site of F.B Mondial / Mondial Moto. We are not responsible for what else can be found on the internet. We take legal action to combat and prevent any illegal use of our brand. F.B Mondial / Mondial Moto has never asked for money via the Internet and / or e-mail to visitors and users of its site. Be wary of any such request coming from self-styled representatives of our famous brand.
Mondial name
Antonio says “mondial” means worldwide in French and is “widespread in the motorcycling world”.
“For example, in France, there is a manufacturer called Mondial Scooters and in Turkey there is a company called Mondial Motorcycles who have been in business for over 35 years.
“And like FB Mondial these are all very low volume companies compared to those of Mass production motorcycles like Honda.
“To my knowledge these companies have not been served with similar legal papers.”
Antonio says a search with Companies House reveals that their UK company is legal.
V5 development
MondialMoto V5 engine
The bizarre legal challenge has “stunted” the production of two MondialMoto V5 motorcycle prototypes for the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan this November.
However, Antonio says they are still committed to producing the world’s first road-going 1000cc V5 superbike.
“We will defend this action with a counterclaim against FB Mondial and we have retained legal representation in Italy,” he says.
A couple of weeks ago, Motorcycle.com received spy photos of a new Panigale V4 on a race track. Based on its livery, Troy Siahaan guessed it may be a 25th anniversary edition of Carl Fogarty’s first World Superbike championship on the Ducati 916.
It looks like Troy was on to something, as Ducati confirmed it will be releasing an anniversary edition Panigale. The Ducati Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916 will debut at July 12 at Pebble Beach, Calif., before appearing at the Laguna Seca World Superbike round July 13 and 14 where factory racebikes of Alvaro Bautista and Chaz Davies will sport similar livery. Fogarty will be on hand as part of the festivities.
Ducati will produce just 500 examples of the Panigale 25° Anniversario 916 Further details will be released over the weekend.
Begin Press Release
Ducati celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 916 with a limited-edition Panigale V4
Only five hundred individually numbered ‘Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916’ bikes will be built
The unveiling, to take place on Friday 12 July during this weekend’s American round of the Superbike championship at Laguna Seca, will be attended by four times world champion Carl Fogarty
Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team riders Álvaro Bautista and Chaz Davies will compete on bikes with a special livery inspired by the Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 10 July 2019 – It’s twenty-five years since the Ducati 916 made its first appearance. A bike destined to transform the world of motorcycle design and to make fans all over the world fall in love. The 916 was uniquely stylish, elegant, light and technologically innovative: a true pillar of Made in Italy motorcycles.
To celebrate this key anniversary, Ducati will present the Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916. This limited edition will consist of only 500 individually numbered bikes and will sport an original livery and exclusive racing components. The motorcycle will be presented on 12 July at Pebble Beach, California, at 8 p.m. (PDT).
The Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916 will be unveiled in the presence of ‘King’ Carl Fogarty, four-times winner of the World Superbike Championship with Ducati in the 1990s.
During the World SBK race at Laguna Seca, to be held on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July, the Aruba.it Racing Ducati team will pay a further tribute to the 916 when Alvaro Bautista and Chaz Davies’ bikes take to the track with a special livery inspired by the graphics of the Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916.
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