Loris Capirossi raced his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R to a brilliant fifth place at today’s Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

Starting from 10th on the grid, Capirossi got a great start and was up to seventh at the end of lap one. He picked up another couple of places on lap three before settling into a strong and consistent race pace. Suzuki’s new Italian star came under pressure during the latter part of the race and was relegated back to seventh, but he used all his experience to fight back on the last lap and overtake James Toseland and Andrea Dovizioso on the final corner, a result that gives Suzuki its best finish from a MotoGP race at Jerez since the introduction of the four-stroke regulations.

Chris Vermeulen had an equally eventful race as he tried to make up from starting 12th on the grid. He battled his way through the field to seventh and was catching the riders in front of him, but as grip became a problem he was caught by Toseland, who put in a very strong pass on Vermeulen resulting in the Australian’s leather suit being ripped on the upper arm! Vermeulen tried to fight back put had to settle for 10th place and score his first points of the 2008 season.

Today’s race was held in sunny conditions with the air temperature reaching a pleasant 19ºC and was watched by over 131,000 fans at trackside. The colourful and partisan crowd were treated to a victory by Spain’s Dani Pedrosa on his factory Honda.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will now remain at Jerez for a further two days of testing before moving on to the third round of the MotoGP World Championship at Estoril in Portugal on Sunday 13th April.

LORIS CAPIROSSI
“First of all I really want to say thank-you and well done to the whole team because they have all made a great effort for me and everybody stayed focused. We didn’t start the season in the best place and now we have come back a little bit, but we must continue to work in that way. Fifth position is not the best for us because our target is different, but at the moment it is not too bad. I had to fight to get through and I started really aggressive because I knew the Bridgestone tyres would work well at the beginning and I tried to stay with top guys, but as the tyre started to wear I had to defend my position. In the last couple of laps I fought with Toseland and Dovizioso, but I beat both of them in the last corner. That was for sure nice for me!”

CHRIS VERMEULEN
“It was another tough race at Jerez, for the second year in a row! I qualified a fair way back and gave myself a lot of work to do. I didn’t get a good start but I had a couple of really strong laps and got past a few guys. I felt quite strong, the bike was working well and my pace was good early on. By about lap eight I got through to seventh and I was catching fifth and sixth – they were right there in front of me – and things felt really good. Towards the end of the race my rear tyre grip really dropped off and I now think that perhaps we chose a too soft compound and it really suffered in the last few laps. I really struggled and the bike wouldn’t turn or get enough grip to lean it over far enough. We will learn from that and go with a harder compound next time. I’d like to thank all my guys for their hard work this weekend. We are finally on the scoreboard with some points and I’m already looking forward to Estoril.”

PAUL DENNING – Team Manager:
“It is no secret that we had a tough pre-season and first event in Qatar, but today’s result – a fifth for Loris and both bikes inside the top 10 – gives us hope that we can come back to a seriously competitive level. Loris justified today all the reasons why we wanted to bring him to Suzuki. He has helped us a lot with the bike and the future development of the GSV-R. Most importantly it is clear that his aggression level, his will to win and to get the best result possible under any circumstances is the same as it was when he was 18 years old!”

“Chris admits that he made an incorrect gamble on the rear tyre choice, but we do thank Bridgestone for the flexibility on allowing him to make that choice, because it may have worked out better for him. From 12th on the grid he had to try something to get to the front group, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.”

“The crew and both riders are now looking forward to the next two days here in Jerez and to take the good base that we now have, and work on the details to give the riders an increasingly competitive package for Estoril and the races beyond!”

GRAN PREMIO BWIN.COM DE ESPANA RACE CLASSIFICATION
1. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 45’35.121: 2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +2.883: 3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +4.339: 4. Nicky Hayden (Honda) +10.142: 5. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +27.542: 10. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +35.091:

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATION
1. Pedrosa 41: Lorenzo 36: 3. Rossi 31: 4. Casey Stoner (Ducati) 30: 5. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 21: 8. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) 18: 14. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) 6:

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The NEW 2008 Suzuki Motorcycle Accessory Brochure has been published this month, with over 160 new items added from last years catalogue, including some completely new lines and ranges.

Suzuki’s most comprehensive line-up to date, the 2008 brochure not only details model specific parts, but also includes bespoke riding gear from partners such as Italian legend Dainese, Suzuki’s very own Hamamatsu casual clothing range, along with the racing fans favourites from the Rizla Suzuki and Relentless Suzuki teams.

Upon announcing the new catalogue, Suzuki GB’s Andy Taylor commented, “We’ve put a great deal of effort into bringing fans our biggest catalogue to date. As well as offering a diverse and comprehensive selection of official parts for practically every model in our range, we’ve also added some great casual wear and lifestyle accessories too. The 2008 range certainly offers something for everyone.”

Highlights include the new 2008 Shoei GSX-R helmet, new one-piece and two-piece leathers, the very latest accessories for the new Hayabusa and B-King models, a completely new off-road range of technical and casual clothing, as well as an abundance of 2008 casual clothing from Suzuki and the official race teams.

To pick up a copy of the 2008 brochure visit your local authorised dealer or view the entire range at www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/accessories

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Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is celebrating the arrival of spring with some fantastic offers at their Sports Open Weekend, taking place between the 29th–30th March 2008 at your local dealership.

Triumph dealers are offering the opportunity to see the brand’s new bikes and test ride the latest models from the Urban Sports range. The new Speed Triple, with its reshaped iconic headlights and new wheels, will be part of the showroom launch. In addition you will be able to test ride the all new Rocket III Touring with its awesome 2.3 litre triple performance combined with the handling, braking and agility of a bike half its size.

No weekend spectacular would be complete without checking out the latest accessories from Arrow, so if you’ve already gone your own way and own a Triumph then it’s worth a visit to see the new 2008 Triumph Arrow exhaust systems now available. Not just for Sports bikes either, Arrow have produced some authentic looking systems for the Modern Classics too.

The weekend also sees the launch of the new summer T-shirt range, including the much sought after Steve McQueen Special Edition, with an offer of 10% off the entire range (see promotional flyers for details)!

Visit your local dealer now! A complete list of UK Triumph dealers can be found below.

UK TRIUMPH DEALERSHIPS

continue reading "GEAR UP AT TRIUMPH’S MARCH OPEN WEEKEND"

Rush drummer Neil Peart with two of his favorite things: his drums and his BMW. (Photo by Andrew MacNaughtan)

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the country’s premier showcase of motorcycling heritage and history, has revealed the names of more than 25 significant personalities and groups to be featured in the upcoming “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit. The exhibit will spotlight the world’s most recognizable enthusiasts and present priceless machines, exclusive memorabilia and tales from celebrities’ favorite two-wheel adventures. Featured MotoStars, Motorcycle Hall of Famers, industry leaders and enthusiasts will gather on the grounds of the Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, June 27-28, 2008, for the exhibit’s grand opening and the “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” Ribbon-Cutting Weekend.

Prominent personalities from a variety of industries have offered motorcycles and ephemera to the exhibit. Notable athletes include Jeff Lacy, super middleweight boxing star, and Wally Dallenbach Sr., champion race car driver and founder of the Colorado 500, a charity dirt bike ride now in its thirty-third year. Barrett Brooks, Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers tackle, will lend his Sara Liberte-built custom bike, as well as personal memorabilia.

The music industry is also well-represented in “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles.” Queensryche guitarist Mike Stone’s Buell motorcycle and Erik Buell-designed guitar will be featured alongside custom motorcycles built for Def Leppard drummer Ric Allen and Blink182 drummer Travis Barker. Additionally, a leading Buddy Holly collector will provide rare ephemera from the rock n’ roll legend.

Hollywood’s longtime romance with motorcycling is chronicled in the exhibit. Chad McQueen honors his legendary father, the late actor Steve McQueen, as “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” presents memorabilia, photos and McQueen’s competition motorcycle from the International Six Day Trials. Actor and motorcyclist Francesco Quinn will lend the motorcycle he rode in the new Quentin Tarantino and Larry Bishop film “Hell Ride,” in addition to offering an intimate glimpse into the two-wheel passions of his father, legendary actor Anthony Quinn. Dan Haggerty, known worldwide as star of the television series “Grizzly Adams,” will also participate in the exhibit. A Hollywood stuntman, biker movie actor and bike builder for celebrities like Ann-Margret, Haggerty helped create the chopper featured in the most famous motorcycle movie of all time, “Easy Rider.” The iconic motorcycle television series “Then Came Bronson,” starring Michael Parks, will be represented through a custom Harley-Davidson. Additionally, Perry King, star of over 50 films and television movies and spokesperson for Los Angeles Olive Crest, an organization providing Homes and Services for Abused Children, provides a motorcycle from his stable. “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” will also display a rarely seen custom motorcycle built for the flamboyant Oscar-winning star of screen and song, Cher.

Finally, through the eyes of respected stunt people, the exhibit offers a rare look behind the scenes at Hollywood’s portrayal of motorcycling. Stuntman Gary Davis, whose skills lit up the screen in everything from “Viva Knievel” to “Terminator 2,” and stuntwoman Debbie Evans, who dazzled viewers in “Terminator 2,” “The Matrix Reloaded” and the Brad Pitt – Angelina Jolie thriller “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” both contribute high-flying insights.

“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit curator David Morris is dedicated to relating the diverse nature of motorcycling aficionados. The breadth of motorcycling’s cultural impact is portrayed by renowned artists, such as Charles Schulz and David Hockney. Schulz’ son Craig, a competitive motocross racer, will lend the exhibit a full size statue of Snoopy as “Joe Motocross.” Craig will also provide artwork drawn by his father inspired by Craig’s racing adventures. David Hockney, one of the twentieth century’s most important exponents of the Pop Art movement, will partner with Dr. Charles Falco, co-curator of the Guggenheim Museum’s seminal “Art of the Motorcycle” exhibit, to present a unique view of the motorcycle experience. “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” is also privileged to have the participation of Thomas Krens, Director of the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation.

Custom motorcycle builders, now recognized as artists in their own right, are also highlighted in “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles.” Ed “Big Daddy” Roth pioneered the new wave with his outrageous and visionary creations. Son Darryl opens the family vault to bring “Big Daddy’s” art and legendary trike to the exhibit. He is joined by “Big Daddy” contemporary Carl Morrow, a legendary builder whose past clients include the King of Malaysia. The art of Von Dutch, Hollywood motorcycle cult figure, is also represented courtesy of a prominent collector. Contemporary creators showcased include Cyril Huze, a member of the International Master Builders Association Hall of Fame, and Sara Liberte. Liberte, represented through the bike she created for Barrett Brooks, will lend insights into the world of customization from the perspective of a female builder. As a writer and photographer, Liberte is uniquely positioned to share her story. Her latest project is garage-girls.com.

Celebrities from a variety of industries have been instrumental in the success of charity motorcycle rides. “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” will present the story of the country’s most well-known charity rides. These include “The Love Ride,” the largest charity motorcycle ride in America, “The Ride for Kids,” “The Buffalo Chip at Sturgis” and the “Camp Boggy Creek’s Ride for Children.”

“We are thrilled by the personalities and groups who have offered to support ‘MotoStars’ and look forward to announcing further exhibit contributors in the coming months,” says Mark Mederski, executive director of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “The Museum is committed to making ‘MotoStars’ as diverse and comprehensive as possible, and the industry leaders already contributing are making this goal a reality. We are eager to share the stories of these prominent motorcyclists and show visitors the strength and passion of the motorcycling community.”

“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” is the latest in a series of award-winning exhibits at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. For an online tour of current Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum exhibits and a schedule of upcoming events and special activities, please visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

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In just a few days the latest naked offering from Borgo Panigale will take centre stage – the brand new Monster 696. Since the first version was unveiled at the International Motor Show in Cologne back in 1992, the Monster has enjoyed unrivalled success and become a true icon in the world of motorcycling.

The 696 has inherited all the design and build principles of its predecessor, allowing true Monster character to now shine through from every single component. Providing pure, undiluted excitement, the Monster is the definition of a bike that strikes a perfect balance between performance and everyday riding pleasure.

Ready to arrive in Ducati Stores around the world from the beginning of April onwards, the new Monster comes in a choice of three colour schemes: Ducati red, matte black, and Ducati’s currently hot colour of pearl white.

The last few days have also seen the completion of an exciting special version. Aptly labelled the Monster 696+, it comes pre-accessorised with two sophisticated in-house designer additions. A colour-matched rear seat cover, which gives the bike an even cleaner, sportier look and is quickly removable for your favourite passenger and a unique, head-turning micro-bikini fairing that embraces the digital instruments and rounds off the sporting appeal of the new Monster 696.

To satisfy loyal ‘Ducatisti’ – or ‘Monsteristi’ – a new website dedicated entirely to this very important new Borgo Panigale baby has gone live at www.monster.ducati.it. With just a few clicks, you’re on your own virtual ride through an interactive space full of Monster facts and figures where you can discover the Monster story, its technical data, performance, dealerships and more. Photos and videos include a special Casey Stoner feature showing the MotoGP world champion testing the 696 during a recent visit to the Ducati factory, and an exclusive video of the production line.

The Monster range has always been synonymous with customisation, its minimalist style lending itself perfectly to the customisation and individual interpretation of every component. For this very reason, Ducati already has a wide range of accessories and special parts ready. Specifically for the Monster 696, they are designed to help owners make each and every bike even more unique and original. While images of the new accessory collection will go live online on 27 March, a mouth-watering taster of some special items is already available on Ducati CEO Gabriele Del Torchio’s DESMOBLOG ( blog.ducati.com ).

The Monster 696 dedicated website is a key link between Ducatisti around the world and the company in Bologna, Italy. It is also a great way for everyone surfing the net to discover and fall in love with the Ducati brand and the latest naked bike to come out of Borgo Panigale.

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Suzuki GB’s officially backed teams were flying the flag in style on Easter Sunday with top-ten results galore in both MX1 and MX2 classes at the Canada Heights track in Kent.

In the MX1 class, Team Suzuki Swift’s Brad Anderson continued his run of good form on-board the new RM-Z450 by turning his 5th place qualification spot into a fourth place in race one, and a well-earned runner-up spot in race two behind eventual round winner Billy MacKenzie. Brad would leave Canada Heights with a impressive second place overall on the day, a place higher than at the opening round a few weeks earlier.

In MX2, Suzuki’s dedication to the class would be repaid, with no-less than four riders finishing inside the top-ten in race one alone.

Race one would eventually be won by Shaun Simpson, with Suso MVR-D’s Jason Dougan just missing out on a podium position with a fourth place finish. Following Jason home was team-mate Carl Nunn in fifth and the Team Suzuki Swift pairing of Elliot Banks Browne and Pascal Leuret in sixth and ninth respectively.

By race two, Pascal would be the strongest Suzuki mounted rider, taking his Team Suzuki Swift RM-Z250 to a solid 5th place, a position he would claim in the overall rankings too. Finishing one place higher overall on the day was Jason Dougan, with Elliott Banks Browne in seventh and Carl Nunn completing the story in tenth.

The teams will be back out in action at round three on April 13th at Torrington in Devon.

MX1 Race 1:
1. Billy MacKenzie, 2. Mark Jones, 3. Kenneth Gundersen, 4. Brad Anderson, 5. Scott Elderfied,

MX1 Race 2:
1. Billy MacKenzie, 2. Brad Andersen, 3. Tom Church, 4. Mark Jones, 5. Kenneth Gundersen 13th Jamie Law

MX2 Race 1:
1. Shaun SImpson, 2. Stephen Sword, 3. Martin Marr, 4. Jason Dougan, 5. Carl Nunn, 6. Elliot Banks Browne

MX2 Race 2:
1. Shaun SImpson, 2. Martin Barr, 3. Neville Bradshaw, 4. Stephen Sword, 5. Pascal Leuret,

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Some of us may remember Akira, a 1988 Japanese anime film version by Katsuhiro Otomo, which was based on his original manga comic story. The story is about characters in post-nuclear war 2019 Tokyo, where Neo-Tokyo is filled with protestors, teenage bikers, soldiers and street gangs.

Central character Kaneda, a biker who attends reform school battles with his Capsule Motorcycle Club against the Clown bike gang and rides a really cool (how can he afford it!?) bike which has been the subject of the manga, anime and several attempts to produce 1:1 scale Akira-influenced bikes. Bandai also made a highly detailed model, which I recently acquired (and will review here later). McFarlane Toys had earlier made a plastic version whereas the Bandai version seems to have a metal subframe and lots of options to remove and add on bodywork.

In the anime, the sound of the Kaneda bike was produced by mixing the sound of a 1929 Harley-Davidson with the sound of a jet engine! The design was supposedly by a former Honda R&D engineer who left Honda to work for White House, a Japanese custom bike company. The manga showed the Kaneda bike with a Honda logo whereas the anime had a (sort of) BMW logo.

The Kaneda bike has become something of a motorcycling icon, despite being a work of fiction! Thousands of moped riders in Malaysia and elsewhere proudly placed ‘Akira’ stickers on their helmets, and the bike has embedded itself in the psyche of bikers everywhere. In addition to the manga, anime, toys and DIY replicas, an upcoming live action movie is in the works. More on that later.

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Joshua Coppins

Yamaha Monster Motocross Team’s Joshua Coppins is facing a rush to be fully fit for the opening round of the 2008 FIM MX1-GP World Championship in two weeks after an incident while training Saturday morning (22nd March) caused the New Zealander to break two toes on his right foot and undergo immediate surgery.

The 31 year old travelled to the Dunkirk circuit in France to begin his motos in the early stages of Saturday morning to avoid a crowded venue later in the day. However his intentions were curtailed after he crested a hill only to find a local rider picking up his machine. Coppins’ right foot bore the brunt of the subsequent collision as he caught the other bike’s footpeg. With counsel from renowned motocross surgeon Dr Claes, Coppins went under the knife successfully the same afternoon and did not require the insertion of any metalwork into the two smallest toes on his foot.

The natural healing process means that one of the strongest favourites for the MX1-GP title is now staring at the possibility of missing the first meeting of the GP series at Valkenswaard in the Netherlands on April 6th.

“I cannot believe my luck, this is the third injury in a row that I have had that was not my fault,” he said. “Valkenswaard is 50-50 at the moment. My foot has to heal naturally and we might run out of time; I’m not too sure how things will go at the moment. We will have to assess things over the next few days. I am trying to stay positive but clearly this was not what I wanted. It is a long season though and we have to keep looking ahead.”

Coppins had won races in Italy and France over the last six weeks in a promising pre-season period on the works YZ450FM. He claimed five grand prix victories in 2007 and was leading the world championship by 107 points until a freak accident at the Grand Prix of Czech Republic, four rounds before the end of the campaign, caused him to surrender what would have been his first crown.

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Tickets are now on sale for the Mugello Grandstand. This year the Ducati Grandstand Tour will take in 9 international MotoGP races.

Following the success of the Ducati Grandstand at Italian rounds last year, Ducati has decided to use the same formula at other MotoGP rounds around the world.
It will now be possible to follow your heroes trackside at the Italian circuits of Mugello and Misano, but also at the European rounds of Le Mans, Sachsenring and Valencia, as well as at the international events at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis (U.S.A.), Phillip Island (Australia) and Motegi (Japan).

On 1st June 2008, the Ducati MotoGP Team will take to the track, more revved up than ever and ready to take part in the first of two Italian MotoGP world championship rounds, at Mugello, one of the hallowed grounds of international motorcycling.

Last year, more than 3000 Ducati fans were lucky enough to witness the qualifying practice and races from one of the most spectacular sections of the Tuscan track: the Correntaio curve. This spot has now earned a special place in the hearts of the Ducatisti and is famous for its action-packed racing.

This year, Ducati is once more offering its fans the chance to experience the excitement of live Mugello MotoGP, surrounded by fellow fanatics. Ticket holders will be able to join in with the official fan club members, who in previous years have ‘painted’ Mugello red with their unstoppable passion for the Borgo Panigale machines.
Entertainment in the Ducati grandstand will be arranged as usual by the Desmodromiclub of Rome.

As well as making it possible to watch your heroes race around from one of its most strategic points, the famous “Correntaio” curve. The ticket will also entitle you to a ‘goodie bag’ full of exclusive gifts. And so that you don’t miss any of the action, a 33m2 giant screen will be positioned next to the grandstand. Last but not least, there is the convenience of a reserved parking space for your bike and a free cloakroom service to store your gear.

Tickets are valid for the qualifying sessions, held on 30th and 31st May 2008, and for the race on Sunday 1st June. In addition to access to the Ducati grandstand, in which you can choose your own seat, tickets act as a pass to most viewing areas around the racetrack. The ‘Pedonale Provinciale’ pedestrian entrance to the racetrack (located next to the Palagio entrance) is recommended for access to the grandstand.

The big difference this year is that it is possible to book tickets well in advance, at a special price. Through the official Ducati Store network, if purchased between 19th March and 15th April, tickets cost just 190 Euros, while from 16th April until stocks last, the price is 220 Euros and the tickets are available exclusively via the website www.ducati.com.

Further information and all the latest news is available on http://www.ducati.com/news/08/news004/news004.jhtml as well as the national Ducati websites of the participating countries.

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Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is on its way to Jerez in Spain for the first European Grand Prix of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, looking to put the tough opening round in Qatar firmly behind it.

Loris Capirossi fought to a well-earned eighth place at Losail earlier this month, whilst team-mate Chris Vermeulen was forced to pit and finished just outside the points. The two Rizla Suzuki racers will be planning to try to emulate Capirossi’s performance at the Spanish GP in 2006, where the experienced Italian won the race after starting from pole position.

Jerez is the first of three rounds held in Spain during the championship, but the only one that carries the name “Spanish Grand Prix”. The huge, passionate crowd at trackside makes this race one of the events of the year and is regarded by many as the ‘real’ start to the season. Nearly a quarter-of-a-million fans crammed around the 4.4km circuit over the event’s three days last year, making the Jerez GP one of the highest attended of the season, and a similar – if not larger – crowd can be expected this year. The Jerez track is one of the best spectator circuits on the calendar due to its numerous grandstands providing near perfect viewing facilities over its undulating layout, so fans get the chance to see the riders go through a series of hard-braking corners, endless camber changes and high-speed straights.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP takes to the track on Friday 28th March for two hour-long practice sessions, followed by another practice the following morning. The all-important qualifying session takes place on Saturday afternoon to decide grid positions for Sunday’s 27-lap race that gets underway at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).

Loris Capirossi:
“Qatar wasn’t the best result for us, but we did learn some good lessons for the forthcoming races. The Jerez test earlier in the year wasn’t the best conditions so we don’t have a lot of direction from the data we collected then. We need to be fighting for top positions and podiums – I have complete faith in Suzuki and the whole project that those results and performances will come soon. The season is just beginning and I hope we can step up to a good level at Jerez next weekend!”

Chris Vermeulen:
“We need to get out there and start work straight away, after the disappointment of Qatar we are playing catch-up a bit! I enjoy the Jerez circuit and we made some important developments towards the end of the test there last month, so we need to continue from where we left off. Jerez with its huge crowd and amazing atmosphere feels like the real start of the season and I will certainly be going for it!”

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Loris Capirossi raced his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R to a brilliant fifth place at today’s Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. Starting from 10th on the grid, Capirossi got a great start and was up to seventh at the end of lap one. He picked up another couple of places on lap three before settling into a [...]

read full story of "CAPIROSSI COMES IN FIFTH AT JEREZ"

The NEW 2008 Suzuki Motorcycle Accessory Brochure has been published this month, with over 160 new items added from last years catalogue, including some completely new lines and ranges. Suzuki’s most comprehensive line-up to date, the 2008 brochure not only details model specific parts, but also includes bespoke riding gear from partners such as Italian [...]

read full story of "SUZUKI GB INTRODUCES LARGEST EVER ACCESSORY BROCHURE"

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is celebrating the arrival of spring with some fantastic offers at their Sports Open Weekend, taking place between the 29th–30th March 2008 at your local dealership. Triumph dealers are offering the opportunity to see the brand’s new bikes and test ride the latest models from the Urban Sports range. The new Speed [...]

read full story of "GEAR UP AT TRIUMPH’S MARCH OPEN WEEKEND"

Rush drummer Neil Peart with two of his favorite things: his drums and his BMW. (Photo by Andrew MacNaughtan) The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the country’s premier showcase of motorcycling heritage and history, has revealed the names of more than 25 significant personalities and groups to be featured in the upcoming “MotoStars: Celebrities + [...]

read full story of "THE MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS FOR “MOTOSTARS: CELEBRITIES + MOTORCYCLES” EXHIBIT"

In just a few days the latest naked offering from Borgo Panigale will take centre stage – the brand new Monster 696. Since the first version was unveiled at the International Motor Show in Cologne back in 1992, the Monster has enjoyed unrivalled success and become a true icon in the world of motorcycling. The [...]

read full story of "DUCATI’S REVS UP NEW MONSTER 696, READY TO SHIP APRIL ’08 ONWARDS"

Suzuki GB’s officially backed teams were flying the flag in style on Easter Sunday with top-ten results galore in both MX1 and MX2 classes at the Canada Heights track in Kent. In the MX1 class, Team Suzuki Swift’s Brad Anderson continued his run of good form on-board the new RM-Z450 by turning his 5th place [...]

read full story of "SUZUKI DOMINATE TOP TEN AT CANADA HEIGHTS"

Some of us may remember Akira, a 1988 Japanese anime film version by Katsuhiro Otomo, which was based on his original manga comic story. The story is about characters in post-nuclear war 2019 Tokyo, where Neo-Tokyo is filled with protestors, teenage bikers, soldiers and street gangs. Central character Kaneda, a biker who attends reform school [...]

read full story of "AKIRA: KANEDA’S BIKE"

Joshua Coppins Yamaha Monster Motocross Team’s Joshua Coppins is facing a rush to be fully fit for the opening round of the 2008 FIM MX1-GP World Championship in two weeks after an incident while training Saturday morning (22nd March) caused the New Zealander to break two toes on his right foot and undergo immediate surgery. [...]

read full story of "YAMAHA’S JOSHUA COPPINS IN RACE TO RECOVER"

Tickets are now on sale for the Mugello Grandstand. This year the Ducati Grandstand Tour will take in 9 international MotoGP races. Following the success of the Ducati Grandstand at Italian rounds last year, Ducati has decided to use the same formula at other MotoGP rounds around the world. It will now be possible to [...]

read full story of "DUCATI GRANDSTAND ON TOUR DURING THE 2008 MotoGP CHAMPIONSHIP"

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is on its way to Jerez in Spain for the first European Grand Prix of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, looking to put the tough opening round in Qatar firmly behind it. Loris Capirossi fought to a well-earned eighth place at Losail earlier this month, whilst team-mate Chris Vermeulen was forced to [...]

read full story of "RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP READY TO ROLL IN JEREZ"