More on Kawasaki/MotoGP Situation, WSBK News Bits

Kawasaki is testing the 2009 Ninja ZX-RR GP race machine in Australia despite a seemingly legitimate announcement that the factory would not directly support the '09 season. MotoGP.com reports that this *may* mean the Ninja will live to see another season of GP racing -- as part of a 2-bike privateer effort. With such a dwindling number of participants, MotoGP can't be happy about a manufacturer as major as Kawasaki deciding that the series is economically unjustifiable, and surely must be pressing to get some green on the grid even if it means as consistent last-placers.

Kawasaki's withdrawal from MotoGP apparently does NOT mean a withdrawal from World Superbike racing.

(click image to enlarge)

Instead, the WSBK series will enjoy a record number of both full-time entries and manufacturers this year as well as fresh tracks.

Not so long ago, it seemed that World Superbike was teetering on the edge of irrelevance and MotoGP ascending to a new level of global popularity. Now we see the opposite taking place. History has proven it: Despite each series having its "niche", factory support is a zero-sum game.

The past few seasons of MotoGP have been a droning anti-climax at best, with only a few hot moments (like the '08 Laguna Seca contest) reminding nostalgic viewers of a more colorful past. SBK on the other hand has seen some of the closest racing in years.

No longer are we seeing washed up GP riders move to SBK and SBK's best move to GP, but mutual exchanges of top talent. SBK is not only more relevant to many street riders, but significantly more affordable for teams and manufacturers. Stoner, Rossi, Hayden & gang (what's left of it) will have to work hard to make '09 buck the trends. That is, if new arrivals such as BMW, Aprilia, and Ben Spies don't bolster the popularity of WSBK even further.

Indeed, the only disappointing news as of recent coming from the WSBK camp is a statement by Aprilia's race chief: 'No SBK for Marco Simoncelli'. Marco had previously hoped to pilot the new RSV4 in the Phillip Island and Qatar Rounds. Valentino Rossi has expressed similar interest in the past (with who knows how much sincerity).

Kawasaki Quits MotoGP!

(click image to enlarge)

MotoGP.com reports that Kawasaki will suspend MotoGP racing
activities for the 2009 season:

"Amid the quickly changing business environment, Kawasaki has been promptly taking countermeasures to cope with the situation. As the world economy is not likely to recover in a short period due to the major impact of the financial crisis, Kawasaki decided to suspend its MotoGP racing activities from the 2009 season onward and reallocate management resources more efficiently."

More

Ducati 996 vs Bimota sb8r

1198!!!

...and since I'm still alive, here's a few Ducati 1198 videos.

I'm still alive

News is slow around this time of the year. The big racing series are closed up for winter and the weather keeps a lot of us from riding. Most of the big new '09 model revelations hare already months past now as well, though we still eagerly read bits of additional details about them.

In other news...

WSBK has given Miller Motorsports Park their "Organizer of the Year" award for '08

Who says the US doesn't have world-class roadcourses?

http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/news_ext.php?id=2779

They also have a brief article about the BMW S1000RR we've been talking about for so long now.

http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/news_ext.php?id=2773

"In the hands of Corser, the new factory BMW was only 1.4 seconds off the very best time of the test at Kyalami..."

The Aprilia isn't lapping too shabby thus far either. Biaggi on the new Aprilia and Corser on the new BMW duking it out down the big stretch at Kyalami... ahhh. This season hasn't even begun and already the atmosphere has become a World Superbike classic. I've re-opened the "biggest splash" poll for the occasion.

Some cool stuff up over at MCN; for example how "Bayliss and Rossi agree WSBK is more fun than MotoGP" and word that Aprilia has given the Tuono-equivalent naked version of the RSV4 the green light.

BMW S1000RR Video!

Check out some footage of the new BMW S1000RR Superbike:

New 2009 Ducati Streetfighter and Ducati 1198

New Ducatis! Hell for Leather Magazine has leaked photos and information regarding the new 2009 Ducati sportbike lineup -- that is the 1098 beefing up into the 1198 and 1198 S (traction control on the S versions) and even more exciting: an all-new 1098-powered Streetfighter and Streetfighter S: