Check out the clip as Hayden takes his first ride on his namesake 848.

For more info on the bike, click here.

For some reason the Google street view doesn’t include a whole lap of the track, just from around turn five to turn 10.  That portion does include the famous Corkscrew but the Google street view car doesn’t seem to capture it, which does make sense to anyone who’s taken the corkscrew before.  One of the things that makes the Corkscrew so challenging is the fact that it’s so steep you don’t even know where the road is until you’re going down it (or, if you’re unlucky, driving down the dirt).  Likely the Google street view camera was filming the sky at that point.

The filming appears to have been done during a practice session at last year’s ALMS race, as you can see the black and yellow GT1 Corvette and one of the Flying Lizzard Motorsports Porsches.  Ride along with the Google street view car at Laguna Seca here:

Google Streetview Drives Laguna Seca

The 2009 MotoGP season keeps rolling along and we’re keeping up to pace. The Barcelona, Spain stop at Circuit de Catalunya has been wrapped up. Get the low-down of the finish-line frenzy from our MotoGP: 2009 Catalunya Results article. As far as the tracks of MotoGP go.. The Sidecar Blog has got your back, B. Track Facts will bring a quick look at each track of the ‘09 MotoGP Season. Some of the things you can find from track facts are; a track map, an onboard lap video, track facts and links. Keep Reading, doit-doit.

Track Map

Lap Video

Track Facts

Location: Barcelona, Spain
Lap Record: 1′ 43.195 ( Valentino Rossi, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1′ 41.840 ( Valentino Rossi, 2007)
Modified: 1995
Turns: 14 (left:5 right:9)
Width: 12 m
Length: 4.655 km (2.875 mi)

Links

Official Site: http://www.circuitcat.com/ingles/index.asp
Google Maps Satellite Photo

Hit the jump to watch the video.

As Motorcycle.com continues to cover all the 2009 MotoGP racing news, The Sidecar stays focused on the tracks of this years GrandPrix season. Read more about the results of the MotoGP at Motegi on Motorcycle.com – MotoGP: 2009 Motegi Results.

Track Map

Lap Video

Track Facts

Location: Tochigi, Japan
Length: 3.0 mi (4.8 km) *Road Course
Opened: August 2007
Cost: $43 Million

Links

Official Site: mobilityland.co.jp (in english)
Google Maps Satellite Photo

This year’s MotoGP is back in the swing of things for the 2009 calendar. We’ll be keeping up with the latest race news on Motorcycle.com (See: MotoGP: 2009 Motegi Preview).  While you’re here, check out a few details and a video of the Losail Circuit.  Enjoy.

Track map

Lap Video

Jeffery de Vries drives a 2007 Yamaha R1 at Losail Circuit.

Track Facts

Location: Doha, Qatar
Length: 3.375 mi (5.4 km)
Lap Record: 1:28.699 Davide Rigon (Italy)
Opened: 2004
Cost: $58 Million

Links

Google Maps Satellite Photo of Losail Circuit
Official Site: circuitlosail.com

The terms ‘high-performance’ and ‘scooter’ usually fit together about as well as pickles and peanut butter but Stuart Owen has customized his 1970 Lambretta to be among the fastest in the world. Owen, a former fish wholesaler who now runs a scooter customizing business, currently holds the fastest speed achieved by a Lambretta on British soil at 117.3 mph.

In addition to beating British titles and breaking track times, Owen, has handily beaten 250cc motorcycles during many races. He is now parting with his prized Lambretta so will be entering his two-wheeler into the auction at the 29th International Classic Motorcycle Show at Stafford’s County Showground on April 25-26. Auctioneer Bonhams has slapped a reserve price of £7,500 on the Lambretta, which has been lengthened, chopped, lightened and tuned. If your favorite movie happens to be Quadrophenia and you have £10,000 burning a hole in your pocket, this may be the ride you’ve been waiting for.

A total of $8,200 in speeding fines were issued in Australia in a single weekend earlier this month to 41 motorcycle riders.

That doesn’t sound so remarkable until you learn the 41 riders were World Superbike and Supersport racers and the highly effective speed trap is located along pit lane on the Phillip Island Circuit in Victoria, Australia.

Item 14 in section 1.22 of the official 2009 WSBK rulebook says a $200 fine will be issued to riders who exceed the 60 km/h (37.2 mph) speed limit in pit lane during race practice.

The FIM, the series’ governing body used to place race marshals with radar guns at the end of pit lane to record speeds but this year, they switched to an automated system using six photocell detection systems placed along pit lane. The photocells divide pit lane into six sections and calculates riders’ speeds as they go through.

The 41 speeding violations occurred in the final section as riders accelerated onto the track during practice. If a pit lane violation occurred during a race, the offending rider would be penalized with a ride through.

Despite posting the fastest time last December in the American Superbike class during the AMA Pro Racing tire test at Daytona International Speedway while aboard his CBR1000RR, American Honda’s Neil Hodgson was orphaned by Honda’s December 12 announcement that it was yanking its factory team from the ’09 Superbike series.

Citing “the current global economic situation” for the pull out, the company did say that it would continue to help private teams, Erion Racing and Corona Extra Racing.

While true that Big Red’s company rig may not be hauling any machines participating in the Superbike series to each race venue this year, the company will be there in spirit, so-to-speak.

According to Roadracingworld.com, Hodgson will now be in the Corona Extra Racing paddock. Though riding for Corona, however, Hodgson stated in the report that he’ll still work with his former crew from American Honda and that their efforts will be based out of American Honda’s shop.

What does “factory supported” mean to Honda?

On the surface it seems the company has found or created a loophole in its own decision to not officially participate in the 2009 American Superbike Series. While Hodgson’s former teammates presumably were also out of a job after Honda’s decision to quit Superbike, the crew’s following Hodgson to Corona basically ensures a factory-like team. Adding to the slipperiness is that they’ll work directly out of Honda’s garage.

Honda had a contractual obligation to Hodgson for this year, but the racer claims he had no substantial involvement in the deal between Corona and American Honda, only stating his preferences to Honda.

The wackiness that’s surrounded American roadracing for the past year continues…

Related Reading – Honda withdraws from AMA road racing

2008 was an interesting year in the world of motorcycles. But the biggest stories of 2008 have left some big questions for 2009. What’s in store for the New Year? We’ll soon find out. Here are some of the top news stories for 2008.

Harley-Davidson buys MV Agusta

The Motor Company acquired MV Agusta and its subsidiary Cagiva in July for approximately US$109 million. With the acquisition, Harley-Davidson adds the premium European marque to its organization which already includes the Buell brand. Now that its debts are out of the way, MV Agusta can get started on a clean slate. But it’ll do so without the legendary Massimo Tamburini who announced his retirement. Let’s see what MV Agusta has in store for us in 2009.

Daytona Motorsports Group buys rights to AMA Pro Racing

A group headed by Roger Edmondson and NASCAR VP Jim France acquired the rights to the AMA’s professional racing properties. DMG set to work and reshaped AMA Pro Racing with new classes and rules including spec fuel and tires. After many decisions and revisions, not to mention negotiations with the manufacturers, they finally settled on the new structure of AMA Road Racing. What will AMA racing look like in 2009? We’ll see when the Daytona 200 will be raced under the lights on March 7.

Troy Bayliss retires as World Superbike champ

Troy Bayliss went out with a bang, retiring after capturing his third World Superbike title. Bayliss records 11 wins and 19 podium finishes to win the championship by a 118-point margin over Troy Corser. Ducati honors Bayliss with a limited edition 1098R featuring the special livery used in his final race. Bayliss went out on top with nothing left to prove. Except maybe a one-off shoot-out against MotoGP champ Valentino Rossi. Could we see this dream match-up take place in 2009? Bayliss says it would take a $1.5 million pay cheque for him to take part. Anyone want to start passing around a hat?

Honda pulls out of AMA racing, and Kawasaki withdraws from MotoGP

With the worldwide economy struggling, “bailout” became one of the key buzzwords for 2008. We thought it referred to banks and auto manufacturers begging the government for money. We didn’t expect it would also mean “bailing out of racing”. Honda shut down its AMA Road Racing operations and Kawasaki is rumored to do the same with MotoGP. What will the racing landscape look like in 2009, with the loss of these factory teams? At least we have World Superbike Championship to look forward to, with the addition of two new factory teams, BMW and Aprilia.

Mladin vs. DMG

Mat Mladin has been one of the most vocal critics of AMA Pro Racing’s new management and its plans for the future. And why not? After years of dominance in the AMA Superbike series with Suzuki, Edmondson and company suddenly step in and change the playing field. And then, while chasing teammate Ben Spies for the championship, Mladin gets stripped of a pair of victories at Virginia International Raceway for an illegal crankshaft. The two DQs pretty much ended Mladin’s run for the 2008 championship. But what about 2009? Suzuki hasn’t announced its plans for the upcoming AMA season, and the team was conspicuously absent from the winter tire tests. Will they follow Honda and withdraw from competition?