Ducati has revealed technical specifications on its Desmosedici GP13 MotoGP racer. The information is understandably vague in some areas, as manufacturers are hesitant in revealing too much information, and of course subject to change as the 2013 season progresses.

The GP13 specifications revealed aren’t too far off of the specifications revealed for the Desmosedici GP12 this time last year ahead of the 2012 MotoGP season. The GP13 is again powered by a 1000cc liquid-cooled 90-degree V4 four-stroke, desmodromic DOHC engine with four valves per cylinder. Ducati is vague in claiming the engine puts out “more than 235 hp”, but that’s at least a change from last year when Ducati claimed “more than 230 hp” out of the GP12. Continue Reading »

(Update: Ducati has clarified the Dolomites’ Peak Edition is just a one-off created for Wrooom.)

Ducati has revealed a one-off variant of its Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak Edition as part of the Wrooom 2013 celebrations at Italy’s Madonna di Campiglio ski resort. With the mountains of northeast Italy as the backdrop, MotoGP factory riders Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden pulled the covers of the new Multistrada 1200 S Dolomites’ Peak Edition.

The Dolomite’s Peak Edition is essentially the same as the Pikes Peak Edition, a replica of the Ducati Multistrada S that won the motorcycle class races at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb three years in a row. With the Ducati MotoGP team launch in the Dolomites, it made sense for Ducati to prepare special graphics for the occasion. The special edition models add with three-spoke Marchesini wheels, and  carbon fiber racing screen, fenders, air scoops, side extractors and engine guards. Like the European-spec Pikes Peak Editions, the Dolomite’s Peak Edition is equipped with a carbon Termignoni exhaust. Continue Reading »

Bernhard Gobmeier sounded cautiously optimistic about Ducati‘s MotoGP program, speaking at the Wrooom 2013 event following the unveiling of the Desmsedici GP13 racebike.

Taking over as general manager of Ducati Corse, Gobmeier acknowledged his team had a lot of ground to make up if it hopes to pose a serious threat to Honda and Yamaha. Ducati got an early start on developing its 2013 program halfway through the 2012 season when it became apparent the Desmosedici GP12 was not competitive enough against the RC213V and the M1. That also means the GP13 as it is now isn’t that much different from the one that ended last season.

“The challenge that lies ahead is a big one and everybody is curious as to what we are going to do to close the gap to our rivals,” says Gobmeier. “We must work in a lot of different areas where we can make the difference. We have already made some positive changes to the team structure, and we have some ideas for the development of the bike. I prefer to speak about evolution rather than revolution and with this in mind first we want to evaluate the material developed in the second half of last year. I think that with this approach we can improve the performance of the bike in the short term but we are also working on new solutions which down the road in 2013 will be implemented into the race bike.” Continue Reading »

(Updated with high-resolution studio photos of the factory Desmosedici GP13 racebikes.)

Ducati factory riders Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso along with the junior Ducati Pramac team of Ben Spies and Andrea Iannone pulled the covers of the Desmosedici GP13, revealing the race bikes they will ride for the 2013 MotoGP Championship.

The four riders revealed their Desmosedicis on a snow-covered mountain in the Dolomites in Italy as part of Wrooom 2013, an annual ski event held jointly by Ducati Corse and Ferrari‘s Formula One racing program.

The 2013 season marks a number of changes for the Ducati MotoGP program. The biggest change is Ducati’s new owners Audi and the newly-appointed Bernhard Gobmeier who replaces Filippo Preziosi as general manager of Ducati Corse. The popular and charismatic Valentino Rossi is gone after two disappointing seasons, replaced by another Italian in Dovizioso. Another big change is the Pramac satellite team which will receive factory support. Continue Reading »

Ducati has named Bernhard Gobmeier the new general manager of Ducati Corse, handing the former BMW Superbike racing director the reins to the company’s racing program. Gobmeier replaces Filippo Preziosi (pictured above) who will be reassigned to the post of director of research and development for Ducati, shifting his focus from racing to developing new products.

The personnel change carries two storylines. On the one hand, Preziosi’s tenure as GM of Ducati Corse was a disappointing period for the factory MotoGP program, highlighted by the two disastrous seasons with Valentino Rossi and the continuing struggle to make the Desmosedici race bike competitive.

The other plot thread is the appointment of a German to lead the Italian manufacturer’s racing program. Ducati is now, of course, owned by Audi, and the appointment of Gobmeier has the German automaker’s fingerprints all over it. As the official announcement reads, Gobmeier’s role is to “to enter the new phase of development for Ducati’s racing activities and to achieve the targets set during the recent acquisition by the Audi Group.” Continue Reading »

Ducati announced today that it has reached an agreement with MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso that will see the 26-year-old Italian racing with Ducati in the 2013-14 seasons.

Dovi, as he’s commonly referred to by fans, recently finished in third place at the Indianapolis GP on August 19. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider currently sits in fourth place in overall standings.

Continue Reading »

Back in 2009, Yamaha released an entertaining video featuring MotoGP racers Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Colin Edwards and James Toseland working on various mundane jobs at Yamaha Motor USA headquarters.

Three years later, Yamaha has released a follow-up featuring its current MotoGP lineup of Lorenzo, Ben Spies, Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso (with King Kenny Roberts lunchbox in tow).

Tech3 Yamaha racer Crutchlow takes over his predecessor Edwards’ spot as a Yamaha security guard, but throws his own British spin on the job. The soft-spoken Spies tried his hand at Rossi’s former post as a receptionist but found it didn’t quite match his skill set. Tech3′s Dovizioso takes over for Lorenzo’s former position as janitor, and he takes to it much better than the 2010 MotoGP champion did. Lorenzo meanwhile landed a big promotion. Continue Reading »

MotoGP racer Ben Spies has announced he will not re-sign with Yamaha while hinting at an impending announcement for his plans for the 2013 racing season.

Earlier this week, Spies used Twitter (@BenSpies11) to hint at a change for next season. In an email to SuperbikePlanet, Spies confirmed he has decided not to remain with Yamaha for several unspecified reasons.

Spies did not leave many hints as to his plans for 2013, saying he will wait for the official announcement before commenting. Spies’ options include signing with another MotoGP team, returning to the World Superbike Championship and returning to race AMA in the U.S.

Continue Reading »

Yamaha is giving away a 50th Anniversary Edition YZR-R1 autographed by current and former Grand Prix racers to benefit Bubba Shobert‘s Race 2 Embrace Crusade. The one-0f-a-kind R1 will be on display at the July 27-29 U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca

The unique R1 is painted in Yamaha‘s 50th Anniversary colors and features autographs from legends such as Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, as well as current MotoGP racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies from the factory Yamaha team and Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso from the Tech 3 Yamaha team.

AMA racing legend Shobert is the official ambassador for the Race 2 Embrace Crusade, a non-profit organization that assists children living in areas devastated by natural disasters. The organization provides goods and services including shelter, health care, nutrition, education and social and emotional assistance. Continue Reading »

Jorge Lorenzo has signed a contract extension with Yamaha that will see the 2010 MotoGP Champion riding the M1 through the 2014 season.

Lorenzo currently leads the 2012 MotoGP Championship points chase with 115 points and is looking for his second premiere class title. Through five races this season, Lorenzo has three wins and a pair of second-place finishes, matching his pace from his championship-winning 2010 season.

“I am extremely happy to have signed with Yamaha for two more years. They’ve made great efforts to retain me in the factory team so I want to thank all those involved at Yamaha for this,” says Lorenzo. “I’ve been treated like part of the Yamaha family since 2008 and I love working with them. It has always been my first option to stay here and so I’m happy that this important negotiation has finished with such a positive outcome. Now I can focus on the Championship and I’m looking forward to paying back Yamaha’s trust in me starting at Silverstone this weekend. I look forward to winning many more Championships together; my dream to finish my career with Yamaha is now closer to becoming a reality!” Continue Reading »