In July, we reported an incident in Italy involving a Lamborghini crashing into a BMW dealership and damaging several motorcycles. A similar incident happened last weekend in Russia after a runaway bus plowed into a powersports dealerships that sold Yamaha, Can-Am and Honda products.

According to Russian news source 35Media.ru, an off-duty police officer spotted a bus careening down a street in Cherepovets, Russia, on the evening of Aug. 25. The driver of the bus explained from the window the bus the brakes had failed and he was unable to stop the vehicle. The officer called for backup and police soon arrived to escort the bus through traffic.

Eventually, the bus finally came to a stop inside a dealership right. The roof of the dealership collapsed on the bus and the driver was trapped inside while a lone passenger was able to escape through the windshield. Because of the risk of the building collapsing even further, emergency crews took two hours to remove the driver. The unidentified driver reportedly fractured both legs in the accident. Continue Reading »

It already sucks when you’re involved in a motorcycle crash. I found that out myself first-hand recently. It’s even worse however when someone steals your bike while you’re lying on the ground with severe injuries.

That’s what happened last week to 35-year-old Glenn Hawkins in Bristol, England. According to a report in Britain’s Daily Mail, Hawkins crashed his Kawasaki ZX-6R trying to avoid a bicyclist who had suddenly stepped out into his path. The crash sent Hawkins tumbling to the ground, breaking his collar bone, cracking two ribs and puncturing a lung.

According to a police spokesperson, a passer-by then allegedly offered to help move the crashed Ninja out of the way of traffic, but instead took off with the sportbike. Continue Reading »

Pictured here is the carnage left behind after a driver lost control of a Lamborghini Murciélago and plowed through a row of motorcycles parked outside a BMW dealership in Mariano Comense, a town north of Milan, Italy.

According to Italian site InFullGear, the driver veered into the oncoming lane while approaching a curve before losing control and running into the parked motorcycles before bouncing off and coming to a stop in the middle of the road.

The crash injured three people, though thankfully none of them were seriously injured. A 56-year-old was flown to hospital but was released on the weekend. The material damage was hefty however. The Lamborghini destroyed nine motorcycles; two belonged to customers and the other seven were demos. Continue Reading »

Motorcycle aficionado and owner of GP Motorcycles, a San Diego dealership specializing in European manufacturers, Paul Lima, suffered a paralyzing crash while riding an MX bike on April 4th. Following a 9-hour surgery to realign and stabilize his back, Paul is recovering well and undergoing rehabilitation. Paul has health coverage, but the costs not covered by insurance are mounting and the Lima family can use any help benevolent motorcyclists can afford.

A PayPal account has been setup to accept donations and you can follow his and the family’s progress on the their Facebook page.

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There it is, folks. That’s Spanish roadracing and supermoto ace Dani Ribalta goofing around for the camera and getting his elbow on the ground. In case you’re wondering, no, he didn’t crash. Continue Reading »

Fans, friends, family members and prominent figures from the world of sports attended the funeral services for Marco Simoncelli at the Santa Maria Assunta church in Coriano on Thursday, October 27th.

The casket was carried into the Assunta church by friends and members of the Gresini team, and at 3pm the services commenced. Flanking the casket  was Simoncelli’s 2008 250cc World Championship Gilera bike on one side, and his MotoGP Honda RC212V on the other. Also in attendance was FIM president Vito Ippolito and CEO of Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta.

“What I experienced this afternoon in Coriano was very moving,” says Ippolito. “After seeing the turnout of citizens, fans and the whole paddock there is no doubt that a great rider and a brilliant person has left us. The outpouring of affection that has been shown demonstrates that he has left his mark.”

Alongside Marco’s father Paolo, mother Rosella, sister Martina and girlfriend Kate, in attendance were current and former fellow riders including Valentino Rossi, Alex Criville, Raffaele De Rosa, Chaz Davies, Mattia Pasini, Manuel Poggiali, Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Randy de Puniet, Loris Capirossi, Toni Elias, Hiroshi Aoyama and Alex de Angelis.

The ceremony was broadcast on a large video screen outside of the church, as well as on an additional large screen installed at the nearby Misano circuit, so that those outside of the church and at the circuit could witness the ceremony. Prior to the services the screens ran footage of the 24 year-old at his charismatic best in the paddock.

For sale to highest bidder: slightly used 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR street-legal MotoGP replica.

Okay, maybe “slightly used” is a bit misleading. This Ducati Desmosedici RR (one of only 1,500 produced) lost a battle with physics and currently sits in pieces at Insurance Auto Auctions’ Fremont, Calif., branch. The auction hasn’t actually started yet as it awaits certification. We’re guessing it will be sold “as is”.

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Wayne Rainey will return to the Misano circuit for the first time since he suffered a career-ending crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

The Sept. 5, 1993 crash at the circuit then-known as the Circuito Internazionale Santamonica brought a sudden end to what had been an incredibly successful Grand Prix racing career. Rainey, the 1990-1992 500cc Grand Prix World Champion was three rounds away from what would have been his fourth consecutive world title when he broke his back in a high-speed low-side.

Yamaha is organizing a special ceremony to honor Rainey on Friday, Sept 2 at Misano, ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix.

[Source: MotoGP]

The Isle of Man TT has claimed another life, as Irish racer Derek Brien, 34, was killed in a high-speed accident on the second day of competition.

According to Isle of Man TT promoter ACU Events, Brien was in an accident at Gorse Lea a section between milestones seven and eight on the Mountain Course during the first Supersport race.

An experienced TT racer, Brien raced in the 2009 and 2010 events as well as winning the 2007 Junior Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man.

Brien is the third racing fatality of the 2011 Isle of Man TT. Sidecar racer Bill Currie, 67 and passenger Kevin Morgan, 59, were killed in an accident during a qualifying session last week. Brien is survived by his partner, Sarah.

Related Reading
Sidecar Team Killed in Isle of Man TT Qualifying Accident

[Source: Isle of Man TT, 3FM]

Sidecar racer Bill Currie, 67, and passenger Kevin Morgan, 59, have died following an accident at the 2011 Isle of Man TT races.

The accident occurred during the second qualifying session for the sidecar class near the Ballacrye Bend, between milestones 17 and 18 on the Mountain Course. The coroner is investigating the accident.

Currie was an experienced Isle of Man TT racer, first competing in the fabled event in 1969 where he finished third. Currie competed in last year’s TT, finishing eighth in the Sidecar class with a personal best average speed of 107.944 mph. Morgan was no stranger to the Isle of Man either, competing in his first TT race in 1984. This year’s event was the first time the two would have competed together as a pair.

“I have known both Bill and Kevin for many years and am deeply saddened by their untimely death,” says Jim Parker, managing director of Isle of Man TT organizer ACU Events. “They were a huge part of the sidecar paddock and will be sorely missed by everyone involved in the event.”

Currie was divorced with two kids. Morgan was single with two sons.

Official statement after the jump.

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