KTM is reportedly developing a new small-displacement sportbike for the Indian market, featuring similar styling to its flagship RC8 sportbike. The new model is expected to use a 250cc single-cylinder engine, leading some to label it the KTM RC25 or KTM RC250.

We’ve heard reports of KTM working on a small-displacement sportbike before, most recently in late 2012 with KTM Chief Executive Officer Stefan Pierer saying a faired version of the 390 Duke is on its way, but it now appears a 250 version is on its way as well. The now infamous leaked Powerpoint slide from a KTM North American dealer presentation also outlined a model curiously called a “Moto3 350” for 2014. IndianCarsBikes reports the KTM RC25 will be available in India for 2014 to be built in India by Bajaj Auto which owns a 47% stake in KTM.

KTM’s Moto3 production racer is officially called the RC 250 R, but the Moto3 racer (pictured below) has much different styling than the RC8, and the new model will likely look more like its angular 1,195cc older sibling than the curvier Moto3 race bike. Amit Nandi, vice-president of premium motorcycles for Bajaj Auto is very specific about the new bike’s RC8 roots. Continue Reading »

The Grand Prix Commission has released a new set of regulations for disciplining riders who consistently commit offenses such as endangering other racers or assaulting marshals and race officials. The new disciplinary rules were among a number of other new regulations announced for MotoGP as well as the Moto2 and Moto3 World Championships.

Effectively immediately, riders will be subject to a point system for penalties. Race Direction may issue anywhere from one and 10 points for various infractions, in addition to other sanctions. Points will accrue through the season and, when a rider’s penalty point total reaches certain thresholds, additional sanctions will be automatically applied.

When a rider receives four points through a season, the rider will be penalized by having to start from the back of the grid for the next race. At seven points, a rider will have to start from pit lane for the next race. Should a rider receive 10 points through the season, that rider would be automatically disqualified from the following round, and the points would reset to zero. Points will also reset at the end of a season and do not carry forward to the next season. Continue Reading »

KTM has carved out a niche recently in the small-displacement streetbike market with its Duke lineup of naked motorcycles. First came the 125 Duke, then the 200 Duke, and more recently unveiled at EICMA, the 390 Duke, which we hope will be the first in the family to make it to the U.S. All three little Dukes have similar chassis and streetfighter styling, with the engine displacement being the main difference between them.

The Austrian manufacturer isn’t done with the small-displacement segment however. Speaking with India’s CNBC-TV18, KTM Chief Executive Officer Stefan Pierer said the company may develop new 200cc, 190cc and 180cc models for the Indian market, as well as a a fully-faired and touring versions of the 390 within the next 12-18 months.

“We expect additional displacements, the 390cc is coming which is a full faired version and the so called tour purpose version,” says Pierer. “By the end, we have a full model range where we can settle in all these and especially the Asian markets.” Continue Reading »

The International Motorcycling Federation has suspended Moto2 racer Anthony West for testing positive for methylhexaneamine, substance considered a stimulant and prohibited under the FIM’s anti-doping code.

West will be ineligible for competition organized by the FIM or its affiliated federations for a month, starting from Oct. 30, effectively ruling him out of the Moto2 season finale Nov. 11 at Valencia. West, who races for the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation team, still has the right to lodge an appeal before Nov. 3.

Methylhexaneamine, also known as 1,3-dimethylamylamine or DMAA, was originally developed as a nasal decongestant but more recently has been commonly used as a dietary supplement. Since Aug. 1, methylhexaneamine has been banned in Australia, West’s native country. The positive test however occurred on May 20 during the MotoGP round at Le Mans, and as a result, the FIM has also stripped West of his seventh-place finish at the French Grand Prix Moto2 race. Continue Reading »

A contrite Maverick Vinales has returned to the Blusens Avintia Moto3 team days after his brash, and admittedly hasty departure at this past weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

The FTR Honda rider quit the Blusens team on Oct. 10, returning home from Sepang without once hitting the track. At the time, Vinales accused the team of failing to provide technical improvements to remain competitive, even though he was second overall in the Moto3 championship going into Malaysia with more wins than anyone else in the series.

But with two more years to go on his contract and no doubt his lawyers explaining the consequences of breaching a contract, Vinales will race at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island for the Blusens Avintia team. Vinales issued a statement on MotoGP’s official website apologizing to his team, his sponsors, his technicians and racing fans.

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Maverick Vinales seems to be living up to his name, announcing he is leaving the Blusens Avintia team despite sitting second in the Moto3 World Championship with three rounds to go. Vinales traveled with the team to Sepang for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix but did not take part in Free Practice and later announced the split.

You may remember Vinales from last season when he raced in the former 125cc Grand Prix World Championship for the Paris Hilton-sponsored Blusens-BQR team. While the notorious socialite team owner created headlines, Vinales proved himself to be a rising star, winning four races and finishing third overall in the championship.

This year, he has been even better, winning five races on Blusen’s FTR Honda racebike (#25 above) and trailing KTM‘s Sandro Cortese (#11) by 56 points. Cortese’s lead is daunting but not insurmountable with three races and a potential 75 points up for grabs, so Vinales’ sudden departure points to some serious issues with the team. Continue Reading »

Spanish oil company and noted motorcycle racing sponsor Repsol recently gathered its cadre of riders from MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 and the Spanish CEV championship for a special race – on electric minimotos.

Honda MotoGP riders Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa were joined by Moto2 racer Marc Marquez, his brother Alex Marquez and his fellow Moto3 racers Miguel Oliveira and Alex Rins and CEV racer Maria Herrera in the minimoto race. Hijinks ensued as racers grappled for position in the low-speed race. Continue Reading »

KTM has begun accepting orders for a production racer version of its 250cc Moto3 World Championship race bike. The production racer will be available in February 2013 though orders will be accepted from July 1 to Oct. 1 of 2012 for 45,000 euros (US$55,400).

The 2013 KTM Moto3 250 GPR offers similar specifications to the Moto3 bike including the one ridden by current series leader Sandro Cortese. The production racer runs on the same single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine.

Mosts of the differences are ones made to meet Moto3 Grand Prix regulations, namely a 14,000 rpm rev limit, Dell’Orto electronic control unit and an Akrapovic exhaust that screams out at a Moto3-limited 115 dB. Continue Reading »

As expected, MotoGP organizers have officially lifted the rule barring rookies from racing for factory teams, but the Grand Prix Commission also tweaked some other regulations including a cap on factory prototype machines.

We’ve discussed the lifting of the rookie rule already, with the main impetus being to allow a manufacturer such as Honda to sign up-and-coming Moto2 star Marc Marquez when he is expected to move up to the premiere class next season.

As of Jan. 1, 2013, manufacturers will be restricted to two entries on their factory teams and up to an additional two entries operated by satellite teams. Essentially, there will only be at most four prototype race bikes per manufacturer next season. Continue Reading »

Last season, Alvaro Bautista rode on one of the best looking motorcycles on the MotoGP grid, the Suzuki GSV-R in Rizla powder blue livery by Troy Lee Designs. This season, Bautista is riding the Gresini Honda RC213V, but instead of its previous white paint job, the Gresini machine is in a sleek black.

No reason for the color change was announced, though it’s possible the choice is a sign of mourning for the late Marco Simoncelli whose place Bautista is assuming with Gresini. Indeed, Simoncelli was on many people’s minds during Gresini’s presentation in Milan.

“Technology and Passion is a perfect combination that continues to drive forward our project together with Team Gresini. A new season starts right here in the Milan Polytechnic and we are proud to be continuing with a project that has already provided us with so much excitement over the past few years,” says Alberto Vitaloni, president of team sponsor San Carlo. “We were determined to continue in the name of Marco (Simoncelli) because we are sure that this is what he would want and I hope the choice we have made continues to bring great success.”

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