Two-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes has been invited to test Colin Edwards’ Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 at the MotoGP post-season test.

Tech 3 principal Herve Poncharal told MCN Hayes will get to ride a few laps on the Yamaha M1 Nov. 7 at the end of season test at Spain’s Valencia circuit.

Hayes won the 2010 and 2011 AMA Superbike champion with the Graves Yamaha team, which is sponsored by Monster Energy. The energy drink company also sponsors the Tech 3 MotoGP team, making Hayes’ invitation to the test natural fit.

Continue Reading »

Honda announced it will begin a trial program for its EV-neo electric scooter in Barcelona, Spain.

Already available in Japan under a lease sale program, the Honda EV-neo is designed to be a commercial delivery vehicle, with performance said to be on par with an under 50cc scooter.

The electric scooter will make its European debut as Honda is providing Barcelona City Council with 18 EV-neo scooters at the beginning of July for a one-year trial.

“We are delighted to bring Honda’s EV technology to Europe for the first time,” says Yukitoshi Fujisaka, President of Montesa Honda. “Testing the EV-neo in European conditions is an important step as we develop our EV activities.”

According to Honda, the EV-neo has a range of 21 miles, when traveling at a constant speed of 18.6 mph. Honda claims a charge time of 3.5 hours for the lithium-ion battery with the regular (and portable) charger, but just 30 minutes with the rapid charger.

Gallery and press release after the jump.

Related Reading
Honda EV-neo Ready for Lease Sales
Honda EV-neo Electric Scooter Announced

Continue Reading »

Valentino Rossi testing the 2012 version of the Ducati Desmosedici is usually big news, especially with the Italian moto-press. As the nine-time World Champion logs his laps on the GP12 at Italy’s Mugello circuit today, the bigger news is the other Ducati racebike sharing the track with the Doctor.

According to GPOne.com, Ducati is also testing its new 1200cc Superbike, the successor to the 1198R. Racer Danilo Petrucci, who currently sits second in the World Superstock Championship riding the Ducati 1098R for Team Barni, is reportedly riding the new racebike in both Superbike and Superstock variants.

Ernesto Marinelli, from Ducati Corse and currently Carlos Checa’s crew chief with Althea Ducati, is overseeing the Mugello test before hopping onto a plane for Utah for this weekend’s WSBK round at Miller Motorsports Park.

Checa will likely get his turn on the new Ducati Superbike soon while three-time WSBK Champion Troy Bayliss is also involved in the bike’s development.

[Source: GPOne.com]

Obviously these campaigns are made to keep motorists aware of two-wheelers, and don’t necessarily apply to us riders. Still, dothetest.co.uk is a great tool for demonstrating how most of us are not entirely aware of our surroundings, even though as motorcyclists (and bicyclists, too!) we should be super-keen of our environment.

Thanks to dothetest.co.uk I learned I’m not as sharp as I used to be, and can no longer rely on my powers of observation honed from years of criminal justice studies.

If nothing else, this is a great two minute timewaster.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.