The recently announced Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 has just been introduced and the folks from Next Bike Sdn Bhd aka Ducati Malaysia has confirmed that this very special and super limited model will be making its way here in early 2020. (more…)
In one – if not the most – remarkable turnaround in WorldSBK history, Alvaro Bautista suddenly finds himself at a disadvantage against his main rival Jonathan Rea.
Bautista had given the Ducati factory and fans to cheer about when he won 11 races in a row on the Ducati Panigale V4 R. It was without a doubt the return of Ducati to dominate the series like it once had in through the 90s and early 2000s. Heck, pundits were starting to say that Bautista could very well win every single race of the season.
Oh, but how the mighty have fallen.
Rea put in stunning rides in Imola and Jerez, by winning both races in those two rounds. Bautista’s streak started to unravel, and he crashed in the second race in Jerez.
He crashed again in Race 2 at the next round in Misano (although he finished 3rd in Race 1 and 1st in Superpole). He remounted to finish 14th for 2 points.
Moving on to the British round at Donington Park, Bautista crashed in Race 1. He finished 4th in Superpole and 3rd in Race 2.
The next round in Laguna Seca was the worst. He crashed in Race 1 and was classified as 17th. The crash hurt his hand and he opted to stay out of Superpole. Then he fell again in Race 2.
That’s 5 non-scoring races in 10 races. Rea on the other hand, picked up seven wins, one 5th place, and two 2nd places.
As a result, Jonathan Rea on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR now leads Bautista leads by a massive 81 points.
There are four rounds left with 12 races to go, including Superpole. Each win gets 25 points, while a Superpole win is awarded 12 points. As for finishing second, the rider is awarded 20 points in the Race and 9 points in Superpole.
So, Bautista will obtain 248 points if he won them all. Adding to his current points haul of 352, will result in a total of 600 points. If Rea finished second all the way to the end, he will earn 196 points. Add that to his current accumulation of 433 points and you will have the 2019 and Five-Time WorldSBK Champion.
Bautista could only hope that Rea somehow finish lower than second place in a few races.
Ducati’s lead in the manufacturers’ championship is under threat, too. They are now just one point ahead of the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK.
Yes, the adage, “To win, you must first finish” is still very applicable.
If there is one riding school that stands out head and shoulders above the rest, it is the California Superbike School (CSS). So, we decided to outline the 10 reasons you should attend as the first part of our coverage.
Founded by guru Keith Code nearly forty years ago, the school had instructed thousands of students who went on to enjoy riding even more while being safer at that.
CSS then opened a branch in Australia to cater to the APAC region.
They had visited Malaysia last year for the first time and were back again in 2019. They were hence called California Superbike School Malaysia (CSSMY). We wish to thank SBR Trackdays and California Superbike School Malaysia for this unprecedented opportunity to attend Level I and Level II at the Sepang International Circuit.
We came away more than just impressed. We were amazed at the improvements as bikers, but even more impressed at the level of professionalism put forth by both SBR and CSSMY.
So, here we go. 10 reasons.
Every biker lives for corners. Regardless of type of motorcycle, we lust for the twisty stuff. Additionally, it doesn’t matter if just sweeping through a corner or dragging an elbow, motorcycling is all about cornering.
Unfortunately, the act of cornering sometimes scares riders or causes crashes because riders are not armed with the right knowledge and skills. Cornering a bike is as much as about safety as it’s about enjoyment. That is why cornering is an art, as much as it is science.
CSSMY breaks cornering down to minute details to build your skills one step at a time. Soon it becomes second nature and you don’t have to over-analyze everytime the road goes less than straight.
The CSSMY instructors never once mentioned speed or lap times. Instead, they teach you the correct basics of riding and cornering, then allow you to build your confidence and speed naturally.
In that sense, it doesn’t matter if your lap times are good enough to put you on front row of the MSBK grid, or if you’re touring around on SIC for the first time.
CSSMY is simply unlike other schools that tell keep pushing participants to “Open, open, open” like they’re hookers, then throwing them into the deep end of the pool. That kind of school resulted in crashes and people getting hurt (we were there!).
While 99% of the bikes during CSSMY were sportbikes, the school doesn’t restrict the type of bike you ride (with the exception of underbones and bikes under 250cc, of course).
In fact, I’ve seen pictures of participants riding cruisers in CSS USA. So, it doesn’t matter if you ride a Ducati V4 R or Yamaha Tracer 900 GT or Triumph Tiger 800 XRx or a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy.
The focus is on cornering and riding skills.
You look over and you see a bike running slick tyres, Öhlins suspension and race-spec brakes but they mean almost nothing in CSSMY. While it’s great that the rider brought a specific bike to learn on in the school, no participant feels pressured that they must have the latest and baddest techo wizardry.
Again, it’s about the rider. One can have the best bike on the planet, but it’s nothing without the rider.
Rather than inundate students with techno babble and physics lectures, the school formulates teaching methodologies that are easy to understand and remember. Of course, students may raise technical questions and the instructors are more than happy to oblige.
The classes started with questions from the instructor, followed by answers from the students and they were discussed. The discussions were laid back with plenty of fun and laughs.
Out on the track, an instructor will ride ahead of us and use pre-determined hand signals to remind us of the specific drill.
Back in the pits, we’d sit down with the on-track instructor and work through what we learned in the classroom and track session. He would suggest corrective measures in the next session.
Only three students are assigned to each on-track instructor. That way, the instructors can pay more attention to each student.
The instructors do not berate the students for their mistakes, instead it’s always about positive reinforcement. A student may have totally cooked the entire session, but the instructors were always there to suggest ways to improve.
Would you prefer to hear, “Why didn’t you open?! You must open!!!” or “Don’t worry about it, follow me in the next session and see what I do”?
We noticed that all the instructors ride almost exactly alike, in terms of how the steered their bikes, body positioning, head positioning, cornering lines, braking, reference points, etc.
This was not only an awesome sight but it’s fair to the students. It means that a student attached to one instructor isn’t getting less or more from another. Instead, they learn what was taught to the letter.
Conducting the courses at the racetrack provides the safest environment. The skills taught in CSSMY can be applied any time you ride because they cover the fundamentals of steering, throttle control, vision, braking, body positioning, etc.
All of us started the course with some level of uncertainty, self-doubt, fear. Some didn’t know what to expect. Some just wanted to survive.
But it was easy to see that everyone had improved and were genuinely relaxed by the middle of the second day. The riders who had struggled every lap were now riding at steady paces. Those who feared corners leaned over further. And those hotshots went even faster but looked more natural than all contorted on their bikes.
That’s because CSSMY had accepted our fears and shortcomings and took positive steps in overcoming them in an objective-based method.
The California Superbike School Malaysia has to be attended by every biker. We owe it to ourselves, our riding buddies and the community at large that we upgrade our riding skills. You will find riding is so much more pleasant and safer, in addition to going home feeling that you’ve achieved the best thing in your life.
CSS Malaysia will be back next year so start saving!
Please stay tuned for this writer’s personal experience in the California Superbike School Malaysia.
When Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said that there will eventually be more V-Four powered models, he wasn’t joking. First up was the Streetfighter V4 (although in tragic circumstances) and now perhaps a new Ducati Multistrada V4?
The current Multistrada 1260 is powered by a 158-hp V-Twin but adding the V-Four could be just the thing to move the sport-tourer yardstick.
It may seem that sticking a 214-hp V-Four into a sport-tourer is foolhardy but consider the 200-hp supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX. It certainly begs the question of who goes touring at 250 km/h. Just to answer that questions, we’ve seen Kawasaki 1400GTR riders who ride at more than 200 km/h in convoys, complete with spouses and luggage.
Anyway, detuning the 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine to 180-odd-hp ought to be the game should there be a Multistrada V4. Bringing the horsepower down would be easier than opting for a high-revving engine like in the Panigale V-Four.
In a way, a Multistrada V4 makes sense since it could then share the same engine as the Panigale. Development costs will be lower as the manufacturer doesn’t have to design and build an entirely new engine.
We predict that the new bike should show itself by the end of 2020, instead of this year, since the current Multistrada 1260 only needs to comply to Euro5 in 2021.
A recently unveiled Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 will be auctioned in support of the Carlin Dunne family.
As we reported earlier, Dunne had led Ducati’s assault on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb of the Streetfighter V4 Prototype when he tragically crashed and perished. The event had been used as publicity by Ducati to shore up support for the upcoming Streetfighter V4. The bike which Dunne rode was essentially a Panigale V4 stripped of its bodywork and attached with a straight handlebar.
A crowdfunding charity had been set up within days of his passing in order to support his family.
As such, proceeds from the auction of the bike will go to Dunne’s family. The bike will wear the racer’s #5 number plate.
Such an auction will also be initiated next month in honour of Nicky Hayden. The bike offered is a Panigale V4 S with special decals like those on the Desmosedici GP raced by the late rider.
The Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversary 916 celebrates 25 years of the iconic Ducati 916, the bike which turned the Italian brand into a household name and set the destiny of Ducati. It was also the bike which revolutionized the superbike segment.
The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is working hard to prepare for the 2019 Shell Malaysia MotoGP from 1st to 3rd November. As many as a recording breaking number of 180,000 spectators and visitors are expected this year.
It is also a heady time as this year’s edition marks the 20th anniversary of MotoGP in Malaysia. Adding to the historical aspect is the 70th anniversary of the MotoGP championship, as a whole.
2019 also celebrates the 10th anniversary of Shell’s association with motorcycle grand prix racing in Malaysia.
Another significant aspect is the “homecoming” of our Malaysian teams in all Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP classes. The PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team (SRT) in MotoGP is currently flying high through the heroic exploits of rookie sensation Fabio Quartararo. The PETRONAS Sprinta Racing Team in Moto2 is picking up and we already saw one victory via John McPhee in the Moto3 class.
Apart from the racing, SIC is in the midst of replacing or repairing the roofing over the main grandstand so that fans will have nothing to worry about.
SIC officially launched the 2019 Shell Malaysia MotoGP tonight at Publika.
Tickets can be purchased on www.sepangcircuit.com while international fans can either purchase it online or visit the nearest registered travel agents for the best Motorsport Tourism holiday in Malaysia this November.
PLENTY FOR TWENTY: SEPANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT GEARS UP FOR 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF MALAYSIA MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX FROM NOVEMBER 1 – 3, 2019
KUALA LUMPUR, 16 July 2019– The MotoGP fever is back in Malaysia as the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) readies for the 20th edition of the Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix from November 1-3 2019.
In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Grand Prix in Malaysia, the organisers Sepang International Circuit has gone to great lengths to ensure it will be a special and memorable event for fans and riders alike.
The event this year will also be special as it will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the MotoGP, which was born in January 1949 with events consisting the Isle of Man TT, Swiss Grand Prix, Dutch TT, Belgian Grand Prix, Ulster Grand Prix and the Grand Prix of Nations at Monza.
Sepang International Circuit Chairman, Tan Sri Azman Yahya said the historical moment is bound to be a special occasion.
“It will be such a great honour to witness the 20th anniversary of the Malaysian Grand Prix this year – and also the 70th anniversary of the MotoGP,” said Tan Sri Azman.
“For 20 years we have worked hard to ensure that the quality of the Malaysia Grand Prix are at the highest level and we have proven that with our success as the Best Grand Prix in 2012 and 2017 as awarded by the Grand Prix Commission.
This year will also mark the 10th year Shell becomes the title sponsor for the Malaysia Grand Prix.
“I’m grateful to have a loyal partner like Shell, who has been with us since 2009,” added Tan Sri Azman. “We have seen waves of success during the 10 years together and I thank you for that.”
As a build up to the celebration, SIC and Shell Malaysia announced at the Official Launch in The Square Publika today, special off-track activities for fans will be arranged. The campaign kicks off with SIC announcing the MalaysianGP Superfan Contest where two lucky winners will win a fully paid trip to watch the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix with exclusive behind-the-scene experience.
“This is our 10th year as title sponsor for the Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix and we are excited to celebrate Shell’s long-standing involvement in world motorcycle racing with all motorsports’ enthusiasts through our collaboration with SIC,” shared Datuk Iain Lo, Chairman of Shell Malaysia.
“MotoGP is more than a race, it’s a platform for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate their passion for motorsports. To fuel this passion and commemorate a decade of our commitment towards motorsports development in Malaysia, we will be having exciting activities to reward our customers who have been continuously supporting us all these years,” added Datuk Iain.
The Shell Biker Chop Chop promotion which kicked-off in June will run until August and it offers bikers the opportunity to purchase discounted Shell Hillstand MotoGP tickets as well as a chance to win exclusive Ducati merchandise and other limited-edition items. To qualify for the promotion, customers need to collect digital stamps via WeChat by collecting an accumulative of: two (2) Lubricant stamps by purchasing Shell Advance AX5, AX7 or Ultra and three (3) Fuel stamps by fueling RM6 worth of Shell fuels in a single receipt.
Another highlight this year will an exciting addition to the live viewing for the upcoming MotoGP races, where fans can gather and follow the races before the upcoming Malaysian round. For the first time, Shell has decided to bring one of its live viewing sessions outside Klang Valley, to Kuantan, Pahang, with the aim to extend the MotoGP excitement to a larger group of fans. Fans can learn more of these viewings at Shell’s social media pages.
This year, Shell is back with its Shell Hillstand, an exclusive viewing area at the circuit which provides motorsports enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy a differentiated experience while watching the race. In the past, the hillstand offered a series of activities comprising a display of Ducati motorcycles, a wide-range of family-friendly activities and a variety of food and beverages, inclusive of Shell’s popular deli2go freshly-baked pastries and Costa Coffee. The company is looking to do all of this and more this year, to provide a bigger and better Shell Malaysia MotoGP experience for its customers.
Race week will start with the pre-event; a friendly football match between Team SIC All Stars showcasing talented MotoGP riders against Team Media FC at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The match will be made open for fans to come and support the MotoGP riders in action.
The ever-popular riders’ autograph session and riders fan forum will take place at the Sepang International Circuit on November 1 (Friday) and 2 (Saturday) where fans can get up close and personal with their favorite riders like Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and also our Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah and more.
The much awaited Mega MotoGP Carnival also provides an array of products and promotions with over 90 brands participating this year. The carnival has become an event of its own where two-wheels fans look forward to each year to get their hands on special merchandise items including new motorcycles to take home.
The popular #KamiGearKe7 campaign will be back this year as a way for fans to show their support towards Malaysian riders and team challenging for honours at their home race. It follows the concept of fans as the 12th man on the pitch on football matches to support their teams, the #KamiGearKe7 will provide the avenue for fans to show the support for Malaysian competing in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
“The hype will be much bigger this year as we have a Malaysian team racing in three different categories of the championship,” added Tan Sri Azman.
“The Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team just bared their fangs when Fabio Quartararo finished second at the Catalunya Grand Prix and with Hafizh Syahrin and Khairul on the grid, Malaysians will have more to cheer for.
“It will also be something of a spectacle for the Indonesian fans out there as they will get to see their star Dimas Ekky Pratama racing in the Malaysian round in his first full season as a Moto2 rider. I’m sure many of them are eager to see what Dimas can do after stints in 2017 and 2018.”
Tickets for the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix was launched in October 2018 and is selling fast. “This year, though tickets remain at the same price for the MalaysianGP, there is an addition of 25% entertainment tax imposed by the state government. However, the event remains to be a much awaited one and tickets are selling fast. I encouraged all fans to start getting theirs now before it sells out”
“To ensure a comfortable and convenient experience for the fans, works has also started to fix the roofing of the Main Grandstand and better fittings for the public toilets. We are excited to see the new and improved roof during the race this year” Tan Sri Azman added.
Tickets can be purchased on www.sepangcircuit.com while international fans can either purchase it online or visit the nearest registered travel agents for the best Motorsport Tourism holiday in Malaysia this November.
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