The all-metal Ducati Panigale R Cafe Racer is the brainchild of Swiss company of premier aftermarket distributor, Parts World.
Together with Ducati Zentralschweiz, Schaub Metalworks and Akrapovič, the dream team was assembled to pull off this amazing project.
Most of the metalwork was done by Raphael Schaub from Schaub Metalworks which was made all by hand without any form of electronic aids.
Yes, you read that right. This is a Ducati Panigale R cafe racer. Dubbed the ‘Blue Shark’ by its mad creators over at Swiss company Parts World, the project is more than just turning a state-of-the-art superbike into a one-off custom bike of the century. Parts World hailing from Switzerland is actually a premier aftermarket distributor. (more…)
Chaz Davies took his first WorldSBK victory of 2017 in Race 2 at Aragon yesterday on board his Ducati 1199 Panigale R
Both Aruba it.Racing Ducati riders (Davies and Melandri) scored double podiums in both races
Jonathan Rea finished a close second ahead of Marco Melandri in Race 2
It was a glorious day yesterday for the Aruba.it Racing team where both of their riders, Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri scored double podiums in both WorldSBK races over at Aragon this past weekend. It was an even bigger achievement for Davies who managed to break Jonathan Rea’s winning streak after his Race 1 victory on Saturday. (more…)
Rea maintains a perfect record of four straight victories
Tom Sykes scored podium spots for both races in Buriram
Both Aruba.it Racing team riders scored one podium spot individually
It was a great day filled with drama and events especially for WorldSBK rider Jonathan Rea in Round Two of the 2017 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship. After finishing on top in Race 1 yesterday, the Kawasaki Racing Team rider continued his assault with another victory in Race 2 making a total of four straight victories for the 30 year old Brit rider. (more…)
Jonathan Rea dominated Race 2 with new race format
Ducati duo Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri completed podium spots
With a win in Race 1, Rea looked to have a challenge laid out for him with the new race format. The new ruling meant that Rea had to start the second race from the back of the third row in P9 but that did not stop him from being victorious. The top spot was fought viciously between four riders; Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing) together with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team). The win also marked Rea’s 40th career victory in WorldSBK. (more…)
Rea from Kawasaki Racing Team wins Race 1 from pole position
Chaz Davies finished second and Tom Sykes placed third
From left: Chaz Davies, Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes
It was a brilliant season opener for the 2017 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with Jonathan Rea from Kawasaki Racing Team winning the first race at Phillip Island. Rea won the race from pole position but not without a few great fights from a number of different riders. Chaz Davies came in strong in second with just 0.042 seconds between him and Rea. The other Kawasaki Racing team rider and Rea’s team mate, Tom Sykes, completed the podium in third place. (more…)
The Ducati Superbike Squad from WorldSBK has unveiled their 2017 livery ahead of the season opener in Phillip Island, Australia in two weeks time. Chaz Davies together with Aruba.it Racing has acquired their latest team mate and legendary former MotoGP rider, Marco Melandri. (more…)
English riders Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies reigned supreme during race 1 and 2 respectively at the Pirelli Malaysian Round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship in Sepang last weekend.
Race 1
In the beginning stages of race 1, it looked like Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Time) was on his way to the chequered flag as he was ahead of Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) by approximately 3 seconds, Sykes’ tyres gave way with 4 laps remaining, allowing Davies and Rea to overtake him.
The battle between them lasted all the way until the last corner, where Davies managed to overtake Rea, only to get overtaken again right before the finishing line. In fact, the pair swapped places three times on the final lap before the last corner. The victory at Race 1’s marked Rea’s 10th win this year.
The winners aside, the closest on track fight was between the Aprilia pairing of Leon Haslam and Max Biaggi who were dicing for 5th and 6th.
Wildcard entry Max Biaggi, who represented the Aprilia Racing Team on the other hand finished third, claiming a historic 71st podium finish, extending his own record of being the oldest rider to ever stand on a WorldSBK podium.
Sylvain Guintoli also claimed a season best 4th after his Pata Honda appeared to be kinder to its tyres while Poleman Sykes dropped to 5thafter setting a blistering pace that saw him shatter the lap record in the early stages.
Alex Lowes was 6th aboard the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki ahead of Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team), Althea Racing pairing Matteo Baiocco and Niccolo Canepa, and Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team) who dropped from what looked like a safe 4th to 10th in the final few laps.
David Salom (Team Pedercini), Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven) and Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) completed the point scorers.
Race 2
In Race 2, it was drama at the first corner itself as Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) crashed out of contention. The next drama occurred when former champion Tom Sykes crashed at Turn 9 with ten laps to go. This was a big blow to Sykes as it ended his championship ambitions for 2015.
Up front, the battle this time was once again between Chaz Davies and Jonathan Rea. Thanks to his consistent pace until the end, Davies was able to secure his 3rdvictory in four races, moving into 2nd overall in the championship standings. Jordi Torres of the Aprilia Racing Team finished third, claiming his second podium finish of the season.
Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda) scored another 4th position, his best weekend of the season ahead of team mate Michael van der Mark who made up for his race one retirement with a fine 5th.
Leon Haslam was 6th on his Aprilia Racing – Red Devils machine, finishing a tenth behind the Dutchman.
David Salom (Team Pedercini), Alex Lowes, Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) and Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven) were 7th to 10threspectively with Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Tom Sykes and Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) completing the points finishers.
After the action in Sepang, the race for overall title has gone all wrong for Tom Sykes, who was almost 90 points ahead of the closest competitor last week. Well, looks like he has nobody else to blame except himself, or maybe his tyres.
The overall leader now is Jonathan Rea of Kawasaki Racing Team with 452 points, followed by Chaz Davies of Aruba IT Ducati team with 308 points. And then we have Tom Sykes with 295 points.
The next round will be taking place at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain, on September 20th.
Our friends at Ducati Malaysia (Next Bike Sdn Bhd) held a special ceremony earlier today to welcome its latest addition, the Ducati 1199 Panigale Championship Edition. (more…)
