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Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki Crowned WorldSBK Champion Five Times in a Row

Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki has won the 2019 WorldSBK title – their fifth in a row.
Rea won Race Two at Magny-Cours while Alvaro Bautista crashed out again.
Rea is now the rider who has won the most WorldSBK titles.

Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki has won the 2019 WorldSBK title – their fifth in a row.

Rea won Race Two at Magny-Cours, France, enabling him to pull clear of closest challenger Alvaro Bautista on the Ducati V4 R. Rea had entered Race Two with a 100-point lead over Bautista and needed a victory and a hope that the latter does not score to put the title chase beyond contention.

Somehow and true enough, Bautista crashed after tangling with Toprak Razgatlioglu. Toprak had overtaken Bautista but the rear tyre of his bike lost traction and slowed, causing the Spaniard to ram his bike. Both riders went down and out of the race.

But it wasn’t an easy win for Rea as he had to battle Michael van der Mark for the win. Rea fought hard and his determination netted him the win that he needed.

It was his 12th win of the 2019 season. But winning the title fives times in a row set the record as the first rider to do so, besides being the first rider to win the title five times. Carl Fogarty held the previous record of four titles, albeit separated by a seasons in between.

The victory will also become one of the most famous comebacks in racing history. Bautista had destroyed the entire field with 11 consecutive wins when the season began and held a 64-point lead.

But Rea kept up with a metronome-like consistency, finishing second in ten of those races and another in third behind Bautista. Then Rea fought back to post wins in Imola and Jerez. Bautista crashed in Race 2 at Jerez and that was when everything started to unravel.

The Spanish would eventually crash six times in total, first blaming the bike but went quiet about what was actually the problem. Then he inked a deal with Honda, and is now embroiled in a war of words with Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali.

Rea kept up the pressure by winning races and finishing on the podium when he couldn’t, and look at where he is now.

Makes for a great movie, don’t you think?

Ducati Multistrada V4 Confirmed for 2021

The Ducati Multistrada V4 is confirmed to debut in 2021.
Ducati made the announcement while celebrating the 100,000^thMultistrada produced.
The new bike will be sold alongside the Multistrada 1260 and 950.

The Ducati Multistrada V4 is confirmed to debut in 2021.

Ducati made the statement in their press release celebrating the 100,000^thMultistrada. They also mentioned that the new Multistrada V4 (MTS V4) will be sold alongside the V-Twin engine Multistrada 1260 and 950 versions.

Making the announcement so far ahead seems unprecedented in the motorcycle industry. That’s because customers may hold off their plans of buying the current model and decide only when the new one is unveiled. However, we feel that Ducati is confident despite making the early announcement due to different price ranges, among others. The MTS V4 will most probably cost way more than even a fully blinged-out MTS 1260 GT.

As pointed out by Asphalt & Rubber, it could also be that Ducati wants attention to fall solely on the Streetfighter V4. Unveiling the MTS V4 right next to the Streetfighter will steal some of the naked bike’s thunder.

Anyway, the Desmosedici Stradale V-four engine will be detuned for low-end and midrange performance since the MTS is pretty much a road bike. But since the V-Twin MTS 1260 produces 158 hp, we may see 170 to 180 hp in the MTS V4.

The updates will see it go up against the likes of the new BMW S 1000 XR and KTM 1290 Super Duke GT. On the other hand, pushing the power higher will also see it competing against the Kawasaki 1400GTR (in terms of power, rather than segment) and who knows, the supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2SX (200 hp).

In the meantime, the 100,000^thMTS is the 1260 Pikes Peak edition. The total number of MTS produced include all the variants in the 1260 and 950 line-up.

Source: Ducati Press Release

Ducati Multistrada V4? Not Yet but A Ducati Multistrada 1260 GT with Radar Maybe Soon

A Ducati Multistrada 1260 GT with radar-controlled cruise control and safety systems ought to be unveiled soon.
The Ducati Multistrada V4 will probably appear in 2021, instead.
Ducati have filed the MTS 1260 GT with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Sorry to cut your dreams short. The Ducati Multistrada V4 isn’t on the way – yet. However, a Ducati Multistrada 1260 GT with radar-controlled cruise control and safety systems ought to be unveiled soon.

Italian magainze Moto.it came across a filing to the US Environmental Protection Agency for a new Multistrada 1260 GT. Motorcycle manufacturers in the United States are required to announce their upcoming models for the agency to keep tabs on their emissions levels.

Being a GT (Gran Turismo), the new bike should be fully accessorized with all the touring accoutrements one can shake a stick at. Be prepared for large volume panniers and top case, auxiliary lighting (i.e. spotlights), possibly better seats in addition to other stuff on top of the MTS 1260 S Tour Pack option.

Please click here for photos of the test bike.

But the biggest news may be that the MTS 1260 GT will be equipped with radar-controlled cruise control and safety devices.

Ducati is already working on the technology for at least since 2014 and vowed to be the first in the market. Since the upcoming KTM 1290 Super Adventure is rumored to use the system as well, Ducati engineers will surely work overnight to keep their company’s promise.

The Bosch radar system may regulate the bike’s speed with traction control on in traffic. A rear-facing radar, meanwhile, monitors vehicle’s in the rider’s blindspots (like luxury cars) and warn of a fast approaching vehicle.

It’s rumored to also prime the brake system for emergency stops.

The MTS 1260 GT will likely be the last twin-cylinder model, with the MTS V4 appearing in 2021.

The details are due on 23^rdOctober 2019.

Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) Strengthens Brotherhood

The Aprilia Central Riding Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) organized another MotoGP “live” viewing over the weekend.
It was the GoPro British Grand Prix this time.
We hope ACRC and DOCM will continue to build on their brotherhood.

The Aprilia Central Riding Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) continued to strengthen their shared love for motorcycles through another “live” MotoGP viewing.

The function was held at the snazzy Sofitel Damansara this time around. The attendees watched the GoPro British MotoGP at Silverstone for this edition.

While the first event was seen as an ice-breaker, this second viewing was more of a sign of allegiance as riders from both groups joined to enjoy the excitements of MotoGP as one. It was visible that both groups were relaxed in each other’s company.

Refreshments and dinner were also served.

All present were at the edge of their seats when the MotoGP race began.

Suddenly, Dovizioso was taken out by Fabio Quartararo’s crashed motorcycle at the exit of the very first corner come the race, everyone at the event stood and yelled. It was followed by silence when Dovizioso appeared injured and couldn’t get up. Everyone present, regardless of riding an Aprilia or Ducati was concerned.

Petrucci would eventually finish seventh ahead of Jack Miller (Ducati Pramac Racing) and Andrea Ianone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).

But neither group made fun of the other regardless of the race’s outcome. Instead, they embraced each other before heading home.

This should be seen more often among motorcycle groups everywhere.

PHOTO GALLERY

2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 and 2020 Ducati Panigale 959 Spotted (Again)

The 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 and 2020 Ducati Panigale 959 were spotted again.
Both bikes ought to be revealed in October this year.
Biggest news is the Streetfighter V4.

Yes, the 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 and 2020 Ducati Panigale 959 will soon be unveiled, but the bikes are still spotted undergoing development.

A video posted on the Fotocisa Facebook account shows both bikes wearing camouflage and refueling. It’s probably difficult for the test riders to get a drink without being swamped by the curious.

The Streetfighter V4 will be the first model powered by the Desmosedici Stradale V-Four engine after the Panigale V4. Since Ducati has always been a “V-Twin company,” the move to V-Fours marks a huge paradigm shift. The manufacturer is expected to follow suit with a new Multistrada V4.

The Streetfighter V4’s prototype had made its debut at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Unfortunately, the fanfare turned tragic.

The Panigale 959 on the other hand will retain the 90^o V-Twin Testastretta engine. As the current engine produces 157 hp while weighing only 168 kg, dry, the new bike is expected to feature at least 170 hp. That means its power-to-weight ratio is more than 1 hp to 1 kg. The biggest update is the single-sided swingarm, of course!

Other features will definitely include lean angle sensitive traction control and ABS, based around an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).

Source: Fotosica Facebook Page

Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) Celebrate Italian Kinship

The Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) held a “live” MotoGP viewing to celebrate their Italian motorcycle kinship.
Together, they watched the Czech MotoGP over the weekend.
On another note, Didi Resources is offering a special Service Clinic and Merdeka Campaign to Aprilia owners.

The Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) celebrate their Italian motorcycle kinship – or brotherhood, if you will – for the “live” viewing of the Czech MotoGP over the weekend.

Motorcycle brand loyalty can manifest in fierce tribalism, meaning loving whoever is riding the same brand while eschewing others. It’s not something bad per se, because it’s one of our basic human instinct to protect the clan we live in. (That’s the central theme of post-apocalyptic shows such as “The Walking Dead.”)

So, it’s definitely something to celebrate when ACRC and DOCM got together as one large biker community.

“The love for Italian motorcycles is something we all cherish. In this gathering organized by Shell, we gather our brothers and sisters from Aprilia to join us the Ducati Owners for MotoGP viewing to support our Italian race teams,” mentioned Gaddaffi Shazalli, Vice President of Desmo Owners Club Malaysia.

According to Juan Chow Wee, General Manager of Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd. (the official importer and distributor of Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia), “To further strengthen the ownership experience, our doors are always open to various owner clubs to foster greater relationship among bikers and we believe the best biking lifestyle is from owners themselves.”

Juan also added that “listening to our customers” goes beyond just selling motorcycles. “As such, Didi Resources just rolled out a special Service Clinic and Merdeka Campaign for for Aprilia owners. We are offering the original factory oil filter at just RM10, and other important parts like brake pads and air filter at special prices.”

(Please refer to our article pertaining to this campaign.)

“We always believe in listening to our customers as they are important in improving how we do business, and today we roll out an after sales program to further reduce ownership cost and to ensure our owners get the best from our network in terms of quality.”

Ducati 916 Belonging to Massimo Tamburini On Display in Ducati Museum

Massimo Tamburini’s personal Ducati 916 prototype is on display in the Ducati Museum.
It is one of three which he developed into the production model.
The display commemorates the 25^thanniversary of the model.

The late Massimo Tamburini richly derserves the title as the best motorcycle stylist. It was his work in producing the Ducati 916 which transformed how all bikes look these days.

Now one of his three prototype Ducati 916 is on display in the Ducati Museum at Borgo Panigale.

Tamburini took six years to develop the bike. The aerodynamics and chassis were all done through personal expertise and experience on the roads around Rimini, besides the Mugello and Misano circuits He never used the wind tunnel once. Tamburini was one of the founders and partners at Bimota and brought his speciality in designing the frame and chassis.

No one in the wildest dreams could probably think such a machine could dominate the World Superbike Series, given the way it was developed. And it was the 916 which secured Ducati’s name as a prestigious motorcycle manufacturer.

Sadly, Massimo Tamburini passed away in 2014 before the 25^thanniversary of the Ducati 916. Ducati produced a limited run of the Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 to commemorate the historic model.

His legacy lives in this machine displayed in the museum. It’s of the 916 SP version which features the top-shelve components such as Brembo Gold Line brakes, Ohlins suspension, five-spoke magnesium wheels, carbon fibre Termignoni exhaust silencers, lightened single-side swingarm, etc. The bike has only a tachometer and water temperature gauge.

Ducati 2020 World Premiere to Showcase 2020 Models in October

Ducati will unveil their 2020 models at the Ducati 2020 World Premiere on 23^rdOctober.
Models expected are the Streetfighter V4 and Multistrada V4.
The premiere date is ahead of EICMA.

As with the previous year, Ducati will unveil their 2020 models at the Ducati 2020 World Premiere on 23^rdOctober, ahead of the EICMA show.

Some manufacturers are moving away from unveiling their bikes at EICMA as all manufacturers will also reveal their new bikes, sometimes at exactly the same time and date, as other manufacturers. You can imagine the chaos that ensues.

The Ducati 2020 World Premiere will certainly include the new Streetfighter V4. The prototype was ridden by Carlin Dunne at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, but it’s going to be the production-ready bike this time.

We may also get to see the new Multistrada V4 which has already been spotted undergoing road tests.

You can look forward to a new Panigale 959, as well. It’ll still be powered by a V-Twin engine, of course.

But sources say that there may be an all-new Scrambler, too. The Scrambler line-up is now burgeoning with different models, so we wonder what type it will be next.

The Monster line-up also needs an update.

Apart from Ducati, we expect most, if not all, manufacturers to present new bikes later at EICMA this year. This is due to Euro5 regulations taking effect in 2020.

Ducati Multistrada V4 Test Mule Spotted

A Ducati Multistrada V4 test mule was spotted in Italy.
It looks similar to the current Multistrada 1260 but will definitely look different in final production form.
Ducati is slated to unveil 2020 models on 23^rdOctober.

The rumours of a Ducati Multistrada V4 is now confirmed with the spotting of a test mule in Italy.

Ducati is currently looking at equipping more models with the Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine, after its introduction in the Panigale V4. Rumours of the Multistrada being next in line had started since the company’s CEO Claudio Domenicali announcement that there will be more models to utilize the engine.

Since then, we’ve seen the prototype of the Streetfighter V4 being raced at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

The video captured above shows a bike that’s very similar to the current Multistrada 1260, apart from the different exhaust. However, Ducati will surely give the V4 version a new look or a facelift, at the very least.

The V4 will definitely be detuned in the Multistrada from the 214bhp in the Panigale. The current Multistrada 1260 produces 158 bhp, so that’s a 56 bhp spread for Ducati to play with. It may be safe to say that the Multistrada V4 to hold close to 180 bhp, making it the most powerful naturally-aspirated sport-tourer.

The manufacturer has announced that they will unveil the 2020 models on 23^rdOctober 2019. You can count on the Multistrada V4 as being one of them.

Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 is coming to Malaysia!

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…)

2019 WorldSBK: It May Not Be Enough for Alvaro Bautista

Alvaro Bautista is now 81 points behind closest rival Jonathan Rea.
There are four rounds left, with eight main races and four Superpole races.
With a maximum of 248 points on offer, it may not be enough for Bautista.

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 3^rdin Race 1 and 1^stin Superpole). He remounted to finish 14^thfor 2 points.

Moving on to the British round at Donington Park, Bautista crashed in Race 1. He finished 4^thin Superpole and 3^rdin Race 2.

The next round in Laguna Seca was the worst. He crashed in Race 1 and was classified as 17^th. 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 5^thplace, and two 2^ndplaces.

Jonathan Rea – Photo credit WorldSBK.com

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.

Is a Ducati Multistrada V4 on the Way?

A Ducati Multistrada V4 could be in the works.
Ducati already started with Streetfighter V4.
The new Multistrada could make its appearance for year 2021.

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.

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Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki has won the 2019 WorldSBK title – their fifth in a row.

Rea won Race Two at Magny-Cours while Alvaro Bautista crashed out again.

Rea is now the rider who has won the most WorldSBK titles.

The Ducati Multistrada V4 is confirmed to debut in 2021.

Ducati made the announcement while celebrating the 100,000th Multistrada produced.

The new bike will be sold alongside the Multistrada 1260 and 950.

A Ducati Multistrada 1260 GT with radar-controlled cruise control and safety systems ought to be unveiled soon.

The Ducati Multistrada V4 will probably appear in 2021, instead.

Ducati have filed the MTS 1260 GT with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The Aprilia Central Riding Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) organized another MotoGP “live” viewing over the weekend.

It was the GoPro British Grand Prix this time.

We hope ACRC and DOCM will continue to build on their brotherhood.

PHOTO GALLERY

The 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 and 2020 Ducati Panigale 959 were spotted again.

Both bikes ought to be revealed in October this year.

Biggest news is the Streetfighter V4.

The Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) held a “live” MotoGP viewing to celebrate their Italian motorcycle kinship.

Together, they watched the Czech MotoGP over the weekend.

On another note, Didi Resources is offering a special Service Clinic and Merdeka Campaign to Aprilia owners.

Massimo Tamburini’s personal Ducati 916 prototype is on display in the Ducati Museum.

It is one of three which he developed into the production model.

The display commemorates the 25th anniversary of the model.

Ducati will unveil their 2020 models at the Ducati 2020 World Premiere on 23rd October.

Models expected are the Streetfighter V4 and Multistrada V4.

The premiere date is ahead of EICMA.

A Ducati Multistrada V4 test mule was spotted in Italy.

It looks similar to the current Multistrada 1260 but will definitely look different in final production form.

Ducati is slated to unveil 2020 models on 23rd October.

Alvaro Bautista is now 81 points behind closest rival Jonathan Rea.

There are four rounds left, with eight main races and four Superpole races.

With a maximum of 248 points on offer, it may not be enough for Bautista.

A Ducati Multistrada V4 could be in the works.

Ducati already started with Streetfighter V4.

The new Multistrada could make its appearance for year 2021.

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Ducati made the announcement while celebrating the 100,000^thMultistrada produced.

The display commemorates the 25^thanniversary of the model.

Ducati will unveil their 2020 models at the Ducati 2020 World Premiere on 23^rdOctober.

Ducati is slated to unveil 2020 models on 23^rdOctober.