Well you know there’s an official naked Ducati Panigale V4 on the way at some point, but if you can’t wait to see what one might look like, sort of, there’s this V4 Penta put together by Officine GP Design, Turin, Italy.
Okay, maybe the actual Ducati naked won’t get a Hassock-type front end or wire-spoke wheels when it arrives, or any of the other custom details on this one, but you get the general form it might take: Born from the Ducati Panigale V4, V4 Penta has been created by the brilliant mind of Luca Pozzato, Motul ambassador, and is enriched with a brand-new components specifically created, for a breathless result. The new Officine GP Design creature promotes a new arrogant design, throughout lines which instill strength and show all the ambition of this Turin atelier new project.
If nothing else, this thing really does make you appreciate how much work was involved in squeezing that V-Four engine into such a tight space. More information, and a terribly Italian video starrring the bike, are here.
Upgrades for Yamaha’s successful small-bore sportbike
Yamaha’s 2019 YZF-R3 is one of the few entry-level bikes that’s easy on your bank account yet provides the type of fun that’s amiable and long-lasting.
Pablo Nieto – Team Manager: “We will continue to put the same passion and commitment, for achieving ambitious results. Behind us, we have a Team composed of great professionals, who live as a family. In Moto2, Luca will back to the track at 100% of after he has undergone surgery to the shoulder. He is clever, a hard worker who has shown his real value in 2018. He can make a season as a protagonist and, as a Team, we will try not to let him feel the pressure, supporting him with all our commitment. Alongside him, Nicolo will debut in Moto2 with a bike that can best adapt to his physical characteristics. He has a great talent and I’m sure he will be able to show his potential. In Moto3, there are two very young 2001 ready to impress us. After a year of experience, Dennis has taken the rhythm of the strongest guys, while Celestino has taken the first steps in the Championship. There is a lot of work waiting for them, but we trust that they can be immediately close to the fastest riders.”
So, who of the rookies will be quickest around the Sepang International Circuit? This question will be answered on the 6th, 7th and 8th of February, and you can keep up to date with all the action with reports, reactions, interviews, highlights and After the Flag episodes after each day on motogp.com.
Marquez: “It was my first time back on a bike. Riders in general need to have a calm conscience and during the flight to Malaysia, which is around 14 hours, I will know that at least I have ridden a bike again. We’ve done a few laps that have helped me to see where it hurts a little more, and that way I can work with the physio in this week that we have left before the test. It went a bit like I expected. I lack strength on the brakes, especially on left-hand corners, when I have to use my shoulder for support, and that is where we have to continue pushing to improve. Now we will be patient in Malaysia, to reach March at full strength.”
And you can watch the unveiling live on motogp.com. A change of title sponsor for the factory Yamaha team means we’ll see a new look M1, but make sure you set your alarm clocks as it’s an early one. The presentation will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, and will begin at 03:45 GMT. Viñales, Rossi and Yamaha bosses will be there to discuss their new machine and what their aims are for the forthcoming season.
Unlike the previous three presentations, Suzuki’s presentation isn’t live. However, you will be able to watch the virtual presentation on www.suzuki-motogp.com, on their YouTube channel and right here on motogp.com at 10:00 GMT. This will include interviews with riders Alex Rins and Joan Mir, plus pictures of videos of their bikes.
The seventh edition of the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy which will hit New Zealand in early 2020. The participating nations now face a busy time, hosting their qualifiers and selecting their teams for this exciting and unique global adventure competition. 18 international teams, plus, as in the 2016 and 2018 editions, an international female contingent will be selected during the next months.
Confirmed teams for 2020
Australia
China
Female Team(s)
France
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Malaysia/Philippines
Mexico
Middle East
Nordic (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland)
North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt)
Russia
South Africa
South Korea
Thailand
UK
USA
BMW International GS Trophy Mongolia 2018
BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2020 Oceania
After the long days on the vast Mongolian Steppe of the 2018 Central Asia edition, New Zealand is going to provide a very different riding environment and experience for the qualifying GS riders.
Ralf Rodepeter, Head of Marketing and Product Management BMW Motorrad
“After Tunisia, Southern Africa, Patagonia, Canada, Thailand and most recently Mongolia, BMW Motorrad were again looking for a location that offers perfect ‘GS terrain’. Lots of legal off-road kilometres are required, with demanding route profiles, passing through fascinating landscapes and with plenty of exotic flair. New Zealand is a perfect fit on those terms. The variety of astounding landscapes from sea to volcanoes to high-altitude mountains, combined with the most beautiful vegetation and the rich Maori culture provide the perfect setting for what we think will be one of the most exciting Int. GS Trophies ever held.”
2018 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy Central Asia – Winners South Africa
About New Zealand
New Zealand is located 1500 km east of Australia, in the Southern Ocean. There are two main islands, North and South, plus a multitude of smaller islands around the coastline. The combined landmass is approximately 270,000 sq km, which is slightly larger than say the UK, yet the population is just 4.9 million compared to the UK’s 66 million.
Taking into account New Zealand’s significant urban populations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this makes for a very sparsely populated countryside and many regions of New Zealand can be termed wilderness.
Geologically, New Zealand is positioned over the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates so this leads to the presence of many (active) volcanoes, geothermal regions plus an alpine mountain range that reaches higher than 3700 metres. Seismic activity occurs periodically.
Positioned so remotely, much of New Zealand’s flora and fauna have evolved in isolation over millennia so are unique to this country. This includes the Kiwi bird, NZ’s national icon, which quietly forages under the dense canopy of the island’s native forests – which in turn are thousands of years old (with Kauri, Rimu and Totara trees which in days past were valued for boat and house building but today, like the Kiwi, are protected species).
The variation in the landscape is startling and the riders can expect to experience everything from forests to deserts to mountains probably all on the same day. Visiting in the antipodean summertime temperatures should be similar to that of central Europe in August.
New Zealand is also rich in culture and that of the indigenous Maori people – with strong principles of community and stunning arts and crafts – is particularly unique and valued.
2018 BMW International GS Trophy Central Asia – Day 1
International GS Trophy
The New Zealand 2020 event is the seventh edition of the International GS Trophy, the previous editions took place in Central Asia (Mongolia) in 2018, South East Asia (Thailand) in 2016, North America (Canada) in 2014, South America (Chile, Argentina) in 2012, South Africa (SA, Swaziland, North Africa (Tunisia) in 2008. This edition will see 19 teams – maybe even 20 – competing, meaning 54-57 riders, from around the world.
The event is not a race but a team competition, pitching the GS-riding international contingent against each other in a series of challenges – and not all involve riding. With the competitors camped nightly in a bivouac, the event also fosters a sense of brotherhood, sisterhood and camaraderie. Equally the GS Trophy is a celebration of culture and nature, the riders learning about and understanding the peoples and the terrains of the regions they encounter. So the successful team will be respectful of the environment, skillful and sympathetic with their machinery and understanding of team-mates.
Stephanie Bouisson, France, Amy Harburg, Australia and Morag Campbell, South Africa, formed the first ever female team in Thailand in 2016.
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