ThePikes Peak International Hillclimb organising committee is now considering the future of the motorcycle category in the event in the wake of two other motorcycle fatalities in 2014-15 and the fourth rider death in the event’s history.
The event has run since 1916, but motorcycles did not race for 10 years from 1977-79 and 1983-90.
Organisers are investigating whether a series of bumps in the last corner caused Carlin’s bike to high-side.
Rennie’s record run
Images from Rennie’s Facebook page
Carlin’s sad fatality does not take away from Rennie’s victory and record run in the heavy motorcycle class.
The Australian, who is now working in America at Cycle News, set a record time of 9:44.963 riding a 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. He smashed the record by five seconds.
The Tuono was in “nearly showroom stock” condition.
Rennie says he would like to dedicate his record-run video to the memory of the late Carlin Dunne.
“This was a man who helped me to no end as a mentor in my rookie year, went head-to-head with me and came out on top in 2018, and was on course to smash the lap record again this year until fate struck,” Rennie says.
“I’m honoured to have shared this race with him, and thanks to Aprilia for such an amazing team.”
Veteran American racer Carlin Dunne has died in a crash only metres from the finish of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, riding the Ducati V4 Streetfighter prototype.
There have only been six deaths in the event’s history, but organisers seriously considered dropping motorcycles after the two crashes in 2014-15.
Instead, they restricted the field to bikes with single handlebars which excludes super bikes with clip-ons and tightened the vetting process for riders who have to show they can compete safely.
Carlin, aged 36, was the title defender, a four-time winner, the top qualifier and was on target for a record time.
Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
The victory in the heavy motorcycle class went to Australian Rennie Scaysbrook who set a record time of 9:44.963 riding a 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. He smashed the record by five seconds.
Rennie Scaysbrook
Official statements
The hillclimb officials issued this statement:
Throughout the 97 years that this unique race has been conducted on America’s Mountain, we have experienced the ultimate joy in victory, the disappointment of failure and now, the unexpected heartbreak of the loss of a competitor, whose love of the race brought him to Pikes Peak. We mourn the tragic death of Carlin and he will remain in our hearts forever as part of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb family. Carlin will be remembered as a warm hearted mentor with a competitive spirit. He was a gentle and thoughtful man who touched everyone who met him. We will always remember his contagious smile and genuine love for sport.
Ducati North America CEO Jason Chinnock issued this statement:
There are no words to describe our shock and sadness. Carlin was part of our family and one of the most genuine and kind men we have ever known. His spirit for this event and love of motorcycling will be remembered forever as his passing leaves a hole in our hearts.
Hillclimb course
The 20km Pikes Peak course has 156 turns, starts at 2860m above sea level and climbs to an altitude of 4300m which is halfway to the summit of Everest.
Ducati recently released this video of Carlin training on the Streetfighter V4 prototype.
The Italian manufacturer said the Pikes Peak event was identified as an important part in the development process of the new model.
The company has won the Colorado hillclimb three times in 2011 and 2011 with the Multistrada 1200 and last year with the Multistrada 1260.
Carlin rode to victory on each of those occasions and the company celebrated with Pikes Peak versions of those models.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak
Ducati says the Streetfighter V4 “derives directly from the sporty Panigale V4 stripped of its fairings, and fitted with high and wide handlebars”.
Streetfighter V4
The Ducati V4 Streetfghter prototype carlin raced was expected to have even more power than the Panigale V4’s 213 horsepower (158kW).
“The high performance of the 1100cm³ Desmosedici Stradale is kept in hand by aerodynamic profiles specifically designed for this model,” Ducati says.
However, the street production version may be a little tamer, although probably still more than the Aprilia Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
Panigale V4 R
“The prototype will race with a ‘pixelated’ livery, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati; unlike the normal practice with prototypes, the livery does not hide the lines, but exalts them by deliberately revealing how the bike will finally look, “Ducati said.
There is not a lot of difference from the Panigale V4.
Gone is the windscreen and full fairing, although there is still a fair amount of aero bodywork for a naked bike. The rear of the bike looks very similar.
The biggest difference is in the short nose cone with very discrete “eyes” as LED headlights.
Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali said the Streetfighter V4 will be “one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020”.
“Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding; so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production,” he says.
The bike will be presented to the public at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November and will be available in Ducati dealerships from mid-March 2020.
Ducati has finally confirmed that it will produce a naked version of the Panigale V4, called the Streetfighter V4, from March 2020.
The company made the announcement over night as it unveiled its Streetfighter V4 prototype to race the famous Pikes Peak International Hillclimb on 30 June 2019.
Ducati says that “as part of the development process of the new model, the ‘Race to the Clouds’ has been identified as an ideal proving ground for testing the high performance of the Streetfighter V4”.
The company has won the Colorado hillclimb three times in 2011 and 2011 with the Multistrada 1200 and last year with the Multistrada 1260.
They celebrated with Pikes Peak versions of these models.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak
In its official release, Ducati says the Streetfighter V4 “derives directly from the sporty Panigale V4 stripped of its fairings, and fitted with high and wide handlebars”.
One of the prerequisites for motorcycles in the hillclimb is that they do not have clip-on handlebars.
Streetfighter V4
It’s been no secret that Ducati has been working on a Streetfighter V4, but they still have some secrets.
While Ducati has not released any tech specs on the prototype, the race-trim engine is expected to have more power than the Panigale V4’s 213 horsepower (158kW).
“The high performance of the 1100cm³ Desmosedici Stradale is kept in hand by aerodynamic profiles specifically designed for this model,” Ducati says.
However, the street production version may be a little tamer, although probably still more than the Aprilia Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
Panigale V4 R
“The prototype will race with a ‘pixelated’ livery, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati; unlike the normal practice with prototypes, the livery does not hide the lines, but exalts them by deliberately revealing how the bike will finally look, “Ducati says.
There is not a lot of difference to the Panigale V4.
Gone is the windscreen and full fairing, although there is still a fair amount of aero bodywork for a naked bike. The rear of the bike looks very similar.
The biggest difference is in the short nose cone with very discrete “eyes” as LED headlights.
Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali confirms that the Streetfighter V4 will be “one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020”.
“Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding; so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production,” he says.
The bike will be presented to the public at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November and will be available in Ducati dealerships from mid-March 2020.
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