The Honda Red Riders took on round 10 of the 2010 AMA Motocross Championship and AMA Women’s Motocross Championship at Moto-X 338 in Southwick, MA on Saturday, August 28, and Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short, Kevin Windham and Ashley Fiolek battled it out in the sand aboard their CRF450R and CRF250R race machines while GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard and Justin Barcia scored moto wins aboard their CRF250Rs.

Kevin Windham fared well at Southwick as he went 10-5 to finish the round fifth overall. The veteran Honda racer was mid-pack at the start of moto one but he made up several spots before the race’s end to finish in 10th place. In moto two Windham got away to a flying start, grabbing the holeshot and running among the top contenders to eventually finish fifth and secure fifth overall for the round.

The weekend was punishing for Short, who has consistently run up front all season long. He suffered a technical issue in practice and was caught up in on-track collisions in both motos one and two. The likeable Honda racer was charging hard in moto one when he came together with Ben Townley, which caused both riders to go down. Rejoining the fray at the rear of the pack, Short unleashed a full-throttle assault on the competition and was making solid gains only to run out of gas in the closing stages of the race. Finishing in 15th spot, Short launched from the start gate only to get caught up in a first-turn pile up. Riding a come-from-behind race, Short eventually took the checkers in 17th position to place 18th overall for the round.

In other 450-class action, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Brett Metcalfe was in strong contention for the moto one win when he ran out of fuel in the closing stages of the moto and finished in 14th position. In moto two Metcalfe went down on the opening lap but he remounted and worked his way back up to finish in seventh spot, putting him ninth overall for the round. Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Townley had two action-filled motos; he crashed out of moto one and bounced back to finish second in moto two, finishing the round in seventh position.

Source: http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=5610

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Marking the re-start of the world championship after it’s summer break the Greek event was certainly anything but easy with the brutal heat and demanding dry terrain providing plenty of challenges. With dust a major problem, riders competed one per minute – instead of the usual two a minute – in an attempt to make racing safer. Welcomed by the riders it made for two very long days.

Looking to improve his results in the Enduro 2 class, but knowing that he’s always found it difficult to perform at his very best in Greece, Joakim Ljunggren finished the opening day less than pleased with his 10th place result before improving on day two with a well deserved fourth place result. “It’s been a mixed weekend for me,” admitted the newly crowned Swedish Enduro Champion. “I’ve been riding here since ’05 and I’ve never been able to race at my best. I don’t know why, maybe it’s the terrain. I just can’t find the speed needed to do well in the enduro test. I felt good but the times weren’t coming like I wanted them to.”

Although one of four special tests ridden each lap the long enduro test was largely where the event’s results were decided. “I didn’t have any problems on the other tests, just on the enduro test. During the first day I just wasn’t as fast as I needed to be. The second day was better, much better really. I felt my riding was improved and my times were faster. I want to be challenging for the podium but at least I was able to improve things on day two.”

Valtteri Salonen was another Husaberg team rider that found the Greek event tough, ending the sixth round of the EWC series with blood pouring from his right elbow having crashed on the enduro test. Unable to make any impression on the E2 class leaders Valtteri set some impressive test times, but like many riders suffered with water entering his bike’s air box on the enduro test.

Source:http://www.husaberg.com/Hot-hot-hot-for-Husaberg-Enduro-Factory-Team-at-EWC-Rnd-6.23.0.html?nodeID=1171&cHash=1a6a70b12e

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Hosur: TVS Motor Company has won the prestigious Dr. C K Ramchandar Award for Best Medical Centre for the year 2009-10. The annual award, given by Indian Association of Occupational Health, Tamilnadu Chapter, was set up in memory of Dr. C K Ramachandar, the doyen of Occupational health services in Tamilnadu. The late Dr. C K Ramachandar was instrumental in the founding the Tamilnadu Chapter of Indian Association of Occupational. For almost twelve years beginning 1955, he took it upon himself to propagate the concept, ideals and methodology of the organization of occupational health services.

On receiving the award, Dr. Rajan Babu, Chief Medical Officer, TVS Motor Company said, “This award is the result of our continuous endeavor to use innovation to drive health and safety management leveraging the availability of modern technology.”

He added that the company has also developed a software program that enables us to view the entire medical history of an employee right from his first interaction with our company. It facilitates better diagnosis and treatment.

Another key initiative that won the company the Dr. C K Ramchander Award is the implementation of a specific program to negate the ominous risk of noise induced hearing loss. The program included installation of more efficient and environment friendly machines, providing employees with specially designed noise reduction ear plugs and conducting an inclusive education program on hearing loss for employees. The calculated improvement in productivity on implementation of these measures is as much as 20% per employee.

Source:http://www.tvsmotor.in/news.asp?id=238&yr=2010

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Hosur: In an impressive showing of monthly numbers, TVS Motor Company registered the highest ever sales figures in the month of August 2010. Total sales of the company stood at 170,735 units in August 2010 against 127,875 units in August 2009, a growth of 34%. Robust growth in all segments of the two and three wheeler market enabled the company to record maximum sales. Independently too, two wheelers and three wheeler sales were highest ever for TVS Motor Company.

Two Wheeler

Total two wheeler sales of the company for the month of August 2010 grew 32% with sales of 167,109 units against 126,842 units recorded in August 2009.

Cumulative sales registered a growth of 32% for the period April to August 2010 with sales of 786,256 units against 594,927 units in April to August 2009.

Domestic sales grew by 29%, registering sales of 148,081 units in August 2010 against 115,095 units in August 2009.

Scooter sales of the company grew 43% increasing to 40,913 units in the month of August 2010 from 28,582 units registered in August 2009.Motorcycles registered a growth of 30% in August 2010, with sales of 66,574 units against 51,127 units in August 2009.

Source:http://www.tvsmotor.in/news.asp?id=237&yr=2010

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Tyre manufacturer Maxxis joined around 20,000 Ford enthusiasts at a sun-drenched Silverstone (Saturday, August to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ford Fair, Europe’s biggest and best Ford festival.

As the exclusive tyre partner of Future, the special-interest media company behind some of the biggest performance/tuning events including Ford Fair, Maxxis promoted its range from a prime position in the Platinum Retail Village, while the Maxxis Babes handed out free T-shirts and posed for photographs as they mingled with die hard Ford enthusiasts.

“The glorious weather certainly helped to bring out the crowds, but such is the popularity of Ford Fair that the attendance figures just get bigger year on year. It was an ideal platform for us to promote our high performance range,” says Maxxis UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.

Visitors to this year’s Ford Fair were among the first in the country to take their own cars around the new GP circuit, as used by the F1 stars for this year’s British Grand Prix. Interspersed with the public track sessions were Fast Ford magazine’s fastest Fords plus a display of Blue Oval Saloon Series race cars and Formula Fords. Over on the Stowe Circuit front, rear and four wheel drive Fords were put through their paces on the popular VI Performance 0-60 sprint strip.

Away from the track Paul Swift and his stunt team put on a superb display of car control in the Ford Live Action Arena and there were thousands of vehicles in the club displays and concours of standard and modified cars. Classic Ford magazine’s stand included a display of Cosworth-powered classics and a huge selection of the best classic Fords in the country, while the stars of the Fast Ford magazine stand, based in the pitlane/paddock area, were 3-Door Sierra Cosworths, the UK’s Fastest Fords and a wide range of past and future feature cars.

Source: http://www.maxxis.co.uk/News/NewsView.aspx?newsid=114

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Irvine, Calif. – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Justin Soule battled back from a tough start to end the night with a top-five finish at the inaugural EnduroCross event in Indianapolis. Kawasaki’s filled the top 10 with half the finishers on green machines. Kyle Redmond earned his first career podium with a second place finish, while privateer Gary Sutherlin also raced to his best finish in fourth place. Colton Haaker came across the checkered just behind Soule in sixth, while Jamie Lanza finished eighth.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Under the Tent

Steady Season
In just his first season riding EnduroCross, Soule continued his consistent ways with a come-from-behind fifth-place finish. After a decent start, he got caught up on the first lap and was last as he finished the lap. He didn’t let that stop him from putting in a charge and with a little help from the other riders having their own bad luck, he pushed his way up to fifth on the final lap.

“I’m pretty disappointed with how tonight went,” said Soule. “I know I can be up on the podium every weekend. I’ve been working so hard to get used to this type of racing and i really think it’s paying off. I’m happy I was able to salvage a win but I know I can be up there. Eventually I know I’ll be contender for the win. Its just hard with EnduroCross since it’s so unpredictable.”

Privateer Finisher
Kawasaki’s Sutherlin has made every main event so far this year and on Friday, earned his career best finish with a fourth place. He was very close to the podium, but played it safe and came across with the top finish of his career.

“I haven’t been able to ride much since Kawasaki brought my bike to the race so all things considered, I feel like I rode really well,” said Sutherlin. “I think I backed it down too much and played it safe when I knew I could possibly take over third, but I learned from the experience and I hope to get my first podium really soon.”

Source: http://www.kawasaki.com/NewsEvents/NewsDetail.aspx?id=932

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Nicky Hayden was out of luck at his home Grand Prix today, the American losing his knee slider early in the race. It is a small but crucial piece of equipment for the riders because it helps them support the bike at full lean angle. As such it was a near impossible task for Hayden but he put in a valiant effort to bring his bike home in sixth place.

Casey Stoner didn’t make the best of starts but was quickly making up ground and was about to challenge Valentino Rossi for sixth position on the eighth lap when he lost the front and crashed.

Source: http://www.ducatipress.com/index.php?id=172

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Nicky Hayden will start a MotoGP race from the front row of the grid for the first time in Ducati Team colours tomorrow after a sensational qualifying performance at Indianapolis. The American rider’s fastest ever lap of his home circuit moved him into provisional pole position with just a few minutes remaining of this afternoon’s session but he was nudged out to third place by late efforts from his compatriot Ben Spies and series leader Jorge Lorenzo.

Casey Stoner will start from directly behind his team-mate after qualifying sixth fastest. The Australian found a good pace on race tyres but did not experience the same leap in quality as Hayden when switching to a softer tyre, so despite being amongst the pacesetters all weekend he lines up on the second row.

Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) 3rd (1′40.336): “I finally got my first front row with Ducati - it only took a year and a half! We’re really happy for it though especially because it’s so important for tomorrow’s race. If I want to be running up front tomorrow I have to be there from the start and I told Juan [Martinez - Nicky's crew chief] before the session that we were due a front row and today was the day to get it. We found a decent setting on race tyres and when we put the soft compound in the jump was so big it felt like the kind of qualifying tyres we used to have. To have two American’s on the front row is great for MotoGP in this country and for everybody who supports it over here. Hopefully it brings out a big crowd tomorrow and we’ll do our best to put on a good show.”

Source: http://www.ducatipress.com/index.php?id=172

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Team Ducati returns to the United States of America this week for the eleventh round of the MotoGP World Championship, which takes place at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is the second home race of the season for Nicky Hayden, who was born, raised and still lives in Owensboro, Kentucky, not far from the border with the neighboring State of Indiana.

Hayden finished third at Indy last year, his best result of the season, and he would love to repeat it this Sunday. His left wrist, injured during qualifying at Brno, is in better shape and should not hinder him this weekend.

Casey Stoner is also looking forward to racing at Indy for the first time since he took fourth place in the rain-interrupted inaugural race in 2008. The Australian is also keen to confirm whether technical updates introduced at the post-race test at Brno have a positive effect at the famous old circuit.

Source: http://www.ducatipress.com/index.php?id=172

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers

Ducati and Valentino Rossi have signed a two year agreement for the nine-times World Champion to race with the “Rossa” of Borgo Panigale in the Ducati MotoGP Team from 2011.

The arrival of Valentino in Ducati opens a new and exciting chapter in the Italian factory’s sporting history and, indeed, of the whole MotoGP Championship. The opportunity of lining-up such an extraordinary rider and character is considered by Ducati to be a huge value to the whole Ducati MotoGP project.

“We are delighted to announce that Valentino Rossi will be with us from 2011,” commented Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding. “He is a paragon of excellence in the world of motorcycling, coherent with our Italian company which is a standard-bearer for “made in Italy” excellence. These are key values for success in technology, design and sportsmanship. In addition to the strong and passionate intent of both parties, this agreement has been made possible by the committed support of our shareholder Investindustrial and all the sponsors associated with the Ducati MotoGP Team, sponsors which have believed in this opportunity and share and support our choices.”

Source:http://www.ducatipress.com/index.php?id=175&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[pointer]=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=7167&tx_ttnews[backPid]=172&cHash=6ad5a6bcc3

Bikes, Motorcycles, Scooters & Two Wheelers