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Bridgestone Releases Findings on Pedrosa Tire Failure at Motegi

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You may remember that a month ago, . While still able to stay in the race, fans watched as the Spainard began slowing down, unable to challenge the Fiat Yamahas any further. Pedrosa would finish 3rd for the day, but some serious questions and concerns were being asked of Bridgestone, the sole tire provider of the series.

Bridgestone has now confirmed that faulty construction of the tire allowed a foreign element to be embedded in the rubber, which later broke out, taking chunks of rubber with it.

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MV Agusta Accused of Industrial Espionage by Ducati

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Ducati has accused the Managing Director of MV Agusta, Henry D’ Onofrio, of commiting industrial espionage. Namely, the Bologna based Ducati accuses D’Onofrio of violating Ducati trade secrets, unlawful competition, and aggravated robbery against his former employer. 

Since May 1st, D’Onofrio has been the Managing Director of MV Agusta, the company’s most senior post since its acquisition by Harley-Davidson. Before this, the 51 year-old Italian was the Corporate General Director of MV Agusta, and previously worked at Ducati as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. 

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Bikes

MotoCzysz: 0-120mph in 11 Seconds

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Last week we showed you the . That test, and all previous tests that have been done, were conducted with the batteries not installed into the bike. This week we bring you footage of the electric race bike all gussied up and ready to go with its battery packs on-board.

Seeing the bike take a closer shape to its racing form is certainly a sight in of itself, but what intriuged us was how fast this bike can go. In the video linked after the jump we see the bike clearly hit 120mph. It does this in only 11 seconds. Sandbagging us in this video, the E1pc apparently has more, with MotoCyzsz predicting that the bike can do the 0-120mph test in a mere 7 or 8 seconds. More after the jump

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WSBK: Race 1 at Kyalami, South Africa

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This weekend, World Superbike Championship racing returned to South Africa at the Kyalami circuit, much to the delight of local motorcycle fans. The Kyalami track, which had been scheduled to be demolished, and then have housing built in its place, features vast elevation changes and sweeping bends, and has been much improved since the removal of the chicane at Turn 12. So interest was high in how the racing would turn out on this tight twisty circuit. Continue reading for a full race report on Race 1 at Kyalami, South Africa.

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MotoGP Championship Still Up for Grabs

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After Round 4 at Le Mans, The MotoGP Championship is still up for grabs, if not more so than before. Four riders: Lorenzo, Rossi, Stoner, and Pedrosa, are all in a dead heat for the Championship title. Running down the list are further surprises, with Marco Melandri in 5th place (tied with Andrea Dovizioso), just 23 points (or a race win) away from the top of the field.

Colin Edwards can claim the title of best in the US, with his 7th place slot, 31 points back from leader Lorenzo. Meanwhile, Nicky Hayden, a former MotoGP Champion himself, is disappointedly 15th out of 18 riders, 57 points behind first place.

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MotoGP: Weather Changes Leaves Riders Out to Dry in Le Mans

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As we , Le Mans is known for its rapidly changing weather patterns, and a mixture of both rain and sunshine is not uncommon for the French track. The weather gods being unappeased, they decided to bring both the rain and the sun for MotoGP fans in France today. From the very beginning of the French GP things were interesting: with the GP run on a dry track, but riders leaving the grid on rain tires. With teams having to make the call on whether to stay out on rains, or sacrifice time and pit in, there were some interesting results from the choices being made. Continue reading for the spoilers.

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Bikes

Ducati Streetfigher Arriving at US Dealers in Superbike “1098” Boxes

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If you have a Ducati Dealership in your home town, then chances are you may be closer to a Ducati Streetfighter than you think. Arriving as we speak to dealerships in the United States are nondescript cardboard covered metal crates, labeled “Ducati 1098”.

Big deal right, what Ducati dealership doesn’t have a few 1098 superbikes sitting on the showroom floor, or in the shop waiting to be put together? If you saw the box, you’d walk on buy unsuspecting that in fact Ducati has begun shipping the Streetfighter purposefully in these mislabeled crates to throw off any peeking eyes.

Yes, we’ve seen a Ducati Streetfighter on American soil, and on May 22nd so will you. That is of course, assuming you don’t go down to your local Ducati dealership and beg/borrow/steal a peak in their inventory lot. Tell them we sent you.

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Jamie Hacking Likely to Replace Tamada at Miller WSBK Round

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All signs seem to point to Jamie Hacking replacing the injured Makoto Tamada at World Superbike’s stop at Miller Motorsports Park later this month. In fact, Hacking would be replacing Sheridan Morais, the reigning South African Superbike champion, who is currently filling in for Tamada at WSBK’s round at Kyalami. Tamada is still recovering from having a metal plate inserted in his hand after sustaining a wrist fracture at . While the news is not official, Hacking hinted at it when talking to Roadracing World, saying “there’s a possibility I might do it.”

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