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Aspar Linked Again to Factory Aprilia MotoGP Team

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Jorge “Aspar” Martinez has once again been linked with being a part of Aprilia’s alleged entry into MotoGP racing. Reportedly working with Aprilia to develop a 1000cc motor based off the RSV4 Superbike powerplant that’s dominating World Superbike right now, Aspar and Aprilia have denied any intention to go racing together in MotoGP.

For his part, Aspar currently has his hands full racing in all three of the GP series, while Aprilia has voiced that its priority right now is winning in WSBK. The final nail in the coffin for this rumor is its timeframe of a 2011 entry, which barring another rule change from the GP Commission, is still an 800cc rule year.

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Rumors

Silly Season: Stoner to HRC for €5 Million?

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As silly season continues, rumors continue to persist that Casey Stoner has signed a deal with HRC. It was first reported by Italian news station Sportmediaset, and given it’s appropriate grain of salt, but now the German-language publication Speedweek is announcing the deal as well, and even claiming a contract price of €5 million to see the former World Champion ride a Honda in 2011.

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Rumors

Yamaha R1 to Get Dual-Clutch Transmission?

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Visordown is reporting that Yamaha is planning an electronically controlled dual-clutch transmission for a future version of its YZF-R1 superbike. Taking a page from the Honda VFR1200F’s DCT setup (check for our ride report on this in the next few days), Yamaha is looking to implement a simpler DCT system than the one found on the Honda VFR, with a clutch on either side of the motorcycle gearbox.

Yamaha’s DCT is different from the Honda unit, which employs an input shaft the runs through the other input shaft, and has the clutches all on one side of the motor. Instead of this all-in-one arrangement, Yamaha is using a split input shaft that’s half the normal length, with each half attached to an opposing clutch. The overall affect is a much simpler arrangement, but is not as compact or light as the Honda DCT.

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News

MV Agusta USA Boss Confirms Small-Displacement Motorcycle is in the Works

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Autoblog‘s Jeremy Korzeniewski got a chance to talk with MV Agusta USA boss man Larry Ferracci, where the Director of Operations confirmed that MV Agusta is working on a small-displacement motorcycle, saying “a smaller displacement bike is definitely in the plans for MV Agusta in the near-term future.” The news should be somewhat obvious to A&R regulars, as the “F3”, as its been called, three-cylinder prototype has been spotted both on the road and on the track several times now in F4 fairings.

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Rumors

Dual-Clutch Honda CBR1000RR in the Works?

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Visordown is reporting that Honda has filed patents in Japan that would allow the motorcycle manufacturer to port their dual-clutch transmission, a la VFR1200F, over to multiple platforms in the Honda line, including the Honda CBR1000RR. The patents reportedly center-around reducing the cost to implement the DCT into other motorcycle models by simplifying the electronics and sensors that go into the transmission, and removing expensive components of the existing DCT transmission.

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Rumors

Brammo Eyeing an Electric Sportbike?

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What on Earth could possess electric motorcycle manufacturer Brammo to buy a BMW S1000RR, and then sell it on eBay after only putting 700 miles on the bike? Was Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher not pleased with what’s being hailed as the Sportbike of 2010? No, that’s not the case, Bramscher apparently heralded the bike as the best motorcycle ever made (besides the Brammo Enertia of course).

With a lime green (naturally) BMW S1000RR sitting outside of Brammo HQ not too long ago, and now an eBay classified ad selling said bike, we’re left to wonder what could be in the works. Could a Brammo electric sportbike be peculating in the minds of the Ashland, Oregon volt-heads? Only time will tell.

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Rumors

Rumor: Marco Melandri Linked to BMW/WSBK for 2011, BMW/MotoGP for 2012?

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Silly season isn’t just an event localized to the MotoGP paddock, and rumors are starting to surface in the World Superbike paddock as well. According to the paddock gossip, Marco Melandri could end up on a factory BMW ride in World Superbike next season, but the intrigue doesn’t stop there.

Part of BMW’s plan is then to have Melandri be their rider of choice when the team makes their predicted jump to MotoGP for the 2012 season. BMW team boss Davide Tardozzi is supposedly the mastermind behind the deal WSBK/MotoGP deal, although nothing seems to be set in stone at this point in time.

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Rumors

Moto3 Coming to Replace 125GP in 2012?

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MCN is reporting that the days of 125GP may be numbered as Dorna and the FIM get ready to replace the small displacement GP series with what’s being called the new Moto3 race class. Drawing from the formula found in Moto2, Moto3 features prototype bikes with 250cc four-stroke single-cylinder motors. However instead of a single-spec motor rule, as found in Moto2, Moto3 appears to be open to multiple engine manufacturers.

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Rumors

Troy Bayliss Eyes Return to World Superbike – Making a Wild Card Entry in Italy?

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Nearly two years after the Australian threw in the towel on motorcycle racing, Troy Bayliss has found a way to return to motorcycling headlines by his rumored intention to re-enter the World Superbike racing series. After recently testing for Ducati at Mugello (Bayliss is still on the Italian payroll as a test rider), Troy made it clear that he missed racing, and would like to return to the sport. While many sites are pegging a 2011 season for the Australian rider, we could see him as a wild card entry as early as Misano…if Bayliss goes through on his desires to race again.

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