KILDARE RIDER TO COMPETE IN NEW R1 CUP:An Irish rider has been selected from over 80 applicants to take part in the new Yamaha R1 Cup in the UK.
The new one-make series will be one of the support races to next year's British Superbike Championship and is attracting huge interest because of the potential it offers up-and-coming riders. AJ Hutchinson, a trainee architect from Co Kildare, will be one of 36 riders taking part in the new series in 2008, following an outstanding season in the 2007 Triumph Triple Challenge where he finished 8th overall.
The R1 Cup is split into two separate six-round championships to give riders who experience difficulties early on the chance to shine in the second part of the season. Hutchinson and his Irish-based team now face the task of raising €35,000 to enter the championship. For more information go to www.ajhutchracing.com.
ROUTE 66 NO LONGER RIDER'S FAVOURITE
According to a survey by UK bike insurers Bennetts, Route 66 is no longer the favourite destination of holidaying bikers. Instead, adventurous riders are heading to the 400km long coastline of southeast Australia. The Great Ocean Road has become the holiday destination, according to 27 per cent of bikers surveyed, with world-famous landmarks like the Twelve Apostles and the Otways Rainforest to see en route. The iconic Route 66 is still a popular choice with 22 per cent of bikers dreaming of crossing America's most famous highway which links California to Chicago. A surprising 17 per cent of bikers said they were keen to tackle Vietnam's legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail while 11 per cent of UK bikers said they would like to enter the Paris Dakar endurance race.
DUCATI DESMOSEDICI RR SOLD OUT
Ducati's new Desmosedici RR, a €50,000 roadgoing replica of the company's Desmosedici racing bike, has sold out. Ducati originally indended to make only 300 of the special edition bikes, but the response has been such that production numbers were raised to 1,500. The first customer bikes are only being delivered now and deliveries will continue for the next 12 months. Ducati has decided it won't be making any more. The Desmosedici's L4 Desmotronic 989cc engine produces 200hp and 116Nm of torque.
SAT NAV TOPS CHRISTMAS LIST
A survey by Bennetts Insurance in the UK has revealed that the top gift for motorcyclists this Christmas is satellite navigation. Sat Nav units were chosen ahead of the usual biker gifts such as steering dampers (23 per cent) and cruise control (19 per cent) and claimed a whopping 29 per cent of the votes. Seat heaters (14 per cent) and a cup holder (9 per cent) round out the top five biker prezzies.
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