The 2010 MotoGP season saw one of the most impressive rookie performances in series history when Parts Europe-supported Ben Spies lined up aboard his privateer Yamaha.
The Texan had already earned numerous championships worldwide and proved his MotoGP talent was a force to be reckoned with.
Spies had earned multiple podium finishes, the pole position in Indianapolis and MotoGP rookie of the year honors as he finished the series sixth overall.
Spies will now make the move to the Factory Yamaha squad for 2011, replacing Valentino Rossi, and will no doubt be a title contender.
To cap off this amazing MotoGP season, Spies has been nominated for another Rookie of the Year award for the SPEED Performance Awards. He is up against four other rookies from various motorsports disciplines and can use your help to pull off the win.
Voting for the awards will close at midnight on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010. The winner will be announced during a one-hour SPEED television special in February. To view Spies' highlight video and to cast your vote, click here.
Just like Ben Bostrom, the new SHOEI X-Twelve is one of a kind! We joined the two road racing super heroes during a recent testing session at Thunderhill Raceway in Northern California. Ben’s feedback was integral during the development of SHOEI’s groundbreaking new racing helmet, and we got it all on film!
Check out this ESPN video of NBA legend Michael Jordan and owner of the Michael Jordan Motorsports team talking about his avid love and passion for motorcycle racing, riding and his own team.
Jordan Suzuki will be fielding Roger Lee Hayden and Ben Bostrom next season, and the team will be testing this month at Jennings Motorsports Park in Florida.
Bestseller motorcycle market for many seasons, the latest version of the Honda CB600F Hornet, launched in 2007, failed to collect the sales success that was expected. Ironically, the last Hornet 600 placed on the market was the best of all, thanks to a new engine, derived from the CBR600RR the same year, and a chassis really to the point, but it did not have a well-deserved commercial success. Much of the low public acceptance, in our view, it is derived from upstream of codon look too, which did not meet the favor of customers, loyal to the flowing lines and slender, pointed upward, while the tail of the Hornet, was aimed inexorably downward.
The new 2011 version of the Hornet, presented at EICMA 2010, stands out for its modern and sporty look. The single tank was unchanged, while the head lamp now has a more streamlined and compact design that integrates the instrumentation has also been completely renovated. The 2011 Hornet was distinctive due to the new sleek and slender tail upwards, which accentuates the sporting image of the vehicle. After all, the design of the latter is undoubtedly more conservative than before, but many will agree in saying that, at this historical moment, the market is not that good inclined to accept flights of fancy, and so it is best to focus on forms perhaps less personal but can better accommodate the tastes of a broad audience.
To help propel the look of the rear, the passenger door handles are now integrated in the tail. The new headlight / fairing is surrounded by two side profiles that evoke the wing and increase the Honda family feeling with the CB1000R. The projector is now in double rather than single dish, and it is placed under the position lamp shaped like a V. The technical basis of the Hornet 2011 is unchanged, then we find the known 566 cm3 engine capable of delivering 102 hp, the well-known single-beam frame Alloy adjustable suspension and introduced the 2009 model year. Both the front to the rear which, in fact, you can adjust the spring preload and rebound damping.
Three colors are planned for 2011: Sprint Pearl and Yellow Pearl Cool White added that the inevitable Nightstar Black Pearl.
Mahindra and Mahindra to enter 125cc World Championship?
The final year of the 125cc World Championship could feature a new manufacturer, with Indian brand Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) planning a 2011 entry.
This category [125cc] is relevant to people in India as the bulk of the bikes [sold here] are in the 110cc and 125cc," siliconindia.com quotes Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra group as saying.
"The advertising in the recent Football World Cup [for the group's technology arm Mahindra Satyam] made us understand the power of global branding and benefited the group.
"So this is an interesting sequential chapter to our global branding effort."
A formal announcement on M&M's 125cc grand prix plans should be made "shortly".
India will host its first F1 race next October and there are rumours that the country could join the MotoGP calendar.
Five manufacturers scored points in this year's 125cc World Championship: Derbi and Aprilia (both owned by Piaggio), Honda, KTM and Lambretta.
A new four-stroke Moto3 class will replace 125cc from 2012.
p/s - will out Modenas can ever been in MotoGP... we once have KR1 by Proton before... what the heck happened to the wreck ???
Singapore has won the entire automotive world with the organization of the Formula 1 Grand Prix since 2008. The city-state now seeks to organize a Grand Prix MotoGP and for that they've got a circuit permamente called Changi Motorsports in honor of the financial group that has taken over the works.
Carmelo Ezpeleta has visited a circuit that has cost more than $ 250 million and sees little reason for this GP can not already be in calendar 2012. The circuit is not the same in the running of Formula 1 and it is unclear whether it will follow the fashion of Qatar to run at night. Are new times since then and at least hope that these new routes not move from programming to some historical circuits as has happened with all four wheels.
Carmelo Ezpeleta," I'm happy to say that things are going well for us to go to Singapore. When the FIM approved safety circuit we can start talking to the owners of it and when you could organize the first race."
The American concluded the two days at Valencia with the third fastest time overall as he put his 2011 M1 through its initial paces.
Ben Spies wrapped up the second and final day of the Official MotoGP Test at Valencia early on Wednesday having gained plenty of positive feedback on his 2011 Yamaha M1. The American, Testing as a factory rider for the first time, put in 49 laps before 1pm and is already looking forward to further developing the bike in Malaysia in February.
"We've had another good day and another day of learning,” he said. “We messed with the bike a bit, changed some settings and went in a positive direction. So another good session working with the new crew again, I'm very happy with it.”
Spies added: “I read some comments from Jorge about the new engine for next year, he seemed to be happy with the way that was going so I look forward to seeing that in Malaysia. I'm looking forward to now having a couple of months of then getting back to it!"
Spies’ Crew Chief Tom Houseworth, who has made the switch from the Tech 3 team with the rider, commented: "We tested the prototype again this morning, we collected the data from yesterday and following a meeting last night made some setting changes for today which we tested with very positive results. Once we had achieved these we went ahead and tested the Bridgestone tyres, testing three options, one of which Ben really liked a lot.”
“The test has been very productive and very promising for the future on the new bike. Ben is really optimistic and looking forward to continuing at Sepang."
so, fans of Yamaha.... looking forward to meet Ben at Sepang in February 2011.
2010 SPEED Performance Award 
