2008 Ducati Desmosedici D16rr Superbike (bensenville | Chicago) on 2040-motos

Moto blog

848 Challenge official race report: Assen

Robbie Brown shared the race wins with a resurgent Darren Fry at Round Two as the Ducati 848 Challenge visited the Assen TT circuit, the first of its two overseas rounds this year.Championship leader Brown (Ducati Manchester) was on imperious form all weekend, but Fry (Hirebase/JHP Racing), still not back to full fitness following an illness that left him in doubt about riding this year, put in a performance that was reminiscent of the form that took him to the Challenge title in 2010.With a win and a second place this weekend Brown extended his lead at the top of the table, but in also picking up a win and second Fry is back in the game in second with six rounds still to go. Sam Coventry (Moto Rapido), new to the Challenge this season and quickly getting back up to speed racing a twin after his year away in Spanish CEV championship, bagged third in both races to leapfrog to third in the championship.A number of other riders were able to put in solid performances over the two dry race days to do themselves no harm in the championship; in particular Jack Keen (Team Havoc Racing) with a fourth and fifth, and another championship newcomer Sean Neary (MotoCorse UK Racing) who scored a seventh and sixth.Race 1 was something of a dramatic affair with a number of fallers on the first lap, including front-runners Mike Edwards (OHLINS@P&H Motorcycles), Mark Cheetham (Hunt Pie Machines) and James Folkard (Win43.com) who came together at the first left-hander while battling for second place behind Brown. That left Coventry and Fry a clear track to chase down Brown, with Keen and Ed Smith (Ultim8 Racing) pushing hard through the field to close the gap.

MORE Exciting News from Ducati?

Ducati held its third Global dealer meeting this past weekend where it showed the cards up its sleeve. While Ducati unveiled the highly anticipated Streetfighter 1098, 1198, 1098R Bayliss replica and the M11 to press, it also showed dealers a fifth model. This model is so secret that security asked to see dealers’ mobile phones to make sure no photos were taken.

Exclusive interview with the Pope

The Pope, graciously took ten minutes out of his hectic Third World Tour of an aggressively atheist county to speak to us of his recently publicised passion for motorcycles So, Jo, you like your bikes? ‘Ja, Very much. I haff liked motorcycles since a very early age during my time in ze Hitler Youth organisation, in fact.