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Ducati Monster Art
For years personalizations on Ducatis has been make by owners, to create a unique product and to stand out. Today, Ducati becomes the first maker to offer 13 different colors on their motorcycles.
After many limited editions and collaborations Ducati has started the Monster Art project. And Color Therapy becomes the first episode. Follow the link for more information;
http://www.monster.ducati.com/monsterart/colour_therapy_en.html
Ducati GP9
At last Ducati revealed some details on the all carbon chassis design that everyone in the paddocks have been talking about.
“THE DESMOSEDICI GP9 MONOCOQUE CARBON FIBRE FRAME
The most significant innovation of the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP9 is the monocoque frame in carbon fibre composite.
The technical selection of this type of frame is the next step in the advancement of the bike that has undergone previous major developments in its GP3 and GP7 versions.
The concept of the engine casing has been the guideline of the DESMOSEDICI project. The objective is to create a chassis set-up in which each element carries out a specific function, to obtain the desired rigidity with as little weight as possible, thus attaining maximum efficiency.
The engine, the main frame, the rear sub-frame, the rear suspension system (comprising swing-arm and linkage) and the front suspension system are the main components of the bike.
The basic idea is to abandon the classic concept of the chassis as the element that connects all other elements, in favour of a design in which the engine is the central element to which the main frame, rear sub-frame and rear suspension system are individually connected.
The GP3 was unique in having a rear swing-arm that was attached solely to the engine. In particular both the swing-arm pivot and the suspension linkages were connected directly to the engine without any attachment to the main frame.
The GP7 featured a main frame that was totally detached from the rear sub-frame. Basically the engine was the central element of the bike. The main frame was used as link between the engine and the steering head. The rear sub-frame linked the engine to the seat and to the footpegs and controls. The two frames, main and rear sub-frame, that were still linked to each other on the GP3, were now only attached to the engine on the GP7, meaning that they were smaller and lighter.
On the GP9 the main frame is formed to connect the engine to the steering head. The main frame now also incorporates the air-box in one single construction. This monocoque construction allows the air-box to function efficiently within the main frame.
Choosing to utilise the carbon fibre composite technology to create the frame means that, on the one hand, one can mould the piece into the desired form without incurring enormous equipment costs and, on the other hand, varying levels of rigidity and torsional characteristics can be attained simply by altering the type, the number and the directional orientation of the carbon fibres, using the same equipment.
In testing carried out up until now the GP9 guarantees greater precision and stability in breaking and on entering corners. We maintain, however, that only by using it to race on the various world circuits will we be able to properly evaluate the potential of this technical solution. Employing the said technical solution in competition at the maximum level is the only way to effectively assess it in all its aspects.”
source;
http://blog.ducati.com/post/241/il-telaio-desmosedici-gp9#more
2009 Ducati Supermono Strada
British engineer Alistair Wager (who’s worked with Ducati for many years and who also headed the HMC Ducati AMA Superbike team in 2001) has put a whole new spin on the bike. With some help from the Ducati factory, Wager has built a brand-new Supermono Strada – one that’s fitted with a bigger, more powerful engine and updated chassis/suspension components. Of course, unlike the original ’Mono, Alistair’s machine is also street-legal.
source;
http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2009/04/2009-ducati-supermono-strada-alistair.html
The RAD02 Montjuich Racing
After the successful Rad01, Radical Ducati has come up with an exciting idea again, with the Rad02, the racing edition. For more details follow the link below,
http://www.radicalducati.com/index.php?page=rado02-montjuich
Nicky Hayden released.
Ducati Marlboro’s Nicky Hayden was treated and released from a hospital in Doha, Qatar after x-rays showed no serious damage from a vicious high-side during Saturday night qualifying for Sunday’s season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar.
for the rest of the story;
http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2009/04/11/hayden-treated-and-released
Casey Stoner will start the first race of the 2009 season from the pole position. However, after a big crash, Hayden is doubtful to race Monday night.
First race of the 2009 season is postponed to Monday evening due to heavy rain.
After shortened 125cc and 250cc classes, it was decided that it was unsafe for Motogp riders to run the race.
Stoner; a tenth of a second faster than Rossi
The second MotoGP free practice session for the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar saw Casey Stoner once again sitting pretty at the head of the field, as the Australian shrugged off a response to his Friday dominance made by Valentino Rossi.
Stoner took times under the 1’57 mark for the first time this weekend, and it was only in the final stages of the session that Rossi was able to join him with a solitary lap. Stoner’s 1’56.310 time was just under a tenth of a second faster than that of the 2008 MotoGP World Champion, who later tried to further better his time in the final minute of the run.
Late surges from Loris Capirossi and 2008 poleman Jorge Lorenzo pushed them up into the top five and within half a second of Stoner’s time, with fifth-placed Marco Melandri separated from the group by nearly half a second. Melandri had been involved in a late night meeting with his mechanics on Friday to try and better his top ten placing from the first session, and took over 1.5 seconds off his previous best.
Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso and second Rizla Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen placed ahead of Colin Edwards, Friday’s third quickest rider, whilst the top ten was completed by Randy de Puniet and James Toseland.
Stoner, Capirossi and Scot Racing’s Yuki Takahashi ran off track during the session, but the most spectacular incident involved Ducati Marlboro rider Nicky Hayden. The American had a problem with his Desmosedici GP9 that caused vapor to pour out of the bike and delayed his workload ahead of Saturday qualifying.