Chip Yates is an AMA Pro Racer who decided in 2009 that he will build an electric superbike that beats gas bikes. Well, the time has come, Chip and the SWIGZ.com Pro Racing Team made history yesterday, finishing second and third against gas-powered competitors in the WERA Heavyweight Twins classes at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. In the race, the electric machine did gasoline bike lap times, and reached 154 mph top speed. Read the full article »

After Yamaha released Valentino Rossi, the Italian driver can officially begin his work at Ducati Corse this week, and Ducati didn’t waste any time and they released a set of photos of their 2011 race bike. For a real Ducati fan, probably these are the most anticipated photos of the year. The Desmosedici GP11 was unveiled at a joint event with Ferrari in the Dolomite mountains. The colourful styling of the new race bike comes from Aldo Drudi. Read the full article »

The bikers on the Dakar experienced an unusual day in the region of Copiapo, which began with an atypical grouped start and involved climbing of dunes separated by large valleys. However, even in this type of landscape, the best of riders can still lose their bearings and leave themselves open to setbacks. The first wave of ten riders got the stage going assuredly, but after twenty kilometres, nine of them were over-confident and chose the wrong direction, making a mistake that they were unable to repair. Read the full article »

The initial cull is now over. Unless there is an epidemic of insurmountable mechanical problems, the battle for overall victory should be the business of Marc Coma, Cyril Despres and Francisco Lopez. So far, the kilometres travelled have been favourable to the Spaniard, who first and foremost must be on his guard and protect the lead he possesses. Between Antofagasta and Copiapo, he even endeavoured to improve it, skilfully benefitting from his starting position. Read the full article »

The Italian manufacturer introduced the RXV 4.5 rally bike last year, and the twin-cylinder adventure bike is a real threat to the KTM 450 Rally on the 2011 Dakar. Francisco „Chaleco” Lopez has obtained the third place overall, with three stage victories. His 450cc Aprilia is very reliable, both in terms of performance and sturdiness. The bike features a V-twin with single overheadcamshaft, titanium valves and dry sump lubrication. The RXV 4.5 Rally Replica has a price tag of €37,000. Read the full article »

In a shortened 273 km special stage, Chilean rider Francisco Lopez (Aprilia) managed to achieve best time for the first time this year, which brings him slightly closer to Coma and Despres. His Italian 450cc having now demonstrated its reliability, both in terms of performance and sturdiness, all the conditions were there to see Lopez roar out of the box. In order to make sure he would win this one, the Chilean rider was very tidy; he cleared km 176 with more than 4' lead over Coma. Read the full article »

Ruben Faria has won the stage 6 special, ahead of his countryman Helder Rodrigues. In the battle for the top of the general standings, the minute regained by Despres brings him to within 8'48” of Marc Coma. The leader at the rest day now has a reduced advantage, in light of the dense programme of sand that awaits the bikers after Arica. The issue of the other places on the podium is also far from settled, because “Chaleco” Lopez, still 3rd, lost a significant amount of his lead over his pursuers. Read the full article »

Francisco Lopez has made a habit of winning at least one stage at home since the Dakar has been hosted by his country. Last year, “Chaleco” missed out on this prestigious stage due to a navigational mistake. This time, after a faultless performance all along the 423 km of the Day’s special, the Chilean fans’ favourite offered himself a royal descent down to the now famous finish at Iquique, with its 3 in 10 gradient and many spectators. Success seemed to be on the side of Lopez, because when it came to totting up, he appeared to have won the stage by one second from Frans Verhoeven. Read the full article »

In the duel already being fought by Marc Coma and Cyril Despres, the Catalan took a very slim advantage in the 4th stage of the Personal Dakar Argentina Chile, on a day on which the rally entered Chilean territory. This morning, the Spaniard was the first at the starting line, the most delicate position on the Dakar, because by definition, the competitor opening the way has no tracks to follow. That said, Coma has already shown his expertise in navigation in addition to his skill behind the handlebars. Read the full article »

On the long special of the day, Marc Coma was victorious. The Spanish rider did a very efficient job and and picked up his 12th stage victory on the Dakar in San Salvador de Jujuy, ahead of Cyril Despres. The Frenchman holds on to the race lead by a small margin, whereas outsiders Paulo Gonçalves and Olivier Pain did their chances a whole world of good. Coma was not the only beneficiary of the day’s battles. Paulo Gonçalves, third-placed 3’36” behind the stage winner, moves up a rank with his fine performance. Read the full article »