New books, new prototypes and Kipp says no

Suzuki has produced a small yet nice soft cover book on the history of the GSX-R750 from 1985 to 2000. It's twenty-odd pages long and in full color and is actually a pretty good read. It'll be available at your local Suzuki dealer soon, or may be now. And it looks like it's free.

Ducati put out a tersely worded press release this morning that confirmed what you knew five days ago: Ben Bostrom will join Carl Fogarty on the Ducati Performance/Corse team next season in World Superbike. Watch it be classified as "news" by other web sites.

Confirmed: PACE has acquired CCS as of last week and will make an announcement soon.

Ballsy move of the off-season: Tom Kipp was offered a big money contract to ride for Chaparral Suzuki again in 2000, but the reigning AMA 750 Supersport champion decided instead to just say no. Kipp wants to ride a factory Superbike, or not ride at all, and he has told Suzuki to find another person willing to ride the streetbike class.
 

Aaron Yates ripped around Willow Springs in the high 1:21s at his (Welcome back to) Yoshimura test last week. Yates did consistent 1:25s on the 600 and consistent 1:22s on the Superbike. Yates and Co were smart enough to recognize a good thing and nabbed Vic Fasola (who Yates worked with at PPIR while at Muzzys) to be his mechanic at Yosh. Fasola attended the test and is on the verge of signing a contract with Yosh himself.
 

The Tokyo Motor Show is this weekend and two prototype models already turning heads are the Honda X-Wing and Yamaha MT-01. Below are images of the two bikes and verbiage from the press kit.

Yamaha MT-01:
"Towards the next man-machine sensuality: It is said that our wants and desires are limitless. If that is true, the motorcycles we ride have limitless possibilities, as well. Yamaha is now creating a new world of motorcycling. Soul is the word which describes it. We want to satisfy those instinctive wants and desires. The concept of pulse and machine is the MT-01. Most bikes are all about power, speed, and handling. The pulse is motorcycling's original fascination. The engine rocking with explosive energy; the rhythm of changing torque; the feel of the tire biting into the road; the music of exhaust and intake - the pulse is born of all those things. Yamaha wants to move your soul by building a new world of man-machine Sensuality. Watch for Yamaha in the 21st Century."

Now the Honda: Honda X-Wing:
"Speeding down Europe's autobahns like a wind from the Alps, this near  future sports tourer is powered by an exceptionally smooth running V6 engine. It's adjustable fairing provides superb aerodynamic performance, and it's  elegant shape proves the maxim that form does indeed follow function. Featuring a next generation Combined Brake System + ABS, an electronically controlled Traction Control System, a multifunctional navigation system and an  internet capable display monitor, and a two-way rider/pillion communication system, this machine is a showcase of state-of-the-future motorcycle technology. Safe, clean, efficient, and comfortable, the X-Wing raises tandem touring  to truly new levels of elegance and performance."
 
 
 

Speaking of Muzzy, the RC30 bodywork has been sold, so please stop calling.
 

American Honda has a new contingency program for next year. Read about it here.
 
 

More later, maybe.

-- Dean Adams