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Isle of Man TT

Oct 26

Isle Of Man TT Announces 2023 Schedule

By General Posts

Two UK Bank holidays should help IOMTT attendees enjoy more racing.

by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com

The Isle of Man TT (IOMTT) returned to the Snaefell Mountain Course in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. As expected, drama unfolded over the two-week period, but officials are always searching for ways to make the Tourist Trophy even better. With the aim of enhancing the event’s long-term sustainability by increasing overall visitor numbers, the new 10-race schedule addresses issues identified by IOMTT organizers.

“This research revealed that the existing TT schedule, the Island’s travel capacity, the Island’s accommodation infrastructure, costs factored against the current economic climate, and customers’ changing habits are no longer compatible and do not meet the needs of the event’s customers,” stated MHK Minister for Enterprise Lawrie Hooper.

To optimize the TT’s crowd-welcoming ability, organizers scheduled the opening-day qualifying on May 29, 2023, the U.K.’s Spring Bank Holiday. Authorities also deemed Friday, June 9, 2022, the “TT Bank Holiday”, bookending the racing event with two three-day weekends.

The 2023 Isle of Man TT schedule follows:

Qualifying Week

  • Monday, May 29, 2023 – Morning & Afternoon Qualifying
  • Tuesday, May 30, 2023 – Evening Qualifying
  • Wednesday, May 31, 2023 – Evening Qualifying
  • Thursday, June 1, 2023 – Evening Qualifying
  • Friday, June 2, 2023 – Afternoon Qualifying

Race Week

  • Saturday, June 3, 2023 – Supersport (Race 1) and Sidecar (Race 1)
  • Sunday, June 4, 2023 – Superbike TT
  • Tuesday, June 6, 2023 – Superstock (Race 1) and Supertwin (Race 1)
  • Wednesday, June 7, 2023 – Supersport (Race 2) and Sidecar (Race 2)
  • Friday, June 9, 2023 – Superstock (Race 2) and Supertwin (Race 2)
  • Saturday, June 10, 2023 – Senior TT

Of course, many IOMTT attendees predicate travel plans based on their work schedules. By recognizing two Bank Holidays over the course of the 2023 IOMTT, organizers hope to increase the economic benefits to local businesses. From hotels to restaurants to pubs, the extended schedule should help Isle of Man commerce to better accommodate visiting sportbike fans.

‘The Island’s current TT capacity is limited to around 28,000 visitors at any one time, with the current visitor curve highlighting infrastructure pressures in the middle weekend,” added Hooper. “In its simplest form, the new schedule aims to sustain current visitor numbers while promoting growth. We expect this new schedule to encourage new visitor patterns and capitalize on capacity, driving an additional 50,000 bed nights over time, representing an additional spend on the Island of £6 million (~$7M USD).”

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Dec 06

Norton Motorcycles unveils new Café Racer bike

By General Posts

from https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/ by Enda Mullen

The V4CR, a derivative of the company’s V4SV superbike, will go on show at Motorcycle Live

Legendary manufacturer Norton Motorcycles has revealed a prototype of a new motorcycle. The V4CR, is a Café Racer derivative of the company’s V4SV superbike.

It is the first prototype to be designed, engineered and built at the company’s recently opened global headquarters in Solihull.

It shares the same engineering DNA as the superbike, including its 185bhp 1200cc V4 engine as well as some engineering advancements.

Norton said the new V4CR’s stripped-back appearance showcases the craftsmanship and quality behind one of the most powerful British café racers out there.

Fitted with a carbon fibre fuel tank and body panels, polished billet aluminium swingarm and frame, the V4CR also features compact framework and a shorter rear frame for an aggressive and commanding stance.

Norton Motorcycles’ CEO Dr Robert Hentschel said: “The prototype VC4R is the next step in Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming the world-leader in luxury hand-crafted motorcycles.”

The V4CR prototype is Norton’s latest project to use the marque’s refined V4 platform, revised over the last 16 months by a team of 30 engineers and subject to tens of thousands of road and track miles, as part of Norton’s development process.

The V4CR reintroduces fans to Norton’s iconic café racer heritage.

Norton’s V4CR prototype will make its public debut at Motorcycle Live, taking place at the NEC in Solihull from December 4-12.

Norton formally opened its Solihull headquarters in November this year.

The motorcycle maker has a long and illustrious history, though fell on hard times before being revived.

It became one of the most iconic British motorcycle brands, manufacturing famous models such as the 650SS, Atlas, Commando, Dominator, Manx, Navigator and many more.

It gained a reputation as an innovator in motorcycle technology, with features combining lightness and strength in motorcycle racing.

Norton Motorcycles has a rich history in motorsport and the brand name is synonymous with the famous Isle of Man TT.

The new headquarters in Solar Park, Shirley, is home to design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, and support teams – as well as the skilled production team that is resuming the manufacture of motorcycles.

Norton Motorcycles’ revival and relocation from Castle Donington comes after it was acquired by TVS Motor Company, India’s third-largest motorcycle manufacturer in April 2020.

Jun 29

Rare Ducati MH900e at auction costs more than 2021 Monster 1200 S

By General Posts

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com

Turn your garage into a museum with a timeless piece of Bologna’s two-wheeled artwork.

Rare Ducati MH900e Rolls to Auction, Is Pricier Than a 2021 Monster 1200 S

The Ducati MH900e was designed by Pierre Terblanche to honor Mike Hailwood’s victory at the 1978 Isle of Man TT race. This gorgeous machine saw a limited production run of only 2,000 copies at the dawn of the 21st century, making it an extremely desirable rarity for any diehard Ducatista out there.

To be fair, the MH900e has to be among the sexiest machines ever conceived by the illustrious South African designer. The way its front fairing merges with the gas tank to form a single unit is downright perfect, causing several motorcycle customization enterprises to replicate this feature on their bespoke ventures.

As for the Duc’s technical specifications, its steel trellis framework embraces an air-cooled 904cc L-twin powerplant, with two desmodromic valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.2:1. The mill is capable of generating up to 75 stallions at around 8,000 spins per minute, along with 56 pound-feet (76 Nm) of torque lower down the rpm range.

In order to reach the rear 17-inch wheel, the oomph travels via a six-speed transmission and a chain final drive. This whole ordeal translates to a solid quarter-mile time of 11.9 seconds, while top speed is generously rated at 133 mph (215 kph).

On the other hand, stopping power comes from dual 320 mm (12.6 inches) brake discs and four-piston calipers up front, accompanied by a single 220 mm (8.7 inches) rotor and a twin-piston caliper at the rear. The bike’s front end sits on 43 mm (1.7 inches) inverted telescopic forks, coupled with a Sachs monoshock at the back.

Right, you get the idea, so let’s cut to the chase. This article’s photo gallery reveals an unblemished Ducati MH900e produced back in 2002, and the creature is making its way to the auction block at this very moment! You may Click Here to submit your bid for this Italian wonder on Bring A Trailer until July 3, but we do hope your wallet is well-nourished, as you’ll need over $20k to overtake the top bidder.