Speed Triple is 15

HARD to believe but Triumph’s Speed Triple has just made it to its 15th birthday.  The bike has been the British manufacturer’s most successful model and to celebrate its 15th anniversary it has built a distinctive new high-specification special edition.
The limited edition model comes in a unique metallic Phantom Black colour scheme, with hand finished red pin-striped wheels to match unique ‘15th Anniversary Special Edition’ decals on the rear bodywork and flyscreen complete the special edition’s sophisticated yet aggressive look.
The Speed Triple 15th Anniversary Special Edition is based on the 2009 Speed Triple and comes equipped with a number of additional items as standard, including a colour matched belly pan and fly screen.  Also included is a stylish and comfortable Gel Seat from the Genuine Triumph Accessories range.
Adding to the desirability of the new model, each buyer will receive an exclusive Speed Triple 15th Anniversary watch as a special gift.  This high-quality timepiece will not be available to buy separately and is only available to purchasers of the bike.
Since first hitting showrooms in February 1994, the Speed Triple has racked 35,000 sales and such is the significance of the Speed Triple to Triumph, company owner John Bloor has authorised use of his signature on the fuel tank for the very first time on the 15th Anniversary Special Edition.

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GSX-R1000 for Jay Leno

AMERICAN ‘Tonight Show” TV host has been presented with a one of the first of the new GSX-R1000K9s by American Suzuki Motor Corp.  Suzuki made the presentation on April 10 at Leno's famed Big Dog Garage in Burbank as a "thank you" for his years of supporting the motorcycle industry and for bringing mainstream awareness to the motorcycle industry.
"Wow, what can I say to a new Suzuki but ‘thanks,' " said Leno, who is retiring from the Tonight Show this year. 
"Not only will this bike make a great addition to my already extensive Suzuki motorcycle collection, it'll give me something to do with the free time I'm about to have on my hands.  I've been a motorcycle enthusiast for years and I really appreciate Suzuki's sentiment in presenting me with this motorcycle."

Waikato Hill Climb

The Hamilton Motorcycle club recently ran a Hill climb ‘out the back’ of Morrinsville. Kendrick Younger won the event on a Honda CRF450 with a time of 37.95 seconds. Younger rode on standard wheels and a set of road tyres. Nick Kempenhout, the fastest man from the earlier wet run on his Husqvarna 450 was second and F1 Engineerings with Steve Bridge on his 620 Ducati third. The Quine road course is run as an annual event. Flat with few straights it is said to favour smaller bikes, motards and post classic machines.

ABS for wet races?

THE ABS equipped Honda CBRs we mentioned last month and rode this month could very well be used in world championship racing next month.  At least that’s the muffled rumour doing the rounds.  
World Supersport champion Andrew Pitt could use the homologated ABS system on his race bike for wet races.  The legality of the system is unclear but the ABS system may well be useful to him after a recent Assen race.  Pitt fell while overtaking championship leader Cal Crutchlow, who then managed to run over the Australian’s arm!  If Pitt does need a hand for the Monza round, Mr ABS might well be the ticket.

Donington doubts…

THE Donington Park (England) round of the MotoGP world championship in July and the Superbike World Championship scheduled for the same venue on June 26-28 are in doubt.  This follows legal proceedings in which the circuit owner (Wheatcroft & Son Limited) has issued legal proceedings to recover £2.47 million in unpaid rent from the track operator (Donington Ventures Leisure Limited).
According to Britain’s Motor Cycle News, these legal manouevres mean the track operator has forfeited the lease for Donington Park and will have to pay the money owed, plus interest, plus legal costs and apply for relief from forfeiture before it can take back the lease.
Wheatcroft & Son Limited awarded Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd a 150-year lease in January 2007 and claim the track operator has not paid rent since September 2008.