Inside Motorcycles Wants You to take part in the Toronto Motorcycle Show

Motorcycle clubs, associations/rides and not-for-profit motorcycle groups take note: Inside Motorcycles wants you to be a part of the Toronto Motorcycle Show, December 9-11, 2011 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The Toronto Motorcycle Show is excited to announce that Inside Motorcycles is the new presenting sponsor of their reformatted "Rider's World" area. Be a part of the exciting Premier Manufacturer Showcase Show, the only one of its kind in Ontario, where the major manufacturers bring in their new models!

Your Investment:

$200.00 + HST for a 10X10 booth space that includes décor.

Your Value in Return:

Booth space plus carpet, table & two chairs. Regular booth value is over $1500.00

PLUS Inside Motorcycles wants to PROMOTE YOU!

As part of your booth space cost above, you will receive the additional from Inside Motorcycles:

1. One NO charge 1/4 page ad in an issue of Inside Motorcycles- $600.00 value;

2. Editorial coverage in an issue of Inside Motorcycles on one of your major rides or events of the season;

3. Discounted subscriptions to Inside Motorcycles for all your members and families.

SPACE IS LIMITED! ONLY 20 booths available!

For further information please contact Neal Diefenbaker at neal@sportshows.ca or call 905-361-2679.

We look forward to seeing you at the Toronto Motorcycle Show, December 9-11, 2011!

Please note: Booth space costs will not be reduced for any groups wanting to bring in their own décor items or not wanting to participate in the advertising package being offered.

Canadian Team FOGI Racing Brings Home Second Place Finish At Jerez

From FOGI Racing

Jerez, Spain – Canadian motorcycle road racing team FOGI Racing with Scottish rider Kev Coghlan finished on a high Sunday at the final round of the Buckler CEV Moto2 Championship held in Jerez, Spain. Coghlan finished an admirable 2nd place after qualifying 10th on the starting grid.

Within the first lap the young Scot battled through to 2nd position and held off #4 Dan Linfoot until Linfoot passed Coghlan on the 9th lap. Coghlan returned the pass in lap 14 taking him back to 2nd position. Charging for the lead on his FOGI/FTR M211 machine, he took the checkered flag 0.601 seconds behind the race winner Lucas Mahias.

Coghlan was asked about the race and replied, “I’m very happy with a P2 result in tricky conditions to finish off the year!! Big thanks to everyone at FOGI Racing, Honda Joe Darcey Team, and everyone else involved.”

Following the final World Championship round at Valencia FOGI Racing received their FTR M211 Moto2 machine back from the Avintia STX team were Kenny Noyes piloted the FOGI FTR to a strong final round finish as well. With this bike as well as a M210 version already in Valencia, FOGI Racing invited Coghlan back to the team to take part in the final two rounds of the CEV Spanish Moto2 Championship.

In the penultimate round of the CEV series at Valencia Kev ran extremely well until a decision on tyre compound proved to be the wrong choice. Settling for 7th in Valencia, he used the time to reacquaint himself with the FOGI Racing FTR and the Michelin tyres, while planning for a strong finish to Jerez.

Following an emotional podium finish for the FOGI Racing team and team manager Miguel Gomez who had worked with Kev in 2010, FOGI Racing would like to take a moment to thank Honda Joe Darcey Team for all their support in these last two rounds, along with the exceptional team headed by Miguel Gomez and Anton Gruschka.

FOGI Racing is now planning to build its team for 2012 and 2013 in hopes to bring young riders the opportunity to prove themselves on the world stage, as part of the Buckler CEV Spanish Moto2 Series, and the World Championship MotoGP Series. Further information on the FOGI Racing team can be received by contacting Andrew Murray at (902) 499-3610 or amurray@fogi-racing.com

Supershow Snags Honda Canada

On the heels of a recent announcement that Canadian Kawasaki Motors will be participating in only one Toronto-based motorcycle show this winter, the North American International Supershow reports that Honda Canada will also be returning to the popular consumer show held at the Toronto International Centre in Mississauga from January 6-8, 2012.

In a recent press release from the North American International Motorcycle Supershow, the organization notes that Honda Canada is finalizing arrangements to once again exhibit at the show. According to the press release, the Honda Corporate Booth will be located in Hall 3 and will feature the Honda motorcycle and ATV 2012 line-ups, including the best selling CBR250R, plus their extensive line of Honda Power Equipment.

According to Nick Pollice, of Honda Canada, "The Honda Canada booth will be the booth to visit this year at the North American International Motorcycle Supershow 2012. We look forward to seeing you there!"

The recent move calls into question the future of the upcoming Toronto Motorcycle Show being held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from December 9-11, 2011. With the December show traditionally the venue for manufacturers to launch their latest product to the Canadian market, the question remains whether other manufacturers will also see the North American International Motorcycle Supershow as the premiere venue to launch new product offerings. In today's economy, consolidating a number of trade shows in one market certainly makes fiscal sense.

To purchase advance tickets to the 36th annual North American International Motorcycle Supershow or to become an exhibitor, please call 1-888-661-SHOW (7496).

DualSport Plus Christmas Open House

DualSport Plus in Stoney Creek, ON is having a Christmas Open House this Saturday, November 26. The event will be highlighted by the attendance of rally rider Patrick Trahan, organizer of Ride Africa 4 Wishes program.

The Opne house will run from 9am to 4pm on Saturday. For more information contact DualSport Plus at:

Phone: 905-664-8811
Toll Free: 1-888-990-9013
www.dualsportplus.com

221 Barton St., Unit I,
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Canada, L8E 2K3

Canadian Kawasaki to Participate at International Motorcycle Supershow

From the North American International Motorcycle Supershow

Newmarket, Ontario: Breaking news from North America’s Largest Attended Motorcycle Show lights up the Motorcycle Industry as Canadian Kawasaki Motors announces that they will debut their complete 2012 motorcycle offering during the 36^th Annual North American International Motorcycle SUEPRSHOWat the Toronto International Centre, January 6, 7, 8, 2012.

A huge move made by Kawasaki to solely participate in only on show in Toronto market this year. Motorcycle enthusiasts will be able to see the complete range of 2012 Kawasaki models at the Kawasaki Corporate display in Hall 3 where they will be featuring the North American Debut of the Versys 1000, along with the All-New and highly anticipated Ninja ZX-14R. The Kawasaki Corporate Booth will be one of the most exciting and busiest displays at any Motorcycle Show this year, and will only be found at the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW in Toronto.

“Canadian Kawasaki is pleased to be returning to the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW stated Claude Gagne, National Sales and Marketing Manager. This show has always played a significant role within the Ontario market place and Canadian Kawasaki is excited to present our strong mix of 2012 models to the enthusiasts that frequent this show each year.” For more information on the complete 2012 Kawasaki model line-up visit Kawasaki online at www.kawasaki.ca

The 36th annual North American Motorcycle SUPERSHOW takes place January 6-8, 2012 at the International Centre. To purchase advance tickets or be an exhibitor at the show please call 1-888-661-SHOW (7469).

DP Brakes announces two North American National Road Racing Championships in 2011

From a Press Release from DP Brakes

BUFFALO, NY. – DP Brakes has announced two Road Racing Championships in North America for 2011.

In the AMA Pro Racing Eastern and Supersport National Series, James “The Rocket” Rispoli took the overall Championship in both with DP Brakes.

Rispoli said, “What an awesome 2011 season I had. Winning my first AMA Pro Racing Supersport Championship in the eastern division and also the National title along with The Young Gun Award in the same year was almost unreal”.

He added, “ I can honestly say I would not be here if not for the awesome stopping power of my DP Titanium Race Pads. Time and again I was able to overtake my competitors by going in deeper, and braking later, with confidence. Also, with no brake fade, they allowed me to hold a lead and cross the stripe on top. This could not have happened without the consistent performance of my DP Brakes.”

DP Brakes also won the Parts Canada Pro Canadian Superbike Championship with Rad X/BMW Motorrad rider Brett McCormick.

Rad X/BMW Motorrad Team manager, Chris Duff gave credit to the DP Brakes RDP X-Race Titanium compound.

He said, “The Rad X/BMW Team was proud to once again use DP Brake Pads in our S1000RR bikes for 2011. The stopping performance provided our team riders to be able to brake late, with confidence and trust that the brake feel is the same fromlap one to the end of the race and ultimately achieving a championship”.

“We are truly honored to be associated with such high profile teams and individuals. We congratulate them on such a terrific year of racing and are very proud to part of their success.” stated Larry Mills, President of DP Brakes North America.

Mills continued, “All riders were using our New High Performance RDP X-Race Titanium brake pads. Results have so far proven that we have a compound available to be competitive with all other brands and even show an upgrade over those. The superb initial response, incredible feel and fade free performance puts us at the top of the charts”.

These RDP X-Race Titanium Brake pads are available exclusively through Parts Unlimited, in the US, Parts Canada.

For more information on the complete line-up of DP Brakes brake pads, shoes, rotors and clutch kits, contact DP Brakes North American Headquarters/Tony Mills International Inc. at 4401 Walden Avenue, Lancaster, NY 14086, (716) 681-8806, or visit them on the web at www.dp-brakes.com .

Milan: EICMA Motorcycle Show Round-Up

This week we had the opportunity to head to EICMA, the 69th International Motorcycle exhibition in Milan, Italy. Truly the largest Motorcycle Exhibition in the world, EICMA did not disappoint with the unveiling of several new 2012 models. With over 1400 exhibitors covering more than 58,000 m2 of exhibit space, the show was nothing short of overwhelming.

Perhaps the hottest topic of the show was the all new 2012 Ducati Panigale. A next generation Superbike, the Panigale V-Twin will be run by a powerful "Superquadro" engine putting out a claimed 195 HP. It looks stunning as well.

The BMW S1000RR also gets a number of refinements for 2012. Just when you thought one of the world's best-selling Superbikes couldn't get any better, BMW has trimmed down the bodywork, made some changes to the chassis and the electronics to translate into a much smoother ride for enthusiasts of all levels. For 2012, the S1000RR is also available in 4 different colour schemes including this distinct blue model.

BMW also launched their new line of "Urban Mobility" scooters, which include a 600cc and 650cc scooter that is expected to prove quite popular in Europe, and BMW expects, the rest of the world too.

KTM has been a popular booth to visit, as they unveiled several new motorcycles for 2012 including a 200cc street bike, a 650cc street bike and a 350cc "Freeride" dirt bike that also comes in an Electric version. Unfortunately, we are told that none of these models will be available in North America for 2012. The 200cc street bike is shown here.

KTM has also stepped up it's racing efforts, with the introduction of their Moto3 bike, which will be raced in the World Championship MotoGP series in the new Moto3 class in 2012.

Moving over the Japanese manufacturers, Kawasaki had their new ZX14R on hand. The fastest accelerating production motorcycle ever made and with the most power production engine ever built, expect to see this motorcycle winning at drag strips around the globe.

Honda introduced several new models for 2012 including the CBR 1000RR Fireblade Superbike and the CBR 250R. The Japanese manufacturer also released the Crosstourer, a maxi enduro bike that will unfortunately not yet be available in Canada. The all new CBR 250R is shown here.

To complete the new 2012 Superbike round up, Suzuki and Yamaha also introduced their new models, the 2012 GSXR1000 and the R1 50th Anniversary edition respectively.

Yamaha's 2012 YZF-R1 comes in 50th Anniversary edition colours:

Also new for 2012 is the Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200. While we weren't able to snag a photo of this new adventure touring beauty, this all new shaft-driven motorcycle from Triumph should prove a powerful contender to the BMW 1200GS.

In addition to the 2012 Tiger Explorer, Triumph also unveiled their all new 2012 Daytona 675R sport bike. Decked out in full Ohlins trim, this motorcycle is ready for the racetrack.

There was simply so much to see and capture at EICMA that we couldn't possible catch it all, but these are the highlights. Below are some more images from the show in no particular order.

BMW's 1600 GTL Touring Bike will be tough to beat.

The scooter market is really picking up, with signs of Scooter racing as well!

A look inside the Ducati Panigale Superquadro power house:

Even the Province of Quebec was on hand! Motorcycle tour in Quebec? Why not!

And of course there was lots of fun, extreme stuff kicking around too....

The 2012 models will be available for viewing in Canada starting with the Toronto Motorcycle Show from December 9-11, 2011. You won't want to miss it!

Spring bike show moves to March

From SUPERSHOW Events

TORONTO, ON -- The 2012 SPRINGSHOW at Toronto's International Centre will expand into Halls 1, 2, 3 and 3A, on new dates of March 17-18, while also holding Halls 4 and 4A for future growth.

“For a number of years the Motorcycle SPRINGSHOW’s major new motorcycle exhibitors have requested earlier dates to better accommodate their Spring sales timing," said show manager Peter Derry. "We are happy to report that the International Centre, recognizing the growth needs of the SPRINGSHOW, has now been able to reorganize available dates to accomplish a realignment of available halls.”

The Motorcycle SPRINGSHOW will now exhibit on over 200,000 square feet at the International Centre, the established venue of choice for thriving powersports consumer shows, providing an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to expand with the Show and allowing attendees to enjoy a greater shopping experience with larger displays and feature areas.

The SPRINGSHOW, now in its 22nd year, has established itself as the leader in Spring retail motorcycle shows and attracts record numbers of motorcyclists to the International Centre to shop for all that’s new in motorcycling and plan for a new year of great riding. SPRINGSHOW details are available at www.supershowevents.com.

First Look: 2012 BMW S1000RR Superbike

When BMW first introduced the S1000RR superbike in 2009, it quickly became one of the best selling superbikes on the market; and it was no slouch on the racetrack either, proving itself right out of the box in the Canadian Superbike championship, and taking the 2011 Championship title.

So how does a company take a top selling, near perfect sportbike and make it even better? We caught up with Markus Poshner, Head of Model Lines 2, BMW Motorrad at the EICMA trade show in Milan. Poshner oversees the development of all of the "S" and "K" series BMW motorcycles, and admits that the S1000RR is "his baby".

For 2012, BMW brought about some refinements to the S1000RR; small changes that would bring about a significantly improved and easier to handle ride. For starters, BMW addressed some concerns about a hyper-sensitive throttle in "race" and "slick" power modes. New maps were introduced for the different power modes, and a new throttle tube was installed with a shorter pull for better handling. The throttle also gets heated grips, the first superbike ever to do so, and something Canadian consumers may well appreciate!

A new exhaust pipe was also installed, giving the S1000RR more mid-range power and a more linear power curve, ultimately making the BMW's powerful superbike easier to handle.

The chassis was also modified with changes to the swingarm and pivot point, as well as the geometry of the front forks. The front end of the motorcycle was raised 5mm, while the shock length was decreased by 4mm. The engine and mainframe are turned slightly backwards and the wheelbase was shortened by 9mm as the rear sprocket was replaced with one-tooth smaller sprocket. The 2012 model also gets a 10-way adjustable steering damper for better control and smoother operation.

According to Poshner, the electronics package on the S1000RR has totally changed. The Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) system was updated significantly and the traction control is now much smoother than the first generation S1000RR. The instrumentation panel is much easier to read and more features are available. One new feature in particular is the "Best Lap in Progress" option that records a rider's best lap on given markers on the racetrack. A green light is displayed if you went faster than your previous lap. The brightness of the display is also adjustable in five settings.

Aesthetically, the BMW S1000RR got some re-shaped side panels and a smaller, more streamlined tail section to help with aerodynamics. The 2012 model is also available in 4 sharp colour options- Racing Red with Alpine White, Bluefire, Sapphire Black Metallic and BMW's traditional BMW Motorrad Motorport colours.

The overall refinements should lead to a much smoother, easier handling ride and will make the BMW S1000RR superbike more comfortable to handle for riders of all levels. Judging from the line-ups at EICMA to see the new S1000RR, we're certain that BMW is going to continue to top the charts with this best-selling superbike.

Bautista to Gresini Honda in 2012

The San Carlo Gresini Honda MotoGP team confirmed much anticipated rumours today that Alvaro Bautista will ride for the Honda satellite team in 2012. The parties have reached an agreement for the 2012 MotoGP World Championship season, which will see Bautista campaign the Honda RC213V.

With Suzuki unable to confirm their plans for MotoGP beyond December 31, 2011 Bautista held out for as long as he could before he accepted the offer from Gresini. According to Bautista, "I am very sad to be leaving Suzuki after the two great years that I have had here. It has been a great team to work in and I have learnt a lot of things from everyone in the team...I don't feel like I am leaving a team, but a group of friends that I hope I will know for a long time."

Gresini's boss, Fausto Gresini noted, "I'm particularly satisfied that Alvaro Bautista will ride a Honda R213V in the San Carlo Gresini team colours next year. He is a very fast rider and I hold him in high regard for his personality and pleasant nature."

While Bautista has had his fair share of ups and downs during the 2011 season, he has demonstrated his talent in the latter half of the season with some strong results in qualifying and practice and indeed has become a sought-after rider in the paddock. He hasn't had the greatest of luck during Sunday's races, but perhaps that will all change in 2012 aboard the Honda machinery.

Bautista tested the RC212V Honda in Valencia this morning, where he rode the motorcycle of Hiroshi Aoyama in the Valencia MotoGP test.

Hall of Fame photos

Canadian legends honoured

Eleven of Canada's most influential motorcycle competitors, builders and enthusiasts were honoured this past Sunday at the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

Inside Motorcycles was on hand for this prestigious event held at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel & Resort in Mississauga, ON. It was a memorable night with some of Canada's biggest two-wheel legends reminiscing on stage about their storied careers.

The display and showcase featured an array of bikes including Reuben McMurter's 1984 Honda VF 750 R that he raced to sixth at Daytona and 3rd overall in AMA Superbike that same year. Other bikes on display included a pair of Allan Johnson's rare Brough Superiors, one of the late Moe Fraser's flat track bikes and Len Dillon's speedway bike. Toni Sharpless and Kathleen Coburn had a wonderful display of memorabilia from their racing heritage.

Inside Motorcycles would like to congratulate all of the inductees and thank the MCC for an unforgettable ceremony. Watch for more in-depth coverage to appear in an upcoming issue of IM!

MotoGP: Exciting Season Finale in Valencia

The 2011 MotoGP season was nothing short of spectacular in a cloudy Valencia today, with Casey Stoner narrowly claiming his 10th victory of the season catching Ben Spies at the wire.

While the race had been declared wet, most riders swapped to slick tires immediately prior to the start. Slippery conditions made traction difficult and the first casualties came in turn one off the race start. Rizla Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista started a chain reaction when he fell down, taking out Pramac Ducati rider Randy de Puniet, who proceeded to take Factory Ducati teammates Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden with him. While all riders were forced to retire, the race continued and recently crowned World Champion Casey Stoner got away with the lead.

A battle for second quickly ensued between Stoner's team mates, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, who were also battling for third place in the championship. Factory Yamaha's Ben Spies, showed no signs of relent and was right on the wheels of the two Repsol Hondas.

With less than ten laps remaining, Spies made a pass on Dani Pedrosa to move into third. The Factory Yamaha rider was on the move and within a few laps quickly overtook Andrea Dovizioso for second place. While Stoner was still a few seconds ahead, Spies was not about to let up, and started reigning in the World Champion. According to Stoner "I wasn't really willing to push (in the rain) and everybody else was willing to take more risk or felt more comfortable in those conditions."

Spies was able to make a move on Stoner with less than 4 laps remaining when Stoner made a mistake and his motorcycle went into neutral. Stoner made quick work to catch up but with only two laps left the victory looked to belong to Spies. With the checkered flag at the ready, Spies brought his Yamaha onto the front straight for the final time, yet Stoner managed to get a better drive out of the corner and make the pass at the wire to reclaim the lead. Andrea Dovizioso would round out the podium in third.

According to Spies, he decided to sit on the back of Pedrosa and Dovizioso and wait to see what happens. An opportunity came up and he made some passes, and all of sudden rain came, yet he was feeling comfortable. He mentioned that the last few laps were tough because there was nobody in front of him and there was no benchmark as to how slick the conditions were. Spies exlplained, "At that point I was like okay, let's try to win the race but we gotta try to keep this thing on the podium." After the last month of bad luck he wasn't willing to throw it all away again. Overall Spies was happy to end the season on a high note.

Cal Crutchlow made the chase for the Rookie of the Year Award, by making a late pass on Dani Pedrosa to take home an astounding 4th place finish, moving Pedrosa back to 5th. Yamaha Factory test rider rode home to a 6th place finish after an early battle with wild card rider Josh Hayes. In an exceptional effort for his first ever MotoGP race, American Superbike Champion Josh Hayes guided the Tech3 Yamaha to a 7th place position; Hayes also topped the charts in morning warm-up by leading the session with a time of 1:40: 469.

Karel Abraham, Loris Capirossi, Toni Elias, Hector Barbera and Hiroshi Aoyama rounded out the remaining positions while De Puniet, Bautista, Rossi and Hayden did not finish the race.

Today's race marks the end of the 800cc MotoGP era, as the series moves to the more powerful 1000cc machines in 2012. It also marked the last race of Loris Caprirossi's 22 year-long career.

MotoGP Tribute to Marco Simoncelli

The MotoGP community paid tribute to Marco Simoncelli in Valencia today, in a special lap of the Ricardo Tormo circuit in honour of the fallen rider. At 10:10am local time, riders from all three classes lined up for a procession which was led by Simoncelli's Honda Gresini RC212V bike, ridden by 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

In the spirit of Simoncelli's spirited character, a two-minute fire cracker display and moment of "noise" took place to celebrate the Italian rider. Members from Marco's family, friends, Dorna, IRTA and FIM governing bodies, racers and fans from the paddock were all invited to participate in the emotional ceremony which took place on an overcast day in Valencia prior to the start of the afternoon's race finals.

Bradl Crowned Moto2 World Champion

Germany's Stefan Bradl was crowned the 2011 Moto2 World Champion in Valencia, Spain today following the withdrawal due to injury of his biggest challenger, Marc Marquez. The twenty-one year old Bradl is the first German to take a motorcycle world championship since Dirk Raudies in the 125cc class in 1993.

The son of World Championship runner-up and 250cc ace, Helmut Bradl, Stefan attributes much of his success to his father. According to Bradl this championship is special as 2o years after his father was 2nd in the world championship, Bradl is now a champion himself. Bradl says of his father, "He's the biggest part in my life, supporting me from every second of racing."

Winning the World Championship is still sinking in for Bradl, as the title did not come easily. Rookie Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez put up a strong fight, and took over the championship points lead in Motegi. It was then that Bradl decided to take an all or nothing approach to score some good results, remain consistent and take the championship title. Bradl says of his battles with Marquez, "I think everybody has enjoyed this Moto2 season. It was a very good battle in the end between Marc and me and I think there hasn't been a single race which has not been exciting. Sometimes as a rider you think 'Oh F***! Another race like that!', and you just want to go away and do your own race, but in this class everything is just so close."

For Sunday's final Moto2 race of the season, Bradl's goal is to win and enjoy the moment; "My goal for tomorrow is to win the race, because now everything is so free; I'm just enjoying racing."

Stefan Bradl is expected to remain with the Veismann Keifer Racing squad in the Moto2 class in 2012.

MotoGP: Stoner Clinches Decisive Pole in Valencia

MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner clinched his 12the pole position at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia today, in decisively convincing fashion with a best lap time of 1:31:861, over a second ahead of second place finisher and Respol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa (1:32:875). Stoner also equalled the record of five-time world champion Mick Doohan of 12 pole positions in a single season.

Track conditions were tough for this afternoon's qualifying, as the track started out wet and then began to dry up towards the end of the session. Riders have been struggling all weekend with rainy and damp practice conditions on Friday, followed by dry conditions for Saturday morning's free practice. According to Stoner, "This afternoon conditions were very tricky, some parts of the track the rain was a little heavier and you weren't sure how far to push". Conditions started to improve towards the end of the session and with under 10 minutes remaining, Stoner went out on a soft rear tire and set a lap time of 1:31:861 which would remain unchallenged for the rest of the session.

Dani Pedrosa qualified second and also struggled with the wet racetrack, "Qualifying was very tricky especially in the middle of the practice, it was a bit raining and you didn't know how hard to push."

Factory Yamaha's Ben Spies bounced back from a difficult past few weeks by clinching the third spot on the front row of the grid. "It was actually a pretty good session. It was definitely difficult like they said with spitting rain the whole time and not knowing how hard to push on certain parts of the track." Spies circulated patiently on the racetrack, keeping the tires hot in case there was a break in the weather. The strategy paid off as a time of 1:33:057 was quick enough to secure a spot on the front row.

In Moto2 action, Gresini Honda's Michele Pirro secured his first and very special position. According to Pirro, "It is a special pole position because I dedicate the pole to Marco, his family and the team." The entire Gresini Honda family has been struggling all weekend in what has been described as a "surreal atmosphere" by the entire team as the experience the gaping hole left by the loss of Marco Simoncelli. All of the riders in the Gresini Honda camp are working hard and dedicating their riding to their friend and fellow rider this weekend.

History was also made in 125cc qualifying as Mahindra Racing's Danny Webb secured his very first pole position ever, and also the last pole position in the 125cc class, which will be replaced by the Moto3 race category in 2012. Webb took a gamble going out on dry tires about half way through the session, but his feeling to switch to slicks paid off when he pulled in a best time of 1:45:898, nearly a half a second faster than second place rider Louis Rossi. Webb also noted it was an important result for Mahindra, as he and his teammate are about the only two riders in the 125cc class who are not equipped with an Aprilia or Derbi motorcycle. Webb's pole position also comes on the same weekend that Mahindra Racing unveiled its 2012 Moto3 bike.

Follow Inside Motorcycles as we continue to cover MotoGP action from Valencia. Racing takes place on Sunday afternoon in the final round of the world championship series.

MotoGP Final at Valencia: Hayes Settles In

Two-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes wishes it were under different circumstances that he was to be riding the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha at the MotoGP season finale in Valencia this weekend. He is replacing an injured Colin Edwards, who was involved in a an incident which took the life of Marco Simoncelli in Malaysia two weeks ago.

This weekend will mark the first time that the reigning AMA Champion has ridden the Valencia circuit, as well as his first experience aboard the powerful MotoGP livery. "I really don't belong here," said an overwhelmed Hayes on Thursday afternoon in a rainy MotoGP paddock, "I don't fit in." For those who have had the opportunity to get to know Josh, he is a humble and down to earth character. He comes into the weekend with no expectations other than to learn the workings of the Yamaha YZR-M1 equipment and to do his best to represent the Yamaha squad.

Wet track conditions during Friday's free practice sessions meant that Hayes' MotoGP debut would be a soggy one. Hayes spoke about his first day on the GP bike, "My first day in MotoGP has been very difficult and scary at times to the honest. Before I went out this morning I don't think I have ever been so nervous in my life. I was happy with my lap times this morning in the tricky conditions but then in the full wet this afternoon it meant it was quite a scary introduction to MotoGP."

While Hayes may not yet have had the opportunity to experience the full potential of the Monster Energy Tech3 Yamaha, the seasoned rider certainly appeared right at home in Valencia. Aside from an uncharacteristically (and to be expected) high level of nervousness prior to the session, Hayes managed to complete his first free practice in 15th position with a time of 1:48:037, a mere 2.524 seconds off morning leader and recently crowned World Champion Casey Stoner. During the afternoon session, Hayes was the first to get out onto the wet racetrack and quickly went to work. After turning countless laps around the 2.5 mile circuit, Hayes found himself in 10th place at the end of the session, with a best lap time of 1:50:509, again 2.5 seconds behind the leader, Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista, who had a best time of 1:47:975 on a wet to damp racetrack.

While Hayes is still learning about the motorcycle, he hopes for some dry conditions prior to Sunday's race so his has an opportunity to test the carbon brakes. According to Hayes, "I don't want to be going into the race on Sunday having to learn to ride in the dry and also adjust to the carbon brakes after two wet days. That would be the worse case scenario for me but I enjoyed today a lot. It was a good experience and once again I want to thank everybody at Yamaha, Tech3 and Monster that made this possible."

Watch for Josh Hayes and the rest of the MotoGP field to be racing the final round of the series this coming Sunday at 2pm local time. All riders have agreed that racing on Sunday is what Marco Simoncelli would have wanted, and a number of riders and teams are sporting the #58 on their motorcycles or gear this weekend in honour of the fallen Italian rider. This weekend will also mark the last race for Pramac Ducati's Loris Capirossi, who after 22 successful years of road racing, will be retiring at the end of this season. Capirossi will be racing with the #58 on his motorcycle this weekend, in honour of his friend.

CSBK planning for a successful 2012

Canadian Superbike Championship series organizers Frontline CSBK sent out a much-anticipated press release regarding its plans moving forward without longtime title sponsor, Parts Canada.

"Central sponsors including BMW Motorrad Canada, Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada, Honda Canada and Mopar have confirmed their intention to continue supporting the National Series," the release announced.Pirelli will also return as official tire supplier. A season schedule is currently in the works and will be announced at the Toronto Motorcycle show opening on December 9th.

One thing is for sure, and that is the return of the successful double header event at Mosport in late August. Inside Motorcycles broke the news early last month that the series was looking at running the Mont Tremblanc circuit, although nothing will be confirmed until the full schedule is released December 9th.

After a very successful first running in 2011, the H-D XR1200 class will be back and, as the press release indicates, some U.S. racers may be taking part in the Canadian series next year. CSBK also officially announced the debut of Honda's all-new youth-based CBR250R spec class on the full tour. Pro Superbike will remain the national series' flagship class, while Amateur Superbike, Pro Sport Bike and Amateur Sport bike will all remain unchanged for 2012.

(photo courtesy CSBK.ca)

BCCOM proposes lane filtering in B.C.

The British Columbia Coalition of Motorcyclists (BCCOM) has written a proposal letter for the legalization of lane filtering in the province. The letter is to be discussed with B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Shirley Bond in the next two weeks, with the results of the discussion to be announced at a BCCOM meeting on November 17. The organization also mentioned that the letter would be sent to the Ministry of Transportation.

Below are some of the safety measures that BCCOM has proposed to allow lane filtering:

- The operator must operate the motorcycle no more than 10 km/h faster than the rest of traffic
- Traffic can’t be going over 30 km/h
- Lane splitting can’t be done in a school crossing zone, park area, area with a high volume of crossing pedestrians, or somewhere where the speed limit is less than 30 km/h
- Motorcyclists must never ride in between vehicles equipped with mirrors that won’t be able to see them (semi-trucks, large RV’s)

Whether the Ministries of Safety and Transportation see this proposal as a way to improve congestion and safety remains to be seen. In the U.S., similar proposals have seen resistance, with some transportation officials arguing that such legislation has no effect traffic congestion, given the fact that motorcycles make up such a small percentage of vehicles on the road in North America.

Two-wheel quarter-mile record smashed

France's Eric Teboul smashed his own records for the quickest elapsed time and fastest speed ever recorded by a motorcycle in the quarter-mile during an event at Santa Pod Raceway in England this past weekend. Teboul ran an almost surreal 5.209-second lap at 281.47 mph on his hydrogen peroxide-powered Rocket Bike.

It was a fitting tribute to his late friend and rocket car legend Sammy Miller, who passed away nine years ago to the day in a non-racing accident.

Teboul admits that the bike has four-second, 300 mph potential, but stopping the motorcycle at those speeds is proving to be the biggest drawback in attempting such a feat.