Rossi claims MotoGP title

Italy's Valentino Rossi stormed to victory at the Grand Prix of Japan of Sunday, claiming his sixth MotoGP world championship.

The Italian clinched his third world crown for Yamaha and his first since 2005 at the manufacturer's home circuit having set off from fourth on the grid.

Rossi has now won six premier-class titles as he also won the 500cc category before it became the MotoGP division - as well as the 125cc and 250cc classes.

Rossi, riding a Yamaha, pulled ahead of defending MotoGP champion Casey Stoner of Australia with 11 laps to go and won the race with a time of 43 minutes, 09.599 seconds, 1.943 seconds ahead of Stoner after 24 laps.

Spain's Dani Pedrosa was third, 4.866 seconds back, while pole-sitter Jorge Lorenzo, also of Spain, was fourth. It was Rossi's eighth victory of the season and fifth straight since he took the United States Grand Prix in July. He came into Sunday's race needing just a podium finish to claim the title, his first since 2005.

With three races left in the season, Rossi has 312 points, 92 ahead of Stoner.

Sunday's race quickly became a contest between Stoner and Rossi as the two riders opened up a comfortable lead ahead of the pack.
Pic: www.skysports.com

YAMAHA RIDERS UNVEIL NEW R1 IN LAS VEGAS

All four Yamaha MotoGP riders took part in the global unveiling of the all-new Yamaha R1  in a suitably glittering show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fiat Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, plus Tech 3 Yamaha team-mates Colin Edwards and James Toseland were surprise guests at the unveiling, which took place in front of 3000 Yamaha US dealers at the famous Mirage Hotel.

The all-new version of the R1, Yamaha's premium performance road bike, is more closely linked than ever to the YZR-M1 on which the four riders contest the MotoGP championship. The riders each came on stage aboard a different colour version of the machine, before being interviewed about it's qualities in relation to their own MotoGP bikes.

Next stop for the foursome will be the Japanese Motor Speedway for the MotoGP race at the famous venue, which takes place this Sunday.


Valentino Rossi

"This is a great bike, it's very like my M1 and it's exciting to see so many MotoGP qualities now appearing on a bike for the road. I think everyone who loves the R1 and Yamaha will be very excited about this new version, it's fantastic!"


Jorge Lorenzo

"I think this bike will be very popular. Yamaha have worked very hard to try to make it as like our M1 as possible and it seems they have done a fantastic job. The cornering and agility especially is great, which is of course one of the best qualities of the M1."

THE NEW 2009 YAMAHA R1

Yamaha has released the first official pictures and information for the revised 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1.

The biggest change is the move to a 'big-bang' inline four-cylinder 998cc motor that Yamaha claim is built using knowledge directly from the MotoGP Yamaha M1.
With a Big-Bang engine you get an unconventional cylinder firing order meaning more torque for 2009 as theYZF-R1 becomes the first production four-cylinder motorcycle to use the big-bang engine layout. 

The 2009 machine also has a totally new aluminium Deltabox frame that Yamaha say is almost completely different to the 2008 Yamaha R1.The new bike should handle pretty well too with the engine mounted 12mm lower than it is in the current YZF-R1 and a new lighter swingarm introduced for next year.

One of the most innovative features of the bike is a new headlight design that gives the motorcycle what can only be described as ‘eyelids’.On low beam a shade drops down to cover the headlight, and when you select full beam the cover raises up to reveal the full headlight.

The YZF-R1 will be available in three colour options next year: Competition white with a red frame, Yamaha Blue and Midnight Black.

Click here to know the detail technical specifications of the bike

Also check out here a great animation at the Yamaha R1 official site

THREE BLAZING COLOURS OF YAMAHA FZ16

                                                               MIDNIGHT BLACK

                                                                 FLAMING ORANGE

                                                                      LAVA RED

The above pictures have been obtained from the Yamaha official site www.yamaha-motor-india.com,Yamaha has also launched a special site for FZ16....click here to visit it.

Yamaha FZ16:Lord of the streets

Yamaha claims that the FZ16 can do a top speed of 115 km/hr on its digital speedo console. It also has the best acceleration from 0-60 km/hr in its class but that is doubtful as it sports a wide 140mm radial tyre at the back and 100mm radial at the front. Also Apache RTR riding on a 160cc engine is considered in this 150cc segment. With a 15.5 bhp power of Apache F1,its sure gonna be tough task for the Yamaha’s 14 bhp FZ16 engine to beat the fuel injected TVS in drag testing. But its street fighter looks and competitive pricing of the bike will surely make it as one of the best college going bikes to make a tough statement about your arrival. Atleast from now on we have a factory built naked street bike n a very good alternative to cheep modified loud cans on are pulsars n Hondas for making any style statements ( Pune has got the maximum no of bikes with cheap modded cans).

Here are the important specifications of the bike after its launch on 14 th september in Goa

Engine type: Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve
Displacement 153.0cm3
Maximum output: 14PS / 7500 rpm
Maximum torque: 14 N.m / 6000 rpm
Starting method: Electric starter
Transmission type Return type: 5-speed
Brake type (front/rear): Hydraulic single disc / drum
Tire size (front/rear):100/80-17 / 140/60-R17
Wheelbase: 1,335mm, 
Fuel tank volume: 12 liters
Weight-137 kg

The bike goes on sale from 1st October onwards and it will be priced at Rs 65000 ex-showroom.

The FZ16 will be available in three colours — lava red, midnight black and flaming orange.

MotoGP: Rossi tightens his grip

World Championship leader Valentino Rossi took victory in the rain-shortened Indianapolis MotoGP race on Sunday to tighten his grip on the title. 

The win was the Italian's fourth in a row, with Rossi now unbeaten since his victory at the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca in July.

Heavy rains swept across the famed Brickyard, with the red flag being brought out to stop the race with seven laps left to run.

Local favourite Nicky Hayden of the United States was second while Rossi's Fiat Yamaha team mate Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo finished third.

Defending World Champion Casey Stoner finished fourth on his Ducati, giving Rossi a commanding 87-point lead at the top of the standings with four races remaining.

Indianapolis Grand Prix MotoGP, result:

1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 37mins 20.095secs
2. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Honda 37:26.067
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 37:27.953
4. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 37:48.257
5. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 37:48.919
6. Ben Spies (U.S.) Suzuki 37:49.740
7. Sylvain Guintoli (France) Ducati 37:56.318
8. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 37:57.353
9. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 37:58.537
10. Alex de Angelis (San Marino) Honda 38:02.532
11. Anthony West (Australia) Kawasaki 38:07.274
12. Toni Elias (Spain) Ducati 38:16.057
13. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda 38:17.461
14. John Hopkins (U.S.) Kawasaki 38:18.448
15. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 38:20.708

Source: www.skysports.com

Autocar Performance show:Nov 2007 Mumbai

Real MotoGp bikes along with the R1 were on display at the Yamaha stall.It was a gret movement for me to touch the bikes ridden by ROSSI.

This TVS stall  featured TVS apache RTR n F1 bikes. On the extreme right you can see a performance moded apache F1 meant for racing.There was also a TVS motocross bike on display

Guys don't worry if u missed ur chances to catch da show.Its held every year in the month of November by Autocar at Bandra Kurla complex in Mumbai.

PICS: www.auotcarindia.com

Let’s remember the Legend Yamaha RD350

The RD350 had a broader power band than most two-strokes, making it easier to ride in traffic.
                                   Redline was a healthy 8500 rpm.

The RD350 was a motorcycle produced by Yamaha. It was the premier sport lightweight of the early 70's. Well developed for its time, it featured a reliable aircooled, parallel twin, 6 speed (in some markets, such as the UK, the first model was sold in 5-speed form), reed valve equipped intake tract two-stroke engine. It was in production as a purple with white side details RD350 (1973), the RD350A, simple purple tank with "Yamaha" on the tank and the orange with white, 1975 (RD350B). 

The B model (in the UK at least) also featured a silver and black colour scheme.

There was a myth that RD stood for "Racing Death" and "Road Death" and that it was the Japanese revenge for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as it claimed the lives of many US riders, but this is pure fiction (according to Japanese representatives). It was thought by some RD stood for "race derived." But a long time Yamaha mechanic recently dispelled this myth on the UK Yamaha RD forum, this is his explanation and he has worked with and raced them since the seventies: "We always understood it to be a series of letters that explain the bikes make up and function two stroke twin." For instance, XS = 4 stroke tourer, XV = 4 stroke V, DT = 2 stroke trail, RD = 2 stroke road

The RD350B was manufactured in India between 1983-1985 by Escorts Motorcycles under the brand name Rajdoot 350. 

This motorcycle was detuned from the original 39 crankshaft bhp to 30.5 bhp and then finally 27 bhp in quest of better economy. 

This bike has a great cult status in India and is seeing great resurgence with the youth of today.In India the bike was also a frequent winner in Motorcycle Rallies and its closest competitor was Yezdi Road King, another 1971 World Dirt Championship runner which was a remake of Jawa-CZ.

Yamaha FZ-16 details revealed

Another important update from www.bikeindia.in

After the revolutionary YZF-R15 launched earlier this year, it's the turn of the eagerly awaited FZ-16. Contrary to speculation, it will not be called FZ-15, FZ150 or Fazer-15. However, it will boast of a power-packed 153.7 CC four-stroke, air-cooled engine.

The mini-Fazer will feature state of the art – YTPS (Yamaha Throttle Position Sensor), for better throttle response and fuel efficiency and will be loaded with a fully digital console with digital readout for RPM, Speed, Trip and Odo.

According to reports, the FZ-16 will be launched on September 15th 2008 and the deliveries will commence by Oct. 2008. The FZ-16 is estimated to cost around Rs. 70,000 ex-showroom.

FZ-16 Specs:

Engine: 153.7 CC four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder, 2 valves, SOHC
Power: 15PS @ 8,400 RPM (Estimated)
Gearbox: 5-speed
Fuel System: 36mm CV Carb 
Wheels (F/R): 5-spoke 17" die-cast alloys
Tyres(F/R): 100/60-R17, 140-60-R17
Brakes(F/R): 267mm single cross-drilled ventilated rotor with 2-pot calipers / 130mm drum
Suspension:
--- Front: 41mm Telescopic Forks
--- Rear: Monocross type
Headlight: 12V 35W Halogen with Multifocal Reflector
Exhaust System: Mid Ship type, side mounted
Tank capacity: 13 litres