Moto1 as the Claiming Rules Team category is being now called could see the involvement of engines from the World Superbike Champion, Aprilia. Aprilia has confirmed that there has been contact between them and some Moto1 teams for engines and Aprilia says that it is completely open to selling them. It is also very clear that it does not care too much about modifications that may be made post the sale. Aprilia believes that each engine will be able to easily race in two races. However it is clear that it will not involve itself in GP racing in any official capacity. BMW is considered to be the other engine that some Moto1 teams are interested in.
Yearly Archives: 2011
Danica Patrick is motor racing’s hot property. She is not only talented but also good looking, a combination that is potent. To make things worse, Danica posed in bikini photo shoots in the past. Bernie Ecclestone the geriatric ring master of Formula1 wanted Danica Patrick in Formula1. Ms. Patrick however does not seem to leave Stateside and has dabbled in a limited way in NASCAR while still being a part of the Indycar grid. But now it seems Danica has decided to go full time to NASCAR starting next year with a few outings in the Sprint Cup and a full time assault on the apex Sprint Cup from 2013 onwards. Some are saying that this is NASCAR’s gain and Indycar’s loss. We believe it is nobody’s loss or gain. Come one this isn’t a movie, right? So let us be sensible.
If the MotoGP grapevine is to be believed then the answer is yes. We had brought you a report that as many as thirteen new teams with twenty one riders have been chosen to go through to the next round of application to become a part of the MotoGP grid for next year. It is believed that most of these applications are from teams that want to be a part of the claiming rules or Moto1 as some are calling them. It has now emerged that Norton has submitted a two bike entry but this will not come under the Claiming Rules Teams or Moto1. It is being suggested that Norton will be offered the same rules that factory teams have to work with but like Suzuki will be given three extra engines to play with, which means nine engines per bike for the season instead of the six that others have at their disposal. Norton will be allowed only 21 litres of fuel and not 24 like CRTs or Moto1 teams. How much truth there is in this whole thing will become clear by the 4th of June at Catalunya when the FIM will reveal all.
Indonesia is one country that loves under-bone chassis motorcycles. The people there call them the “babeks” or ducks since the under-bone machines look like ducks. TVS has been producing various under-bone chassis machines in engine capacities of 110cc and 125 cc and calling them Neo and the Neo Max. Now TVS is unleashing a 150cc liquid cooled under-bone chassis bike called the Tormax. It makes 13.2 PS of power and should be very popular with the Indonesians who have taken to the TVS machines. This is perhaps what horses for courses means.
Some days ago we had brought you the news that the Tata Nano would be exported to various countries. In that bit of news we also said that the countries to which the Nano is destined is yet not known. Well now news has emerged that the world’s most inexpensive car is on its way to Sri Lanka. The question is which are the other countries? We are sure in the coming weeks all will be revealed.
Hinduja flagship company in India, Ashok Leyland, has bagged an order worth $ 23 million from the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation. The order is apparently for 290 fully built double decker buses. Ashok Leyland is the second largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India and is the only one to manufacture double decker buses in the country.
There have been conflicting news about the Aveo and Aveo U-VA replacements that GM is supposed to be bringing to India. One news is that the said cars will be replaced by the Sail cars that GM has developed in China in association with SAIC. It is being said that this will give GM the opportunity to sell inexpensive but large cars and therefore garner bigger volumes. On the other hand there is news (specifically now in IAB) that the Sonic range will come to India. The Sonic is the new Aveo and has the same design elements that the Beat carries. However it is believed that the Sonic cars (sedan and hatchback) will be expensive and may not be well received in India. But India may not receive Chinese developed cars too well even if they are value for money. We prefer the Sonic range. Please bring it on GM.
Indian Autos Blog.com is speculating that the top end Beat from Chevrolet which will be the LT model may get the VCDi diesel engine as an option. Chevrolet has developed an India specific three cylinder one thousand cc engine for the Beat and has been calling it XSDE or Extra Smart Diesel Engine. IAB’s speculation is that instead of having a fixed geometry turbo, GM may equip the said engine with a variable geometry turbo in the interests of better power delivery and fuel efficiency. Initial costs however will be significantly higher. This is yet speculation and only time will reveal the truth.
Hindustan Motors’ faith in the Ambassador can only be rivalled by a pious man’s faith in God. Hindustan Motors refuses to give up on the Ambassador and lay it to rest in peace. The last few months have seen news about newer versions of the Ambassador including one with a chopped rear to make it conform to the sub 4 metre category. Then there was a rumour of a pick up based on the Ambassador. That seems to be true with a member of team-bhp capturing pictures of a heavily camouflaged (however heavy the camouflage it is difficult to hide an Ambassador) Ambassador Pick up. Previously images of the truncated Ambassador were posted on Autocar India. Interesting.
Pictures of MCN and other websites indicate that Honda may have developed a smaller version of the dual clutch VFR 1200F. Speculation is that this is a 700cc machine which is being dubbed by some as the CB 700F. The lack of a clutch lever is what prompted this speculation. Honda with its dual clutch mechanism is slowly moving towards automatic geared bikes and the VFR 1200F was the first step in this direction. It seems if Honda has its way, there would be motorcycle passengers who just sit on a bike and wait for the bike to do everything. Some would like that scenario but some mightn’t.