December All Moto news from the web

(December 23) Suzuki has upgraded its Hayabusa for 2003. According to the company: The new fork sliders are now titanium-nitrided, the six-piston front brake callipers are now featured in gold, while the 320 mm floating discs have black carriers. Its Electronic Control Module (ECM) has increased in power from a 16-bit to a 32-bit processor, producing smoother fuel delivery and power with an enhanced throttle response. It is priced at a suggested retail of $18,490 (including GST) plus on-road costs.

* (December 21) From Ducati: Troy Bayliss and his Ducati Corse squad have completed their three-day MotoGP test at the picturesque Phillip Island circuit, with the former World Superbike Champion delighted with the results achieved at the test. The test marked the first Australian appearance of Ducati's entry in the 2003 World MotoGP Championship, the V four 'Desmosedici' and Bayliss' first visit back to the Island since taking out the double race win at the Australian round of the Superbike World Championship in March. "The weather was kind to us this time and I think it was about the best three days that I've ever seen at the Island," said Bayliss, in reference to the poor weather that has affected recent tests by the team in Europe. "I enjoyed riding the Desmosedici around the Island. It's a little bit different to the Superbikes that I've ridden there before. It has a lot more power and is faster, but is just as enjoyable to ride."

* (December 19) Winner of our hotly-contested Wally of the Week award: The Federal Government for failing to bring in an interim 10 per cent limit on ethanol content in fuel after major motoring and boating bodies have highlighted the danger of higher levels. These include internal engine corrosion, damage to rubber parts in the fuel system and increased likelyhood of vapour-lock.

* (December 19) From today's The Age newspaper: A large female seal has been hanging around the Vic seaside town of Sorrento, having apparently fallen in love with a Harley-Davidson. A local wildlife officer says the bike makes similar noises to a male seal. So, when do we get to see a SealGlide from Milwaukee?

* (December 18) Former world superbike champ Troy Bayliss opened the new dealership Ducati Melbourne, in Church Street Richmond, today.

* (December 17) Australian Garry McCoy and team-mate Nicky Hayden have been testing their new Kawasaki MotoGP bikes in Sepang over the last few days. McCoy has just recovered from an operation to have a pin removed from his leg and reports that it's early days when it comes to settling in with his green mount.

* (December 16) The fire which destroyed much of the Peter Stevens HQ in Melbourne last Saturday night was caused by an over-heating computer. Meanwhile one of the owners of the company, Mr Steve Chiodo, has said that they have been overwhelmed by the messages of support offered by trade and customers alike.

* (December 16) Heavy Duty magazine Editor Neale Brumby says there's a strong rumour that Harley-Davidson is shelving plans to take over national distribution of its product from existing importers Morgan & Wacker, Frasers and Peter Stevens. The mag’s new edition is out soon.

* (December 16) From MA: Australia's Chad Reed has become the first Australian to win a World Supercross Grand Prix, winning the Dutch event on Saturday night in Holland. Reed, on a Yamaha, swept past Frenchmen Sebastien Tortelli and David Vuillemin, who also rides for Team Yamaha, on the first lap.

* (December 11) On the heels of the demise of the RTV venture comes news of another Australian effort to build replica Vincent twin engines, this time out of Melbourne. Started three years ago by Ken Horner Engineering, and running under the Irving Vincent brand, we hear the project has had its first public firing of a prototype engine in the last couple of days. The plan is to produce modest numbers for sale around the world, with electric start and alternator versions in the pipeline. You can find out more at www.irvingvincent.com.

* (December 11) We've mentioned them in the past, but can't help reminding you of the Marine Turbine site at www.marineturbine.com, which has had some updates. This is the USA company that flogs a jet-turbine propelled street legal motorcycle - yours for a mere US$185,000. Click the sound button on the top left of the page - it's the only bike sound track we've heard that can induce fear from across the Pacific...

* (December 10) Ducati has recently opened the order book for a limited edition R version of its Testastretta 999 flagship. Costing 30,000 Euro (Au$54,545) as a turn-key delivery to your local dealer, the machine is available for order via the internet with a 1500 Euro deposit. The company says only 800 examples of the 999R will be made, and the features include: a 139hp version of the powerplant, carbon-fibre fairing, forged alloy rims, radially-mounted front brake calipers plus what the company calls, a race kit.

* (December 10) The Foggy Petronas superbike team says it is chuffed with its latest test times at Valencia. Australian Troy Corser got the prototype to around a second away from established race pace. According to team manager Carl Fogarty, "I'm really pleased with the way it has gone again. I think our performance at this stage of the project is incredible and we know there is more to come."

* (December 9) Meet the new Laverda SFC1000 - the first serious prototype for the brand since Aprilia took over the company two years ago. The machine uses a warmed-up version of the Mille 1000 V-twin. There's no firm production date at this stage.

* (December 9) The Australian newspaper today runs a story on page three highlighting the extent to which state governments are becoming addicted to speed camera revenue. NSW and Vic are by far the worst offenders so far, though it looks as though Qld is about to ramp up its efforts in this direction. The newspaper says that Australians shelled out $472 million in speeding fines last financial year, which equates to a $25 tax for every person in the country. See this month's editorial.

* (December 6) Yamaha Motor and Team d'Antin are continuing their partnership in MotoGP World Championship into 2003 with an option for 2004. The Yamaha-satellite team will contest the 2003 MotoGP season as a single Yamaha entry with new rider signing Shinya Nakano, aboard a factory-supported 2003 spec four-stroke YZR-M1. Nakano, the 2001 MotoGP Rookie of the Year, recently signed a one-year agreement with the Spanish team and will be the fifth and final full-time MotoGP four-stroke Yamaha entry in the 2003 line-up.

* (December 6 ) Australian GP racer Casey Stoner will switch from a privateer 250 team to a factory backed Aprilia 125cc outfit for 2003. Stoner is  hopeful  that  the  Aprilia  mount  will  see  him become a frontrunner in the 125cc world championship. "It's pretty exciting news to get just before Christmas," Stoner said. "I'm  really  looking  forward  to being on a more competitive bike next year. "Although  it will have a smaller engine than the 250 I raced this year,  it's  still  a  big step up as I will be in a factory team for the first  time, with full support from Aprilia." Italian ace Lucio Cecchinello, winner of three 125cc GPs this year, will be Stoner's teammate as well as team boss. It was with Cecchinello's Safilo Oxydo race LCR team that Stoner had an  impressive debut  season on the world tour, riding a 250cc Aprilia that  lacked  the  performance enhancements of the factory bikes like those of  the Italian who became world champion, Marco Melandri. Stoner  became the youngest rider - at 16 - to score world  championship points in 250cc GP racing.  His best  finish was  fifth  place at the Czech Republic GP in August,  while  he finished  sixth at Jerez and Catalunya in Spain and at Rio in 

Brazil.  He also  entered  the  history  books  as  the  youngest rider to have  qualified on the first two rows of the grid for a 250cc GP.