Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry, announced today that it has been awarded a grant of $1,009,220 from the California Energy Commission (CEC). With matching commitment from Zero, over $2M in funding will be made available to drive the company’s continued research, development and assembly of 100% electric motorcycles at their California headquarters.

“The UK announced this recently with their grant on Electric Motorcycles and close behind was the USA, this is surely a message for the south African Government to something similar, not only for the new green thinking, from polluting vehicles to zero emission vehicles but the massive savings on fuel and the ideal perfect commuting machine,” said Craig Langton Sales Director of Zero Motorcycles SA and co-owner of the Cayenne Group

A news article was published in the UK under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government. Motorcycles and scooters will join cars, vans, trucks and buses in the government’s drive for greener vehicles. Motorcycles and scooters will join cars, vans, trucks and buses in the government’s drive for greener vehicles, Business Minister Matthew Hancock announced today (27 March 2015).

Up to £7.5 million will be set aside to boost the uptake for electric 2 wheelers and help biker’s bridge the cost gap between a zero emission electric motorcycle and conventional petrol versions.

The grant could offer up to £1500 off the purchase price and allow motorcyclists to reduce both their running costs and environmental impact. The move comes following meetings with the electric Motor Cycle Industry Association and leading manufacturers including Zero, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, BMW, Volt, and Mahindra.

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said, low emission vehicles are the future and show that we can meet our climate change commitments without giving up our cars or motorbikes. Electric motorcycles and scooters have got fantastic potential and can be a real force for clean air emissions and overall cost savings.

Back to the USA

“We thrive at the intersection of transportation, technology and energy efficiency,” said Zero Motorcycles CEO Richard Walker. “This generous grant, combined with the confidence of our investors, accelerates our global growth, expands Zero’s local workforce and manufacturing capacity, and will fuel continued innovation across all of our products.”

Zero was founded in Santa Cruz in 2006 and has been pioneering electric motorcycles ever since. Each year, the model line has seen great advancements in performance, range, features and value. Zero motorcycles are proudly “Crafted in California” at the company’s Scotts Valley (Santa Cruz County) headquarters.

“It’s exciting to see Zero Motorcycles grow from a pilot production line we funded to an expanded manufacturing line through this latest grant,” said Janea A. Scott, lead commissioner on transportation for the California Energy Commission. “Transitioning from older, higher polluting vehicles to zero emission vehicles—ones with no tailpipe pollution—helps the state meet its clean air, climate, and petroleum reduction goals.”

The California Energy Commission is focused on promoting efficiency and conservation, supporting cutting-edge research, and developing California’s renewable energy resources. Zero is committed to using the CEC grant to expand its production capacity through improvements in its manufacturing line, production efficiency and engineering processes.

“We believe CEC funding is ideally suited for this kind of project as we leverage 21st century California clean-tech manufacturing,” said Kai Hypko, VP of Operations at Zero. “As electric vehicles continue to gain popularity, Zero Motorcycles helps reduce petroleum use, improve air quality and energy efficiency, all while creating more skilled jobs here in California.”

About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is committed to transforming the motorcycling experience by bringing to market highly innovative electric motorcycles that offer exceptional value and performance. Zero is powered by innovation, driven by passion, guided by integrity and measured by results. Through extensive research, insight and experience, Zero combines the art and science of motorcycle development to create and manufacture products that excite consumers and inspire brand loyalty. Every model is designed and built in California. Zero is determined to be the preeminent global electric motorcycle company.

For more information on Zero Electric Motorcycles call Zero SA a division of the Cayenne Group on 011 244 1900, ask for Berto or Clinton

The Association of Motorcycle Importers and Distributors (AMID) has announced that it has decided to cancel the AMID Expo in 2015.  This follows the withdrawal of a number of members from the Expo this year. 

“AMID is sad to see the show go, but this is a reflection of the times we are living in” said AMID National Director, Lachlan Harris.  “Members feel that their marketing spend would be more effectively used on more focused activities for the time being, and as such will be pursuing a number of independent initiatives”.

Carlos Checa, 2011 Superbike World Champion, will take part in the Sardegna Rally Race 2015, on the 6th of June, with a Beta RR of the Team Dirt Racing. The Catalan champion has decided to race in the Italian round of the Cross-Country Rallies World Championship with a bike of the Florentine manufacturer Beta, thanks to its well-known reliability and power. Carlos will count on the great rally experience of the Beta Dirt Racing Team, managed by Paolo Machetti, and will also take part in the next round of the Italian Motorally Championship in Umbertide, on May 16 and 17, to get used to the “tight” notes and navigation of the Italian rallies and to find the right setting on the bike for the World round in Sardinia.

It is being said that the new Aprilia RSV4 RR’s Superpole RR’s and RF are simply the best ever superbike on the planet voted 2 years on a trot and given the verdict yet again by the international media testers who gave the new Aprilia’s a 11 out of 10, is there any machines out there that can complete with this awesome all rounder

All superbike fans, already the international media already know the Aprilia RSV4’s are the best all-round Superbikes available today, winning countless comparison tests in the two wheel media worldwide. “We now make the better than our best ever,” said one on the Aprilia international presenters at the launch this month.

“The most exciting news is the prices of the 3 RSV4 models, they come in cheaper than all the competitors in this category,” said Craig Langton. “On top of this all the trick bits and electronics are included in the RSV4 package whereas with the competitors it’s an option, the RR model will be launched at R 199 900, the Superpole RR at R 229 900 and the flagship model at R 259 900, in some cases R 50 000 less than our competitors and compared to the R1 M1 its R 100 000 cheaper for our RF model.”

“Only 500 of the new RF model will be produced and we have 10 units coming to SA, we also have a launch offer on the RR the first 20 customers will get a free Multimedia Telemetric system (V4 – MP app) valued at R 20 000,” said Langton 

There is simply no area that the RSV4 is weak in; they have seemed to come up with the perfect superbike, track superstar and all-round race bike.

Comments like no need for the ABS when you have the grip by the bucket load 

To quote the Fast Bike mag test rider after his test laps at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, the Aprilia’s RSV4 RF is absolutely stunning I’m passing myself off as Aprilia’s next World Superbike Champion. “I’m Leon freakin’ Haslam,” I tell myself as I relinquish my hold on the brake lever and begin tipping the bike into the Misano Circuit’s turn 16.

I tuck in behind the bike’s redesigned bubble and accelerate down the short front straight. Moments later I glance down at my lap time (displayed via an iPhone using Aprilia’s V4-MP app!), only to be brought back to reality and reminded of why after this lap I’ll be heading back home and writing a review on this bike rather than flying over to the next World Superbike round. For that lap though, Aprilia’s RSV4 RF made me feel like a superhero—as if I could do no wrong.

The RSV4 RR, Superpole RR and RF are all new, but step up to the RF and you get forged aluminum wheels, Ohlin suspension, and Aprilia's Superpole graphic.

The RR, Superpole RR and RF are an evolution of the RSV4 models that all superbike riders have had a love affair with since they launched them. The RF model comes with the added Öhlins suspension, forged aluminum wheels, and Superpole graphic to an already sublime package.

Aprilia has found a few extra horsepower for both models, tweaked the ergonomics, and refined the electronics for increased ride ability over the duration of a ride, race or track day, all using information and ideas gathered from Aprilia’s Racing Department, which has earned four of the last five World Superbike Championship manufacturer titles plus three rider world championships.

Aprilia’s Product Development Manager, Pierro Soatti, recaps each of the changes, starting at the engine: “This year the Superbike and Superstock motorcycle have to be closer to the production one, so you can change less things. One of those things is the air box, so basically we developed a production air box that is as close as possible to the former superbike one. The most important thing with an air box isn’t the dimension, but the trajectory of the wind; In order to reduce losses, the trajectory of wind needs to be straight as possible, so on this air box the air filter was moved from laying down where air had to make a corner, to straight up and down,” he reveals. If ever you were curious about how regulations and racing play a hand in the development of production motorcycles to get your answer.”

The biggest changes for the RSV4 are inside the 65-degree V-4 engine. Camshafts are lighter, as are the pistons, connecting rods, and upper crankcase. The bike is claimed to have 201 horsepower (at 13,000 rpm) at the crank, a 16-horsepower jump compared to the last model.

The fixed funnels for the RSV4's variable intake system are shorter and the moveable ones larger, so as to not sacrifice midrange torque. Further down, you'll find reshaped camshafts that are forged instead of cast for reduced weight, plus new valve springs and lighter caps. Titanium intake valves are larger (33 mm versus 32 mm), while exhaust valves 26 mm are now made from titanium rather than steel, the combustion chambers are CNC machined, which keeps the compression ratio very constant for each cylinder and allows Aprilia to control the combustion in a better way. Soatti says that this process absolutely adds to the production costs, but that it is also "one of the most important changes for the engine."

The RSV4’s pistons, Pankl connecting rods, and upper engine case are all lighter, the latter now featuring an optimized ventilation system that reduces pumping losses. A completely new oil circuit uses check valves to bring oil to different points of the engine only when it’s necessary For example, with the gears, it’s not necessary to have a very high flow of oil when you are going lower than 6000 rpm, as there is not that much. So it makes a check and saves oil flow in these parts at lower rpm,” Soatti says.

The RSV4’s 65-degree V-4 engine produces around 85 foot-pounds of torque, enough to make the motorcycle want to wheelie practically everywhere if Aprilia left the geometry as is, fortunately they haven't, ultimately lowering the engine 5 mm via the RSV4’s adjustable engine mount system, and lengthening the swingarm by 13 mm the distance between swingarm pivot to the rear axle is actually just 4 mm longer, but you can use all 13 mm of added room on the adjuster if you'd like. Not compromise agility, Aprilia changed the offset of the triple clamps from 30 mm to 32 mm, which subsequently reduced trail and bumped mid-corner steering quickness. The axle is also moved 2 mm backwards to position the front wheel in same position as before.

Aprilia lowered the center of gravity and lengthened the swingarm to counteract the effects of the added horsepower. The engine now sits in the lowest position available with Aprilia's adjustable engine mount system. Plus the RSV4 chassis provides more feedback than anything in the category when cranked over.

The electronics were recalibrated for the same reason that the chassis was tweaked to counterbalance the V-4’s increased power but also as a result of what Aprilia had found in joint tests with its Superbike team. There, it found that its racers preferred less engine braking and a smoother on-off throttle transition, changes that made the bike easier to ride during longer sessions. The ECU's Road map was jettisoned for a Race mode that’s actually the smoothest of the three, with again, less engine braking above 6000 rpm and a more seamless on-off throttle transition for rider and tyre conservation. Track and Sport riding modes remain, each now granting access to all the 201 horsepower and only slight differences in the way that power is put down.

The handlebars are taller and more flat, which takes some weight off of the rider’s wrists, plus Aprilia, has redesigned the front fairing so that it provides better wind protection. New rear mirrors are larger and house LED turn indicators.

Admittedly, I didn’t feel the effects of the new clip-on angle or reshaped fairing during my four twenty-minute sessions at the Misano Circuit. It'll be interesting to see how the fairing affects longer stints down the highway, however, as Aprilia says that the new design will also reduce the air pressure on the body and helmet when not tucked in.

The increase in power is more obvious, the RSV4 jumps out the corner with more aggression than before and not going flat as early as the previous model did. The V-four engine doesn’t feel as peaky as an inline-four, and instead has smooth delivery of power plus very tractable character that continues to promote smooth drives off the corner.

The Aprilia Traction Control (aTC) and Aprilia Wheelie Control (aWC) systems that come as part of the RSV4’s aPRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) package are quick to intervene, the dash flashing quite vigorously at nearly every corner exit. Even when the systems are in the lower settings range (1 and 1, respectively), the cut in power is fairly abrupt. The traction control on the Aprilia feels like it doesn’t want you to put the bike sideways at all. The Aprilia Quick Shift (aQS) works flawlessly, the step in performance between riding modes. To be fair, they all felt well-tuned, with especially good settings for engine braking and the off-on throttle transition, making it perfect to roll through the entrance of a corner.

Adjusting aPRC settings via the thumb button on the left clip-on can be a bit frustrating, but I did enjoy being able to adjust the aTC settings on the fly using the push buttons on the same side of the bike, which were easy to reach and always got me right into the desired setting.

The chassis is, in contrast, an absolute gem. It has more feel than anything in the category, which ultimately eggs you into leaning it over further than you would anything else and staying on the brakes a little bit longer into the corner. It is one of the best chassis in the segment, if not motorcycling as a whole.Enlarge

Öhlins suspension on the RF model (the RR comes with Sachs suspension) is as good as you’d expect a fork and shock wearing Öhlins badges to be, providing great feedback through the stroke and great control. Aprilia had installed “track settings to stiffen the bike up via the clickers and preload adjuster, the M430 brakes, which have great feel, and power that felt like it was easy to modulate as you tipped the bike into the corner. The brakes never faded at all on the test.

It also does not end there Aprilia looks to transform the riding experience even further with an advanced version of its Multimedia Platform, which allows your smartphone to communicate with the RSV4 and is available as an accessory item. Now you can make changes to the settings for wheelie control or traction control from your phone, while also getting tips in real time for how to improve your lap time, as part of this "Adaptive Race Assist" feature, the application will compare in real time the rider's best lap with his current lap and indicate if you need to brake or open the throttle to gradually achieve better lap times.

Aprilia's V4-MP app (available with iPhone or Android) allows you to program the settings for aTC and aWC so that the motorcycles adjust settings for those systems corner by corner. Notice that in the next sector, wheelie control and traction control will both be reduced.

We did, however, play with the rider aid settings, and walked away completely shocked by its capability. The V4-MP system uses the GPS feature of your phone to recognize your location on the track, and then can adjust the aTC and aWC settings, corner by corner, based on parameters you selected prior to rolling out on the track. Having a problem keeping the front end down out of the tighter corners in sector 2, want a little less traction control through sector 3, no problem, simply program those settings in the V4-MP app and the systems will adjust as you run around the track.

In addition to this, the V4-MP app has a "virtual" dashboard that lets you use your smartphone's display to see, not only all the information on the dash but also information acquired by the bike's telemetry, including longitudinal and lateral acceleration, lean angle, instant power and torque distributed to the driveshaft, percentage of power available, rear wheel slippage, and more.

If running around on a bike that's been developed using data taken straight from one of the most successful teams in recent World Superbike history and one that enables corner-by-corner adjustment to the electronic rider aid settings via your smartphone—doesn't make you feel like a superhero, then I don't know what will.

*Edited track test extracts compliments Fast Bike

“These new RSV4 RR’s Superpole RR’s and RF units have got to be the world’s best or perfect superbike, the ultimate out of the crate race bike and an ideal unmatchable track day machine,” said  Craig Langton Sales Director and co-owner  of Aprilia SA a division on the Cayenne Group

Caption the new Aprilia RSV4 RF, (grey, red and green with Aprilia branding across tank and fairing) RR’s (grey unit) and Superpole RR’s (red rims)

For more info call Berto at Aprilia SA / Cayenne World on 011 244 1900

Yoshimura Suzuki has announced that James Stewart’s appeal of his 16-month ban from professional motocross was denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport board. After finishing second at the Seattle Supercross on April 12, 2014, James Stewart was required to report to the WADA facility at Century Link Field (along with winner Ryan Villopoto and third place rider Ryan Dungey). The urine sample obtained from James at that test revealed the presence of amphetamines. On June 17, 2014, the FIM provisionally suspended James Stewart until the final decision on his case could be reached. James had a hearing on October 23, 2014, in Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland, to state his case. In short, Stewart’s defense was that the amphetamines came from Adderall, the drug he said he was taking for an Attention Deficit Disorder condition (and that he had a prescription for it). However, James had never told any race officials that he was taking Adderall and had failed to file the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) that the FIM/AMA and MX Sports require before an athlete can take any drug on the banned list.

After that hearing, the Director of the International Commission of Judges, Anand Sashidharan, weighed James’ defense and came to the conclusion that James Stewart would be banned from racing for a period of 16 months. The ban would be backdated to the date of the violation, which meant that Stewart’s actual ban would only be 8 months. The Director of the Commission found that it was “indisputable that Mr. Stewart had committed an anti-doping rule violation‚ in particular that it is each rider’s personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body.”

Although the WADA discovered the drug violation, it was the FIM that handed down the penalty (because Supercross is sanctioned by both the AMA and FIM). It should be noted that James Stewart’s appeal was not adjudicated by either WADA or the FIM, but instead by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is an independent body headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. James can appeal the case again, but this time in a court of law. However, CAS findings are rarely overturned by courts. Plus James isn’t appealing the guilty findings, since he definitely had not filed a TUE and did have amphetamines in his system — he is only appealing the length of his suspension. However, James 8-month ban was in sync with the suspensions of athletes from other sports who have committed the same offense.

James Stewart said, “It’s extremely disappointing that my appeal was denied, but I’m glad this is over and now I can turn my full attention back to preparing for the few events I’ll be competition in this year and coming back strong for 2016.” Stewart plans to race the final two Nationals, Monster Cup, Red Bull Straight Rhythm and a round of the Australian Supercross series after the August 11 date.

 New Honda HRC RC213V developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Honda Motor, is a road going prototype of the awesome Championship winning MotoGP RC213V machine. Inspired by, and developed with input from many legendary GP riders, this exotic RC213V-S is set to be the ultimate road going motorcycle

Interested customers can call to reserve there new RC213V machines

Released by Honda Kyalami 011 244 1900 

The French MV Agusta rider Cluzel finished second after a heated duel with Sofuoglu which moves him into third place in the overall Supersport standings. Zanetti finished fifth and is first in the overall standings.

In WSBK MV Agusta’s Camier is increasingly stable in the top-ten.

Assen (NL) - The fourth WSBK round arrived at one of the nicest and most legendary tracks in the history of motorcycle racing, the Dutch TT circuit Assen.

The weekend got off to a great start for Reparto Corse with Cluzel taking his third pole position of the season (1’38.015) and Zanetti (1’38.685) on the second row with the fifth best time.

In the WSBK the team saw a brilliant performance from Leon Camier who, for the first time this season, qualified for SP2 with the eleventh best time (1’36.402) which earned him a spot on the fourth row between the two Ducati’s ridden by Mercado and Terol.

At the start of the WSS race Smith and his Honda smoked the rest and moved into the lead, ahead of Sofuoglu, Cluzel, Jacobsen and Zanetti. In the lap 3 the Frenchman took care of both his Turkish rivals and the Englishman from team Pata to move into the lead, on the following lap putting in the best lap time (1’38.976).

Once in the lead Cluzel began to push, opening up a gap between himself and Sofuoglu of more than six lengths, a gap that the tough team Kawasaki Puccetti rider Sofuoglu reduced lap by lap and moving back into the lead during the ninth lap.

It was the start of a duel and lightning fast laps with Cluzel coming out on top when, on the 15th lap, he set the new track race record at 1’38.184.

The two riders in the lead began to size one another up as they awaited the chequered flag, with Cluzel overtaking Sofuoglu on the outside and then losing grip in the direction change on the "S" just before the finish. It seemed like an insurmountable gap but Cluzel managed to close it and during the last lap he pulled the pin on his final attack at the last turn just before the home stretch but he was stopped by contact with his adversary who abruptly shut the door on him.

Cluzel was forced off the track but managed to re-enter and hold onto second place ahead of Smith with Zanetti finishing sixth, 15.093 behind, with the satellite MV F3 ridden by Baldolini finishing in ninth place.

In the overall standings Cluzel moves back into third place with 45 points behind American Jacobsen (55 points) and current leader Sofuoglu with 80 points and Zanetti fifth with 41 points.

“This is the most competitive class in WSBK,” said Craig Langton MV Agusta SA Sales Director. “After last years close finish for Cluzel that saw him only just miss taking the title for the MV Agusta team and the first title since Ago’s retirement many years ago, the MV Agusta factory is adamant that this year the title will be there’s.”

At the finish the Frenchman Cluzel had this to say: “I'm quite happy with the race and my pace. We took the fast lap and the track record. I knew that Kenan would do anything to win and that's what we saw. Too bad, but I'm pleased that the next race is at Imola because it's a track that particularly suits my riding style.”

In WSBK the MV Agusta F4 RC of Leon Camier reconfirmed his solid placement in the top-ten. In a race characterised by a dominating Johnny Rea who took the double win and the hometown hero's podium finish,

In Race 1 Leon finished ahead of Mercado, whereas in Race 2 he crossed the wire in front of Baiocco's Ducati, lapping time during the race (1’36.652) with times quite close to those on the sheets during qualifying (1’36.402).

The next round is scheduled for 10th May at Imola, the first of two Italian rounds on the 2015 calendar.

When the green flag drops on the 18^th April for the opening round of the FIM Endurance World Championship, the 24 Hours Moto at the legendary Le mans circuit, it will signal not only the start of an exciting new season of an important commercial and technical partnership between MOTUL and the FIM EWC.

An agreement reached in 2012 saw MOTUL signed as the FIM’s official lubricant partner and official partner with the FUM Endurance World Championship, and the discipline plays a key part in MOTUL’s technical product development, marketing and sales strategies. The company is the specialist lubricant market leader in Europe, and has long viewed endurance racing as the perfect test bed for its products of today and tomorrow, both on the track and on the street.

With a new April date in the calendar for the 24 Hours Moto, and a new promoter in the shape of Eurosport Events – bringing its considerable experience in the European Rally Championship and World Touring Car Championship to bear on the EWC – there is much more in store in 2015 for endurance motorcycle racing. And MOTUL will be with it every step of the way!

Then 2015 calendar comprises four events, beginning with the MOTUL - - sponsored 24-hour race at Le Mans, a venue with which the lubricant specialist has long had extremely close links and at which its team partners have had success no fewer than on 10 occasions. With a record number of requests for entries for this 38^th edition of the 24 Hours moto, and nine different marques lining up among the 56 bikes due to take the start, all the ingredients are in  place for a classic race.

Among these competitors will be more than 20 teams supported technically by MOTUL, including two title aspirants from the great factory teams in the championship – the Suzuki Endurance World Championship team. All the competitors will use products from the MOTUL Factory Line range, most notably celebrated 300V.

The competitors and manufacture team, which in 2015 will include the return of BMW alongside Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, will go in to two 8 – hour races in Suzuka Japan and Oschersleben. The season will end with the prestigious Bol d’Or, also supported by MOTUL, and which moves from Magny Cours back to its long-time former home of Circuit Paul Richard at Le Castellet.