Based on the FZ1, the 2010 Yamaha FZ8 is expected to launch in the summer as a replacement for the FZ6.

The MotoGP class has 17 entrants listed, representing 10 teams. The provisional entry list includes two new teams and several premiere class rookies including 2009 World Superbike Champion Ben Spies and the top four finishers in the 2009 250cc World Championship.

Up to $1.8 million in awards are available for top results by Kawasaki riders in various motocross races such as AMA Supercross, AMA Motocross, AMA Arenacross, and regional events across the U.S. Another $644,000 can be earned in off-road races such as GNCC, Endurocross, WORCS, AMA National Hare and Hound and other regional events.

To qualify, racers must compete on 2008 and newer RM85, RM-Z250 or RM-Z450 motorcycles purchased new from dealerships. Competing machines must retain Suzuki logos and have a yellow front fender. Suzuki riders can also take advantage of free trackside assistance at selected events.

The move is part of Harley-Davidson s efforts to restructure operations. The York, Pa., facility will begin producing the Tri Glide and Street Glide trikes for the 2011 model year. Previously, Harley-Davidsons trikes were assembled under a supply agreement of Lehman Trikes of Spearfish, South Dakota.

The Isle of Man TT, which held the TTXGPs inaugural event in 2009, will hold its own clean emissions race, named the TT Zero. Like all other TT races, the TT Zero will be run by ACU Events, using the International Motorcycling Federations rulebook. The Isle of Man governments Department of Tourism and Leisure will promote the TT Zero. The TTXGP however will not be involved.

Hopkins had linked to both Team Hammer (which races as M4 Suzuki) and MotoGP start-up team FB Corse. Hopkins has reportedly agreed to test with M4 Suzuki and a report earlier this week suggests Hopkins has decided to return to AMA racing. The report stems from a Twitter posting by Cycle World editor Matthew Miles during the Jan. 23 AMA Supercross round.

The marathon rider training event will be held Feb. 12 at Kawasaki s headquarters in Irvine, Calif., and will consist of five four-hour training sessions held through the day. The sessions are free to the public with a donation to breast cancer research and the Susan G. Komen For the Cure organization.

As previously reported, Aprilia has sent notices to dealers and customers of a pending recall for the RSV4 sportbike. Aprilia is performing a full engine swap on all RSV4 motorcycles shipped to the U.S. after identifying a component as falling short of quality standards. Aprilia has not publically identified the faulty component and no details have been published by the NHTSA as yet.

The former MotoGP rider had previously been linked to prospective Grand Prix team FB Corse but finally decided instead to return to AMA Road Racing and reunite with Team Hammer. Hopkins won the 2000 AMA 750cc Supersport and 2001 Formula Xtreme championships with Team Hammer, which raced as Valvoline Suzuki at the time.

The 40 Years of Berlin R1200R roadster was built to celebrate 40 years of production at BMW s Berlin-Spandau plant. The anniversary bike received several upgrades including a chorme exhaust system, ABS, white turn signals, heated grips, on-board computer, lowered seat, sport windwhield and a Mojave Brown paint job.

ITLs Rizla brand of rolling papers will continue to be the title sponsor for Suzuki s MotoGP team. Rizla has been associated with Suzuki since the 80s and became the teams title sponsor in 2006.

According to a report submitted by Aprilia to the NHTSA, a process used by a parts supplier to straighten the rods to meet specifications introduced stresses which affected their strength and reliability. The faulty connecting rods may lead to engine failure, as occurred in RSV4Rs press launch event in October.

The 28 Buell and Harley-Davidson motorcycles will first be shipped to the Motor Companys Dominican Republic dealership organization MagnaMotors before being delivered to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Scheduled to run June 9 after the second Supersport and second Sidecar class races, the TT Zero will be the second zero-emission race on the Isle of Man, but the first without Azhar Hussain and the TTXGP.

The Fiat Yamaha rider had the fastest lap time at 2:01.411, nearly half a second faster than Ducati Marlboros Casey Stoner on the first day of the two-day test Feb. 4-5.

The 2009 MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi and runner-up Jorge Lorenzo are back on the track at the Sepang Circuit ready to continue their success in 2010.

Troy Lee and his team will design the livery for Rizla Suzuki s race bikes as well as the racing suits of Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista. Troy Lee Designs will also design the teams pit-box and hospitality units, as well as team clothing and merchandise.

Morning rain showers followed by a sunny afternoon provided for mixed track conditions on the second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit.

Polen won the 1991 WSBK Championship, riding a Ducati 888 for Fast By Ferracci. Polen won 17 of 26 races that season to win the championship, his first of two consecutive titles.

The manufacturer announced October 2009 it would not run a factory team in the 2010 AMA Pro Road Racing season. Instead, Yamaha will be represented by four teams, the championship winning Graves Motorsports team, the Pat Clark Motorsports Team, Team Project 1 Atlanta and Team MPH Racing.

Rain showers created slippery conditions in Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., with Dungey an unfortunate victim. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider hit a slick spot in the first corner and crashed, taking down several other racers.

According to the statement by the Isle of Mans Department of Tourism and Leisure, which oversees the famed TT races, it was the TTXGP which decided not to participate in the 2010 event. Negotiations between the DTL and the TTXGP began in July following the 2009 event. The DTL says a deal in principle was in place in September but a formal proposal with a financial support package sent in October was rejected by the TTXGP.

The reality series following the Teutul family and the Orange County Choppers workshop will air its final episode Feb. 11. The series debuted in 2003 on the Discovery Channel before moving to TLC in 2007.

The Elkhart Lake, Wis., circuit will be the final event announced for the TTXGPs eGrandPrix North American Championship. The Road America race will be held June 3-6, coinciding with a scheduled AMA Pro Road Racing Round.

First introduced at the 2009 EICMA show in Milan, Italy, the 2010 MV Agusta F4 is ready for delivery to early pre-orders.

State Attorney General Martha Coakley announced settlement agreements with Safety Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company over allegations the companies overcharged customers.

The Honda Red Bull racer sustained a lower leg injury during the Feb. 6 AMA Supercross main event in San Diego, Calif. Short was examined over the weekend and is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

A fuel injected engine arrived over the short winter break and spirits were high that the new powerplant would help propel the team to the top step of the podium. However, as with most new projects, you have to jump a few hurdles to get to the finish line and this one was no different. It requires many additional components to switch from a carbureted engine to a fuel injected engine and as the first race weekend of the year drew near it became apparent that the swap would not be done in time. Undeterred the team went into the weekend knowing they would give it their all and hope for the best, after all it is a new year!

Riding the new fuel-injected 350cc KTM machine against 450cc competition, Cairoli took the first two finals with a third-place finish in the third to clinch the overall victory.

A 25-year veteran of motorcycle racing, McGrath recently headed Buell s research and development team, and had previously worked as a crew chief for American Honda. McGrath has also worked for Dunlop and Vance & Hines.

After a protracted John Hopkins soap opera, almost mythical three-cylinder MotoGP bike, and postponed team launch, it would be easy to question whether FB Corse would fulfill its intent to race in MotoGP.

Chicago locals will be treated to an up-close look at hundreds of the latest motorcycles under one roof and access to the best on-site show discounts on apparel, gear accessories and more, said Group Show Director Jeff DEntremont. In addition to checking out all the latest motorcycles, gear and accessories, the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows is the best place to get a deal on the great place to spend the day hanging out and taking in bikes with thousands of local riders.

The off-road racing champion and star of On Any Sunday is an apt choice for Grand Marshal, given his history with the 2010 events Marque of the Year, Husqvarna. Smith was brought on by Husqvarna importer Edison Dye to race the Swedish-made machine.

Currently deployed with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, Cady, 24, of Colorado Springs, Colo., is due to return to the States in the summer. Upon his return, Cady will be presented with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle of his choice by supermodel Marissa Miller. Cady will also receive free Riders Edge motorcycle training and a trip for himself and three friends to attend an Ultimate Fighting championship event.

The AMA has released new audio, print and online resources to its Think. Ride. public service announcement campaign. The new materials supplement the campaign, announced in October 2009 and featuring AMA Board of Directors member and actor Perry King.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider took the early lead with the holeshot never gave it up, handily winning Anaheim III in Angel Stadium.

I am very excited to work with Bazzaz, said Nick Anglada, owner of Nick Anglada Originals. They stand for the same thing Nick Anglada Originals stands for and that is attention to detail resulting in extraordinary performance.

In December 2009, the FIMs Grand Prix Commission previously approved the switch to 1,000cc engines with a limit of four cylinders and a maximum bore of 81 mm. The new regulations, defined during a meeting Feb. 17, further defined the technical regulations for the 2012 MotoGP season.

As ratified during a meeting Feb. 13 in Indianapolis, the 12-member AMA Board of Directors will reduce the number of corporate-elected members to four from six. The reduction opens up two positions that will become at-large member positions. Under the new code, corporate members will no longer control half of the AMA Board of Directors. The other six positions will continue to be filled by individual, regionally elected members.

We are very excited about this years event, says John Larson, senior vice president and general manager of Miller Motorsports Park. We have added a significant amount of entertainment to complement the outstanding racing provided by the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship. This will be the biggest international sporting event in Utah since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the beginning of a Memorial Day weekend tradition for families throughout Utah and the United States to enjoy.

The Ducati North America supported race team is forming the exclusive Pegram Racing Club for the 2010 AMA Pro Racing season.

According to Aprilia USA, certified technicians are expected to complete all work on customer-owned RSV4 sportbikes within two to three weeks. Aprilia and parent company Piaggio, announced a full engine recall for the RSV4 R and RSV4 Factory in late January.

The dirt bike training sessions took place Feb. 12 at Kawasaki Motors Corp., .U.S.A. headquarters in Irvine, Calif., ahead of the Anaheim III AMA Supercross round. The event included five classes of 15 riders through the day, with all 75 spots being filled within five hours of the marathons announcement.

Kymco vehicles were selected for the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Program after a bidding process that evaluated quality, performance and price.

The Portland-based manufacturer competed in the 2009 zero-emissions race on the Isle of Man, and is one of the first to enter the TT Zero after the Isle of Man TTs split with TTXGP.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki racer almost didnt make it to the main event, crashing out of his heat race. Villopoto managed to get in through the last chance qualifier before 60,019 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Construction has already begun on the legendary tri-oval on the Daytona Supercross By Honda course, which was designed by five-time Daytona Supercross By Honda champion Ricky Carmichael for the third consecutive year.  Mark Burnett, a three-time National champion, is once again building the course.

A member of the AMA Board for 25 years before his resignation November 2007, Smilie pleaded guilty to felony counts of grand theft by deception and of receiving stolen property. Smilie was sentenced in Fairfield County court Feb. 22 to eight months in prison and two years probation for receiving stolen property. Smilie was also sentenced to three years in prison for grand theft, but that sentence was suspended in lieu of two years of community control and a $1,000 fine.

The planned product expansion was announced at Triumph s U.S. Dealer Conference. Triumph Motorcycles North America also announced the pending sale of its 100,000th motorcycle since returning to North America 15 years ago.

The Hollywood helmet is more than just another pretty face, however. Starting with a proven Snell/DOT-approved fiberglass/Kevlar matrix shell, Scorpions engineers put their thinking caps on to take a top-rated lid and make it even better. Although the external shell went through extensive wind tunnel testing to achieve minimal headshake at max speeds, it is the depth of character that counts when it comes to the Hollywoods performance, such as the state-of-the-art dual density EPS liner designed to absorb maximum energy should this rising star take a fall.

After identifying an increasing volume of mobile traffic, we wanted to make it easier for our customers to be able to access BikeBandit.com anywhere, said Ken Wahlster, CEO of BikeBandit.com. Following an extensive research and development process we came up with this one-of-a-kind application which will greatly aid iPhone users in looking for motorcycle parts.

Ammar Bazzaz, president and CEO of Bazzaz states, 2010 is already shaping up to be a very exciting year for us at Bazzaz. It is with great enthusiasm that we announce our new technical partnership with M4 Monster Energy Suzuki and RoadracingWorld.com Suzuki, with highly respected riders John Hopkins, Chris Ulrich and Martin Cardenas. Racing and the requisite development of technology is at the core of our company. The addition of M4 Monster Energy Suzuki and RoadracingWorld.com Suzuki to our portfolio of technological partners is not only commensurate with our technology development philosophy, but it indicative of our growth as a company. We look forward to supporting these teams for 2010 and beyond.

The IMDA is donating 46 sections of Airfence barriers to the Roadracing World Action Fund which will assign them to AMA Pro Racing for use during the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship. The 30-foot barriers act as energy-absorption barriers, protecting riders from hitting hard objects such as the track walls in a crash.

The Swedish Electric Racing Team (SERT) announced its entry in the TT Zero, a clean emissions motorcycle class in the 2010 Isle of Man TT.

The 2008 AMA Racing Female Athlete of the Year, Porterfield holds two FIM world records: 232.522 mph in the 2,000cc Turbocharged category and 192.930 mph in the Production class. At the 2009 BUB Speed Trials, Porterfield was given the TOP Speed of the Meet award, topping all other riders with a speed of 240.382 mph.

The Austrian manufacturer has never taken part in the legendary road racing event. Best known for its off-road models, KTM has been increasing their road racing efforts in recent years, and taking part in the Isle of Man TT seems like an obvious next step.