mika
Still Wondering
webbikeworld.com: BMW F800GS review ÔÇô could this be the perfect all-around motorcycle?
thevintagent.blogspot.com: 2009 ClubmanÔÇÖs Show, Part 1
: Motoring.co.za: Triumph Daytona ÔÇô the best just got better
thevintagent.com: Roadside repairs
Bikes in the Fast Lane: BMWÔÇÖs new C1 replacement?
businesswire.com: MIC ad SVIA disappointed the CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord Intends to Vote against Industry Petitions
cmgonline: BMW still up in sales
ItÔÇÖs not dead, just mostly dead? Myrtle Breach Rally breaths again.
thebeachcruiser.com: Myrtle Beach Rally not really cancelled. Hot Leathers to have five rally locations
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motocycle.com: Road conditions quiz
thekneeslider.com: Hand painted Ural Tourist in Gzhel Style
A pair of Italian videos strutting the factory bikes.
The competition
Aprilia RSV4 factory technical video
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D16 ÔÇô ep 1
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How a MotoGP tire is made [/url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2me-dkKRLI]MotoGP[/url]
motorcycledaily.com: 2009 Kawasaki KLX 250F
You read it in the Motorreads first ÔÇô
porsche.com: Porsche sees first signs of economy stabilizing in North America
renault.com: The Irish government , ESBB and the Renault-Nissan Alliance move towards zero emissions
bild.de translated: The last secrets of the Bond cars
canadiandriver.com : Tough new greenhouse gas limits coming
nytimes.com: China vies to be leader in electric vehicles
cardesignnews.com: Creapole MA Degree Show 2009
motorauthority.com: Ferrari celebrates 50th anniversary of the 250GT SWB
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Video: Jaguar XFR does 225 mph at Bonneville
Cage Racing News
astonmartinc.om: Aston Martin victorious on Le Mans series debut
MILNER AND M?£LLER RACE NO. 92 BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM M3 TO SECOND IN GT2 AT ST. PETE
04/04/2009
Team achieves podium in only the second race of new BMW of North America
M3 racing program
St. Petersburg, Fla. - April 4, 2009... Tommy Milner and Dirk M??ller raced the No. 92 BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3 to a second place GT2 class finish today at the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg. The duo completed 86 laps in the one-hour- and-fifty-five minute race. The podium finish was the first for the Milner/M??ller duo and for the new BMW of North America M3 racing program.
The race began under bright Florida sunshine with Bill Auberlen starting the No. 90 M3 from third and Tommy Milner behind the wheel of the No. 92 M3, fourth on the grid. Both M3s settled into the fourth and fifth spots as the race passed the 30-minute mark. Auberlen was the first to pit on lap 28. After a quick pit stop for tires and fuel, Joey Hand attempted to pull away, but the car would not fire. The crew performed some quick diagnostics, but unfortunately the No. 90 M3 was retired.
BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team
Milner had moved the No. 92 M3 into third before pitting on lap 35. M??ller returned to the race in fourth, but was soon back in a podium position as the race slowed for the only caution period of the day just before the one hour mark.
One lap before the restart, M??l ler ducked into the pits to tighten a loosening suspension bolt. The stop dropped No. 92 back to fourth, 10 seconds behind third. With 20 minutes remaining M??ller charged up to the rear bumper of the car in third. Two minutes later he took over third and set his sights on the car in second place, only one second ahead. On lap 70, M??ller raced into second place, holding the position for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team's first podium finish.
Round Three of the 2009 American Le Mans Series, the Grand Prix of Long Beach, will take place on April 17 - 18.
Tommy Milner, driver No. 92 BMW M3 (second):
"It is wonderful to show what the M3 is capable of. Our car was almost perfect the entire race. Only one little hiccup with something loose in the front. The tires were awesome. Dunlop is really behind us. This podium feels great after our rough start at Sebring."
Dirk Mueller, driver No. 92 BMW M3 (second):
"What a thrilling day to realize the first podium for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing
Team! Tommy did a great first stint. He was driving like a machine, with a great machine below him. We had to make a safety check and dropped to P4 or 5. It was a great fight back to second. I enjoyed racing my last year's teammate. It was as if I could read his mind at every moment and that was an advantage. Dunlop gave me a perfect tire. It was a different compound than Tommy was using because of the heat we had on the track. It was absolutely awesome, so the corners were really so much fun. Congratulations to the team for a well-deserved second place."
Bobby Rahal, team principal:
"I am very pleased for BMW and the team. All the hard work from BMW Motorsport, BMW of North America, and Dunlop really paid off today. While we are disappointed that the No. 90 didn't finish, we look forward to Long Beach and our continuing improvement."
Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America, LLC Motorsports Manager:
"Expectations are very high for this program and it's a great morale boost to see we have the car, the team and the tires. I want to thank our partners in Dunlop. They completed very strategic testing and a development plan that has born fruit today. We were very strong on both sets of tires in the 92 car and ultimately that has helped us in securing our
BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team
first podium. We know we have the ingredients and in two weeks at Long Beach we will fight for the podium again. Unfortunately the No. 90 car did not finish today. I am disappointed for Bill and Joey, but we still are facing teething problems."
About Rahal Letterman Racing:
Rahal Letterman Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman, has been competing for more than a decade compiling 20 victories, 30 poles and one series championship (Bobby Rahal in 1992 in CART) and an Indianapolis 500 championship (Buddy Rice in 2004). In 2008 Rahal Letterman Racing again won Rookie-of-the-Year honors at the Indianapolis 500 and partnered with Andersen Racing to
run two entries in the Indy Pro Series. In 2009 the team has joined BMW of North America to campaign the new BMW M3 as BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team in the American Le Mans Series and will serve as the organizers of the Formula BMW Americas
championship.
BMW GROUP U.S. DIVISION REPORTS MARCH 2009 SALES
04/01/2009
BMW Group sales in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) down by 22.9 percent. Jim OÔÇÖDonnell: ÔÇ£Sales stronger than expected, but no celebrating.ÔÇØ
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 1, 2009... The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported March sales of 21,125 vehicles, a decrease of 22.9 percent over the 27,404 vehicles sold in the same month of 2008. For the first quarter, The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 51,244 vehicles, down 25.2 percent, compared to 68,529 vehicles sold in the same period a year ago.
BMW Brand Sales
Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 24.2 percent in March for a total of 17,520 vehicles compared to 23,115 vehicles reported in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 26.8 percent, to 42,731 vehicles compared to 58,365 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008.
ÔÇ£In March, we saw a mixed cocktail of good, bad and ugly signals in the market and for us, I'm happy to say we're starting to see a bit more of the good,ÔÇØ said Jim OÔÇÖDonnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. "Our sales were stronger than expected back at the beginning of the month and a bit of spring lift puts us in the premium market lead in March and the first quarter as well. No celebrating, however, because further loosening of the credit reins is needed to see even more buying action."
Over the next months, BMW of North America expects sales to be bolstered by new products coming to market. The fifth generation of the BMW 7 Series went on sale in the U.S. in March and the new BMW Z4 will arrive at U.S. dealerships in May.
See additional video commentary by Wayne Orchowski, Vice-President, BMW Sales, BMW of North America, LLC, regarding BMWÔÇÖs performance in March.
BMW Automobile Sales
BMWÔÇÖs automobile sales are down 23.2 percent in March to 14,767 versus 19,231 in the same month of 2008. Year-to-date sales also decreased 25.8 percent, to 34,240 automobiles compared to 46,153 in the first three months 2008.
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Sales
Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles decreased 29.1 percent in March to 2,753 vehicles over the 3,884 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were down 30.5 percent, to 8,491 vehicles compared to 12,212 sold in the same period a year ago.
MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 3,605 automobiles, down 15.9 percent from the 4,289 cars sold in March 2008. For the first quarter, MINI USA also reported sales of 8,513 automobiles, a decrease of 16.2 percent, compared to the 10,164 cars reported in March 2008.
"Like the swallows from Capistrano, we're seeing March bring some life to our segment," said Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINI USA. "MINI sales are still tracking below last year but the gap has remained stable throughout the first quarter, and more people are configuring cars on the internet ÔÇô all signs of cautious optimism that the traditional spring lift will happen again this year.ÔÇØ
The new MINI Cooper and Cooper S Convertible are the latest additions to MINIÔÇÖs product line-up in the U.S. Both products arrived at MINI dealerships last month. This month, the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible follows.
Table: Sales BMW of North America, LLC, March 2009
Bikes in the Fast Lane: Throat microphones
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WOOT.com
Knjmoto.com:
Motobastards.com
xkcd.com:
Bike Candy
I was poking around Honda Racing Japan and found this restoration of an 125 GP bike. At least that is what I think it is, my Japanese translator isnÔÇÖt working. No matter, it is a great piece of vintage racing bike candy.
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