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Noel Ebdon

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With its latest Panigale edition, the V4 SP2, Ducati raises the bar even further on special edition track bikes Ducati has unveiled the new Panigale V4 SP2, further raising the performance of the Panigale V4. The 2022 version has taken the most significant evolutionary step since its inception, improved in every aspect, including aerodynamics, ergonomics, engine, chassis and electronics. The Panigale V4 SP2 combines all the improvements made by Ducati engineers on the 2022 Panigale V4 to create the most high-performing Panigale ever. The SP2 has an even more powerful braking system, lightweight carbon rims, final drive and dry clutch inherited from the WorldSBK bikes, racing footpegs and a series of carbon components.  The bike is also delivered with a kit for track use, which includes billet aluminium caps for the removal of rear-view mirrors, kit for removing the license plate holder and open carbon clutch cover.  The bike also comes…

Bike Middle East travel 700 kilometres around the UAE on a Ducati Diavel as one of the firstbikes ever allowed on the famous Mille Miglia road rally When you get a call to ask if you want to ride a Ducati on a Mille Miglia event, it’s one of those calls that requires no answer. It’s automatic. Other plans get cancelled, people put on hold, birthdays cancelled. Sometimes opportunity only knocks once.To be clear, this wasn’t the Mille Miglia of Italian fame. Well, not as far as location was concerned anyway. But it was a genuine Mille Miglia event, as the famous rally becomes abrand and spreads its wings into territories new.And, as you may have already realised, the Mille Miglia never involved motorcycles. So whynow?As they say, change is constant, and whilst the original rally continues in Italy, still adhering tothe strict rules of entry, the brand’s forays into…

After five days of tough riding, falls, sickness and interesting weather, the Milwaukee Toolssponsored Vendetta Racing Team claims a clean sweep of finishes All three Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge rookies made it to the finish of the 2022 race, havingdone an amazing job on all five days of the rally. The riders kept a cool head throughout the race and managed to get through every day withminimal issues and penalties, which was rewarded with a ride over the finishers ramp atYAS Marina Circuit. The Final results:Tom Childs – 15th in Rally 2 classOran Kelly – 17th in Rally 2 classWilliam McBride – 19th in Rally 2 Class The team would like to thank @milwaukeetooluae, @Monobuoy for their ongoing supportand @paulbackguru.dubai for his daily ritual of snapping the boys back into shape afterevery stage. 130 – Tom Childs FB-tom.childs.750132 – William McBride @william_mcbride_ni132 – Oran Kelly @oran.okelly

Dubai-based GASGAS Factory Racing star extends lead in FIM Rally-Raid WorldChampionship Putting in an impressive display of riding to top the fifth and final stage of the 2022 AbuDhabi Desert Challenge, Sam Sunderland has won the event in style. The result makes it twowins from two races for Sunderland in this year’s FIM Rally-Raid World Championship,where he sits dominantly at the top of the standings. “It feels so cool to get the win! Abu Dhabi is always a tough race with the strategy and thatwas even more a factor this year as everyone was right on the pace,” said Sunderland. “Ifyou started a stage further back you didn’t seem to catch up so much time even though youwere pushing like hell, so it was definitely a challenge this year. It was a tough racephysically as well, partly because of the pace, but because of the heat too, as well as…

With a heavy fall, one sick rider and challenging weather to contend with, the MilwaukeeTools sponsored Vendetta Racing Team safely complete the second last day ​A mixed bag of feelings for the Vendetta team today. Childs had an off before the refuel, which was bad enough to set off his air bag vest. Unfortunately after that he just couldn’t find a rhythm, dropping the bike several timesthrough the stage, which saps energy at the best of times. But as today was another hotwindy one, it made for a grueling day.​​ Kelly had another good day, steady and consistent, which is the key to having a great race.McBride wasn’t feeling great in the morning, but after a few sea sickness tablets forbreakfast he clawed back the time he had lost for the fuel pump issues earlier in the week.Day five sees the fast run back north for the team, ending at…

Dubai-based Dakar Champion holds narrow advantage going into the final day With one day to go GASGAS rider, Sam Sunderland still holds top spot on the ADDC. Thanksto his impressive pace, and a decent helping of grit and determination, Sunderland hassafely completed the penultimate stage of the 2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in ninthplace, maintaining his lead at the top of the overall timesheets. As the second rider into the 243km special, Sam did a superb job, losing the minimumamount of time to his chasing rivals, and producing a near mistake-free stage while pushinghard for just over three hours of racing. “Day four done, and I’m still in the overall lead, but it looks like things are really close at thetop, just like Dakar,” said Sunderland. “It was a tough stage again today with lots of rockypistes and some big dunes. I caught Matthias (Walkner) around kilometer 80 and then…

Despite continuing fuel issues and a few mechanical gremlins, the Milwaukee Toolssponsored Vendetta Racing Team all make it safely through day three Stage three was shorter in distance and with a different type of terrain to yesterday’smarathon stage, but faster, and with high winds to keep things challenging for the team. William continued to have fuel pump issues as no maintenance can be done during amarathon stage, but at least it was a known issue, so a hose pipe and a empty water bottlewas taken in preparation. Tom was having a few mechanical gremlins which were hampering progress too, including aleaky sprocket seal and a strange knock from the head bearings. Not enough to stop him,but enough to play on his mind, which on a long endurance race can be a huge distraction. All the riders returned to the pits in good shape, so the bikes are prepped, fixed whereneeded and are…

GASGAS Factory Racing’s Sam Sunderland tops provisional standings by over four minutesafter great day in desert Another hot and tough day in the desert, but GASGAS Factory Racing’s Sam Sunderlandbraved the heat and came out fighting. Placing as runner-up on the 290km stage three ofthe Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge the RC 450F racer now leads the provisional rally standingsby four minutes and twenty-four seconds, with two days left to race. “Another long, tough day here at the Desert Challenge – it’s so hot here, it seems like theyturned the cooker on for us when we arrived,” said Sunderland. “It makes it tough oneveryone I suppose. I rode on my own for most of today, which makes it tough to gaugeyour rhythm against the rest of the field, so I just tried to push and push. I’m back at the topof the overall now, but I think with two days left…

Despite fuel issues for McBride, and a long and challenging ride for the entire team, allVendetta Racing riders make it safely through the stage Day two of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge proved to be a very long and hot day for allthree riders of the Milwaukee Tools sponsored Vendetta Racing Team. McBride left the bivouac with fuelling issues, as the fuel pump on the rear tank of his KTMRally decided not to work when the bikes were started up in the morning. He rode into thestage knowing that around 140kms in he would have to stop and manually transfer fuelfrom the rear tanks to the front in order to reach the refuel point and potentially have to doit again prior to the end. Not a great start to a Marathon stage but the distances to refueltomorrow should work in his favour. Childs and Kelly, like most riders today were…