Completely ignoring the “Don’t count your chickens..” adage, Honda Australia are releasing a limited edition (170 units only) 2011 Fireblade in signature Casey Stoner livery. This isn’t the first time that Casey has warranted a special colour scheme, of course.
Available from dealers later this month, the Casey Stoner Repsol replica is sure to be a hot ticket and could help (a little) bolster flagging sales at a time when the GFC is still radically affecting bike sales. Oh, the price? $A18790.
Speaking of Honda, the Ten Kate team wrapped up a 2 day private test at PI this week ahead of the weekend’s official test days. Despite the track being wet for part of the time, team officials declared themselves happy with the outcome (they always do!). Johnny Rae had a BIG off in T1 on the wet track and had to be taken for hospital for observation but was declared to be OK.
Who remembers Moto Morini? The little Italian battler has been around far longer than most of us realise, competing in Grand Prix racing back in the 50’s and 60’s with excellent little single cylinder contraptions that often embarrassed their multi-cylindered rivals.
In the 1970’s they produced a lovely range of V-Twin engined road bikes that were again, far better than they had the right to be.
As time passed the company languished, died, was resuscitated several times and latterly was producing a fine range of specialists bikes based on exiting engines but using Morini’s bespoke running gear.
Survival, especially for Italian manufacturers, is always a delicate balancing act, so it was no surprise when, late last year, it was announced that Morini was ceasing production yet again. Now, it seems, the final act is to be played out with the complete Morini factory, fittings and equipment being advertised for auction at the starting price of 5.5 million Euros, a seemingly ridiculous price considering what you’d get, but, in these uncertain economic times there are questions over whether the auction will even reach reserve.
A sad end for one of Italy’s more interesting manufacturers.
