Performance Bikes — March 2018

10 PERFORMANCEBIKES.CO.UK|MARCH

DUCATI IS GOINGin with both feet

andtestingits2019WSBcontender

alongsideitsown(andrivals’)

bikesinpublic.LorenzoZanetti(who

racedtheoldPanigaleRinItaly’s

domestic CIV Superbike

championship) was a surprise

appearance at the semi-official Jerez

superbike test, mixing with the cream

of WSB regulars and a few BSB

frontrunners, ending the three-day

test 1.9s behind Johnny Rea’s best.

The bike is clearly an early

developmentbike–listedontime

sheetsasaSuperstockbikebut

RACE PANI DEBUT

TURN TO P

FOR THE

PANIGALE V

FIRST RIDE

1000ccrace-compliantV4Rgetssome

verypublicR&DlapsatJereztest

runningWSB-specchassisparts,with

a rough fairing and fairly agricultural

subframecarryingaroadbikeseat

pod, it doesn’t scream ‘race ready’...

Butit’sapromisingstart–Zanetti,

whileworld-class,hasabestWSB

finish of eighth in 2012, and a couple

ofWSSpodiums:notthemanyou’d

expecttotakethefighttoReaona

prototype anyway. He was 0.9s behind

Chaz Davies riding a 2018 Panigale

1199RV-twin.Moretime,anda

certainWelshfastieonboard,should

seeitontermswiththeKawasakion

aregularbasis.

TheUniversityofWaterlooin

Canadamayhavefoundtheticketto

creating cheaper lithium-sulphur

batteries with triple the range of

current li-ion technology for a given

weight. Sulphur is an ideal material,

as it’s plentiful, inexpensive and

light. But left alone, it will dissolve in

the electrolyte solution – preventing

its use until now.

The chemistry team’s research

has revealed that a nano-sheet of

manganese dioxide creates a

chemical reaction that stabilises

the sulphur. There’s more research

ongoing, but the fact that team

leader Professor Linda Nazar has

revealed the findings at all is

promising. Powerful, seamless

drive electric sportsbikes with

proper handling and range? We

bloody hope so.

If you’re the type for whom great joy

canbefoundinpingingaclutch

leverandgettingintoaracing

crouch in casual clothes on a bike

bolted to a stage, we’ve got a treat

for you... MCN’s London Motorcycle

Show provides the venue for such

delights, where you’ll find the latest

newbikes,somespectacularlive

action shows and the usual deals on

last year’s kit. Head to London’s

Excel between Friday-Sunday,

February 16-18, and to http://www.

mcnmotorcycleshow.com for info on

timings and tickets.

NORDSCHLEIFE TRAINING

DAYS ON SALE

Want unprecedented access and

guidancearoundthe’Ring(soto

speak)?Nordschliefetrainingdays

are now available for booking. Unlike

the public days, where you’re at the

mercyofallandsundry(andtheir

dropped engine fluids), training days

offer a closed circuit. The 1199 Euro

cost includes around 40 laps,

instruction and meals. Open circuit

laps alone would come to over 1000

Euros, so it’s decent value for better

quality, safer track time. The dates

are 29/30 August: contact info@

aeadventures.com for info (obvs)

and booking.

FAST NEWS

ELECTRIC BIKE BATTERY

BREAKTHROUGH

NEW BIKES ON SHOW AT

MCN LONDON, ER... SHOW

SUBSCRIBE NOW SPECIAL OFFER PAGE 57

GEE BEE IMAGES

Ducati’s WSB Panigale

V4 revealed at WSB test

Zanetti gave the

new bike its first

outing

DONINGTON’Snew owner MSV

is beginning upgrades to some of

the circuit’s most dilapidated

facilities, installing completely

new infrastructure to banish the

‘Aleppo chic’ ambience.

Toilet blocks in popular

spectator zones have already

been flattened and new ones

been built, with better facilities for

disabled racegoers and parents

with babies, too. Paddock three

• little more than a patch of

rubble–isgettingaproper

surfacewithpowerandwater,

whichwill no doubt please lower

support classes usually banished

to the furthest reaches.

Jonathan Palmer’s firm has

form for turning around some of

the UK’s most dated circuits –

Cadwell and Oulton in particular

benefitting from much-needed

safety and facility upgrades. A

new restaurant/bar/café plus new

offices are planned for later this

year, plus a grandstand at

Hollywood offering a view all the

way through to Schwantz Curve.

Internal roads will be upgraded,

and camping access at Coppice

is being improved, too.

MSV GET STUCK IN WITH DONINGTON IMPROVEMENTS