2014 Ducati Panigale 899 on 2040-motos

Moto blog

The 848, challenged

Last year I decided to enter the 848 Challenge and ever since that decision, a challenge is exactly what I've had on my hands.On one of his last days at the magazine, Barry - our mag designer - took Ducati's 848 to Brands for some instruction with our very own Niall Mackenzie. An ex-GP god, a pristine Italian superbike and a dry Brands Hatch. What would possibly go wrong?

Dramatic start to the 848 Challenge season

The 2012 Ducati 848 Challenge got off to a dramatic start at Brands Hatch this weekend as the weather played a disruptive influence on the outcome of both races. Cold, rainy conditions prevailed on both Easter Sunday and Monday forcing the field of 33 riders to kick-off the season racing on wet tyres in greasy track conditions. With a number of riders having to start from pit lane, Race 1 got off to an eventful start with two riders falling at Paddock Hill as all the riders jostled for places and wheels touched.

Bayliss Beats Rossi in World Ducati Week Diavel Drag Race

Former World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss out-dueled MotoGP star Valentino Rossi in a highly-anticipated showdown to win the Diavel drag race on the Misano Circuit‘s starting straight as part of World Ducati Week 2012 celebrations. Bayliss and Rossi faced off in the final round after getting through the preliminary rounds which also featured Rossi’s MotoGP teammate Nicky Hayden, reigning WSBK Champion Carlos Checa, Jakub Smrz, Sylvain Guintoli, Niccolò Canepa and Lorenzo Zanetti. The final between the two multiple-time World Champions saw Bayliss getting off to a clean start while Rossi’s Diavel wheelied off the ground a couple of times.