Canada’s
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volume 8 | issue 7
JULY 2017
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INDUSTRY NEWS
State Senate approves bill to educate drivers on motorcycle safety
The state Senate has passed a bill that Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, says “would bolster the safety for motorcyclists in an effort to help prevent crashes that have claimed more than 1,600 lives in the past decade.” Under the measure, a motorcycle safety and awareness component would be added to the current five-hour pre-licensing class for new drivers. In addition, new motorcycle safety questions would be added to the current written driver’s exam, Ritchie said. “Whether you’re a new driver or you’ve been behind the wheel for years, it’s so important to be vigilant of those around you, especially when we are sharing our roadways with motorcycles,” said Ritchie, one of the bill’s co-sponsors. “Requiring new drivers to have this motorcycle safety training will not only protect cyclists, but will also safeguard everyone who hits the open road.” Motorcycles have become increasingly popular throughout the state. Ritchie says she has “called upon state leaders to take necessary steps to increase awareness by drivers of the growing number of cyclists on state highways.” According to New York State Department of Motor Vehicles statics, over the most recent ten-year period, 1,676 lives have been lost from more than 52,000 crashes across New York State. “Experts say that driver inattention is the leading cause of motorcycle fatalities,” Ritchie said. This bill will now be sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature. Now this is something that is long over due. This should be done here in Canada,. The licensing system in Canada has not had any significant update in almost 50 years with respect to motorcycle awareness for drivers. Voice your opinion on our facebook page at facebook.com/motorcycletimes
2016 Model Shown
Ducati Has Two New Suprises
Ducati Has A New Bike Coming Next Month, And Likely A V4 Superbike This Fall, One Last Hurrah for the 1299 Panigale.
Ducati prides themselves on their sportbikes. Despite venturing into the hipster and adventure worlds (or upright sport touring worlds), it’s sportbikes that have their heart. And yes, that’s a company with a heart. Ducati is set to unveil a new special edition of the 1299 Panigale flagship
sportbike at this year’s World SBK round at Laguna Seca, one they’re calling their last. Like the 1299 Panigale S Anniversario they unveiled on Ducati Island after Race 1 at the WSBK round at Laguna Seca last year, Ducati is set to unveil another new bike, only this time with the tagline “when the end tells the whole story.” But that doesn’t mean Ducati is getting out of the superbike game. In fact, it means just the opposite.
Rumors have been swirling for nearly two years about a production V4 superbike, coming to a head when Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali admitted they were thinking of homologating the 1,000cc V4 from their Desmosedici MotoGP race bike for production use at the press conference for the launch of their 2017 MotoGP team, stating: “The engine development we have made in MotoGP has been exceptional, we have an engine which is very reliable, continued on PG. 03