Testing is now under way in Sepang for the 2012 MotoGP teams.  In what has been a difficult place for the paddock to return to, with the absence of Marco Simoncelli felt even more, the first indications of how the 1000cc bikes will perform in 2012 are now starting to come through:

Pos Rider Team Fastest lap

1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory 2:01.657

2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda T  2:02.003

3 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha 2:02.221

4 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory  2:02.234

5 Valentino Rossi Ducati Team 2:02.392

6 Andrea Doviz Monster Yamaha 2:02.751

7 Hector Barbera Pramac Racing T 2:02.773

8 Katsuyuki Nak Yamaha Factory 2:02.829

9 Alvaro Bautista San Carlo Honda 2:02.869

10 Nicky Hayden Ducati Team 2:03.151

11 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda 2:03.668

12 Karel Abraham Cardion AB 2:03.781

13 Franco Bataini Ducati Team 2:04.986

14 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda 2:07.163

15 Colin Edwards NGM Mobile 2:08.240

16 Jordi Torres Avintia Racing 2:10.671

17 Ivan Silva Avintia Racing 2:11.267

For more news and results go to MotoGP.com

Valentino Rossi has released exclusive pictures of the Ducati MotoGP race bike for this year – looks good.  Let’s hope he gets some good results this year!

We are doing some trips with Ducati UK and some Spyder Club trips with our fleet including the new Ducati Streetfighter 848 and Triumph Daytona 675R which will be phenomenal on the roads of Spain.  To give you a taste of what you could enjoy here’s some footage from Spain last year on the MV Agusta F4

Ducati have released some pictures of the much anticipated 1199 Panigale.  Spyder Club are looking forward to welcoming there’s in May!  A few other pictures below…

Silverstone are currently offering 20% off MotoGP tickets which is a saving of £30 on weekend tickets.  The offer is available until the 31st January so get buying!

Buy Silverstone MotoGP tickets…

Valentino Rossi with the New Ducati Panigale

Valentino Rossi has been admiring the new Ducati Panigale at the Ducati/Ferrari press conference which kick starts the Italian season.

Spyder Club’s own Ducati Panigale will be arriving in May so if you would like to ride it as a Spyder Club member or on a fly ride motorcycle tour then get in touch!

The FIM have announced changes to the 2012 MotoGP calendar.  The amendments include a change to the Losail date in Qatar to 8th April, confirmation of Jerez and (subject to contract) the addition of Sachsenring as the host of the German round.

The full 2012 MotoGP calendar is now below.  Spyder Club are looking forward to it – why not join Spyder Club and ride down on the new Ducati Panigale!

Date, Grand Prix – Circuit

8 April, Qatar* – Doha/Losail

29 April, Spain – Jerez de la Frontera

6 May, Portugal (STC) – Estoril

20 May, France – Le Mans

3 June, Catalunya – Catalunya

17 June, Great Britain – Silverstone

30 June, Netherlands** – Assen

8 July, Germany (STC) – Sachsenring

15 July, Italy – Mugello

29 July, United States*** – Laguna Seca

19 August, Indianapolis – Indianapolis

26 August, Czech Rep. – Brno

16 September, San Marino & Riviera di Rimini – Misano

30 September, Aragon – Motorland

14 October, Japan – Motegi

21 October, Malaysia – Sepang

28 October, Australia – Phillip Island

11 November, Valencia – Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

* Evening Race

** Saturday Race

*** Only MotoGP class

STC (Subject to the contract)

MotoGP will be returning to South America for the first time since Brazil in 2004.  Tech 3 Yamaha rider Andrea Dovizioso attended the ceremony for the announcement of a round in Argentina in 2013.  Dorna have implied that a round in Spain will make way for the new entry but it appears that most of the Spanish circuits have contracts until 2016 so Spyder Club are hoping that it will be simply an extra round!

Some of Spyder Club’s members visited Motorcycle Live this year and were then lucky enough to be invited to the Ducati VIP evening.  In attendance also was Maria Costello who gave the BBC’s Matt Roberts a lift on the new Ducati Panigale!

Spyder Club are back at the NEC, Motorcycle Live Show, for the fourth time, set up on stand E15, Hall 2 for the next nine days.  Starting tomorrow, Saturday the 19th November and finishing on Sunday the 27th, the event looks great.

All the major manufacturers are there, the Ducati 1199 looks stunning and our friends at Ducati let us sit on it.  It’s not as small as it looks with plenty of room for my 6ft 2 frame and not too big to put a 55kg, 5ft 8 wife off!

We are also lucky enough to have the Ducati Streetfighter 848 gracing our stand as we’ll have our own in the New Year.  Having sat on it, it’s the same as the 1098 engined machine however I think the 848 motor will make this bike far better, very much looking forward to taking it to Spain in March!

Also took a long look at the Aprilia, Moto Guzzi stand which is big, loads of bikes we’ve ridden or want to!  The MV F3 and 675 Brutale also look good.  It was only a quick fly round but also caught up with Chris Walker, his new Road Race School is already booking quickly.

Come and say hello if you’re there, Hall 2, Stand E15!