Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/798489
IN THE WIND P28 DUCATI DEBUTS MASSIVE NEW AERO FAIRING D espite earlier denials, Duca- ti's version of ban-busting aerodynamics appeared at the final round of MotoGP tests—and in line with the winglet-pioneer- ing Italian company's aggressive stance on aerodynamics, it was the most radical yet. Like Aprilia and Suzuki, Ducati espouse ducting up at handle- bar level. But theirs is the most dramatic looking, with large shaped ducts either side of a very narrow fairing nose, remi- niscent of F1 car aerodynamics. Ducati chief Gigi Dall'Igna said at the last round of tests in Australia that there were no such plans before the first race in Qatar. Yet few were surprised when the dramatic nose-cone appeared on day two of the tests, ridden by Andrea Dovizioso, with team new boy Jorge Lorenzo also testing it on the final day. Dovizioso's impression was positive, in that it "was similar to the wings last year—though a little bit less." There were posi- tives and negatives, he contin- ued, while Ducati Corse boss Dall'Igna said, "It is similar to last year. The wheelie problem is reduced quite a lot but in the middle of the corner we have some problems [with turning]." They would examine the data and decide during the next week, he said. The design might have one drawback, given regulations freezing fairing design. While (for example) Yamaha will be able to adjust the vanes inside their ducts, as long as the outside of the fairing remains unchanged, Ducati's solution is more holistic, with no hidden areas that can be altered. It remains to be seen, how- ever, just how Dorna's technical chief Danny Aldridge, who has the final say, will interpret the rules, and if he will allow Ducati to make visible internal ducting changes if the outside silhouette remains the same. Michael Scott Dear lord! Ducati's new fairing certainly has people talking. HONDA AND THE AFRICA TWIN RALLY A t last year's Milan Show, Honda Italy unveiled a concept version of an Africa Twin Rally, much to the delight of hardcore ADV riders who would dearly love such a machine from the Big H. That bike was just a concept in name and color, but this one looks a lot more production ready—even if we'll probably never see it in the U.S. An Italian market special, this AF Rally is rumored to be sold for $22,917 for the manual transmission or $24,144 for the DCT version. The AF Rally gets a stack of nice goodies including different Rally fairings, LED Rally lights, carbon-fiber engine guards, enduro wheels and tires, anodized forks with Rally internals, a different ECU, Termignoni exhaust, different seat and more. Again, it's unlikely we'll see this machine in the U.S., but seeing as big bore ADV bikes are enjoying a massive spike in new riders and bike sales, there is still (a faint) hope. CN C'mon American Honda! Bring this beast to the U.S.!