Cash For Clunkers Sells Half Million New Cars Date: Aug.22.2009
Expiring Monday, the Cash for Clunkers program encouraged more than a half-million Americans to dump their gas guzzlers for new cars and provided a much-needed, short-term boost to the U.S. economy. Car buyers will have their last shot to take advantage of the $3,500 or $4,500 incentives this weekend, the program ends Monday night. Through early Friday, it had spent more than $2 billion in federal money, accounting for sales of more than 489,000 new vehicles.
Porsche Headquarters Raided by German Police Date: Aug.22.2009
Porsche headquarters were raided by German investigators Thursday due to suspicions of insider trading by former CEO Wendelin Wiedeking, who was ousted last month following an epic takeover battle in which the luxury carmaker almost swallowed Volkswagen, which is Europe's largest carmaker, and is more than 10 times Porsche's size, before VW turned the tables. It is now set to gobble up Porsche instead. In trying to buy up Volkswagen, Wiedeking had accumulated 43 percent of VW's shares but secretly held options on another 32 percent. Porsche did not disclose the options until October 2008, roiling the markets. The company said yesterday that the trades were perfectly legal under German law.
'93 GP Champ Schwantz Discusses Casey Stoner Date: Aug.22.2009
"I think, you know, Casey is a great competitor, and I think maybe a little bit more of this has to do with something behind the scenes that maybe none of us quite yet know about. Maybe that's just some Stoner hard feelings towards Ducati or towards the series or, I don't exactly know what it could be. But to just decide you're going to skip three races and see if you feel any better at the end of it, to me, is a little bit out of the norm...When I quit racing, it was...any motivation, any focus that I had had, any inspiration to go out there and compete every weekend was a lot, was based around trying to figure out how to beat Wayne Rainey. Without Wayne there, winning a race is winning a race; and it was still really cool, but it didn't have near the meaning that it did when I was beating him. If your heart is not in it, it's somewhat of a high-risk profession. Maybe you're better off going to go get a desk job or at least stepping away from the sport. And that, in my situation, is what I did. I sure hope that's not the case with Casey Stoner..."Schwantz stated.
Rossi Ties Stoner as Top 800cc Race Winner Date: Aug.21.2009
Valentino Rossi, who dominated 990cc MotoGP competition, is now tied with Casey Stoner at the top of the 800cc grand prix win list. Stoner (2007) and Rossi (2008) both have one 800cc world championship to their credit since the capacity change, with Rossi firmly on target for another title this season, holding a 50 point lead over Fiat Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo with six rounds to go.
New BMW S1000RR More Powerful Than the R1? Date: Aug.21.2009
In this week's issue of MCN on sale August 20, they have a world exclusive track test of the BMW S1000RR. According to their tester, "it feels more powerful than a Yamaha R1 and makes the Honda Fireblade's suspension feel like rubbish in comparison."
2010 Ducati 1198R Biposto Date: Aug.21.2009
Ducati will be introducing a new 1198R Biposto. The 1998R Biposto will join the 1198 and 1198S along with the 1098R, which is already an 1198cc engine. The GS rival – which might be called the Strada Aperta – will be seen at Milan in two versions, the standard bike and a higher spec S. Documents were lodged with the California Air Resources Board and certify the bikes to go on sale in California, one of the most harshly governed emissions regions in the country.
