Etc.

etc.

APRILIA TWINS: TAKE TWO

Italian bike-maker Aprilia continues to tweak its RST 1000 Futura sport-tourer. Latest mods are to the seat, which has been pared down to better complement the rest of the bike. Look for the fully faired machine, which is said to produce 113 horsepower and 71 foot-pounds of torque, at dealerships this spring for $12,999 complete with saddlebags. Also shown at last fall’s Munich Show, the ETV 1000 CapoNord is scheduled for a fall U.S. release as a year2002 model. Rider comfort, versatility and weather protection are said to be leading attributes of the bike, which is tipped to take on CW’s Ten Best-winning BMW R1150GS.

BYE, BYE, BORDI

In a surprise move, famed Ducati engineer Massimo Bordi stepped down from his post as General Manager on Friday, December 8. Frustrated by the direction the company has taken under its American majority shareholders, Bordi decided to leave after 23 years to assume what he called “a leadership position” with another firm. Which firm, he so far has declined to specify, saying only, “It is not a twowheeled company, but it is one where I can tell you I will hear the sound of engines. I need to be close to engines.

“In some ways, with TPG as the majority shareholder, the company is more focused on financial issues,” Bordi elaborated. “But I feel with a company like Ducati, Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar or whatever, which makes sports cars or sportbikes, niche products, you should be focused on products and processes. You should be competitive, you should have a strong reputation as a technical leader.”

Motorcyclists have not seen the last of Bordi, however, as he has vowed to continue his relationship with Enzo Ferrari’s son, Piero Lardi, with whom he hopes to develop a Formula Onederived four-stroke engine for 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

ROUNDUP

SO LONG, WHEELIE KING

Doug “The Wheelie King”

Domokos died last November in an ultralight aircraft accident near his home in Murrieta, California. He was 44 years old. During his longrunning career, the popular performer set world records for the highest and longest wheelies, and even passed the Georgia state mo-

torcycle test riding on only the rear tire. Domokos also made numerous television appearances, and performed in such films as Cannonball Run, Mega Force and On Any Sunday II. A trust fund has been established for Domokos’ 2-year-old son, Nikolas. For more information, log onto www.thewheelieking.com.

SMOG AND MIRRORS

It’s official: Off-road motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles cause air pollution. So says the EPA. As a result, those vehicles will soon be required to meet new federal emissions standards. Stricter regs for streetbikes are also being proposed. As for the latter, California may serve as a model for future national guidelines. For details, go to www.epa.gov/otag.