April could go on record as our busiest month ever for events.  We hosted the North American Dealer Academy for the 1199 Panigale at NOLA Motorsports with Ducati North America.  This job included prepping 20 1199s for two weeks while trying to keep it a secret from our customers that we were holding 20 of the most anticipated motorcycle of 2012.   200 dealers from around the country got a chance to experience the 1199 for the first time at the one of the premier race tracks in the world.  It was a great opportunity to show-off NOLA Motorsports and the City of New Orleans to our peers.  

This month also included the first official press conference announcing the Triumph Big Kahuna AMA Pro Road Racing event this October.  Jason DiSalvo was on hand to provide the press with some sighting laps on a stock Daytona 675R.  That evening we hosted an event at our downtown showroom.  It was a great event attended by many local enthusiasts in addition to officials from the AMA, FIM, and personalities from Speed TV.  At the end of the evening Jason signed the tank of the bike he used to test the track.

Last but not least, we ended April with the official grand opening of our track-side Motorbike Speed Shop at NOLA Motorsports Park in conjunction with the National Unveiling Night for the Ducati 1199 Panigale.  Being able to introduce the world's most anticipated motorcycle at the world's newest racetrack made for an awesome event.
Check out photos of the AMA Announcement Party
Check out photos of the 1199 Panigale Launch Party

Last Sunday was a day most of had had been waiting for since September 2009, when NOLA Motorsports Park was announced.  It was NOLA's first public motorcycle track day.  The event ran like a top, and the rider and spectator turnout was incredible. 

In addition to the best superbike ever built, Ducati introduced 2 new variations of current models today at EICMA in Milan. The 848evo Corse SE and the Diavel Chromo were announced as addition to the 2012 line-up. These bike will join the 848 Streetfighter and Diavel AMG (announced in September) to round out all of the new options for 2012.

The wait is finally over! Ducati officially unveiled the next generation Superbike, the 1199 Panigale, in Milan, Italy today at EICMA. Here are some beautiful pictures and a few specs on the best superbike ever built:

You have heard us talking about NOLA Motorsports for 2 years now, and there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. NOLA Motorsports Park is a motorsports utopia currently under construction just 20 minutes from downtown in Avondale, LA. The facility will offer two full road courses (when combined make the longest road course in North America), kart facitily, autocross pad, high performance driving & riding schools, track days, kart rentals, driver education courses, spectator events, hot laps and much more. NOLA will rival any motorsports complex in North America.

One of the perks of being in the powersports industry is the access we have at MotoGP races. My dad, Max and myself made our third trip to Indianapolis last weekend for the MotoGP race. The three of us try to make a trip to at least one GP or WorldSBK race every year.

There are some perks to being in the powersports business and NOLA Motorsports Park's opening is sure to enhance these experiences for us. Last Wednesday NOLA invited us to attend the Bull Run Live Rally as it came thru New Orleans on their trek from Las Vegas to Miami. The Bull Run is described on their website as "the most glamorous and high profile of the new breed of high-end luxury lifestyle automotive rallies". I would sum that up as "race" from Las Vegas to Miami with very expensive cars attended by celebrities and unique personalities.

I just could not wait any longer....I had to get a bike on the track at NOLA Motorsports Park. Set to open late this summer, NOLA invited me to do some laps on the north track before asphalting began. We had two perfect machines for the job, the Ducati Multistrada and Tiger 800XC.

We talk a lot about track days, and there are quite a few people who ask us, "what are track days all about?". Track days are like any other motorcycle or scooter event that brings people together around one common interest, enjoying bikes! One common misconception is that track days are races. Well they are not.... Track days are the opportunity to ride a motorcycle in a controlled environment. It allows you to let go of all of the worries of cars not paying attention to you, or speed traps and redlight cameras while you improve your riding techiques. Imagine being able to ride your bike like it was designed to be ridden.

TTRNO's Zach Materne will head to Los Angeles this evening for the Ducati Diavel Academy. He will ride the bike on Sunday. Stay tuned for updates! TTRNO will premier the Ducati Diavel on Friday, March 25th.....Details to follow