In a bid to spruce up its sales figures during the festive month of October, Hero Honda has introduced three new variants of motorcycles and a new variant of 100cc gearless scooter, Pleasure.

Amongst the new motorcycle variants launched are the self starter version of 100cc Passion (called Passion Pro Power Start) and Splendor NXG. The ‘Passion Pro Power Start’ is priced at Rs 44,000 onwards (ex-showroom Delhi), Hero Honda has not yet disclosed the prices of Splendor NXG self.

Hero Honda has also updated the CBZ Xtreme and Pleasure; while the new look Pleasure would be priced at Rs 36,950 (ex-showroom Delhi) there is no yet word from the company on the possible price increase of CBZ Xtreme.

Speaking on the occasion, Hero Honda Motor’s Senior Vice-President (Marketing & Sales) Anil Dua said, “These launches are part of our strategy to boost sales during the festival season. Last year during the festival period we sold about five lakh units, this year we are looking to better the mark.”

2008 World Champion Valentino Rossi rode an inch-perfect race in energy-sapping conditions at Sepang today to take his ninth win of the season and his 150th career podium. He is only the second rider in the history of the sport to pass this milestone, the other being Giacomo Agostini, who’s all-time win record Rossi has already broken this season. Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo meanwhile had a disappointing day, with his challenge ending in the gravel trap on lap 12.

With temperatures in excess of 40 degrees as the riders lined up on the grid, today’s race was clearly going to be a test of endurance, both for riders and tyres. Rossi, starting from second, crossed the line for the first time in third but was able to pass Andrea Dovizioso on the next lap, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process, and set off on the heels of Dani Pedrosa. The pair gradually began to open out clear air from the chasing pack but the gap between them remained at just a few tenths of a second for next eight laps. Rossi eventually made his move at mid-race distance, was able to pass Pedrosa on the brakes into the hairpin at turn nine and was then unchallenged to the chequered flag, crossing the line 4.008 seconds ahead of the Spaniard with Dovizioso in third.

The paddock now heads straight to Valencia in Spain for the 18th and final round of the season, with Rossi looking to avenge two bad years at the track and Lorenzo determined to secure the title of Leading Rookie with a positive performance to make up for today’s disappointment.

MotoGP 2008 Sepang Results:
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 43′6.007
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda + 4.008
3. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 8.536
4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda + 8.858
5. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini + 10.583
6. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro + 13.640
7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 15.936
8. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha + 18.802
9. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki + 23.174
10. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP + 25.516
11. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing + 27.609
12. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing + 41.399
13. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team + 45.617
14. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini + 49.003
15. Toni Elias (SPA) Alice Team + 59.139
16. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro + 1′03.328
17. Nobuatsu Aoki (JPN) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1′48.363
Did not finish
Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 9 Lap
James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 19 Lap

MotoGP 2008 Championship Standings
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 357
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro 255
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda 229
4. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 182
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JiR Team Scot MotoGP 161
6. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda 144
7. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 134
8. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki 125
9. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini 117
10. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 111
11. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 100
12. Toni Elias (SPA) Alice Team 92
13. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team 63
14. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 60
15. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini 57
16. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing 55
17. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro 51
18. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing 50
Did not Finish19. Ben Spies (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 20
20. Jamie Hacking (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team 5
21. Tadyuki Okada (JPN) Repsol Honda Team 2

A slowdown in the economy and credit crunch is expected to lead to a slump in two wheelers sales and to counter that, Bajaj Auto is planning to cut production after the festive season.

Speaking to media, Sanjiv Bajaj, executive director, Bajaj Auto said, “We are preparing for a slowdown. This is the festive season, so demand is high but product rationalisation may happen from mid-November.”

Bajaj Auto Finance is also stepping up to fill the void left by banks and financial institutions in financing two wheeler loans, due to which prospected buyers are having difficulty sourcing loan for their purchases.