Table of contents for 18 August 2021 in MCN

INSIDE YOUR 3-IN-1 SPECIAL Ballsy Binder pulls a slick-tyred blinder Wet and wild. No, not a standard UK summer, but the last few laps of MotoGP in Austria at the weekend. And Brad Binder couldn’t have played more of a blinder after deciding to hang it out in the monsoon having watched the race leaders scythe into pitlane in search of grippier rubber. What a thrilling flag-to-flag prelude to Silverstone – which isn’t shy of the odd shower come race day. Head to the Sport section for full analysis of the race weekend fallout – and head to our Bank Holiday Special for a great British MotoGP preview, too. Austria analysis P70 BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL Get planning for next week’s summer Bank Holiday with great events, destinations, and the British…

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has donated a pair of his Dainese race boots to be auctioned off by the Two Wheels for Life charity. These aren’t just any boots of course – they’re the ones from his final year as a professional racer. This is the first time the charity have been able to auction kit from the Doctor. The boots will be offered during the Day of Champions, which takes place at the British MotoGP on Friday and Saturday, August 27-28. All ticket holders can attend the auction. Roadside fix Oxford Products have released a new temporary tyre kit that could be just the ticket to get you out of a hole. The kit includes everything you would need to repair a small puncture in a tubeless tyre –…

We’ve got together with Sidi to give away a pair of Adventure 2 Gore boots. The first version of these boots gained a loyal following, becoming almost the default choice among experienced adventure riders, offering good protection for the shin and the ankles, while still being flexible enough to walk in. The new and improved boot offers a full grain Technomicro Microfibre and suede upper, lined with Gore-Tex waterproof-breathable membrane. It features a non-slip rubber sole with a nylon inner and removeable arch support. The boot is secured with a Velcro strap and two buckles and has plastic support on the ankle area. HOW TO ENTER Simply visit www.motorcyclenews.com/winsidiadventure2 and submit your details to be included in the prize draw. Good luck! TERMS AND CONDITIONS The prize draw closes at…

‘Limited edition? Limited success...’ Over the years firms have – with varying degree of success – attempted to use ‘limited edition’ paint schemes as a way of tempting buyers to part with cash. I use this expression with quote marks around it because some UK importers have simply brought in US-spec paintjobs and passed them off as ‘special’. So do any actually add value? Kicking off with the good, Suzuki chose to celebrate the GSX-R’s 30th anniversary in 2005 with ‘limited edition’ GSX-R600 and 750 models in a beautiful retro paint scheme. Top marks for style (aside from the 750’s blue chain) but the fact they weren’t actually limited sees it only add a few quid to the price. Onto the bad and the 2005 Yamaha YZF-R46. How Yamaha managed…

Escapism takes many forms. One human’s heaven is another human’s hell. After a heavy week at work you might find a day on the golf course to be the ultimate relaxtion, or maybe you prefer to cheer on your football team, or just down a few pints of your favourite giggle-juice with mates at the pub. Me? I get on a motorbike and go for a long ride, usually the sort of distance that means even other bikers brand me an idiot. But hear me out, there’s a logic to my miles. Of course, my idea of a long ride might be different to yours. For me, it’s somewhere between 500 and 750 miles in one hit, stopping only for fuel, the odd picture and essential bladder relief. I try…

Q ‘Some satnavs are dangerous’ I would be interested to know about the rules about fitting aftermarket satellite navigation systems in cars. I have seen them on windscreens partially blocking the driver’s view. Yesterday I passed a driver with the satnav at eye height right in front of her face. I am concerned that a badly positioned satnav like this could obscure a biker (along with anything of our size) and must be a danger and even illegal. Florence, Leicester A I cannot find any regulations which refer specifically to satnavs, but the following are relevant: • Section 40A Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended by Road Traffic Act 1991: “A person is guilty of an offence if he uses, causes or permits another to use a motor vehicle on…

Readers Jennifer McLean and Callum MacMillan The trip Scotland to the Lake District and Yorkshire How many miles? 712 When to do it Summer Time required Five days Tell us about the ride The best road we found was heading along the A684. The views were fantastic, roads were fantastic and it completely took me by surprise how beautiful it was. Another highlight was day four when we went up and down the North Yorkshire Moors through Guisborough, Hutton-le-hole, Pickering, Goathland, Whitby, Scarborough and Oliver’s Mount. Overall it was a very good trip, the weather was fantastic, mostly. However, woke up in Scarborough on the last morning to 11° and rain but by the time we hit Alston it was 23° and sunny! But did you really tour if you…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday August 18 BIKE MEETS ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Blue Anchor Southport, Merseyside, 7pm Facebook: Southport Carousel ■ Seaways Fridaythorpe, East Yorks, 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints, 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike café ■ The Plough Cadsden, Bucks www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ■ Paignton Seafront Devon www.bmad.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Ryka’s Cafe Box Hill Surrey www.rykas.co.uk SPEEDWAY ■ Birminghamwww.birmingham-speedway.com ■ Poole Pirates Dorset www.poolepirates.co/ TRACKDAY ■ Focused Events Donington Park Derbys £159 www.focusedevents.com TRIAL ■ Eboracum MCC Forest Farm, Warthill, North Yorks http://www.eboracumtrials.co.uk Thursday August 19 BIKE MEETS ■ Krazy Horse Bury St Edmunds…

Fred Reed Age 60 Height 5ft 5in Current bike 2021 Ducati Monster Been riding 45 years First bike Derbi GT50 “Two wheels are my passion and I buy a new bike every three years as I have set up an account I pay £100 into every month and then after three years this money and the bike I’m trading in usually secures me a new one! It’s a great system. “The last bike I bought was a Monster 1200S, which I did a lot of pleasure riding on and also took to Spain on a 10-day tour, which was fantastic. However, I traded it in for a Monster this year as I was tempted by the smaller bike as it was lighter and cheaper. Also it has a very low…

Paul Beattie runs Inner Circle Training (innercircletraining.co.uk) and, as well as offering his own UK-based training tours, and he is one of the Globebusters team running motorcycle expeditions around the world. “I remember the first time I went to Skye and riding the back roads around the island. It was so beautiful – I stopped on a hairpin just above Uig, making myself bacon and eggs on my camping stove. “I do a lot of fell walking and friends had raved about the Cullin Hills and how beautiful it was, so I had to see it for myself. It was stunning. So wild. It’s my kind of scenery. “When I was last there, some of the roads had just been freshly gravelled – the steep, narrow, gravelly hairpins were definitely…

HONDA CRF300 RALLY “I first saw the 300 Rally on the internet, and after delving a little deeper into its spec I decided to place an order. Nearly three months later it arrived. My first impressions were just how good looking the bike is, and the weight, it’s the thick end of 200lb lighter than my Africa Twin. Although the seat height is very tall at 885mm the suspension has plenty of sag for a shorty like me. I’m currently adding some essential kit, rear rack, bashplate, Renthals and Barkbusters as I’m off to do some green landing in Wales. So far I’m very pleased with how it’s shaping up.”…

I love the versatility it offers. I can clear off on holiday with a pillion on board, take off all the luggage and just enjoy myself or even take to the dirt. It also stands out amongst the rest of the competition. The engine has bags of character and will give anything a run for its money - it’s a sportsbike on stilts. I’ll certainly keep it for a few years, with plans to ride the Yorkshire Dales, a third tour of Ireland, and Dartmoor in the coming months. HOW GOOD IS THE RUBBER? Pirelli Scorpion Trail II I didn’t like the OE Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres. They were skittish in the wet. I only did 1000 miles before swapping them. Also consider Continental TKC70 £209 (90/90-21 and 150/70-18)…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Don’t risk damage Coolant hoses can withstand an enormous amount of neglect without failing. But they can sustain damage over time when rubbed by a poorly routed cable, or during a crash. Even if the hose isn’t leaking but shows visible damage, like the one pictured, it’s always best to replace it. A split hose and resulting coolant leak can cause breakdowns or even a crash. BRUCE’S TIPS The best quality replacement clips are made from stainless steel 2 Check the shape Use either original parts or a known branded option from a UK supplier Either option will give you consumer protection and technical support. Check that the kit contains the correct hoses for your bike; they…

SPORTS REPORTER Tommy Bridewell made his return to the top step at Donington, becoming the fifth different winner of the 2021 BSB season. In the tricky weather of race three, Bridewell chose the intermediate front and rear Pirellis - tyres which he hadn’t previously used - and it paid off. Bridewell led most of the race and converted his advantage into victory, the fifth of his BSB career and his first since race three of the opening round at Donington just over a year ago. The victory caps off a brilliant return to form for Bridewell and the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team, who endured a tough 2020 campaign on the V4 R due to constant chatter. The team worked hard over the winter to rectify the issue, and they’re…

Glenn Irwin and Honda Racing UK’s return to form continued with two more podiums at Donington. Irwin now has three podiums from the last five races and has moved into the top-eight Showdown positions as a result. Second in race three was perhaps an unexpected result after Irwin dislocated his shoulder when he crashed in the second race. Brother Graeme Irwin, a British Motocross champion who’s had both shoulders operated on, helped get some movement and feeling back in Glenn’s shoulder in-between races. ‘I can maintain the pace. We’re making steps’ Donington is a good track for the Fireblade, which won twice around the national circuit in 2020 on its debut, something which allowed Irwin to gloss over the faults that have caused problems so far in 2021. “I actually…

SPORTS REPORTER Another Bennetts British Superbike weekend. Another reminder of how strong McAMS Yamaha are and how tough it’s going to be to stop their relentless two-rider charge to title glory. Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie leave Donington Park with six more podium credits each. O’Halloran bagged win number eight of 2021 in race one, while Mackenzie won race two after getting the better of O’Halloran in a thrilling finale. It showcased Mackenzie’s ability to keep his cool, after seeing his comfortable lead slashed to nothing when the safety car came into play in the dying laps. O’Halloran further showcased his stranglehold on the championship. Fast in each session, not panicking if he doesn’t get away well and falls back into the pack, and controlling the pace as he pleases…

Johann Zarco was the big loser of the Speilberg swing with his MotoGP title hopes fading – not least with the emergence of rookie Pramac Ducati teammate Jorge Martin. Zarco was outscored 41 points to 10 by Martin across the two Austrian races and slumped from second to fourth in the standings, now 49 points behind fellow Frenchman Fabio Quartararo. It was a brutal week with Zarco admitting that his status as title contender going into Austria was a factor after the long summer break. He was sixth in Austria 1 but crashed out of Austria 2 in the dry before the late race scramble in the rain began. “I’m not angry but sad, it is a pain inside to lose the chance in a race,” Zarco commented afterwards. “It…

16 Morbidelli 40 17 Bastianini 31 18 Petrucci 30 19 Rossi 28 20 Marini 27 21 Lecuona 24 22 Bradl 11 23 Pedrosa 6 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 2 11 Dixon +21.283 12 Di Giannantonio +21.703 13 Arbolino +21.866 14 Vierge +27.146 15 Garzo +29.128 16 Roberts +33.058 17 Bendsneyder +38.235 18 Syahrin +38.357 19 Corsi +38.643 20 Beaubier +44.344 21 Hada +46.490 22 Bulega +47.560 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 3 11 Suzuki +6.602 12 Salac +14.716 13 Nepa +14.920 14 Alcoba +21.668 15 Izdihar +21.976 16 Tatay +22.147 17 Fellon +22.161 18 Kunii +22.198…

A single point felt like scant reward for MotoGP’s flag-to-flag master Marc Marquez. Top three throughout on slicks, Marquez was leading when he pitted for rain rubber with just over three laps remaining. But his hopes of just a second podium since returning from a career-threatening right arm injury vanished with a crash at turn one on the penultimate lap. He said: “It looked like rain might be our chance but it was actually the rain that cost us with the crash.” The fact Marquez was in podium contention in the dry shows the Spaniard is gradually rediscovering his Midas touch, despite the crash. And Honda aren’t taking their humbling 2021 lying down, as the Austrian weekend proved when new components were thrown at Marquez like confetti at a wedding…

MATTHEW BIRT INSIGHT Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 Ballsy, barmy, bonkers and brilliant Brad Binder. Somehow those words don’t seem to do justice to the South African’s victory in one of the craziest and most unpredictable MotoGP races you’ll ever witness. Billed as a blockbuster Spielberg sequel, not even Hollywood could have scripted the nail-biting thriller that culminated with an astonishing win for Binder. As rain lashed the Red Bull Ring with just over four laps remaining, five of the top six including Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia, pole man Jorge Martin, series leader Fabio Quartararo and reigning World Champion Joan Mir, all pitted to swap for wet weather bikes. One took a humongous punt and rolled the dice. Without a podium in 21 races and…

With the three-day weekend just around the corner, we thought we’d help you make sure that you spend it in the best way possible – on two wheels! Whether it’s trying something completely new, scoping out a local show, or just spending a weekend enjoying beers and bands at a biking festival, call up your mates and get yourself over to some of these events on the weekend of August 27-30. Painting the garden fence will just have to wait. ‘Blast away the Covid cobwebs’ Santa Pod Run What Ya Brung EAST MIDLANDS • August 28, 9.30am-5pm • Santa Pod, nr Podington, Bedfordshire • Online booking only: £12 adult spectators, £5 child, £35 race voucher • santapod.co.uk What better way to blow off a year-and-a-half’s worth of pent-up biking frustration…

STATISTICS • Length 3.67miles • Corners 18 (8 left, 10 right) • Longest straight 770 metres Lap record Best race lap 2019 Top five 2021 Title standings* ONE TO WATCH Now armed with an acceleration boosting rear ride height device, expect another strong threat from the GSX-RR, which has won twice in five attempts at Silverstone. FLASHBACK TO 2019 There was first and last corner drama in 2019 when Dovizioso and Quartararo crashed out at Copse and Rins beat Marquez by millimetres to become the first Suzuki rider to win twice in a single season since 2000.…

Silverstone’s technical layout challenges teams to ensure their bike is strong in all areas, says BT Sport’s Michael Laverty The lack of major elevation changes leads some to believe that Silverstone is simple, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The new asphalt laid in 2019 changed the dynamic, while skipping a GP in 2020 due to Covid will mean another change in surface character courtesy of the two-year aging process. We often say a circuit favours a particular bike, or that it’s a V4 or inline four circuit, but with Silverstone you can make an argument for each manufacturer and engine configuration such is the diverse nature of the track. It’s a favourite of many riders, a high-speed challenge that often throws cold temperatures and tricky weather into…

JOSH CLOSE SHARES HIS INSIGHTS INTO THE MOTOGP TITLE FIGHT MotoGP finally returns to the UK on the August Bank Holiday weekend and it’s fair to say that the British fans are eager to see some fantastic racing. With both 2018 and 2020 events being cancelled, there’s arguably more anticipation heading into this year’s event than ever before. And it’s almost certainly your last chance to see Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow racing in MotoGP on UK soil. Here are the hot storylines to follow at Silverstone... 1 CAN FABIO QUARTARARO LIVE WITH THE DUCATI? After a speed disadvantage against the Ducat is in Austria, Fabio Quartararo will be looking forward to Silverstone. The Northamptonshire circuit is ideal for the smooth-riding M1 which can carry fantastic corner speed throughout the…

Welcome to MCN’s Better Riding 2021 - your guide to being smoother, safer and swifter on the roads this summer (and beyond). Riding is a skill, and that means it needs to be learned and practised. But with so many of us getting less bike time than normal over the last 18 months, many are feeling a bit rusty. So it’s time for a reset. Riding well is all about attitude - and it’s important to be able to take a step back and calmly assess our own performance, to work out where we could do better. Often, we can improve simply by changing how we do one little thing - and most of the time it’s something we already know but have stopped doing (or aren’t doing so well…

MotoGP is rarely dull – but some weeks it really does get your heart fluttering with persistent spikes of adrenaline mixed liberally with awe, disbelief and well-founded admiration. What Brad Binder did in the wildly sketchy wet conditions of the closing laps of the race was brave beyond most of our understanding. He said himself that it was like riding on ice – and you only have to watch the way his bike was squirming underneath him to see that he wasn’t exaggerating the peril. He opened the throttle and it went sideways. He closed the throttle and it went sideways. He nursed it out of line at 130mph toward corners that arrived with no hint of bite available from his cold carbon brakes. He was like a Weeble: He…

ASSISTANT EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING A start-up firm are hoping to revolutionise the way we secure our bikes when parking in public places. Bikers Guardian have come up with a docking station design that allows you to lock the front wheel of your bike in place while denying thieves access to your front spindle, so they can’t just nick the rest of the bike. What’s more, the unit can act as a charging station for electric bikes and contains a secure, climate-controlled locker for your bike kit, too. And best of all, hydrogen fuel cell tech means the Bikers Guardian is green and doesn’t rely on being connected to mains electricity. Users will be able to check on their bike by accessing a security camera through a secure app, which is also…

Motorcycles will be the stars of the show at this year’s exclusive Salon Privé Week at Blenheim Palace on September 1-5. A rare early Triumph tops the two-wheeled bill and at 120-years-old is bound to demand plenty of attention. The machine used a 0.75bhp engine from Belgium and has a hand-operated rear brake. The model on display is the first one ever made and has not been shown since 1937. A motorcycle parade will even open proceedings on the Wednesday and Thursday (September 1-2). In addition, Allen Millyard will be displaying his Kawasaki Z1 Super Six. The superbike of its day, Millyard’s production-looking special uses a six cylinder lump, based on the original DOHC four cylinder engine, with many original Kawasaki parts in place. Among the amazing motorcycles on show…

A highlight of the old BMF Show in the 1980s and 90s, Moped Mayhem racing is making its long-awaited return to Peterborough’s East of England Arena in just two weeks’ time (September 4-5). A crazy four-hour endurance race with a mix of 40 home tuned 50cc mopeds, fancy dress, and madcap on-track antics, it’s something you definitely don’t want to miss. If you want to get involved in the action it’s not too late to organise your own four-man team, contact mopedmayhem@outlook.com for more details. The Moped Mayhem race takes place on Sunday afternoon in the Live Action Arena – sponsored by Indian Motorcycle. TEST RIDES GALORE There will be hundreds of test ride opportunities on offer with fleets from BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph, Indian, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, KTM,…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Murray’s love of bikes I’m sure I speak for many who were shocked and saddened to read of Neil Murray’s passing. I have followed his articles in several magazines over the years, and his wit and knowledge have always been informative and entertaining. I did know him some 20 years ago when we both had CB400/4s (I believe he still had his) and he sold me some parts for mine. Always reliable and a good bloke to deal with, he once went out of his way to hand deliver a small plastic part to my home rather than entrust it to the post. My condolences to his colleagues and of course his family. Alan Bennett, email Love of the old and used Over the years Neil…

1 Brooklands Museum Summer Gathering Sunday, August 22, 10am-5pm. Classic displays of cars and bikes as well as food. www.brooklandsmuseum.com 2 Tewksbury Classic Vehicle Festival Sunday, August 22, 10am-4pm. Over 200 bikes on display. tewkesburycvf.org 3 World Wheelie & Top Speed Records 2021 August 21-22 at Elvington Airfield in York. Day tickets and weekend tickets available. www.facebook.com/events/476185296982236 4 Classic Racing Motorcycle Weekend Starts August 21. Historic motorcycle racing at Castle Combe circuit. Day tickets and weekend tickets available. www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk…

FRIDAY August 20 10.30am, EUR2, British Speedway Individual Final: Highlights from Belle Vue SATURDAY August 21 9.15am, EUR2, Live World Superbikes from Navarra, Spain: Superpole and Race One SUNDAY August 22 11.40pm, ITV4, MotoGP Highlights from the Red Bull Ring in Austria KEYTO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST- DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST- INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2,3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1-BTSPORT 1 BTS2-BTSPORT2TVL-TRAVELUK…

GUEST ROAD TESTER £10,202 Yamaha MT-09 SP • 889cc inline triple DOHC 12v • 117.3bhp @ 10,000rpm • 190kg kerb weight £10,385 Ducati Monster • 937cc liquid-cooled V-twin DOHC 8v • 109.4bhp @ 9250rpm • 188kg kerb weight A healthy dose of sunshine makes everything seem rosy. And what better way to enjoy the sunshine than on two class-leading premium middleweight nakeds? Taking to the MCN250 today we have two new-for-2021 offerings that are certain to be at the top of the sales ratings come the end of the year. In the blue (and silver...) corner is the heavily updated Yamaha MT-09 SP. You know the story by now – a new chassis, better electronics and bigger-capacity engine have transformed the MT from a wobbly but hysterical bike into a…

GP YOUNG GUN At 19, James got a wildcard to the 1993 British 500GP with Team Great Britain on a ROC Yamaha. He was 11th and the UK’s youngest point-scorer in the premier class. He’d only been road racing for three years! FIRST BSB WIN James’ 1994 BSB win at Snetterton was not only his first BSB win, it was the Honda RC45’s first race win anywhere in the world! IN MOTOGP “Getting a call from Kenny Roberts asking if I’d race his bike in MotoGP was an amazing feeling. I substituted for Kurtis Roberts for three races and got a best of 12th in Qatar. To be honest, the V5 wasn’t as good as my R1...” ON TV “I’d always been happy to be a guest commentator and when…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER MV Agusta’s Dragster 800 RR SCS is still the last word in naked decadence, its unique looks and aggressive sound are like nothing else and it has the poise and acceleration of a superbike. But now it has friendlier road manners and smoother power, ably aided by its brilliantly useful SCS auto clutch and it’s genuinely comfortable for hours in the saddle, even for taller riders. Tweaked suspension is firm without being crashy, it’s far more stable and the colour dash brings things bang up to date. The new Dragster 800 RR SCS isn’t cheap, but now it’s more supermodel than prima donna. THE FACTS £17,970 MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS Engine 798cc 12v inline three cylinder Frame Steel trellis Front suspension Marzocchi 43mm forks,…

Make a trip to Skye part of a tour of the Highlands. Pick up the A82 at Tyndrum, marvel at Glencoe and onwards to Fort William. Here you can either choose to take the ferry from Mallaig via the A830, or head north and pick up the A87 to the Kyle of Lockalsh and the Syke Bridge (£2.90 toll per bike during the summer). You’ll need at least two nights, but you could spend a week roaming the roads of the Scottish west coast. The best time to visit is before the end of October and don’t forget your insect repellent!…

Year-round rider, weekend blaster and racetrack dweller The Aprilia RS660 is the most versatile sportsbike I have ever ridden. It’s got the attentiongrabbing looks, can handle itself on a trackday, and offers endless weekend thrills. This particular machine has also been mechanically sound – not one of the 700 across the globe requiring an engine swap due to issues with the conrods. In fact, outside of a slightly soft standard rear end and an unsightly left switchgear housing, I’ve struggled to find fault with it and after a series of recent minibreaks and day trips it’s now also proving its worth over distance, too. Where have I been? After over a year of restrictions, I was determined to make this summer a belter, visiting more places by bike and savouring…

★★★★★ Shoei NXR2 From £429.99 ‘One of the best helmets I’ve tried’ Tested by Simon Brown for 750 miles six weeks What a bloody lovely helmet - in 25 years of riding it is one of the nicest I have tried. Comfortable from the word go, Shoei’s new NXR2 is one of the few on the market to meet the new and more stringent ECE22.06 standard. Get on the road and there is very little not to love, with a wide aperture offering a cinematic field of vision and very little in the way of wind noise. Shoei say they have improved the cheek and ear padding and revised the seal around the visor, and it’s paid off. Stability at motorway speeds is spot on (I have been wearing the…

Hose clips come in a number of different styles, the most common are the crimped type or a clamp type that is heavily sprung. Sprung clips can be reused, but not so the crimped ones. These crimp-type can be replaced with a high-quality Jubilee-type item, but you need to be selective. Although they all look similar, often there’s a vast difference in quality - as I discovered in the worst possible way earlier this year. I replace the hose clips on my race bike every season with ‘high quality’ clips. But back in April, one of my coolant hoses popped off on the opening lap of a race and dumped distilled water all over the back tyre causing me to high side. The crash left me with two fractured vertebrae…

Ryan Vickers continued to showcase the big improvement that he’s made in 2021 following big changes to his Kawasaki. Vickers has had his swingarm modified and chassis tweaks which have helped the bike turn. He secured two top 10s, despite being demoted twice for two-second time penalties, and crashed out of an early lead in race three. “I’m always riding as hard as I can, but it’s coming so much easier,” Vickers said. “It’s nice to be able to go out there in any session and not look for a tow.” Brookes fights on There were signs of improvement for Josh Brookes, however the problems plaguing the reigning champion remain a hinderance. A best result of fourth came in race three, but Brookes acknowledged that this was “circumstantial” due to…

COLLIN YOUNG INSIGHT Paddock veteran shares insights from the weekend ‘I came in because I had to think about the points’ It is crunch time for Suzuki’s defending MotoGP world champion, Joan Mir. Mir and the GSX-RR were a sublime combination with their under-the-radar win in 2020. But Mir won only one race in that campaign and he knows that will not be enough to defend the title this time around. Not against the speed and consistency of Yamaha #1 Fabio Quartararo who has won four races this season and came out of the Austrian double-header with a commanding 47-point lead over Mir and Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia. “I must win at least two or three races to get the championship and now the coming races are better for us,” Mir…

Pedro Acosta is on target to carry the Moto3 world championship with him when he is promoted to Moto2 with Ajo KTM squad next year. Acosta was fourth in the hotly-contested Austrian GP, surprisingly unable to match his Austria 1 winning pace a week earlier. But he maintained a comfortable 41-point lead over fellow rookie and race winner Sergio Garcia. The top five riders were separated by just 0.4s with Deniz Oncu (second), Dennis Foggia (third ) and Romano Fenati (fifth). Britain’s John McPhee was seventh with a trademark late-race charge. “Coming from 14th on the grid, it was never going to be easy but it’s a solid result ahead of Silverstone next week,” said McPhee. Acosta will be joined in the KTM Moto2 squad by Augusto Fernandez who will…

Saturday 28 Steam and Gasoline, Hot Rod and Motorcycle Show The Good Shed, Rushden Railway Station, Rushden, Bedfordshire. £2 • rhts.co.uk Sun 29 and Mon 30 Cheshire Classic Car and Motorcycle Show Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield. Adults £9. Kids 7-14 £3.50 • classicshows.org Sun 29 and Mon 30 Notts Classic Car and Motorcycle Show Thoresby Park, Nr Ollerton. Adults £9. Kids 7-14 £3.50 • classicshows.org Sunday 29 22nd Ripon Classic Car and Bike Show and Big Autojumble Ripon Classic Car & Bike Show Autojumble Ripon Racecourse, Yorks. Adults £7.50, kids free • markwoodwardclassicevents.com Monday 30 36th Yorkshire Classic Vehicle Show Ripley Castle, Harrogate, Yorks. Adults £7.50, kids free • markwoodwardclassicevents.com…

The longest and one of the fastest tracks on the calendar, Silverstone is a classic. It took over the British title round from the Isle of Man in 1977, passed it to Donington Park from 1987-2009, before taking it back in 2010. One of the all-time great circuits was back. 1977 The Americans were coming, and Californian Suzuki rider Pat Hennen took the first GP win for a US rider. But on a damp, dismal afternoon, it wasn’t glorious. Pole starter Barry Sheene retired from fifth with a blown head gasket, whilst leaders fell by the wayside: Wil Hartog retired, and Britons Steve Parrish and John Williams crashed. Hennen was left to beat compatriot Stevie Baker by 40 seconds. Baker won that year’s FIM F750 title, becoming the first US…

Sam Lowes’ and Jake Dixon’s campaigns haven’t quite gone to plan. Lowes’ title hopes are all but gone, whilst Dixon has struggled, in part due to a wrist injury, to replicate his form from the second half of 2020. Positive results in front of their home crowd will go a long way to ensuring that 2021 is still a year to remember. Lowes hasn’t enjoyed much luck at Silverstone. Since finishing seventh (2014) and sixth (2015), he’s failed to score points in his last three visits - including being wiped out by Johann Zarco in 2016. Dixon is yet to visit on a Kalex chassis, finishing a lowly 23rd on his KTM in 2019. The support of the British fans will go a long way in terms of motivation and…

‘His way of racing was a little more on the edge than mine’ Forty years ago at the British GP at Silverstone, Jack Middelburg made history onboard his Suzuki RG500 Mk6 when he became the last ever privateer to win a 500cc GP – and he did it in style by out-smarting world champion ‘King’ Kenny Roberts on his factory Yamaha. Roberts remembers the 1981 British Grand Prix all too well. Having won one of the most legendary wheel-to-wheel battles ever in 1979 when he beat nemesis Barry Sheene in the Silverstone Grand Prix (see page 10), but two years later, the Yamaha factory rider was out-manoeuvred by a Dutch part-time racer on an underpowered Suzuki RG500 production racer. “When it came to winning the race, Jack Middelburg was certainly…

NEWS EDITOR ‘It shows just how capable the bike can be’ As the Husqvarna marketing machine gets into full swing, the brand have released their latest video of the new Norden; this time we see it tearing around the volcanic plains of Iceland. There are two bikes in the video being piloted by some very handy riders: one is five-time Dakar rally winner Cyril Despres, the other is extreme explorer Mike Horn, who has also raced the Dakar on four wheels. As well as amazing views of Iceland, what the video really shows us is just how capable the new bike will be (especially in the right hands). So far all we’ve been able to garner from the bike is what it’s like to ride on the road, when MCN…

SAVE £3446 £20,999 Indian Chieftain Limited (red) Indian Motorcycle’s top-spec ‘bagger’ boasts revised styling and new wheels to go with monster V-twin and class-leading ‘Ride Command’ TFT dash and, thanks to this offer at Thunder Road, undercuts Harley’s Street Glide Special by nearly four grand. If you want top-quality American muscle, it’s here. ● www.thunderroad.co.uk SAVE £1500 £14,249 KTM Super Duke R ‘The Beast’ is one of the punchiest, best super-nakeds of all time and, at Northampton Moto, better value than ever. ● northamptonmoto.co.uk ● Engine 1301cc ● Power 178bhp ● Weight 189kg ● Seat height 835mm SAVE £650 £6599 Kawasaki Ninja 650 Black/white pre-reg examples of Kawasaki’s middleweight are being offered with £650 off by Colchester Kawasaki. ● colchesterkawasaki.co.uk ● Engine 649cc ● Power 67bhp ● Weight 193kg ●…

The Romney Marsh Ride-in Show and Bike Jumble will return for its 30th year in September. The grass-roots event will welcome visitors on Sunday, September 12 with tons of new and used spares, complete bikes and projects for sale. You can also enter your own bike in one of two Ride-in Shows: Best Classic (pre-1980) and Best Post Classic. Gates open at 10am or 7.30am with earlybird tickets. Twenty’s plenty Kent County Council are considering a blanket 20mph zone in the centre of Herne Bay. The measure is proposed to combat an issue with speeding in the coastal resort after a survey found a number of drivers were exceeding 50mph in the existing 30mph area. Cllr Dan Watkins said: “It’s noisy, people feel unsafe at times, wing mirrors are being…

Dainese Gran Turismo Gore-Tex Jacket & Jeans £824.96 & £472.26 ‘There are big savings on offer’ Premium brands such as Dainese needn’t cost the earth and there are bargains to be had if you are prepared to dig around online and in the shops. For example, you could save over 25% on this all-season textile suit from SportsBikeShop. With a breathable and waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, the Gran Turismo is made from abrasion-resistant nylon with aramid inserts at high-impact areas. There’s a removable thermal lining, CE approved armour at the shoulders, elbows and a back protector plus an internal lumbar belt. With four pockets in total, the two internal ones are waterproof and there is a cargo pocket on the back. Pair the jacket with co-ordinating trousers, which attach via a…

Motorcycle Live will return this December for nine days at Birmingham’s NEC. The annual show was forced to take place online in 2020 but will recommence in the real world from Saturday, December 4 to Sunday, December 12. Alongside an array of new features and displays yet to be fully announced you’ll find a host of manufacturer and trade stands – with bikes from the likes of Suzuki, Kawasaki, Lexmoto, KTM, Mash and BMW all already confirmed. There will also be the chance for budding bikers to get their first taste of two wheels and an opportunity to meet the racing stars from across the WSB, BSB and road racing paddocks. Motorcycle Live Managing Director, Finlay McAllan, said: “We can’t wait to open the doors to Motorcycle Live this year.…

‘Give me more of the Moors’ Bruce Dunn shares his scenic adventure around North Yorkshire This is a favourite for road tests and bike industry brochure shoots. Head out of Whitby on the A171 and after about 14 miles turn left on to Smeathorns Road. In the small matter of about a mile, the landscape transforms, and you’ll also get to ride around a cool left-hand bend that I like to call ‘JC’s Mythical Corner’ named in honour of long-serving bike photographer Jason Critchell, who seems to be able to get a multitude of shots from that one bend. The road winds its way along the moorland to Castleton, turn right on the high street and follow the road all the way out of the village as it bends left…

This weekend you can go to an exhibition celebrating all the women in the motorcycling world and it could help you to take your next steps with motorcycling, whatever skills you have. What’s happening? On Saturday, August 21, the Women in Motorcycling Exhibition descends on Tutbury Castle in Burton upon Trent for the day to bring workshops, inspirational speakers and panel talks, a learner zone, exhibitors, camping and a raffle draw, too. Whether you want to get behind the bars for the first time or want to improve your skills, the event has everything you need. And if workshops are more your thing, you could take part in the beginner and intermediate motorcycle maintenance session, learn some first aid, or even try biker yoga! The essential stuff To get in…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fastflowing A and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A roads and motorway Dry and sunny 28-degrees 9mph SW wind…

GUEST TESTER Very few bikes leave you more than happy to tackle the MCN250 once again, but both the MT-09 SP and Monster feel so perfectly suited to life on the UK’s roads, that they made light work of the route. And best of all, in their own unique ways, they were absolutely brilliant fun to ride throughout. Certainly not perfect, but most definitely engaging. There is no disguising the fact the MT-09 SP is a more focused bike than the Monster, yet that’s no surprise as it has an SP badge on its side. With this in mind it is easy to forgive the Yamaha its slightly firm suspension as the ride it delivers, and the sheer drive and spirit that the new CP3 triple packs, is intoxicating. And…

1 Book the ferry You don’t have to take the Mallaig ferry: the Skye Bridge works perfectly well. But if you want to take the boat, book your crossing early… it’s a very long detour to get to the bridge if the ferry is full. Expect to pay around £16.50 (one bike, one rider) for a return trip. www.calmac.co.uk 2 Pack some layers Skye has an extreme climate – and sometimes it’s changeable. An extra jumper, not to mention waterproofs, can make all the difference if the weather does turn. Be prepared for everything, even in summertime. 3 Stay on the mainland I love Skye – but it’s expensive. There’s a limited amount of accommodation and you pay a premium for it. Unless you’re camping, you’ll save a bob or…

Daily rider with 45 years of experience, both on and off road. Owns 30 bikes. Right from the very first ride on the Honda CRF300 Rally I felt it suffered with its suspension… Before we go any further, I will also be the first to put my hand up and say I am not the lightest person in the world at 95kg. I did take the CRF for a bit of a blast round a mate’s field which features a cheeky little jump in the middle. I wasn’t even going very fast, but managed to get both wheels off the ground, this was fine, it was the landing that was the problem and I managed to completely bottom out both front and rear suspension. Definitely time to see what mods…

1 TT - Ride on the Edge 2 £37.99 The best part is the accuracy in the reproduction of the mountain course itself. It’s a good game, but there could be more race classes, bikes, teams, and riders. Allan Murray, Newcastle Upon Tyne 2 Just Cause 4 £11.00 Not strictly a bike game, but you’ve 395 sq miles to explore by bike and aren’t stuck on a track. Michael Pumfrey, Inverness 3 Ride 4 £25.77 Over lockdown it was great for a biking fix, getting some of that freedom and looking at a wide range of bikes. Dan Benson, Norwich 4 MotoGP 21 £42.95 It’s great playing as your heroes and I like the historic two-stroke challenges too. Aaron Jacka, Cornwall 5 Grand Theft Auto V £14 Good for getting…

Most people give their bike a decent check over before taking it in for its annual MoT - but not this Yamaha FJR1300 owner. If he had he might have noticed the spring of his rear suspension was snapped in two. Sean Taylor, boss of Double 0 Motorcycles in Bedford, takes up the tale: “I’ve been MoT testing for about 17 years and that was the first coil spring I’ve seen broken. They tend to be quite strong and robust. “It was corroded due to it living outside in UK weather. That caused a weak point on the spring and he must have had a hard impact from a bump or pothole that’s caused it to break - but it was a bit of surprise, especially as it had only…

Raul Fernandez won his fourth race of the season to set up a tantalising Moto2 title fight with KTM teammate and title leader, Remy Gardner. Fernandez put aside the messy contract dramas between KTM and Yamaha for his move to MotoGP in 2022 to focus on the Moto2 title. The Spaniard cleared his mind to score a narrow-but- convincing Austrian GP victory ahead of rising Japanese star Ai Ogura – his first Moto2 podium – with Augusto Fernandez taking third. “Before the race I could see that my future is now clear and I need to be calm about what is happening, change my mentality and focus on the Moto2 title,” said Fernandez. Series leader Remy Gardner finished a lacklustre seventh with his advantage now cut to 19 points, while…

MICHAEL LAVERTY THE INSIDER BT Sport’s technical guru unmasks secrets at the sharp end of MotoGP This picture is from the braking zone for T3 where the riders go from… 191mph in 6th to 36mph in first The Red Bull Ring provides a particular challenge, hard and late braking is the key to a fast lap time, providing you can stop the machine in the shortest time without compromising corner exit. Utilising the rear of the machine to assist in deceleration is crucial, due to the forces involved, too much demand on the front end will both overheat the braking system and the front tyre; the man credited with the fastest-ever two wheel lap of the Austrian circuit with Jorge Martin (pictured) demonstrating exactly what the rider can do to…

MICHAEL SCOTT UNDER THE SKIN Veteran MotoGP correspondent shares his unique racing insight ‘I am a warrior.” This was the most poignant remark in Maverick Viñales’s chastened (you might say “grovelling”) apology to Yamaha last weekend, which may or may not save the rest of his season with the team. It came on Saturday, giving some resolution to a paddock left reeling by Yamaha’s “regret- to-announce” statement that the rider had been suspended from the Austrian GP, after data had confirmed they had found “irregular operation” of his machine, which could have damaged the bike, and caused serious risk to Viñales and other riders at the previous race. Viñales had been strong before the red flag came out, but slumped to last in the restarted Styrian GP, and footage showed…

For a few glorious minutes, Valentino Rossi’s elusive 200th MotoGP podium came within touching distance. Rossi’s gamble to stay on slick tyres on a soaked surface looked like it was paying off when the 42-year-old was stitting in third with just two laps remaining. With fans around the world poised for pandemonium, Rossi eventually finished eighth and was less than six seconds away from a history-making rostrum. He said: “It was unbelievable and the point when I was on for the podium was super exciting.…

Don’t worry, you’ve not got your weekends mixed up - the Bank Holiday isn’t for another week yet! But rather than tell you what’s on when it’s already too late to plan for the weekend, we thought we’d give you ten days’ warning to get yourself sorted. And there’s so much you can do to turn the final big biking bank holiday of the year into one that helps reverse the impact of recent riding restrictions. To help you find places to go, things to see and do, and destinations to aim for, we’ve pulled together an essential guide to what’s hot (and hopefully the weather will be, too). From chilling out at a biker café with your mates on a glorious rideout, to nailing your bike down the quarter-mile…

MATTHEW BIRT INSIGHT Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 How much do MotoGP riders adore testing their skill and bravery on one of the world’s most historic and iconic race tracks? Well, Valentino Rossi once famously described the buzz of a fast lap around Silverstone’s blindingly rapid and technical layout as an experience ‘better than sex’. Interesting analogy, but the 18-corner layout certainly has a mix of everything that makes for a great Grand Prix track. A heady mix of high-speed straights, fast changes of direction and hard braking zones make it a firm favourite with the paddock. You need aggression, precision, and bravery to master Silverstone’s long 3.67-mile layout and it’s one of the few tracks on the calendar where a MotoGP bike can truly…

1986 The 80cc class was dominated by Spain’s Derbi versus the Swiss-built Krauser. Ian McConnachie, promoted to the Krauser team after three lap records, beat defending champ Stefan Dorflinger by inches. 1978-1984 Angel Nieto is equal with Kork Ballington on six wins, every year from 1978 to 1984, with one misfire in 1980. All were 125 (Minarelli, Garelli), contributing to his record 62 in the class. What a legend. 2010 Moto2 arrived - and with it one of the closest-ever Silverstone finishes. After 39 furious minutes, Jules Cluzel led Tom Luthi, Julian Simon and Scott Redding, over the line within half a second. 2015 This really had been Danny Kent’s year. He arrived with five wins, most of them by miles, and led Enea Bastianini by 45 points. In the…

If anybody needs a big result at Silverstone, it’s John McPhee. The Scot has endured a tough season, both on and off the track, and with his future still uncertain this may be his final chance, in Moto3 at least, to give his home fans something to cheer about. McPhee’s best result at Silverstone came in 2015, finishing sixth on the RTC Honda. On his day, and if he can stay out of trouble, McPhee can fight for at least the podium. One thing that is certain is that the man to beat is Pedro Acosta. In a class which is supposed to be unpredictable and tight, the 17-year-old rookie has turned things upside down. He’s a level above the rest and it’s easy to see how advanced his ability…