MCN的10th April 2019目录

Racing has always been the very pinnacle of politics-busting freedom. While there might be more machinations behind the scenes than any of us would ever care to get embroiled in, when the lights go out it’s all about what the rider holding the bars can do before the final flag is waved. It might not be democracy, but it’s close. But it feels like there’s an increasing nannying that – while logically aimed at levelling the field and removing unfair financial advantages – is beginning to make motorcycle racing feel a bit like sportsday at your local primary school. Surely the point of racing is domination? And yet, the moment anyone gets to the front and stays there, the rest cry foul. And if the bikes are equal while the…

Norton Motorcycles are building a huge addition to their existing factory in order to gear-up for production of their new range of affordable Atlas 650cc models. The 12,000 square-foot extension to the firm’s existing base at Donington Hall will enable the Derbyshire firm to massively increase their production capabilities, moving much of the assembly line from their existing buildings into the bespoke production facility. While V4 SS production is now moving at pace (see boxout), the core of the new facility will be used to build the all-new Atlas Nomad (£9995) and Atlas Ranger (£11,995), which share a new 650cc parallel-twin engine, chassis and electronics package, but differ in styling. The pair are aimed at road riders who want to be able to duck down the odd greenlane at the…

Thirty-two years after igniting the four-cylinder 600 class with the original CBR600F, Honda are revitalising the middlweight category with their new CBR650R. Over the decades the CBR6 has gone from all-rounder to a laser-sharp RR track weapon before re-emerging as the softer F. That heritage means you can pick up high-mileage bargains that are over 20-years-old from as little as £1500. 2019 CBR650R What is it? A revamp of the CBR650F with new styling, raft of quality components, including upside-down forks, radial brakes and modern switchgear. MCN says “The CBR has a feeling of quality and looks fantastic in its mini-Fireblade fairing.” Want to buy one? £7729, £1881 deposit, £99 per month for 36 months. 2014 CBR650F What is it? Easy-going sportster at a budget price. You say…

‘If you do accept PayPal, don’t rely on just an email’ Scams around bike sales are as old as motorcycling, but as the riding season begins and more people start shifting their bikes, scammers and thieves are rubbing their hands with glee. With a huge surge in online sales, rather than old school classifieds and face-to-face, it gives massive opportunities for scammers. In a recent twist on an old classic, a person advertises their bike for sale on an auction site and is contacted by a prospective buyer. The buyer usually works off-shore or far enough away to be unable to come and collect the bike so they offer to pay for a courier. A price is agreed, often a little higher because of the inconvenience, and the buyer says…

Signal contingency If a GSM signal is not available, the Sentinel can also transmit via the satellite network. Permanent connection The Sentinel is permanently connected to a GPS signal – but not to the GSM network. Instant call for help In a crash, the Sentinel immediately contacts emergency services and transmits its location. The only way is up Due to on-board motion sensors, the unit can inform services about the type of crash. Locating the rider Once on the scene, a secondary slave unit directs the first responders straight to the rider. It’s not often we’d be in favour of a little GPS chip tracking us wherever we go but a proposed new system from IMR Technologies could be the difference between life and death in the event of an…

Yamaha have confirmed they’ll be bringing a fleet of Nikens to the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling – and you’ll be able to take one for a test ride and discover what the bizarre-but-intriguing leaning three-wheeler has to offer. Yamaha will also be bringing their MT Tour truck with the entire MT range, from the MT-10SP to the MT125. The 125s are part of the learner-friendly First MT Experience in a special area away from the road and supervised by instructors. Yamaha will also have the Roads of Life fleet, which includes the Tracer 700 and 900 plus the FJR1300AE. There really isn’t a better place to try out a new Yamaha in 2019 and getting on one couldn’t be simpler. Head to the Black Horse Finance manufacturer zone and…

YAMAHA LS2 Me in 1976 touring western Norway aboard my Yamaha LS2. Note my sub-standard ‘safety equipment’. Terje Haaverstad YAMAHA TZR125 This Yamaha TZR 125 was one of my first bikes. The picture was taken 24 years ago but feels like yesterday. Westley Lowndes BSA C15 Me on my C15 in 1968. I’m 67 now and ride a Triumph bobber I built myself from a Speedmaster and a ZX-6R. Steve Whitworth BSA C15 This is me at 17 (40 years ago) and I’d just built my first bike from parts. Neville Cartwright YAMAHA TY125 Me (and no, I’m definitely not one of the Ramones despite that hair) on my Yamaha TY125. Chris Bayliss AJS 650 My father bought a BSA Bantam new in 1949. I passed my test on it…

Honda’s new, ‘reversed’ LCD digital panel is a stylish improvement over the old, adds a touch of quality to an otherwise basic, budget bike and displays everything you need – but is hard to read in some lights. By comparison, the Benelli’s ‘old school’ analogue tacho/ LCD panel for speedo etc is more 2009 than 2019, but also has everything you need and is actually easier to read. Both bikes are relatively basic in their electroncis so don’t expect to find riding mode buttons and other fripparies. HONDA FUNCTIONALITY BENELLI…

Bob Sirett and Keith Holland are unsung heroes. The pair have helped more than 10,000 riders with disabilities get back onto two or three wheels and their expertise is second to none. “In 1986 my son Carl was involved in an accident, which left him paralysed from the chest down,” explains Bob. “As soon as he was out of hospital he said ‘I want to get back on a bike’ after seeing a guy with a share-chair sidecar unit. He soon sorted out a ZRX1100 with a share-chair on it, which is when he asked me to design him a system that would allow him to change gear electronically using hand controls.” An engineer by trade, Bob enlisted the help of his friend Keith and, working in their spare time,…

Yamaha’s boundary-busting Niken split opinions last year with its unique, leaning, three-wheeled design, attracting both praise and scorn in relatively equal measure. But for 2019 it’s joined by a more long-distance-focused GT model, which promises to enhance its touring appeal through improved creature comforts and the addition of a set of panniers. So is this new sports-touring version enough to tempt riders to give the Niken a fair shot – or it is still just too out-there and oddball for most? Sitting comfortably The GT’s new ‘Comfort’ seat hits the mark, providing all-day levels of comfort that, when combined with the GT’s heated grips and taller screen, mean you can happily see off the Niken’s 180-plus mile tank range without aches and pains. Those who tour in cold weathers and…

The starting paddock for the Pioneer Run is like no other paddock I’ve ever been part of. As well as the air being thick with the smell of burning oil, the noise is incredible as around 300 barely-silenced bikes sporadically fire into life, their engines rattling and clattering with exposed valve trains adding to the exhaust symphony. Names of bygone manufacturers whose endeavours were cut short by the First World War are emblazoned on petrol tanks, alongside familiar brands such as Triumph, BSA, Ariel and Royal Enfield. All of them attempting to reach the same goal of creating petrol-powered motion in the early days of motorised transport, but choosing gloriously varied routes to achieve this goal. And then there are the characters, some dressed smartly in period-correct clothing to match…

‘I like to stop off at the Green Hut for a cuppa’ Living on the Nottinghamshire border, Stephen has plenty of unspoilt, rural roads to explore on his Honda Deauville and can regularly be found exploring new routes to use at a later date in his role as an IAM instructor. “I like the roads round Creswell, where there are light and shade sections as the open roads lead to twisty bends into villages and then open back up to nice flowing sections. “The route out of Sutton on Trent to Ragnall is very twisty and fun, plus I like to stop for a cuppa at the biker friendly Green Hut just before the roundabout at Ollerton.”…

1. INTO POSITION When approaching a right-hander, position yourself to the left of your lane so that you get maximum visibility. 2. SLOW IN Reduce your speed and assess what’s ahead. Could you safely stop in the distance that you see to be clear? 3. HANG OUT Delay your turn. Hold your position deeper into the corner until you can either see the exit or more info about the bend. 4. READ THE ROAD If the kerbs appear to be coming together the bend is tightening; if they’re opening out the road is getting straighter. 5. VISION UP Laser lock your eyes on the exit and beyond, even if this means turning your head. Your bike goes where your eyes go. 6. POWER OUT As soon as you can see…

Yamaha’s MT range, which stands for ‘Masters of Torque’ kicked off with the MT-09 in 2013 and have been a big hit, equating to the majority of Yamaha’s European sales. What’s the secret? As well as cool looks, they’re cheap to buy, practical and are also tremendous fun to boot. If you are tempted to turn to the Dark side of Japan, here are five brilliant MT models that can be found for less than £4500… MCN BEST BUY £3995 YAMAHA MT-07 689cc | 179kg | 71bhp | 805mm seat height • Dealer up to £5000• Private up to £4500• The one 2015 Moto Cage, 22k miles The MT-07 is the runaway success story of the MT range and has sold nearly 100,000 units to date, which is incredible…

Go Eleven’s Eugene Laverty was fighting for the podium in Race 1 before a devastating crash on his Ducati while pushing to pass Chaz Davies on the last lap. “The bike is working brilliantly,” he said, with one 15th and two sixth places. “We had a defective front tyre in Superpole. In Race 1, a touch with Jonathan Rea damaged the wing, then I crashed later. In the Superpole Race the rear brake failed. In the final race, the exhaust broke. I have to take this on the chin, but this is the start of something great.”…

Warwickshire and Solihull Blood Bikes are facing closure after an NHS Trust has replaced their free service with a transport contract to a private company. The deal awarded to QE Facilities, estimated to be worth £14 million, covers the same geographical area as WSBB’s services, effectively rendering them redundant. WSBB Hospital Liaison Officer Martin Williams told MCN that the group was “Saddened and disappointed” by the trust’s decision. “Since we started in 2012, we’ve transported over 7000 samples saving the NHS nearly £700,000. More frustrating still is that QE’s contract began in October 2018 so we’ve been making deliveries voluntarily for nearly six months while they’ve been paid. “We’ve got hundreds of volunteers that give up their time because they enjoy riding their bikes and want to save lives. We’re…

Record-breaking racer Zef Eisenberg survived a 195mph scare to establish a new speed record for the Flying Mile at Pendine Sands in on Saturday. Riding his 400bhp supercharged Suzuki Hayabusa, he set a record two-way average of 182.40mph for the famous, South Wales beach which has been long associated with record breaking. “The bike had been spinning the rear wheel for two miles,” said Jersey-based Eisenberg, who owns and runs the MADMAX team. “We were using a GP racing tyre, too – the best you can get, but I assume it’s not used to that much power or wheelspin. That’s why these records are so hard to achieve. You’re pushing human and engineering boundaries.” The MADMAX team fitted a new tyre during the permitted one-hour turn-around time, enabling Eisenberg to…

The British Isles has some of the most beautiful scenery and fabulous roads in Europe and for many #Ride5K members exploring them on spur of the moment trips are what biking’s all about. One of those was MCN reader Graham Bell who, with a promising weather forecast and a free weekend ahead of him, decided a quick blast over to the coast on his KTM Super Duke 1290 GT was in order. But it was no short hop. Rather than stay local, as dawn broke, Graham set out from his home in Essex headed all the way to Lizard Point in Cornwall, on what would in total be a 700-mile, two-day round trip. “I grabbed all the overnight essentials, set my satnav with a route through small towns in interesting…

I blame Spencer Probably your shortest email about the Argintine GP: Sack Spencer! James Thompson, email Cal had no advantage I keep playing this back on my TV recording and I still can’t believe Cal was deemed to jump the start. I’ve been watching and attending motorcycle racing for many years and can only sympathise with Cal’s LCR team over this decision. We have all witnessed blatant jump starts and the rider has taken advantage of his grid position and gained an advantage during the race only to be punished later with a ride through penalty. But to me this was a harsh decision from the organisers of such a prestigious event who have shown themselves to be slightly petty on this occasion. A Bradley, email Sort it out, MotoGP…

With the new season upon us, it’s time to get the frying pan hot and start the search for Britain’s Best Biker Café 2019. And what a start. We followed a tip-off and headed for the south coast, where a ride across the Pevensey Levels led us to one of the country’s newest biking destinations, Bexhill’s Custom Café. Located on the A259 between Eastbourne and Hastings, the Custom Café opened its doors in 2017 and has already become a serious ride-to destination. The building itself has a kind of ranch style roadhouse feel that wouldn’t look out of place in rural Arkansas and the decor is pure Americana – at least at first glance. A closer inspection reveals a deeper custom culture theme with some incredible original artwork and a…

I’ve watched the start of the Argentine MotoGP a few times and Cal Crutchlow was moving, but he didn’t gain anything. I don’t know exactly what the rule book says; it used to be that your front spindle couldn’t cross the line, and if that’s the case he did nothing wrong. He made a lovely start and anticipated the lights well, but was creeping a little. ‘SPENCER IS A GOD BUT CAL DID NOTHING WRONG’ I have to stand in Cal’s court, not only because he is a Brit but because his ride-through penalty makes a mockery of it all. He lost over 25 seconds going through pit lane and that just isn’t fair. People have different start techniques, I hold my front brake on and release the clutch a…

‘70mpg+ should easily be attainable on the Honda’ It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B- roads, a stretch of motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time at Silverstone for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 First impressions Although the Honda is uprated and enlarged with a taller front end it’s the Benelli that has the most presence and stature at standstill, looking every inch a full-sized adventure bike. It’s imposing (maybe too much so for shorter, novice riders), well-equipped, good-looking…

After the familiarisation of the early miles then grind of the M40, by lunch at the Cotswold Diner, both bikes had more than proven themselves. And, although distinctly different – the Honda a cute, reassuring novice bike, the Benelli a full-size and spec adventure bike that just happens to have an A2 powerplant – they were also well matched and equally comfortable and capable. All of that was highlighted in the early afternoon on the sweeping, near-empty B4425, me leading on the easy, impeccable Honda but the Benelli, its nose looking like a Multistrada in my mirrors, impressing just as much by just as easily keeping up. After over three hours in their saddles we were still comfy, their powertrains and chassis had more than enough to entertain and, despite…

World Champion Jonathan Rea fought harder than he’s had to for race wins in order to limit the damage and rack up three more second places to Alvaro Bautista. Sunday night saw the team treating the three podiums like race wins, which is an indication of how big the gap is between the Kawasaki and the dominant Ducati. It was a weekend on which Rea celebrated his 250th World Superbike race start on Saturday, although qualifying left him just tenth on the grid due to a uncharacteristic mistake on one lap and a team error with timings which allowed no time for a second lap. A lack of front-end feeling and rear-end grip didn’t help, either. Rea’s second places, totalling 49 points to Bautista’s 62, came amid some of the…

Alvaro Bautista’s amazing form continued as the Aruba Ducati rider sailed to his third treble to take nine wins from nine WSB starts in front of a home crowd at Aragon. In the process, the 34-year-old notched up the 350th WSB race victory for the Ducati factory. Ducati won the first ever World Superbike event at Donington Park in 1988 and in the same week 31 years on, Bautista’s performance sent out a further warning shot to his rivals as the former MotoGP rider continued to shatter records. “It’s fantastic, it couldn’t be better,” said Bautista, who five years earlier just missed out on a MotoGP podium at Aragon. “I have shared my first World Superbike weekend in front of my Spanish fans, my family and friends. To win three…

Leon Haslam cemented his position as the toughest rider on the grid after the stitches on his recently operated on foot split open during race one. He kept riding to finish ninth before upping his game to secure seventh and then fourth in the final race which included a tremendous battle and overtaking moves on Kawasaki team-mate Jonathan Rea after Haslam’s crew ‘transformed’ his bike between races. The 35-year-old was set to undergo further surgery on his ankle injury with doctors from Barcelona football club on Monday.…

Chaz Davies got his 2019 WSB campaign back on track at Aragon with the three times WSB runner-up bouncing back to competitiveness with two podium finishes plus one fourth place. It marked a much needed turnaround following a disastrous start to the year having scored just 18 points from Australia and Thailand at an average of only three per race. It all started to go wrong in the winter when Davies aggravated a back injury which severely compromised tesing on the new Panigale V4R. The 32-year-old also last week admitted to errors in set-up of the new bike which contrasted greatly with that of new team-mate Alvaro Bautista whose transition from MotoGP to WSB has been sublime. While the Spaniard cruised to another three wins in Aragon, making it nine…

Spanish firm Bott Power have unveiled their latest Buellbased special – the ‘XR1 White Carbon’. If you’ve not heard of Bott Power, they’re a side project for Moto2 and WSB data engineer David Sanchez. He describes them as ‘sportsbikes with flat track aesthetics’, a claim he’s entitled to as their 2017 XR1R came fourth at Pikes Peak. Not bad for a ‘modified Harley’… The XR1 kit uses the basics from the later, twin spar-framed Buells, such as the XB12S Lightning, namely the engine, swingarm and a few other bits of running gear although the big, fuel-carrying frame is binned. A new, steel tube spine frame is used with the engine as a stressed member, which partly explains how Bott have shed 20kg of mass. And despite what its flat-track styling…

MCN has teamed up with Yamaha to give you the chance to win a brand new Yamaha Tracer 700GT. Last year saw the arrival of the Tracer 700, adding a bigger nose cowl and revised rider ergonomics to the MT-07 roadster to create one of the most genuinely pleasing everyday do-it-alls on the market. And for 2019 the game of evolutionary kiss-chase has moved on again, with the Tracer 700 now getting the GT upgrades the 900 led the way with in 2018. This being the GT, there’s a full 40-litre pannier capacity, making weekend jaunts effortless. For your chance to win, just visit motorcyclenews.com/winayamahabefore May 31, 2019. • Full terms and conditions are available on the entry page.…

1 Same but different The Mugen version has a black frame, more aggressively-styled bodywork – and that’s about it. 2 Float like a butterfly No official figures from Honda but it’s believed to weigh around 120kg – a little heavier than a CR250R. 3 Woah Nelly The CR-E has different power models, so you can adjust the torque to suit the riding conditions. 4 Tempus Fugit As it’s a race bike, range is measured in time and Honda say the CR-E will last for 30 minutes at race pace. 5 Get up and go No official Honda performance figures yet but insiders suggest around 40bhp with 60ftlbs torque. Honda unveiled an electric concept version of their CRF off-road bike at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show. It’s…

Really?! I mean really! Firstly Losail. We have to wait for over a week before we get the official result as to who won the race due to the genius of Ducati’s tyre cooler. There was nothing stopping the other teams using one! Then we have Argentina and the alleged jump start by our Cal Crutchlow. Grrr. You have to feel for the LCR team. The huge money, time and effort they put in to be there and then have their race ruined by something that didn’t happen or even if it did, as Freddie Spencer claims, is so minute that Cal would have gained absolutely zero advantage. I would have thought as an ex-racer Mr Spencer would be more understanding. Maybe a different call had it been another rider?…

If you’re after a novice-friendly, A2, adventure-styled bike you can’t go wrong with the improved CB500X. It ticks all the boxes, is sublimely easy to ride, a reassuring buy and the new dash and proportions make it better still (even if that dash could be easier to read). It’s good value, too. But the Benelli is undoubtedly a winner as well, with appealing (for some) full-sized proportions, great spec and nearly-as-good performance – all for a brilliant price. Yes, questions remain about dealers, durability and residuals, but when an entry into motorcycling is this desirable, stylish and cheap (and the base version, which is actually closer to the CBX’s spec, at £5199otr is almost a grand less than the Honda), how much of that really matters? For me, it’s the…

1 Ready to go Kliktronic source their actuator and mounting brackets from UK companies. “The only part of our system that isn’t UK-built are the buttons, which are made in France,” says Bob. 2 Wiring it up Felicity solders the control module’s electronics together in Kliktronic’s Suffolk-based factory. 3 Assessing the bike “We ask what bike it is going to be fitted to and will supply brackets if possible,” says Bob. 4 Measuring up “The actuator needs one inch of movement up and down at 90-degrees to the gear lever,” says Bob. “It’s very simple to fit to a bike and we will do it for around £200 from our workshop.” 5 On the road Kliktronic’s products have allowed over 10,000 disabled riders ride again…

Extra comfort GT version gets welcome taller screen, ‘Comfort’ seat, heated grips all of which extend long-distance comfort to at least its 180-mile fuel range. More practicality, too There’re also 25-litre side cases on a new mounting rack with larger pillion handles. But the panniers are disappointingly flimsy and unsecure. Stand and deliver The GT’s standard mainstand is welcome and aids chain lubrication but it’s a wrench to lift the heavy Niken onto it. A paddock stand would work better.…

• ‘Trials is like ballet on a bike, you need to move’ If you grew up watching Kick Start or marvelling at Dougie Lampkin making a bike look nimbler and more climby than a mountain goat, you will already be well aware of trials riding. And I’m sure, just like me, you will have thought at some point ‘they make it look easy, so it can’t be that hard’. Make this year the year to put your money where you mouth is by attending a trials school, you will soon find out it is considerably trickier than the experts make it appear. Signing on for an introduction into the sport through a day-long course with Staffordshire-based Trials Day, I’m a little taken aback when the kit is handed out because…

Weighing in at 257kg wet with long-travel, adventure-tall suspension, the Versys 1000 SE doesn’t sound like the obvious candidate for backroad scratching success. With a 1043cc inline-four engine producing 118bhp, it’s over 40bhp down on the similarly priced BMW S1000XR and weighs a whole 29kg more, but that doesn’t stop it putting a smile on your face when the going gets twisty. Sure, it lacks some of the precision of its Bavarian counterpart, but that extra weight actually makes the bike feel planted mid-corner and really inspires you to go for it into every bend, all the while egged-on by the throttle, brake and lean angle sensors on the colour TFT dash. Removing the acres of luggage and switching to ‘sport mode’ only sweetens the deal, thanks to the crisp,…

THE STUDENT Andy Chawner, 55, Leics Andy has been riding since 1992 and owns a Suzuki GSX1100. He rides for pleasure on outingswiththeCentralShiresMC. Andy’s riding problem “I struggle to gauge right-hand bends so I sometimes cheat and look at my satnav to help me then find I brake all the way around.” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training A police motorcyclist for 18 years, Mark has been training people to be faster, safer, better riders on the road for 20 years. Mark’s action plan “I’ll show Andy how to arm himself with more info on the approach to a corner so that he can tackle any type of bend in confidence.” THE LESSON 1 Limited vision Mark spotted that Andy’s centre-lane approach position to right-hand bends was restricting his view…

‘I went to the South of France with friends’ THE OWNER Tony Griffiths, 71, Essex. A latecomer to motorcycles, Tony got into bikes at the age of 55 and has been making up for lost time ever since. He rides every day all year round, bothlocallyandin Europe, and his café is a hotspot for local bikers. You never know when the biking bug is going to bite and for MCN reader Tony Griffiths it came while out boozing in a bar with friends 16 years ago. “A couple of Harley-riding mates got me drunk and persuaded me to buy one. The next morning I bought a copy of MCN and saw a picture of a Heritage Softail Classic for sale in Manchester. I had no idea what it was,…

RATINGS POOR ★ AVERAGE ★★ GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ 1600 MILES Öhlins STX 46 Street shock £520 Tested by Simon Relph, 10 months Öhlins graces some of the world’s best-handling and most advanced motorcycles, but your bike doesn’t need to be modern or advanced in order to benefit. The Street Line range is designed as an upgrade on street bikes from MT-07s to old Beemers, so I decided to give it a go on my venerable R100R. The shock was fitted at BMW specialist Motorworks (www. motorworks.co.uk) which involved a 250-mile round trip to West Yorkshire. We had a little difficulty getting the old shock off, but the STX46 went on easily. Preload is easily adjusted using the C-spanner supplied and rebound is set using the black…

1 Check your access Check the procedure for replacing a shock in a workshop manual. In theory, all you need to do is unbolt the top and bottom mounting bolts, then swap the old shock for the new one. On this Kawasaki ZX-10R both the top and bottom shock mount are both easily visible and there’s un-obstructed access. 2 Raise and secure A centrestand is ideal for securing the bike prior to removing the rear shock. If your bike doesn’t have one then you need to jack it up from the middle or use a stand that lifts it so that the swingarm is free, such as this Abba Superbike stand. Once in the air, use a cable tie around the front brake lever for added stability. 3 Strip and…

While McPint’s testing programme on the Norton Superbike has begun, he’s still waiting for his first ride on Norton’s new 2019 Superlight. The 46-year-old will be joining Peter Hickman and Davey Todd in racing the all-new Norton twin in the Lightweight TT. McGuinness said: “The 650 is exciting and I hope to test it imminently. The team are confident it will be done, but if it comes late, we’ll just get on with it. You’ve got Hickman, myself and Todd so it’s not a bad trio of jockeys and between us I’m sure we can make something happen. “But Farquhar and his Kawasaki and the Paton have been at it for years. The Paton did a 122mph lap, that’s hauling so it’ll be hard to rock up at the Isle…

Compliments flooded in from around the paddock as Alex Lowes out-performed his fellow Yamaha riders in the third round of the WSB championship at Aragon. Following on from a trio of podium finishes in Thailand three weeks earlier, Lowes racked up fourth, third and fifth. It was a weekend characterised by contrasting results for Yamaha, although the former British Superbike Champion and his Pata team take encouragement from being closer to solving their chief issue: a lack of rear-end grip in the closing stages, brought on by pushing hard mid-corner. “We need the tyre to last another three or four laps to be able to really challenge,” Lowes explained. “I realised that early in the opening race, over the first few laps. I was trying to be smooth on the…