Table of contents for 24 February 2021 in MCN

‘When people ride one, they’re going to be blown away’PAUL JAMES, HARLEY-DAVIDSON COVER STORY New Harley PanAm’s a proper flyer Shocks don’t get much bigger than a brand-new adventure bike that can out-spec a fully-laden R1250GS being launched by Harley-Davidson. But that’s exactly what’s just happened. More power, less mass, and electronic wizardry that even the Germans can’t trump (right now) is seriously impressive at the firm’s first adventure bike attempt. Prepare to be impressed. PAGES 4 to 7 EXCLUSIVE HARLEY-DAVIDSON OFFICIAL REVEAL THE BIG TEST Clash of the adventure titans There’s something predictably boring about every new adventure bike being compared to BMW’s R1250GS. But there’s nothing predictably boring about the GS ― and that’s why it’s the benchmark. Ducati have thrown everything at their new Multistrada V4: a…

HJC have revealed a new wallet-friendly full-face lid for 2021, called the C70 Curves. Available now for £149.99, the new lid is ECE22.05 approved and comes in three colourful designs. Each polycarbonate helmet features a drop-down sun visor, three-year warranty, removable liner, glasses groove and more. Sidecar triumphs Polish custom house, 86 Gear Motorcycles have recently finished a 2014 Triumph Thruxton 900 build, complete with a Watsonian Meteor sidecar. Commissioned by the customer so they could take the kids to school, the Thruxton got aesthetic and handling tweaks – and mounting points for the retro sidecar had to be fabricated. Imagine going to school in this! See 86gear.com for more. It’s a scramble Richa’s retro Scrambler 2 waterproof wax cotton jacket has arrived in UK dealers priced at £179.99. The…

SENIOR WRITER HIGHLIGHTS • 1301cc liquid-cooled V-twin • 157.8bhp@9000rpm • 101.8lb.ft@6500rpm • 880mm • 221kg • £15,999 KTM are launching an assault on the 2021 large-capacity adventure bike class, revealing a new off-road-centric 1290 Super Adventure R just a month on from the launch of their more road-biased S model. Priced at £15,999, the Euro5-friendly brute is claimed to be the most intuitive off-road 1290 to date, with a lower centre of gravity, revised chassis, fresh electronics package and more. What it won’t have is the firm’s radar guided adaptive cruise control, which only features on the S model. Costing £200 more than the previous incarnation and dressed to the nines in licks of blue and white reminiscent of the old 990 Adventure, one of the key changes for 2021…

‘I’ll have to play the long game’ That was a punt that didn’t come off. Six years ago, I bought a Kawasaki H2 Ninja. I decided it was time I owned a silly bike myself, slapped down my deposit in late 2014, and said: “It might just be my pension.” A typically outrageous Kawasaki statement-of-intent bike and a sure-fire bet, no? With all Kawasaki’s greatest bikes, the early ones are The Ones To Have. The two-stroke triples lost their edge as emission regs took their toll. The Z1 morphed into the Z900 and then Z1000 (with a brief spark in Z1R form). I assumed this would happen with the Ninja. It didn’t. Later models got more power, not less. I’ve just seen a 2016 H2 Ninja fail to sell for…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Faired MT-07? Yes please Just read your article about Yamaha maybe planning to put a fairing on the MT-07 (MCN, February 17). What a brilliant idea, if they do and carry out the spec that I read in MCN, and if they bring out the R6 Yamaha Racing Blue with the blue wheels then keep it under £7500, I will be straight up to my local dealer and putting my deposit down. I love the look of sportsbikes but don’t like the riding position. I was contemplating a Honda CBR650R but I’m not keen on the engine. The Ninja 650 is a great looking bike, but I like a nice fat rear end so the 160 back wheel is not wide enough. Gareth Evans, email Not…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER £18,395 Ducati Multistrada V4 S (‘Full’ package, as tested £21,495) ● 1158cc 16v V4 ● 168bhp/92lb.ft ● £219 per month PCP £16,945 BMW R1250GS TE Edition 40 years GS (£21,690 as tested) ● 1254cc 8v flat twin ● 134bhp/106lb.ft ● £216.27 per month PCP With a V4 tuned for real-world grunt and cheaper servicing, dual purpose tyres and a shift from a 17in front to 19in, the 2021 Multistrada V4 S has moved away from its superbike roots and into adventure territory. It’s all sorts of clever mechanically, electronically and as we discovered at its launch and around our MCN250 route, it impresses more the longer you spend aboard. After a long day’s riding, you’ll be gagging for more. Swift, stylish and comfortable, the once raucous Multistrada…

BSB DEBUT – 1999 Harris Performance handed Shakey his BSB debut in 1999, riding a privateer Kawasaki ZX-7RR. The rest, as they say, is history! WILDCARD DOMINATION Shakey put the WSB paddock on notice in 2003 when he rocked up at Brands Hatch and did the double as a wildcard. MUGELLO 2004 A heroic effort in mixed conditions saw Shakey as high as fourth, right behind Valentino Rossi, on his Aprilia. He’d eventually finish 10th. 2016 BSB CROWN Shakey and PBM guide the previously unsuccessful Panigale to the top of the podium and beyond to secure title number five.…

JON URRY FREELANCE ROAD TESTER It is easy to look at the Sport’s spec list and label it a ‘budget Tiger model’, but this doesn’t do it justice. Yes, the Sport lacks cruise control, adjustable suspension and an IMU yet it is a Tiger model in its own right and one that delivers a lovely balance of power, usability and fun for those not wishing to take to the trails. It’s a pleasingly understated bike that gets on with the job in hand and is really good because of that. THE FACTS £9300 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport…

SENIOR DESIGNER Daily rider with forty-five years of experience, both on and off road. Owns 30 bikes. Well, I feel I have blinked and missed 2020, which actually may be a good thing in some ways. I do though feel I have been robbed of some of the fun times I could have had out on the truly bonkers Kawasaki Z H2, instead I was only able to look longingly out of the window at this glorious machine. That said, the 2847 miles that I did manage to get out and about on the Z H2 were pretty spectacular. 0-1002 miles I finally got my chance to have a ride after lockdown one, and can honestly say the Kawasaki beat my expectations; the brute of a bike I was expecting…

2019 Honda CBR1000RR/SP The mechanics of the bike remain the same, but Honda tweaked the electronics to allow for fine tuning of the TC based on different tyre profiles, sharper throttle response in full-power mode, and slightly less intrusive ABS. 2017-2018 Honda CBR1000RR/SP Ushered in Honda’s first full suite of performance-enhancing electronics and was the first inline-four Honda to use a ride-by-wire throttle. The engine kicked out 11bhp more power. SP added Öhlins semi-active suspension. 2008 – 2016 Honda CBR1000RR The snub-nosed Blade grew into its looks as the years progressed and is one hell of a road-going sportsbike. It has the perfect balance of poise, power and agility. Refinements over the years include brake-by-wire ABS in 2009. 2004 – 2007 Honda CBR1000RR First 1000RR Fireblade was a lesson straight…

‘Several cool bikes but one premium...’ There’s nothing like the feeling of a brand new bike. Zero miles. Seat uncreased by someone else’s bum. The joy of running in, that first service... My mate just bought a Tracer 900 GT and is utterly beside himself with glee. Don’t be disheartened if your bank balance doesn’t stretch to a spanker, though. Even if it does, you should consider used. There hasn’t been a duff new bike in the last 20 years and if you buy, say, a 2010-model R1200GS you’ll ride it just as fast and in as much comfort as the newest R1250GS. But you’ll be less precious, meaning you’ll ride it more. It’ll depreciate less, and it’ll be cheaper to insure too. And insurance is the top thing with…

MECHANIC Ged Shorten at GDS Services in Dorset A creeping tide of corrosion can turn the best-looking bike into a dangerous basket case, as the owner of a 52-plate BMW R1150GS discovered when he dropped it off for a service with Ged Shorten at GDS Services in Dorset. “It didn’t look too bad at first sight,” admitted Ged, “but when I started tapping away with a screwdriver around the front of the engine casing there was a nasty hollow sound where the finish was a bit bumpy and wobbly.” BMW powdercoat a lot of their motorcycle components but they aren’t etch-primed onto the mild steel surfaces. That means that any nicks in their ‘armour’ from pebbles or other road debris allows moisture to sneak in and spread under the coating.…

Suzuki head into 2021 as reigning champions but they no longer have team boss Davide Brivio following his departure to the Alpine Formula One team. Project leader Shinichi Sahara opened up about the team’s plans. Who will manage the team? We’ve established a team management committee with key people within the team. We have many skilled people, and those guys can compensate for Davide’s departure. It’s worked very well so far, and I think the team will be more united than before because previously Davide gathered all of the opinions, suggestions or requests from different areas and forwarded them on to me and others, sometimes with a filter or amplifier. Now, we can communicate directly with each other and attempt to solve and overcome this situation. Who is on the…

Triumph saw the value of heritage early on and have been making ‘new’ Bonnies since 2001. They’re more basic than the current range, which is good: they feel more authentic. 790cc bikes are OK, but the 865cc twin (2006-on) is better. If you can, go injected (2008-on). The base Bonnie went all ’70s in 2009 with cast wheels and a smaller front. It’s the one we’d get: it has all the style and charm, but more accurate handling. Prices are strong, but a clean ’09 bike does the job of a new Street Twin for half the price. The 790cc models can have starter ‘kick back’ issues which mess with the starter gears, but it’s a straightforward and cheap fix. All versions of the twin are understressed and reliable, although…

Harley-Davidson is probably the most famous bike brand on planet Earth ― but if you did one of those newfangled word clouds about them, it’s unlikely that you’d see ‘innovation’, ‘shocking’ or ‘electronics’ feature big enough to see with the naked eye. Harley have a reputation ― and it’s for big, brash, traditional American cruisers. The truth is that their modern range is already laced with tech genius and innovation, but reputations take a while to catch up with reality. Will the PanAm shock the stereotype from its foundations? If the extraordinary LiveWire didn’t already do that for petrol-addicted traditionalists, maybe the new Pan America finally will. Rumours of bold leaps for Harley-kind have been seeping out of the States for months ― but we didn’t expect them to go…

RST X Kevlar District waxed shirt £149.99 With safety always at the core of their brand values, RST are offering style conscious city riders a way to be cool and protected with this Kevlar-lined riding shirt. Made from RST’s HD waxed textile outer, the Kevlar inner means it’s rated at CE A (the lowest for abrasion resistance) and comes with CE Level 1 soft armour at the shoulders and elbows. Available in graphite or olive in sizes XS-4XL. www.rst-moto.co.uk Tucano Urbano Top Smog Face Mask £35.99 Italian brand Tucano Urbano have launched an anti-pollution mask to fit to jet-style helmets. Beneath the neoprene outer is an electrostatic carbon filter, designed to catch fine particulates. The mask comes with a spare filter for when it’s time for replacement. The mask itself…

If you follow the social media accounts of many top bike racers, you will know the days of excess are long gone, with a strict diet and demanding training regime replacing beer and fags. What you might not know, though, is some riders are turning to university sports programmes for the competitive edge – using lab experts to help improve everything from nutrition to physical fitness. Loughborough University have been working with top-flight riders for the past 15 years and have now released a short film to their YouTube channel starring British Superbike riders Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde, detailing the services they can provide. Offering everything from lab-based fitness testing, to nutrition advice and preparation for racing in heat, to sleep and travel plans, they aim to give teams…

Whether or not world champ Mir would run the No1 plate was being talked about for weeks – and now he says he’s sticking with his old number. In my opinion GP bosses should make him run No1. It looks iconic and people look up to it. Yes, I ran No4 when I won the 250 British Championship and for my first TTs, but if I was a world champion I’d be proud to run No1. Foggy rocked No1 pretty well didn’t he? But there are of course exceptions… Sheene was 7, Rossi 46 and Marquez kept 93. ‘Foggy rocked No1 pretty well when he was WSB champ’ Riders are fickle, Foggy raced in the same green T-shirt forever; I put a penny down my leathers, wore ‘Daddy’ socks and…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER Ducati might have entered BMW’s territory, but the GS doesn’t take it lying down. The Multistrada V4 S is full of tech, raw straight-line speed, huge stability through corners and outright flair. But the Beemer melts away the miles more easily with a more comfortable bar position, less windblast, hotter grips and a less intrusive cruise control system. The GS is more engaging on back roads thanks to extra punch and fluidity from its boxer engine, has stronger brakes and more effortless handling. It’s more vibey than the mellifluous V4, but you’ll never tire of its deep, cracking exhaust note. The sky’s the limit when it comes equipment, but generally the BMW is cheaper to buy at with equivalent spec and better on fuel… but…

GUEST ROAD TESTER At less than £7000, the MT-07 is seriously good value. It also puts it in direct competition with the Triumph Trident 660, Honda CB650R and Kawasaki Z650. While the new MT is a fresh take on an older design, its characterful engine and novice-friendly riding experience should stand it in good stead against its challengers. Whether it will be enough to fend off the slightly pricier, more techladen Trident remains to be seen. Yamaha’s changes have made a good bike better, but whether they’ve done enough to stop these new kids on the block remains to be seen. Yamaha may have to dig a little deeper in 2022 to keep the MT-07 out in front. THE FACTS £6899 Yamaha MT-07 Engine 689cc liquid cooled, parallel twin Frame…

Roland Shaw, Cambridgeshire “The love you have for two-strokes never really goes away. I had a Suzuki TS125 on the road when I was younger, but then I got into business tuning off-road bikes and ’crossers so obviously I was always around two-stroke engines even if I wasn’t actually riding them myself. Then I wanted to get a bike for the road and because I’m a Yamaha off-road dealer I bagged myself a new R6 and took it on a trackday. It was great fun but all the time I was riding it I was just thinking how much more fun I’d be having if it was a two-stroke! They’re just so much more involving as a riding experience and you feel like a part of it – whereas a…

When I got wind that Kawasaki were going to release a super-naked bike. I was infused with the hope that I would find something that would fit my frame comfortably and had an insane amount of power that I craved. I wasn’t too sure on the looks to start with, but decided to take it out for a test ride… I was impressed by the torque and outright power, even in Road mode. I then switched to Sport mode as I wanted to experience more of what it could deliver and entering the A roads I opened her up fully to overtake and the front lifted from the tarmac! I knew that I had to have one! I love the bike and all its characteristics, it’s certainly a perfect match…

Keis J501 Heated Jacket £199 My wife bought me this heated jacket for Christmas, last year, and I don’t think I’ll ever go anywhere without it ever again. Great kit that works so well. Sam Dickinson, Bury St Edmunds Ryde Shield Muffs £19.99 I’ve used them for three years and I leave them on the bike through summer, in case of rain. Andy Gower, Harrogate Visor Vision V2 Sponge £3 I use the sponge, at each stop, to get rid of the grime. It’s rinsible, reusable and good for cleaning the lid too. Jon Ashley, Manchester Oxford Rainseal Jacket and Trousers £34.99 & £24.99 Great as an extra layer over my textile suit and keeps out wind and rain. Michelle Gardner, Louth Rukka 3 Chamb Gloves £119.99 These lobster claws…

JUSTIN PEEL, 43, LANCASHIRE Sportsbike fan who isn’t afraid to take his Blade touring “I’ve always loved Hondas. I just love everything about them, especially the smoothness and the build quality. Before I bought my 2017 Fireblade, I picked up a 13-plate model and the salesman at the time told me that the all-new Fireblade would be coming soon, so I was patiently waiting for news about it. It was at the NEC show in 2016 when I finally clapped eyes on it and I thought wow, I’m having one of those! So in spring of 2017 I finally bit the bullet and bought one. But because I got a custom paint job as part of the deal, I had to wait over two months before I could ride it.…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’S expert technician 1 Lost that esssential feel? A clutch cable will function well for years without maintenance or adjustment but as time goes by you’ll notice that you start to lose feel and precision at the lever. The good news is that it’s not always a sign the cable needs replacing. First remove the cable from the lever by screwing in the cable adjuster, lining up the slots and lifting the cable free. BRUCE’S TIPS Check for any broken strands of cable near the nipple 2 Remove from the engine The cable is routed down to the engine and connects to the casings via a bracket-mounted actuating lever and a simple locknut adjusting assembly. Loosen the locknuts and threaded section…

Pol Espargaro is already planning ways to adjust and tame his new Honda RC213V during the five test days in Qatar next month. This year’s pre-season programme has been badly affected by the pandemic, with the end-of-year tests in Valencia and Jerez, and the Sepang test in February cancelled. This isn’t ideal for a rider starting a completely new chapter in his career, after four seasons developing the KTM RC16, on one of the toughest bikes on the gird. In a championship as tight and competitive as MotoGP, you need as much track time as possible. However, Espargaro has a plan. “I’ve spoken a lot with the team already about how to plan the strategy for the first race, and I think we’ve figured out a good solution to learn…

Triumph saw the value of heritage early on and have been making ‘new’ Bonnies since 2001. They’re more basic than the current range, which is good: they feel more authentic. 790cc bikes are OK, but the 865cc twin (2006-on) is better. If you can, go injected (2008-on). The base Bonnie went all ’70s in 2009 with cast wheels and a smaller front. It’s the one we’d get: it has all the style and charm, but more accurate handling. Prices are strong, but a clean ’09 bike does the job of a new Street Twin for half the price. The 790cc models can have starter ‘kick back’ issues which mess with the starter gears, but it’s a straightforward and cheap fix. All versions of the twin are understressed and reliable, although…

SAVE £3200 £13,999 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory Basically an RSV4 with flat bars and pumped full of midrange. It howls like a MotoGP missile and goes like a superbike, but with its upright stance and tourer-like wind protection you don’t have to suffer with crushed wrists and a sore back for your speed. Aprilia’s own PCP or HP schemes are at 5.9% APR. • www.spmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1300 £3995 KTM RC 390 Think of the RC390 as a Moto3 racer for the road... sort of. Its single cylinder motor is punchy, but friendly and it handles well. • teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk • Engine 373cc • Power 44bhp • Weight 147kg • Seat height 820mm SAVE £1000 £8999 Ducati Café Racer Easy to get on with and beautiful to look at, the Café…

As the world continues to battle the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the MCN events team have taken the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling until early autumn this year. While the decision is being made in the interests of the health and wellbeing of all involved, we’re sure you’ll share our disappointment at the postponement. But it’s not all bad news as we’re delighted to confirm that the festival will still run in 2021 at its established home, the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on September 4-5. We’re also delighted to confirm that the programme remains as jam- packed full of brilliant stuff as usual including test rides from the major manufacturers, an abundance of gear and kit bargains, extraordinary all-action stunt…

WEDNESDAY February 24 6am, EUR2, Best of Bikes 9.15pm, EUR2, British Superbikes: Race of 2020 FRIDAY February 26 6am, EUR2, Dakar Rally 2021: Review SUNDAY February 28 2am, QUEST, American Chopper: Abu Dhabi Police Bike KEY TO 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 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 TVL – TRAVEL UK…

FAMILY HISTORY Through the years there were many references to my grandfather Robert’s family, his oldest brother William George 1897-1916 was killed in the First World War aged 19 with his body being buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery. His youngest brother Alexander 1911-1944, was killed in WWII aged 33. THE ROUTE • Readers Colin Bussey and Alex Merrilees • The ride Wartime France • Best bit The enormity of just how the French suffered during the occupation and the way they supported the Allies. The memorials in every village, by the side of the road and the sheer number of cemeteries kept pristine is just amazing and you see kids from around the world learning about wartime history. • Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com EXPLORING Alex is a great friend,…

Q ‘Deer leapt out from the verge’ I had an accident last summer on the A272 when I hit a deer that came out of overgrown bracken right at the edge of the road. I had various nasty fractures. Since then the authorities have been cutting this verge down very low to grass. Could this be seen as an admission of negligence because the bracken meant I stood no chance of seeing the deer – do you think I have a claim? GC, email A I think you will have real difficulty establishing liability against the council/highways for the accident. If it could be shown that it was a deer which belonged to a deer farm, as opposed to a wild animal, then there may be something in it (because…

JOSHUA CHERRY Age 27 Height 6ft 2in Current bike BMW R nineT Been riding 19 years First bike Kawasaki KX80 Dream bike Ducati Panigale V4S/BMW R nineT/R1250GS Adventure I had a company GS for five years when I worked for a BMW dealership and was doing around 25,000 miles per year. It was reliable, the dealer network was A1 and it was only bike I felt confident riding all year on ― partly down to the rider aids but also its sheer presence, especially with spotlights fitted. I used to do a weekly round trip from Brackley to Cardiff and the GS was great, not only because I could do most of it on one tank, but I could have some fun at the same time. Its agility has to…

So you want to get into two- stroke ownership? Don’t go for a 250cc race rep from the 1990s unless you’re hellbent on owning one. Prices have gone barmy in recent years with buyers snapping them up as investment bikes, meaning you’re now looking at anywhere between £4500-£10,000. And the trouble with investment bikes is that you become reluctant to ride them. Although values of all two-strokes appear to be on the climb, MCN used bike expert Neil Murray reckons that bagging yourself an MZ ETZ or Suzuki GT250 now could result in you enjoying the pleasures of two-stroke ownership for a summer or two and then selling it on for a small profit at a later date, then progressing to bigger and better things… Honda RS or Yamaha TZ,…

Recently, a pal of mine had been having issues with the clutch on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 K1. He kept complaining that it felt heavy with poor modulation, and it was starting to take the shine off his rides. He replaced clutch plates, both the frictions and steels, as well as the springs, but it made no difference. Then it was pointed out that it might be worth looking at the cable, as his GSX-R had been fitted with a pattern item. With nothing else left to try, he replaced it with an original Suzuki part and voila, it was spot on! Problem solved. Sure, the Suzuki cable was £46.39 and the pattern part just £7.95, so you can see why the cable had been fitted but you get what you…

Camier is the latest in a string of riders to make the step to management. Giacomo Agostini, Sito Pons, Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts all made the switch. Max Biaggi has turned to management, joining Lucio Cecchinello and Fausto Gresini. Aki Ajo is a talent scout, along with Emilio Alzamora, while Mio Meregalli, Wilco Zeelenberg and Johan Stigefelt understand the rider mentality better than most. Alberto Puig plays a significant role at HRC and was also selected by Carmelo Ezpeleta to oversee Dorna’s ‘Road to MotoGP’ scheme for its Talent Cups. Just like Camier, Puig’s career was cut short by injury with a horrendous Le Mans crash in 1995. Davide Tardozzi was perhaps the most successful ridermanager; his Ducati line-up of Fogarty and Corser was formidable. “If I do half…

1978 Kenny Roberts King Kenny made an instant impact when he swapped the AMA Nationals for GP racing in 1978 to become the first-ever US GP champion. He also took the crown in 1979 and 1980. 1983 Freddie Spencer In his second GP campaign Spencer went toe-to-toe with Roberts, coming out on top by two points. Spencer then scooped both the 500cc and 250cc titles in 1985. 1984 Eddie Lawson Another AMA superstar arrived in 1983 when Lawson joined Yamaha. A steady debut was followed up by a dominant 1984 in which he took the first of his four titles. PLUS 1962 Mike Hailwood Won the first of four premier class titles in 1962, which was his third year in the 500cc class. Hailwood competed in, and won, five races…

LCR Honda officially unveiled their 2021 liveries and riders over the weekend, with Alex Marquez (Castrol) and Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu) looking to build upon encouraging 2020 campaigns. Nakagami remains for a fourth year with the team and is seeking to cut out any mistakes in order to launch a championship challenge on a full-factory, latest-spec RC213V - the first time he’s received the newest bike. “I believe that we can be more consistent and be able to fight for the top spot, or at least fight for the podium,” Nakagami told MCN. “My target for this season is to fight for the championship, so I must fight in every race to stay with the top group. “Last season there were a few mistakes during important moments. In Aragon I was…