Table of contents for 4 May 2022 in MCN

Norton Motorcycles are taking a deep dive into their illustrious history and establishing a new heritage collection spanning 55 classic models built over 76 years. The new fleet was purchased from Norton-mad collector Ian Loram and features British-built machines that left the factory floors between 1916 and 1992. “I started collecting Norton Motorcycles in the late 90s and would take every approach to not miss an opportunity to buy a rare Norton on sale, ” Loram said. “So many of the bikes hold a very special memory but it’s now a collection for the [Norton] headquarters to enjoy.” Amongst the purchases is a 1921 Model 1 ‘Big four’, said to be the favourite bike of company founder James Lansdowne Norton, who covered 3000 miles across Africa on one in the…

Dainese Full Metal 6 £261.25 Grab the chance Look outside and what do you see? Yes, the sun is out, the tarmac is warming up nicely and summer feels like it is just around the corner. So now is the perfect time to start thinking about some new warm weather riding kit – and what better place to start than your hands? Thick winter gloves may be toasty but they are terrible for letting you feel what your bike is telling you through the bars, which is why summer gloves are so much nicer to ride in. Thin leather with no bulky insulation allows you to get a real connection while also stopping you getting sweaty hands. So why not splash the cash on some new summer hand protection such…

Airbag clothing took a while to reach the mainstream but the tech has been compulsory in MotoGP since 2018 and the variety of airbag-equipped kit for street riders has grown fast since then. Now one brand – Airbag Inside Sweden AB – are developing the idea even further with inflatable jeans, shorts, boots and, most remarkably, a built-in parachute. Airbag Inside will launch a range of airbag-equipped jeans, jackets and vests later in 2022, having raised €300,000 of investment from Sweden’s version of Dragon’s Den and €150,000 of grant funding from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The company use UHMWPE fibres (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), common in a lot of fabric bike kit, for abrasion resistance along with an airbag inflation system based around replaceable CO2…

Readers Readers Robert Hobson and David Tipping The trip NC500 How many miles? 1318 in total Best time to go Now Don’t miss... Roads around Ullapool and Gairloch plus Applecross Pass. We did Bridlington to Berwick Upon Tweed then up to Inverness. Inverness to Thurso, Thurso to Ullapool, Ullapool to Gairloch then did the Applecross Pass back to Gairloch. Last day, Gairloch to Bridlington – a final eight-and-a-half hours of riding. Some of the roads on the west coast near Durness are absolutely amazing but the roads around Lochinver are narrow and covered in loose grit, so be careful. For places to stay I’d recommend Lochbroom Lodge Ullapool and the Gairloch Hotel. Who needs European roads and mountains when you have the UK? Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com ‘Some Of…

Sands’ collaborations with manufacturers, such as with BMW on the R90S Concept and more recent R18, Indian on the FTR and Yamaha as part of the ‘Faster Sons’ custom project, are key to the significance of RSD. The 2015 ‘Faster Wasp’ was his fifth collaboration with Yamaha, was based on the firm’s MT-09, inspired by 1970s Kenny Roberts’ flat-trackers and is typical of his philosophy. “I go way back with Yamaha because I raced predominantly Yamaha TZ250 grand prix bikes, so I’ve spent a lot of time with Yamaha motorcycles, dirt bikes as well, two-strokes – I love two-strokes. “I think the Faster Sons philosophy of bringing the Yamaha heritage together with my racing heritage, my hero Kenny Roberts and smashing all that together with the MT-09 triple – and…

Sportsbike lover, enjoys trackdays, Sunday blasts and the occasional club race Last year, I celebrated turning 40 by buying a really focused sportsbike, then spent the intervening 12 months giving it a lot of admiring looks in the garage but doing very little in the way of riding. This year, I saddled up on the day of my 41st birthday on a bike with panniers and a comfy riding position, with my smartphone happily paired to a large-print TFT dash, the built-in satnav pointed in the direction of cake… What a difference a year makes, eh? But I’ve not swapped my sliders for a sewing kit just yet, because these touring bike trappings are all stuck to a bike with the heart and soul of one of Suzuki’s most-loved litre…

Michael Neeves has been an MCN road tester for over 20 years, and compiled a whole series of videos to help bikers boost their skills and get more from their bike time. Even experienced riders will often need help with road and body position, vision, braking, steering and throttle control. And there’s always room for improvement when it comes to getting around a bend. In the fourth episode of the series, he talks about skilful cornering, explaining how vision is always the top priority. “Position yourself on the road, so you can see all the way through the corner as far as you can,” says Neevesy. As well as what to look out for on the road, such as conditions and hazards, he imparts valuable advice on body position –…

Leon Haslam’s BSB comeback got the kickstart it needed at Oulton with a podium, followed by fifth on Monday afternoon. It’s the positive results that he and Lee Hardy’s VisionTrack Kawasaki squad needed after a difficult start, caused by minimal testing time as a team. “Where we are now is like day two or three of a winter test. You find a base in the calm conditions in Spain, but we’re trying to do it over a race weekend,” he explained.…

As MotoGP’s two hottest names duelled for victory for the first time in 2022, there was sense of normality returning off the track in Jerez, as well as on it. Crowds were allowed back to the Circuit of Jerez Angel Nieto for the first time in three years and from 6am on race day, they made their voices heard. A track revered for its carnival atmosphere was in full voice during Sunday’s racing, as an official attendance of 58,132 – the third highest of the year, behind Indonesia and Argentina – cheered from the hillsides, a welcome sight after two years of empty grandstands.…

The electric MotoE class returned for its fourth season in a new format, which now sees two races at each round, and E-pole replaced by a standard Q1 and Q2 system. The Energica Corse machines used in the class have also shed 14kg over the off-season. This year, a number of new faces and returnees bring added depth to the class, such as title favourite Bradley Smith, who was unfortunately missing at Jerez due to the fractured vertebrae sustained at the Le Mans 24-Hour. In his absence, the racing in both eight-lap duels was tight and exciting. Brazilian Eric Granado scored a measured double victory in his first appearance for the LCR team. In both contests, he recovered from slow starts, and took advantage of a clash between Miguel Pons…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR Defending world champion Fabio Quartararo surprised no one with another near flawless, metronomic performance at Jerez on Sunday afternoon. The downside, of course, was that he finished second to a resurgent Ducati and their top man Pecco Bagnaia. No shame in that. It was a reprise of their late season contest in 2021 when Quartararo held off a surge from Bagnaia for the title. But there was an ominous warning that Quartararo’s astonishing talent to mask the top speed weakness of the Yamaha M1 is going to come under further brutal examination. There were high expectations for Quartararo to win at Jerez. He had done the double there in 2020 and only the sudden onset of arm pump robbed him of what looked like certain victory last year.…

MATTHEW BIRT INSIGHT Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 How hard is it to beat Fabio Quartararo around Jerez? Well, Pecco Bagnaia had to produce the lap of his life in qualifying to deny the reigning World Champion a fifth consecutive pole at the venue. The Italian then confessed to making the best start of his MotoGP career to seize the lead at turn one before ice cool nerves helped him resist race-long pressure from Quartararo to claim a first win of the season. Bagnaia looked back to his brilliant best in Jerez after a stuttering start to a season in which he started as a serious favourite after closing 2021 with four wins in the final six races. Winter tweaks to the new GP22 robbed…

WELCOME Jon Urry, MCN’s PCP guru PCP offers an easy and affordable way to buy a brilliant new, or nearly new, bike and with the cost of living proving challenging right now, it could be the best way to get that new metal into your garage. The overall outlay is less with PCP, just as long as you don’t pay the final settlement figure (which means you never actually own the bike). Equally, if you want to change machine during the contract period that’s pretty easy, too. This flexibility and lower monthly outlay make PCP about as close to a win-win situation as you’re likely to get. It means that you can ride these new bikes for less than you might have imagined. And what’s more, you can have another…

‘More power, better handling and fresh looks’ £119 PER MONTH Yamaha XSR900 £10,200 | 890cc | 193kg (kerb) | 117bhp | 810mm Hold onto your hats, the wait is nearly over as Yamaha’s heavily revised XSR900 is set to hit dealerships soon. And if you fancy grabbing one of these brilliant sport heritage models you had better act fast as at just £119 a month, they won’t be hanging around for long... Heavily based around the existing MT-09 platform, the 2022 XSR900 benefits from all the major updates that the naked bike received last year and on this basis, we can’t wait to ride it. More power, better handling, cleverer electronics and even a revised look – Yamaha have left no stone unturned. The XSR now boasts a stronger mid-range…

£211.54 PER MONTH KTM 1290 Super Duke GT £17,949 | 1301cc | 239kg (kerb) | 173bhp | 835mm seat height KTM call their 1290 Super Duke GT a ‘comfortable ballistic missile’ – which is nice! Of course, it is this playful, and a touch wild, attitude that attracts many riders into the KTM brand. And you should take the plunge and try one out… many who have tried a KTM out for the first time, have been left impressed. Slightly updated for 2022, the GT is still powered by the firm’s outstanding 1301cc V-twin, however it is now Euro5-compliant without losing any of its 173 ponies. It’s a great engine for road riding because it’s smooth when required and yet still more than willing to go ballistic (as KTM claim...)…

The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is encouraging residents sick of hearing loud exhausts to take part in noise camera trials this summer. Four areas across England and Wales will be chosen to trial the new £300,000 technology, which can automatically detect cars and bikes breaking noise requirements and provide real-time reports that police can use as evidence. “We want those in Britain’s noisiest streets, who are kept up at night by unbearable revving engines and noisy exhausts, to come forward with the help of volunteer areas to test and perfect the latest innovative technology, ” Grant Shapps MP said. “For too long, rowdy drivers have been able to get away with disturbing our communities with illegal noisy vehicles, ” he continued. With the technology still in its design phase, MPs…

Bonham’s latest auction saw over £3 million bid as some landmark machines were snapped up. The sale saw two Brough Superior SS100 resto projects go for £200k each while a Swiss GP-winning 1948 Velocette KTT MkVII, raced by Les Graham, fetched £57,500. And a drop-dead gorgeous 1988 Honda RC30 went for an impressive £47,150. Ben Walker, of Bonhams, said: “This sale shows how strong the market is for collectors’ motorcycles despite the challenging past couple of years.” You could bag an unregistered RC30 with just 2 push-miles on the clock at Silverstone Auctions sale at the Devitt MCN Festival on May 14.…

Extreme American V-twin brand Combat – formerly known as Confederate Motorcycles – have announced their 2022 range of bikes which is now headed by the new £100,000 ‘Bomber’. The new bike is based on the original FA-13 Bomber and, according to Combat, “completes the package with a new, laid-back seat angle coupled with forward controls to make this bike the cruiser to lead all cruisers”. Like all Combats, it’s powered by an S&S air-cooled V-twin and has a handmade aluminium monocoque chassis featuring a Hossack-style front-end. It’s available in raw aluminium or all-black. Combat’s 2022 range includes the long-popular Wraith, F117 Fighter and P51 Fighter. The £85,000 F-117 Fighter is the brand’s ‘entry-level’ bike and, say Combat, “Strikes the balance between raw beauty and aggression, ” which is nice. ‘This…

New for ’22 from Spada is the innovative Alberta four-layer modular jacket. Spada worked with real riders in a dedicated focus and feedback workshop to identify the key features and characteristics to make the perfect multi-layer jacket, and the Alberta is the result. The jacket has been designed so that all layers can be used collectively or independently from each other. Developed to handle all four seasons, the Alberta has been designed for all styles of riding through all kinds of weather. Layer one is a thermal gilet that can attach to the inner of the main jacket using a loop system. Layer two is a CE Level A Certified mesh jacket with five-piece CE armour. The jacket is available in colour options black, grey or blue. Layer three is…

JDSTUNTS Jonny Davies needs no introduction to stunt riding fans. Current British and Scottish Stunt Riding champion, Jonny holds the world record for the fastest handlebar wheelie at 109mph. The BeMoto sponsored rider is cooking up some extra special tricks to wow the crowds. BOLDDOG FMX The Boldddog Lings FMX team are second to none. This worldclass team of Freestyle MX riders are ready to unleash their highflying whips, tricks and crazy antics. Dan Whitby and his team will be flipping their machines ramp-to-ramp a whopping 60ft in the air with a stunt show for all the family to remember. TWO BROTHERS RACING Sponsored by Michelin, Two Brothers are an all action street bike team that specialise in drifting. Riders Toddy and Vandal are a class apart. Vandal has been…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com LAMBRETTA PATO 50 CBT the day after turning 16. Bought a non-runner and rebuilt it with an engine from a breaker’s yard. Clive Turner AJS TEMPEST Passed my CBT in April and bought the AJS. It’s a blast! Except the odo is in km and the service manual’s in miles. Mike RIchmond MINIBIKE Bit of a long time ago but here is a picture of me in 2005 with my first bike. Jack Rutland HONDA NS125 Here’s me on my mate Steve’s NS125, which I borrowed to get my blond highlights through my part two test back in 1987. Ralph Percival BSA GOLDEN FLASH OUTFIT My husband Tim at the front, then his nephews Carl then Brian, taken in 1964. Tim currently rides…

‘A ride in the Peak District always impresses’ R5K MEMBERS DUNCAN COSTIN, BEN LARK, AND ANNA SZCZUKIECKA We grabbed a selfie at Winnats Pass during a ride around the Peak District. Our friend, Ben was visiting us from Eastbourne, and he was most impressed! We took in places like the Cat & Fiddle, Whaley Bridge, the Hope Valley and through to Matlock for fish and chips. ‘Great bikes, great weather!’ R5K MEMBER JOE SHEEHAN From the Easter bank holiday in Wales, at the top of the A483. A nice selection of machinery and great weather! ‘1800 miles around Scotland’ R5K MEMBER LEWYS PRIEHS Me and my mate just returned from riding 1800 miles around Scotland, including the Isle of Skye and The Cairngorms over four days. We followed some amazing…

‘80% of the development was carried out off-road’ The DesertX represents all-new ground for Ducati. Having made tentative steps into the off-road market in recent years with the flat-track inspired Scrambler range, and a choice of ever more adventure-focused Multistradas, the Borgo Panigale firm are now going all out to take a slice of the increasingly popular rally raid market with their first ever Dakar-style trailie. Be under no illusion, the DesertX is no vanity project or mere styling exercise, it’s a pukka go-anywhere adventure tool that’s as comfortable on loose terrain and gnarly trails as it is grinding out the miles on an epic continental tour. The idea for the bike was born in 2019 when Ducati unveiled a concept machine at the EICMA Show in Milan. That bike…

Former SAS soldier Jay Morton is no stranger to tough conditions. After 14 years in the military, with 10 of them being in the special forces, his adventures have been far and wide… and dangerous, too. But even though he’s seen the underbelly of the world and experienced more than most could possibly imagine, his latest escapade, Scotland’s alternative NC500, is still on his books as an epic adventure. To celebrate the opening of Harley-Davidson’s new adventure centre (see p41), Jay and his friend Tom were sent to Scotland with a pair of Pan Americas on a mission to produce a video to inspire us all to go in search of adventure – and they didn’t stick to the tarmac. Solitude in Glenfeshie There are certain advantages to be had…

Following the demise of the air-cooled Sportster range in 2020, and with the Street 750 models now also dead in Europe, Harley have been left without an entry-level bike in their range. Step forward the Nightster. Claimed to introduce a leap forward in both performance and design when compared to the old Sportsters, yet still remaining an accessible entry point into the brand, the water-cooled Nightster is an all-new performance cruiser that sits in the firm’s ‘Sport’ category line-up alongside the Sportster S. It’s getting kinda revvy The 60° Revolution Max 975T V-twin is based around the 1250 engine found in the Pan America and Sportster S, but it isn’t just a shrunk-down version. Where the 1250 features variable valve timing on both cams, the 975T only has it on…

Lee Jackson finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together at Oulton Park to win in the Superbike class for the very first time – sending his team, family, and fans into tears as a result. It created a feel-good factor within the paddock and very few will begrudge Jackson his debut victory. Often categorised as a ‘nearly man’, Jackson has endured his fair share of bad luck over the years, but there was no stopping him this time, not at his beloved Oulton Park. Jackson delivered two masterpieces in the final race, with fantastic moves on Tommy Bridewell at Shell for the lead, and on Kyle Ryde at Knickerbrook. It’s just reward for a rider who has worked extremely hard over the years to make his dreams become…

£129 PER MONTH Yamaha MT-10 £13,500 | 998cc | 212kg (kerb) | 163.7bhp | 835mm Yamaha have given their top-selling MT-10 a refresh for 2022 and it now comes with more tech, more agility, more power and even more fun. And at just £129 a month, that’s a lot of performance per pound. Although the bare bones of this hysterical hyper bike remain the same, Yamaha have been busy and tweaks to the crossplane engine see the MT-10 gain a welcome dollop of mid-range as well as a few extra ponies at the top-end. These changes make the MT now feel more refined in the part of the rev range where most road riders generally sit and there is also a welcome claimed increase in fuel economy thanks to taller…

The BMW GS now has a fight on its hands £138.97 PER MONTH Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro £17,700 | 1160cc | 251kg (kerb) | 148bhp | 875/895mm Triumph’s new adventure bike range looks set to provide the biggest challenge to the BMW R1250GS’s dominance of the segment in years. With the Tiger 1200, not only have Triumph created a ground-up new model, they have also made two distinct versions – the GT and Rally. Just as with their smaller-capacity Tiger 900 range, the GT and Rally are based around the same platform but have very different outlooks on life. The GT is the more road-targeted version and comes with cast wheels and a 19in front wheel, while the Rally is designed as a more rugged adventurer and so gains…

£109 PER MONTH Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid £11,800 | 689cc | 220kg (kerb) | 73bhp | 890mm The Ténéré 700 World Raid is a full-on worldexplorer. It features the same wonderful CP2 motor but has a bigger 23-litre fuel tank, enhanced suspension, rally seat, 5in TFT dash and three-mode ABS. It’s a seriously hardcore model. £129 PER MONTH Honda Africa Twin £13,049 | 1048cc | 226kg (kerb) | 100bhp | 850/870mm Honda’s Africa Twin now comes with a TFT dash with CarPlay integrated, allowing you to access apps on the go. The parallel twin is smooth and has the option of a DCT gearbox. The Adventure Sport costs £14,749 and ups its on-road touring ability. £129 PER MONTH Aprilia Tuareg 660 £10,600 | 659cc | 204kg (kerb) | 79bhp…

Military veterans flocked to Birmingham’s National Motorcycle Museum last week to witness the reveal of a restored 1944 BSA M20, which is set to be ridden from Normandy to Berlin this coming June. The near 80-year-old machine has been brought back to life by the museum and the recently re-established BSA company on behalf of the Veterans Living History Museum (VLHM) who plan to retrace the steps of WW2 dispatch rider Lewis Banham, before meeting the man himself in Germany on Friday, June 17. “We are all pretty patriotic here at the National Motorcycle Museum, ” Director James Hewing told MCN. “We’re a British collection, but this goes a little bit deeper than that. We have supported forces charities in the past and it’s something that we really believe in.”…

Yes, another new Far Eastern electric bike brand – but this time with a difference. Taiwanese-built Ovaobike may be new to Brit bikers but the current three-model range boasting Brembo brakes and a claimed 80mph performance, with three more premium models due later this year, means we should take them seriously. Ovaobike’s first model is a 14in wheeled fun bike available in three different 125-300cc equivalent forms – the MCR-H, MCR-M and MCR-S, with ‘MCR’ standing for ‘Mini City Racer’ The H is the base model, with a 125cc-equivilent 9.1kW (12bhp) hub motor and 4.8kWh battery. It’s set to cost £9250. The mid-range M and top-spec S, meanwhile, feature a more powerful 17kW (23bhp) motor and twin batteries giving 9.6kWh, regenerative braking and a claimed range of up to 230km.…

TCX Climatrek Surround Gore-Tex boots £199.99 This touring boot features an innovative ventilation grid and side openings. The sole wicks moisture and excess warmth into the ventilation grid below and out of the side openings. You get CE protection at the shin and malleolus, as well as toe and heel reinforcements. The boot is available in a women’s option as well (also costing £199.99). www.nevis.uk.com Spada Ascent 2.0 jacket/trousers £199.99/£139.99 The latest Ascent 2.0 jacket and trousers should be ideal for touring riders and commuters looking for some decent weather protection. The claimed waterproof jacket and trousers have the AA CE rating with high density, abrasion resistant fabric. The reflective elements help provide increased visibility in poor conditions. www.spadaclothing.co.uk Oxford Expedition mid layers £79.99/£69.99 These layers make year-round riding a…

This MotoGP-lookalike electric racer is one of two battery-powered machines recently revealed by a team of Dutch students, developed in partnership with World Superbike championship-winners, Ten Kate Racing. It’s the work of students at the University of Twente, who form a team called Electric Superbike Twente (EST). The faster of the two bikes boasts a claimed 228bhp, a top speed of over 187mph and a 0-100kph (62.5mph) time of under three seconds. Both are littered with top-spec parts from the likes of Öhlins, HEL and Marchesini while tech partners include Ten Kate, Suter Industries (the team behind the 188bhp MMX500 two-stroke track bike) and Bakker frames. EST say their mission is to ‘showcase the excitement and fun of sustainable mobility’ with the ultimate goal of ‘achieving MotoGP lap times with…

Odd that the satellite WSB Kawasaki team Pedercini, after parting company with Loris Cresson, should replace him with Leon Haslam. According to their own website, Pedercini have “always tried to help young riders come through” so, with no disrespect to Haslam, I’d have thought Rory Skinner at almost half his age would be a more suitable candidate. Not only is Skinner already on Kawasaki’s factory BSB bike, his excellent performances to date surely make him a better long-term prospect. Will he ever get that chance? Ian Craig, Aberdeen Be our Star Letter writer and win a pair of touchscreen-compatible Weise Apex leather gloves worth £59.99 from weiseclothing.com…

People who have shaped our world Roland Sands is probably the most successful and significant motorcycle customiser of the 21st century so far. The son of Perry Sands, founder of custom parts specialists Performance Machine, Roland started riding at five years-old, spent his teens at dad’s workshop learning the ropes of custom design, then his 20s racing at the sharp end of US (and occasionally UK) 250GP championships. After hanging up his race leathers, he set up Roland Sands Design (RSD) in 2005, immediately winning awards for his custom bike builds, before branching out into parts and apparel. He’s since built customs based on bikes as diverse as Harleys, GP bikes, flattrackers and even scooters; made one-off machines for celebrities ranging from actor Mickey Rourke to snowboarder Shaun White and…

Spending many a night under the stars was written into the job description when Jay was in the military, so he’s not unaccustomed to packing light. His must haves are: • Sleeping bag • Bivvy bag • Roll mat • Rucksack for a pillow • Jetboil • Wet food bags • Warm clothes • Wash kit He wore H-D’s Passage Adventure suit with base layers and was warm enough for the entire trip. “We’re all ex-military, ” he says. “So, all we needed was a toothbrush and toothpaste really. I like Merino wool base layers because you can wear them for a week, and it doesn’t stink – and a can of deodorant always goes a long way if I’m honest!”…

Year-round rider, weekend blaster and racetrack dweller The KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo builds on the already incredibly capable Super Duke R with electronic semi-active WP Apex suspension, meaning less time twiddling adjusters and more time winding your right wrist. I am forever blown away by the standard SDR’s ability to be so incredibly gentle around town, with the power to pull your arms clean out their sockets when you twist the throttle. It’s a real Jekyll and Hyde motorcycle and after 1600 miles I can confidently report life on the Evo is just the same. But not everything on the KTM has been good. Just 290 miles into our time together, the engine cut out, the dash threw up a preload error and the rear shock extended itself…

Tommy Bridewell is looking at the bigger picture after leaving Oulton Park with only a single podium. Misfortune hampered his weekend. The rain put him 16th on the grid for race one, and his epic fightback was halted at sixth due to the red flag coming out – without that, the podium was on the cards. A crash followed on Monday’s first race, before he finished second in the finale. Bridewell and the Oxford Products Racing Ducati are working hard to find the sweet spot for a host of new factory upgrades. Their Ducati V4 R has an all-new subframe, a wider, lower fuel tank which sits further back, seat unit, seat position and an exhaust from Termignoni. The team and Bridewell worked late into the night, concentrating on weight…

Something special is happening in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship right now. There’s a changing of the guard with Bradley Ray, Kyle Ryde and Rory Skinner stamping their authority on the paddock after two strong rounds in 2022. Ray won his first race since Donington Park 2018 on Sunday, before going on to win and podium on Bank Holiday Monday, taking the championship lead away from Glenn Irwin in the process. “I’m over the moon,” an emotional Ray told MCN after his first win. “It’s been a difficult four years since my last win, four years of changing teams and changing manufacturers. You doubt yourself, too, that’s the first thing you ever do, doubt yourself, so I feel I’ve learnt a lot over the years and I’m now feeling stronger…

Zero points for Britain’s Moto2 hopefuls at Jerez doesn’t quite tell the full story. Three sessions into the weekend and things were looking very rosy for Jake Dixon and Sam Lowes as they placed first and second in free practice. What’s more, the pair showed strong rhythm in Friday afternoon’s FP2, suggesting both men would be vying for victory with first time pole sitter and eventual winner Ai Ogura. But it wasn’t to be. Even after a slow start from third on the grid, Lowes was firmly in the mix for victory as he fought through from eighth on lap one to sit fourth at one-third race distance. But a crash on the ripples into turn eight denied him a chance of a much-needed win. “I think I lost the…

The MotoGP paddock was rocked as MCN went to press on Monday, as news broke that Suzuki are intending to quit the premier class at the end of 2022. It’s been suggested that economic pressures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine are responsible for the factory considering pulling the plug on their MotoGP operation, which won the Riders’ World Championship as recently as 2020. The suggestion came as a major surprise to riders Alex Rins and Joan Mir, members of the team, and series organisers Dorna. In April last year the Japanese factory signed an extension to continue competing in MotoGP until 2026. The surprise is fully justified as both Rins and Mir are currently in contention for the MotoGP World Championship. The Spaniards sit…

‘The Spanish fans were there to pick me up’MARC MARQUEZ Some pictures are worth more than a thousand words. This is one of them. It shows a magician doing one of his best tricks. A genius at work. It shows how, single-handed, Marc Marquez transformed a processional Spanish GP into a thriller. Above all, it demonstrates the message of Jerez: After the topsyturvy ‘anyone-can-win’ phoney war of the first flyaways, the Big Beasts are back. The resumption of Bagnaia/Quartararo hostilities was another proof. But how about the guy who came fourth? More specifically, how about the way he came fourth. The most significant moment came after had seized a rostrum place in the closing stages … only to run a little wide into the final hairpin. The front slid, the…

Pecco Bagnaia won four of the last six races in 2021 leading to the expectation that Ducati would simply refine their GP21 and start 2022 with the best bike on the grid. But this didn’t happen with title favourite Bagnaia failing to even get near the podium in the opening five races. So what’s changed to put things right? New tech isn’t always better The first winter tests showed that the 2022 version of Ducati’s MotoGP weapon had changed a lot. There was a new fairing with more downforce, which gave the front more grip, but this reduced their class-leading top speed. A new, more powerful engine only proved better on the test bench as on the track it turned out that the power delivery was too aggressive. This created…

£189 PER MONTH Ducati Panigale V4 £21,651 | 1103cc | 198.5kg (kerb) | 212.5bhp | 850mm seat height Ducati have been making a concerted effort of late to ensure that their road bikes are easier to manage for your average rider. And for 2022 the Panigale V4 has undergone a comprehensive update aimed at making it the friendliest version to date. Don’t worry, you still get that staggering V4 engine that punches out over 212bhp with 91lb.ft of torque, but thanks to revised fuel mapping, clever aero dynamics, updated gearbox ratios, refined rider assists, chassis upgrades and even new ergonomics, the firm’s latest Panigale V4 feels, and rides, like a totally different beast. Under hard acceleration the combination of the wings’ downforce and an altered swingarm pivot mean the Ducati…