MCNの 29 December 2021 の目次

LS2 have added two new colours to their Pioneer Evo adventure helmet line up. The new lids come in matt black with orange and black with white, to match the current crop of adventure bikes. The Pioneer Evo outer shell is made from composite (ECE22.05), comes in three shell sizes and weighs approximately 1400g. Inside there’s a drop down sun-visor, as well as a Pinlock-ready main visor. Available in sizes XXS-3XL, the Pioneer Evo Adventurer is £129.99. Electric on the up Super Soco have become the first 100% electric brand to feature in the top 10 sales list. Until now the list has been entirely stocked with petrol-powered brands but in November Super Soco made their way in for the first time, outselling Ducati and Harley-Davidson on the way. Super…

Fans of The Great Escape rejoice! REC Watches have come up with a new limited-edition based on the Triumph TR6 Trophy which appeared in the 1963 film. Not only that, but the watch face features recycled metal stripped from the bike itself while being restored by Dick Shepherd. Just 393 REC TTT Great Escape watches will be built with a price of £1510. Visit www.recwatches.com for more. Damon go hyper Canadian electric bike firm Damon have teased a new hyper-naked based on the Hypersport they first unveiled back in January 2020. The new bike is called the Hyperfighter Colossus and will be fully unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next year. Damon are yet to deliver any bikes, but they’ve announced a new manufacturing plant in Vancouver.…

‘Second-gen buys make total sense’ As the owner of a 1998 YZF-R1 (yes, in red and white…) I admit to having a soft spot for ‘first- generation’ sportsbikes. But this is a love built around emotion and being an anorak rather than the cold light of financial sense, which isn’t always the best route if you plan on riding the bike rather than just looking at it. The clue is in the name, second-generation bikes are an evolution and (2006 Kawasaki ZX-10R ‘wheelbarrow’ models aside…) that means a marked improvement over the original. Look at the 2000 R1, it gained 150 mods over my 1998 one, is far less of a wild animal and better to ride because of it - yet a tidy ’98 model will cost you £6000,…

Around 50 motorcyclists took part in the annual Eastbourne Motorcycle Rideouts Christmas Toy Charity Run. Bikers from all across East Sussex dressed up and decorated their bikes to raise funds for charity and deliver an enormous number of toys and gifts to Eastbourne’s Scott Unit at the DGH and the Kipling Ward at Hastings Conquest hospital. Bid for Rossi lid A massive collection of MotoGP memorabilia, including a signed Valentino Rossi helmet, is up for grabs in a charity auction. Two Wheels for Life has a long list of items that you can bid for until the end of January. As well as the Rossi helmet there are signed Marc Marquez boots and stacks of other kit. Money raised will help Two Wheels for Life buy motorcycles and train medical…

Ride further in 2021 with a little help from our one-stop event guide JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain’s best biking cafés THE HONEY POT • 7 days a week, 9.30am-2.30pm, later for private events • Find out more / www.thehoneypotcompany.co.uk • Honey Pot Tea Rooms, Beehive Farm, Lullington Road, Rosliston DE12 8HZ Featured on Triumph’s Ride Out to Help Out, the Honey Pot Tearoom isn’t your usual ‘biker’ place, but with a great range of cakes and food, it’s got everything for a satisfying stop. “Bikers are always welcome,” says co-owner George Grant. “We’ve had many visits from lovely biking groups, and we enjoy their company. There is plenty of parking space as well. You can leave your bikes, sit and enjoy your food and then head out…

1 New Year’s Day ride-in Why not welcome in the New Year with a ride to Sammy Miller’s museum in New Milton, Hants? With reduced entry and hundreds of exhibits to look at, you’ll be starting 2022 in a great place. The museum is open from 10am-2pm on January 1, 2022. www.sammymiller.co.uk 2 Get bargain hunting Whitewebbs Museum of Transport in Enfield are hosting a New Year autojumble on Sunday, January 2. Outdoor pitches are £20. If you’re looking to shop, then it’s £5 to enter and the café will be open. www.facebook.com/whitewebbsmuseum 3 Brass Monkey Run Established in 1994, the Brass Monkey Run is an annual event organised by the Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics, in aid of charity. On Jan 2, riders meet at the Vic at 12pm,…

SENIOR WRITER MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK It doesn’t matter how well a bike performs – if it can’t turn right, there’s a bit of a problem! And towards the end of this test the KTM 890 Adventure R developed an annoying habit of blowing a fuse every time we turned it full lock right – meaning we soon burnt our way through all five spare fuses. It’s a shame, because up until that point the KTM had been the likely winner, its pert nature proving it’s a rally thoroughbred on the MCN250. It was exciting, attentive and despite all its winter shortcomings, just made me grin. As fellow tester Bruce Dunn eloquently put it: “There’s a hooligan in me, and it’s the…

SENIOR WRITER Two wheels up front take some getting used to and the Metropolis’ weight also makes off- bike manoeuvring difficult. In fact, wheeling it backwards on anything but flat ground is a no-go. However, once acclimatised, you can ride it like any other midi-scooter but with the extra assurance of better front-end grip and more luggage capacity and comfort than almost any other. The update means the Metro’ now looks bang-up-to-date, has improved tech, and, with adjustable screen and lots of capacity, is truly versatile. The only trouble is, Piaggio’s MP3 Sport 400 rival has much of the same features, all for £8300. THE FACTS £9055 Peugeot Metropolis Allure Engine Liquid-cooled, 399cc single Frame Pressed steel spine Front suspension Parallelogram with twin shocks, non-adjustable Rear suspension Single shock, four-way…

MICHAEL NEEVES, CHIEF ROAD TESTER Ridden almost everything. Likes touring, trackdays and superbike racing. 6 Kawasaki Z1000, 2010 I took my orange and white Zed (nicknamed ‘The Trifle’) for a weekend to Paris, rode it to Zolder for an endurance race and pulled lots of wheelies. I liked its brutal simplicity but never really gelled with it, although Maxton suspension and Remus cans improved it no-end. The fuel range was terrible and it was too short-geared, leaving me constantly rummaging for an elusive seventh cog. 5 Ducati Streetfighter, 2009 My first super-naked after a 22-year diet of sportsbikes. It was the non-S version, without Öhlins and lightweight wheels, but still rocked. Angry, visceral and beautiful, it always wanted to play. It could be clattery around town, the exhaust impeded your…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Well, ‘Oil’ be damned… A bike’s shaft drive hub is solely responsible for containing the oil and housing the precision components that allow the power from the shaft drive to be transmitted to the rear wheel. Apart from the oil there is very little else that is serviceable. First off, check you know the correct grade of oil required and intervals specified for its replacement. BRUCE’S TIPS This early BMW R1100GS needs its oil changing every 24,000 miles. 2 Meet the bevel gear Power from the bike’s engine is transmitted to the rear wheel via bevel gears, located inside the rear hub of the shaft. To put it simply, these bevel gears are cut at a precise…

“I think he can, in terms of his capacity, the team’s capacity. I believe that our bike will be capable to do that. So, why not? At the same time, it’s very competitive here so you have to minimise the number of mistakes that you make. “I think that has been the strength of Mir last year. Mir, I call him ‘The turbo diesel’ because he’s fast, he’s reliable, he’s always there. Fabio’s championship challenge this year was much more spectacular. He won five races, but he was always there as well. So I think that’s going to be the key next year. “But it’s going to be competitive because, in my opinion, I believe there will be three or four guys there, which will be Pecco, I think Pecco…

• 1A Saturday, January 1 Jeddah to Ha’il 834km (19km Timed Special) • 1B Sunday, January 2 Ha’il to Ha’il 546km (334km Timed Special) • 2 Monday, January 3 Ha’il to Al Artawiya 585km (339km Timed Special) • 3 Tuesday, January 4 Al Artawiya to Al Qaisumah 554km (368km Timed Special) • 4 Wednesday, January 5 Al Qaisumah to Riyadh 707km (465km Timed Special) • 5 Thursday, January 6 Riyadh to Riyadh 563km (348km Timed Special) • 6 Fri, Jan 7 Riyadh to Riyadh 635km (421km Timed Special) • Rest Day Saturday, January 8 Riyadh • 7 Sunday, January 9 Riyadh to Al Dawadimi 700km (401km Timed Special) • 8 Monday, January 10 Al Dawadimi to Wadi Ad Dawasir 828km (394km Timed Special) • 9 Tuesday, January 11 Wadi Ad…

Compromise was the name of the game as Scott Redding commenced his BMW career with a couple of important tests on this run-up to Christmas. All eyes were on the 12-time WSB winner as he made the move to BMW following three superbike seasons with Ducati since moving from MotoGP. While the WSB bike handles on rails in the wet, there is still progress to be made in full-length, dry races. With just ten days of private testing available per rider between the final races of 2021 and 2022, decisions on setup are essential. Following the Indonesia finale, Redding headed to Valencia to ride a road-going M1000RR. From Valencia, Redding went to Estoril for two half-days of testing on the 2021 race bike. He then joined teammate Michael van der…

‘I just don’t know why they do it’ Well, it’s that time of the year again for Dakar. I have massive respect to anyone that gets to the start line. I think it’s an intriguing thing to do – as a rider it’s one of those things that you know you shouldn’t do, but you want to find out what it’s like. You’d also think that with all the pain they go through they would never want to go back and do it again, but instead they keep coming back for more and more each year! I think that unless you’ve actually raced Dakar you can’t really appreciate just how hard it is. I always watch it, but I think they’re unsung heroes. While the TV coverage looks good, what…

WELCOME Richard Newland, Editor Several thousand MCN readers recently filled in an extensive survey about their biking lives, loves and hates – and while the results were fascinating for all sorts of reasons, one figure in particular jumped out at me. Right at the end of a graph that revealed an entirely sensible adoration for all the big manufacturers in our market, was an entry for Zero Motorcycles that revealed 7% of respondents were seriously considering one as their next bike. Now, you might be guffawing into your pint while exclaiming that 7% isn’t much to be getting very excited about – but I disagree. Just a year or three ago that figure would have registered close to zero (no pun intended). And there was a similar surge for all…

Royal Enfield are giving away a customised Continental GT 650 with a one-of-a-kind paint job as the top prize in a raffle organised to support CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). Called ‘OPEN IT UP – The Big Raffle!’, the event aims to raise funds and awareness to support CALM in the positive promotion of mental health and suicide prevention. In total, 10 prizes are up for grabs, with others including two tickets to join the The Highland Scramble in Scotland, a Belstaff gift package, two tickets to a day of Slide School flat-tracking, and much more. Tickets cost £5 each and are available online with the competition closing on March 31 next year. For more go to: www.royalenfield.com/uk/en/our-world/media/news/events/the-big-raffle. Good luck!…

Brühl MD1900+ Single Turbine Dryer £135 The Brühl MD1900+ blows warm air, heated by a 500W element, at up to 80 metres-per-second, drying a washed or rain-soaked machine quickly and simply. The hose can be extended to 3.5m and nozzle attachments allow either a fast and concentrated blast. www.bruhl.co.uk Merlin Alton leather jacket £249.99 This jacket’s soft leather construction jacket should need no breaking in and it has Level 1 CE-approved armour at the shoulders and elbows. There’s also a pocket for an optional back protector and a removable inner gilet for warmth. The jacket as a whole is CE-rated AA. www.merlinbikegear.com Held Karakum jacket £510 This jacket boasts a Gore-Tex three-layer inner which can be used as a liner, worn over the jacket or even as a standalone rain…

SENIOR WRITER Buyers making the switch from petrol to electric will be hit in the wallet thanks to shock cuts in the Government subsidy, although some bike firms are taking the hit themselves in the short-term. Any e-bikes costing over £10,000 will no longer receive a Government grant, while mopeds will get just £150 off. Previously, all new road-registered electrics would receive a price reduction of £1500 or 20% – whichever was smallest at the point of sale. New plans will see bikes priced up to £10,000 receive 35% off, up to a max of £500 and mopeds get 35% off, up to a value of £150. The move, which came without warning, hasn’t gone down well with the industry. “This is not a way to incentivise the consumer to…

YOU’RE NEVER RIDING ALONE ‘They are waiting for your call’ Way back in the 1990s I was struggling, unsure of where to go or what course to take. The reason? I’m gay and back then every single representation in the media was negative. Kids like me grew up being told that we were almost literally the worst people on Earth. Million-selling papers like The Sun revelled in stories about parents who said they’d rather have a dead kid than a gay kid. This was very far from an easy time. Things had been ok while I was at university and I had a circle of friends I could trust but now I was back in a run-down seaside town. My friends there were all people that thought of me as…

Q ‘Who’s to blame for the muck?’ When travelling through a village near Cardiff Airport I came to a bend and there was horse manure in lumps and spread over the road where the cars had driven through it. After about another 200 yards the traffic was all stopped. There was a group of horses and riders on the road which we had to wait for until they peeled off down another lane. If I had come off my bike through sliding in horse manure would I be able to claim against the horse owners for any damage to me/bike/kit? James Pepper, Barry A You would need to establish: 1. That the horse rider responsible owed you a duty of care; 2. That by failing to clean up the mess,…

Readers Julie Allan and Paul Spellman The trip Aragon MotoGP and then onwards south How many miles? 3500 How long? Five weeks Don’t miss… There are many great roads in Spain and en route to Aragon. The CM210 from Priego to Molina de Aragon and A226 from Castellote to Forcall were two for starters. We stayed in Forcall, about an hour from Motorland which was as good a Sunday rideout as it gets. We had no tickets but with some internet hassles sorted that and although we missed Moto3 we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon in boiling sun. From there it was south to the Sierra Nevada where my partner wanted to ride around a castle at La Calahorra. The road looked like gravel on Google so I said…

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. MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fast-flowing 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…

LAURA THOMSON SENIOR WRITER I have a soft spot for middleweight adventure bikes so when this MCN250 came up on the calendar I was the first to put my name down. As I’m currently riding an ‘old school’ KTM 990 Adventure, I was interested to see whether its direct descendant would deliver. And had the 890 not developed such an irritating electrical fault, it might have won for its torquey engine, more adaptable suspension and broader ability, on and off-road. However, that all comes with a caveat: because while the KTM is the best option for those looking for a true adventure bike, the BMW is just so much more practical for those who rarely stray into the mud. With its low seat, soft suspension and softer power, it’s more…

Loves vintage vehicles and can’t stop tinkering… but probably should. I’ll admit it: I’ve been enjoying the Trident so much it’s got pretty mucky. I felt bad so set aside some time to get it up on the paddock stands and give it some love... It was also was the ideal opportunity to get my magnifying glass out and see how the Triumph’s been coping since salt arrived and it highlighted a few things. The chain is in fabulous condition – like new – and I’ve only had to give it proper attention once this year when I cleaned it with a degreaser and then gave it a blast of anti-corrosion spray. I’ve noticed a little rust is appearing on the middle exhaust down pipe. That’s right, just the middle…

Maybe it’s because it’s always thought of as being maintenance-free compared to chain drive, but replacing the oil in a shaft-drive bike’s rear hub is one of those tasks that can get overlooked. Standard service replacement jobs such as engine oil, filter and plugs, always get the most attention while other critical but less obvious systems get neglected. So it’s worth having a good look at your bike’s manual for other service tasks. You may be surprised. A lot of it can be done at home, it’s just a case of knowing what the intervals are. Another servicing job that often gets overlooked is the tyres. Yes, we all know when a tyre needs replacing just by looking at the tread… but a tyre can still be past its best…

What did winning the MotoGP crown mean to you? It has been fantastic to win the championship again after five years. That’s what we’re here for. I think everybody in the paddock and everybody that watches the races would certainly agree that Fabio deserved to be champion. Did you imagine this scenario at the beginning of the year? Of course you always start the season hoping and thinking that maybe you can challenge and win, but you cannot predict anything in this world. But everything came together. The latest generation of factory bike was definitely a lot better than last year. Fabio was a much more mature rider, probably due to some of the difficulties he faced last year. So when we started this season and won the first two…

British Superbike man Bradley Ray broke the lap record at Cartagena in December during the Rich Energy OMG Racing team’s maiden outing with Yamaha. Ray posted a 1:31.753, as he, Kyle Ryde and the rest of the team got to grips with the R1. OMG are switching from BMW to Yamaha next year, and will receive full support from the official McAMS Yamaha squad. Ray and Ryde spent two days at Cartagena where the team were assisted by three technicians from McAMS Yamaha to help them with the setup and characteristics of the bike. Both riders have previous Yamaha experience having raced the R6, but it was Ray who got up to speed fastest on this occasion. ‘I’m feeling at on home on the R1 already’ “I’ve had an amazing…

£16,499 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S The Super Adventure S has WP’s latest semiactive forks, which, thanks to a new brain, are claimed to offer better response to inputs. This Blade Motorcycles Special Edition also comes with an Akrapovic slip-on can, downloaded Tech Pack, and heated grips and heated Ergo rider and pillion seat, too. • www.blademotorcycles.co.uk £23,995 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special The Special is American excess made metal, with gadgets galore and Hollywood looks. • www.mshd.co.uk • Engine 1690cc • Power 89bhp • Weight 385kg • Seat height 696mm £5399 Honda CMX500 Rebel This Covid-delayed bike has one mile on the clock and comes with an £800 saving after the owner bought another bike. • www.alfordbros.co.uk • Engine 471cc • Power 46bhp • Weight 191kg • Seat height 690mm…

If you’ve always wanted a security tracker for your pride and joy but been put off by the price, BikeTrac could have the answer. They’ve got a new slimmed-down version of their tracking unit called BikeTrac Lite which gives riders the same GPS and radio frequency tracking features as their top-spec unit but at a reduced outlay. “We are delighted to be able to bring this new simplified product to market,” BikeTrac’s Bill Taylor told MCN. “While our premium device is still very much a market-leader thanks to its feature-rich functionality and impeccable recovery results over the last decade, for some time we’ve been keen to bring a slimmed down version to the market for lower-value machines. “We’ve tried hard to make cost much less of an issue for riders…

Astronaut Tim Peake has boldly ridden where quite a few have been before… Triumph’s Adventure Experience in Wales. Since returning from the International Space Station in 2016, Peake has really got into biking and was soon showing instructor, and former British and World Enduro champion Matt Reed, a thing or two, taking on some tough trails aboard a Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Peake said: “I love the thrill and exhilaration that off-road riding brings and it gives you the confidence to face fresh biking challenges.” He is currently touring the UK with his My Journey to Space show which runs until the end of March, 2022. Stunt stars sign up One of the UK’s best bike stunt teams has been signed up to the International Dirt Bike Show for 2022.…

FANTASY SHOPPING ON A REAL-WORLD BUDGET RICHARD ‘MILKY’ QUAYLE Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Milky’s pick… Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle is a familiar name to fans of the Isle of Man TT. A former racer with one TT and three Manx GP wins to his name, Milky retired from racing the Mountain Course following a terrifying accident in 2003 (you can still find it on YouTube…) and instead put his knowledge to good use helping newcomers around the 37.73-mile circuit in his role as TT Rider Liaison Officer. So what would this very rapid Manx resident buy himself in the used market? “I’m lucky as I live somewhere where…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Offer more at the NEC This year I had the pleasure of visiting the NEC show. It never fails to be a good day out but maybe it’s time to move the show along a bit and offer a little more. I would like to see a few more engineers from the companies to talk to about things like moving footpegs and why can’t we have more bikes with backlit switchgear etc. Plus, a lot of riders would like to have the opportunity to wheel a machine around to see if they can manage the weight in and out of their garage. Gaz, email Bring back the Tiger Cub I recently started reading MCN again and look forward to my weekly fix. I must say that…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com AJS 350 16M My son Andrew is keeping the AJS alive in my father’s memory since he passed away [see bottom right]. Christopher Bryant BSA 250 GOLD STAR This was my third bike - a BSA 250 Gold Star, this is me and my then girlfriend but now wife of 47 years. George Hatcher FRANCIS BARNETT PLOVER 78 Thought you might like this one of the Francis Barnett. It’s a 147cc machine from around 1960. Chris Brackenborough ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET Akeira Hall on the Enfield Bullet 500 - she takes after her grandad who had a Bultaco at 14 [see picture, right]. Nicky Hall TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD Taken around 1971 I was nearly17. I took the sidecar off and made some modifications the day…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes This is a stunning little ride and what it lacks in distance, it makes up for with breath-taking views - and who is to say you shouldn’t go round twice anyway? As you head out from Keswick, take the B5289 towards Rosthwaite, with Derwent Water to your left. Sweep along through the stunning and picturesque Borrowdale, before striking over the almighty Honister Pass, before you drop down once more as you pass Buttermere and Crummock Water. As you ride through Low Lorton you will reach a junction, where you need to turn off left. Follow the B5292 to Portingscale. Turn right takes for a quick blast along the A66 before you arrive back into Keswick. It’s the best! If you’re not in…

Leo Westland Age 29 Height 6ft Occupation Military Been riding for 5 years Current bike BMW F800GS First bike BMW F800GS Dream bike KTM 950 Adventure “I wanted a do-anything, go-anywhere machine. I enjoy outdoor activities and wanted to challenge myself without having to spend hundreds of pounds on trackdays and speeding tickets. “I like that whether it’s an afternoon local blast or a globe-crossing adventure, an adventure bike has both covered with the added bonus that it’s a decent commuter and you can whack your shopping in the panniers. “The F800GS is a good middle-ground between a dirt bike and an all-singing, all-dancing R1250GS. It was manageable for a first bike, with enough oomph to entertain. The BMW brand gives you the reliability, and you know the engine will…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER It’s hard to escape the fact that the RS is still eye-wateringly expensive. You can get a better-equipped super-naked, not to mention a cheaper and significantly more refined one, from any of MV’s rivals. The RS’s ride quality isn’t as plush as the RR and it lacks its carbon trinkets, but the experience is similar yet more comfortable due to its more spacious riding position. Its styling won’t be to everyone’s taste, nor will its aggressive character, but drama, decadence, exclusivity and one of the wildest soundtracks in biking are guaranteed. THE FACTS £22,830 MV Agusta Brutale 1000RS Engine 998cc 16v inline four Frame Tubular steel trellis Suspension (F) 50mm Marzocchi forks, fully adjustable. (R) Sachs shock, fully adjustable Brakes (F) 2 x 320mm discs…

SCOTT MCDONALD Age: 46 From: Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire “It’s good so far at coping with winter. I recently did 320 miles in a day and it was better than my old Street Triple for wind protection and comfort. It’s comfier at motorway speeds due to its taller 5th and 6th gears and the linear torque is really good in the damp. I’m meticulous when it comes to maintenance so it’s pampered with ACF50 and I’ve fitted an Evo tech rad cover, Pyramid front fender and rear hugger extender and R&G shock sock. I would have thought the rear splash guard would have helped reduce this but it seems to just pass it by.”…

1 S100 Total Cleaner + £14.99 (1 litre) This is a brilliant cleaning solution and the best out there in my opinion. Lee Parsons, St Asaph 2 Metro Vac Master Blaster Sidekick £149 I’ve had this air drier for about seven years and literally can’t think of how I coped before. Daniel Cooper, Rochester 3 EZ Car Care Citrus Wash £9.50 I’ve got mine premixed in an old spray bottle. You spray it on everything. It gets general grime off and even flies. Martin Poll, Downpatrick 4 GT85 £3.99 (400ml) In winter I use Muc-off, a power washer, then add a bit of cheap car wash, dry and buff to a lovely finish. I then apply a bit of GT85 to the shiny bits. Roland Johns, Lincoln 5 Worx 20V…

THE MECHANIC Richard Hewiit is a mobile mechanic in Loughborugh Remember those youthful days on your first bike? Freedom and independence. Twist the throttle, feed in the clutch and away you go. Or maybe not. Richard Hewitt, who works in the Loughborough area as a mobile mechanic, wasn’t overly surprised when he got a call from the local owner of a KSR TW125 supermoto he had seen having its neck wrung. “He said: ‘My bike starts and runs, but when I put it into gear it doesn’t pull away’. When I quizzed him further he told me he went for a ‘race start’ then ‘something broke and I could hear a grinding noise’.” When Richard took off the plastic front sprocket cover, the sprocket teeth and nut were intact and…

Gino Rea has joined the factory Honda team for the 2022 Endurance World Championship season. The Brit will line-up alongside Josh Hook and Mike di Meglio at F.C.C TSR Honda France, after previously competing in the championship with privateer team Wojcik Racing Yamaha between 2019 and 2020. Rea guided the team to their first-ever podium when he finished second at the 2019 Bold’Or, before finishing third at the Estoril 12-Hour the following year. Honda’s riders will head to Spain and Japan for a winter test programme, before the new EWC seasons gets underway in France for the Le Mans 24-Hour event. ‘Rea will no longer be on the BSB grid’ Rea finished seventh there in 2020, before ending the season seventh overall. Honda were EWC champions in 2018. The move…

Toby Price Red Bull KTM The tough and talented Aussie has contested seven Dakars. He has won the event twice and finished third three times. Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda The man who ended KTM’s 18 years of domination when he won the 2020 Dakar, runner-up in 2021 and depererate to win again. Pablo Quintanilla Monster Energy Honda The Chilean was a long time Husqvarna rider, but joins Honda for 2022. He finished runner-up in the 2020 race. Matthias Walkner Red Bull KTM KTM’s home-grown hero won the Dakar in 2018 and has also finished second twice. He has the pace and experience to win again. Kevin Benavides Red Bull KTM The Argentinian is the reigning Dakar champion, but he left Honda – who he’d won for – to join…

Less than two months after calling time on his ten-year MotoGP career, Danilo Petrucci will make his Dakar debut in Saudi Arabia. The two-time MotoGP race winner will race for KTM in what will be one of the biggest challenges of his career. Despite being an officially supported rider there can be no expectation in terms of results. The 31-year-old Italian is clearly extremely talented but he is a complete rookie in the world of rally. Petrucci has been training with the official KTM team but will be treating Dakar 2022 as one big learning experience which he will hope to build on in the future. Former Grand Prix winner and 2011 WSB champion Carlos Checa will also race Dakar this year. The 49-year-old Spaniard is an accomplished off road…