Table of contents for 29th May 2019 in MCN

Sitting on the huge grass banking overlooking Donington’s Craner Curves on Sunday gave a spectacular view of the unfolding drama below. He’d already claimed the win on Saturday to break his BSB duck, but as Redding carved down the Curves lap after lap in the hunt for the lead of race two, there was a palpable sense of building excitement. There was also the ominous threat of torrential rain as the skies went black above us. When the first rain spots landed you could almost see Redding’s brain go into overdrive, determination writ large in every movement. And as Bridewell’s arm went up briefly on the exit of the Old Hairpin, it seemed only to galvanise Redding’s belief that, actually, it wasn’t over yet. The rain came harder, but when…

BMW have unveiled the no-holds-barred 1800cc flat- twin engine expected to be at the heart of their upcoming cruiser. Revealed in their Concept R18 at the weekend, this radical machine shows that BMW are keen to take on the American cruiser market in a big way. Stripped down and raked out, the Concept R18 is not only a statement of intent, but also shows what BMW’s designers and engineers are capable of. From the hidden switchgear, to the fishtail exhausts, every single detail of the bike has been meticulously considered. Not something unusual for BMW when in pursuit of speed, but a departure for such a blatant pursuit of style. “A motorcycle is the biggest accessory you can wear. This bike is not about being the fastest,” says Edgar Heinrich,…

Spring is definitely here and summer is just around the corner – and that means longer days, lighter nights and loads of cool places to visit that are coming alive with bike activity. And it’s great to see so many #R5Kers posting pics on the group and sharing their riding exploits. We’re five months into the year and for some the riding season is just getting going but others, who ride year-round, are already through their 5000-mile target. KTM rider, Willie Richards, who spends most Sundays exploring the Lakes, North Yorkshire and Scotland, has clocked-up 7300 miles since January in the process. He says: “With friends, who enjoy riding all-year like myself, these trips average 250 miles and on top of these I often – if I get the time…

Nothing captures the spirit of summer biking better than an evening meet on a quintessentially British village green – and last week’s Two Wheel Tuesday at the Ox and Plough is among the best. Over 670 bikes and almost 1000 people flocked to the Norfolk village to bask in the sunshine and soak up the atmosphere at this regular gathering on one of England’s largest village greens. Bikes begin arriving around 3.30pm and within a couple of hours the common is a sea of glistening chrome from every type of motorcycle. The TWT meet welcomes the whole gamut of motorcycling – and motorcyclists. “It’s a very friendly atmosphere,” said Beccy Samworth from Norfolk and Suffolk Curvy Riders MC. “People are interested in what you’re riding and everyone just wants to…

Reader Richard O’Brien The Ride North Coast 767, Isle of Skye and Dunnet Head When to do it May-September Miles 1000 Time required Four-five days Don’t miss this “Glencoe, Kyle of Localsh, Applecross, Bealach na Ba, Isle of Skye, Cocoa Mountain Chocolaterie at Durness.” THE RIDE Be sure to book your accommodation early if you are not camping, especially in peak season. THE ROADS Concentration is needed in places, particularly on some of the single track roads with passing places. THE VIEWS If you haven’t been to Scotland, add it to your bucket list now. You won’t be disappointed. THE BIKE My S1000XR performed very well on its Michelin Road 5s in all conditions. Scotland is a vast biking playground where there is so much to see. I'll be back…

HONDA CRF70 This is my son Aidy, age nine, looking good on his CRF70 at an enduro event in the Scottish Borders. Mark Lang  I had just picked up my new SRAD 600 in 1998 and was getting ready for the running-in process. Neil Clancy SUZUKI GSX-R600 BSA A10 Actually it’s my second bike, after passing the test on a Bantam I bought this BSA A10. Note the double set of handlebars, high-rise scrambler style and clip-ons. Denis Mallett  My father on his Triumph Tiger 100 circa 1951, this is where my interest in bikes came from! Alan Blincow TRIUMPH TIGER 100 NORTON DOMINATOR Me and Jackie in 1962 with our 58 Dominator. She is still lovely (I mean the bike, of course…). Colin Baker BSA C15 There I was…

Hard to believe these are both £20,000 bikes. The Diavel justifies its ticket with the latest-style colour TFT screen – although it’s quite small at only 3.5in to suit its hot rod style – through which its three modes are selected and customised as well as displaying a raft of other data, plus there’s neat strip of ‘idiot lights’. The FXDR’s minimal ‘strip’ LCD might be ‘hot rod’ style but is so basic you suspect Harley are taking the piss. It also conked out in the heavy rain and went completely blank, which wasn’t so impressive. HARLEY SWITCHGEAR Standard, solid, chunky Harley fare, complete with separate indicator switches on each bar. Narrow position means mirrors are virtually useless.…

All motorcycles rely on hundreds of nuts and bolts to hold them together. But there is always room for improvement, which is where Racebolt comes in… Racebolt’s MD Andy Sell initially put his engineering skills to use manufacturing titanium jewellery before a love of bike racing saw him finally set up Racebolt. “I grew up racing speedway and grasstrack and as my dad was an engineer I built and worked on my own bikes,” says Andy. “Although I raced for Exeter Falcons and rode grasstrack at international level, I decided to do an engineering apprenticeship rather than follow a career in racing. I started my jewellery business in 1996, but my heart was in motorsport, so in 2001 I started making lightweight bolts.” Initially supplying products as a contractor to…

‘The moment you stand up it just feels right’ Two years, seven months and 11 days after the Yamaha T7 concept was first teased to an expectant audience at the Milan show in 2016, I’ve just been handed a key to a production Ténéré 700. It’s a bike that has actually been in the making behind closed doors in Japan for over four years, so to say it feels a little overdue is somewhat of an understatement. But the wait is finally over and with a 350km day of road and off-road ahead around Tortosa, Spain, the moment of truth is finally here. A different path But before even turning a wheel it’s clear Yamaha’s latest take on the adventure bike is very different from its rivals. Instead of going…

‘I got great satisfaction winning on a bike I’d built’ It was only while recovering from the serious injuries he sustained following a crash at the 2016 North West 200, that Irish road racing legend Ryan Farquhar began to tot up his tally of ‘between the hedges’ victories. “I was lying there in pain and feeling sorry for myself,” he says. “I knew I had won a good few races during my career but wasn’t sure what the total number was. I had held the record for the greatest number of wins at Irish National road races since 2009 but knew I had also won over 100 races at Scarborough plus had wins on the Isle of Man and elsewhere. I started to scour the internet, looking for information, and…

THE STUDENT Martin Wake, 47, Lincolnshire Triumph Tiger 800 owner Martin’s been riding since 1993. As a driving instructor he spends his weekdays trapped in a car. Martin’s riding problem “I ran off the road on a Scottish tour last year. I want to learn how to prevent my bike running wide so I can stop it happening again.” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training Formerpolicemotorcyclist,Mark’sbeen teachingpeopletobesafer,better,faster riders on the road for the last 20 years. Mark’s action plan “There’s more to corners than picking the right turn-in point. I’ll show Martin a few tips that’ll make his bike easier to control.” THE LESSON 1 Feeling a bit vague? Following Martin into a bend, instructor Mark noticed that the Tiger rider seemed to be braking a lot and not…

A visit to the Triumph factory as a student was enough to leave a lasting impression on MCN reader Alex Thorpe. The engineer from Lincolnshire looked into getting a work experience placement with the British manufacturer whilst at university, but ultimately ended up a customer rather than an employee. “I went to the factory for an interview and that was the moment when bikes came on to my radar. But as a student at the time, it was a few years before I could afford to take my test and buy my own,” Alex says. That desire to ride did not diminish and 18 months ago Alex took his test and bought an air-cooled Triumph Thruxton. “Originally I saw myself just nipping out for short fun rides, but I soon…

Gaining your full A-licence is a day for celebration. Not only have you managed to make it successfully through a labyrinth of tests, you are now allowed to ride any motorcycle you like, rather than one that’s got restricted power. But don’t get carried away. Your heart might say Panigale but chances are you are better off starting off with something more modest (but still fun) as you build your biking experience. £2495 HONDA CBR600F 599cc | 170kg (dry) | 108bhp | 810mm seat height • Dealer up to £3500• Private up to £2800• This one 2003, 16,000 miles Honda kept the best for last and the final generation of CBR600F is a brilliant used buy that as well as being great value, is a wonderful do-it-all with an…

1 Check you are up for the challenge Valve clearances relate to the gaps between the top of an engine’s valves and the cam follower that actuates them. These clearances need checking to maintain an engine’s efficiency. Check the procedure and make sure you’re confident, then remove everything needed to gain access to the cam cover. Make sure the bike is cold then remove the spark plugs. 2 Lift the cam cover Undo the bolts that retain the cam cover, gently lift the cover away and keep an eye on the rubber gasket that seals the perimeter. This needs to either remain on the engine, or come away with the cover. Either way, make sure it is not damaged when the cover is removed. Place the cover somewhere safe where…

Twenty-three time TT winner John McGuinness made his return to Mountain Course action during the opening practice of TT 2019. Mist and rain on the 37.73-mile circuit forced the cancellation of Saturday evening’s scheduled session, forcing the organisers to start the action on Sunday for the first time in the event’s 112-year history. “I am a little bit nervous,” admitted the 47-year-old on the Glencrutchery Road start line. “This place is like a disease that just won’t let you go and the anticipation before you get out there is always the same.” McGuinness has missed the last two TTs after breaking his leg in practice at the North West 200 in 2017. He returned to the Classic event last August, winning the 500cc Senior but has been determined to get…

The top brass at Italian company Energica have vowed to remain at the forefront of electric motorcycles despite the massive setback of the fire which consumed the MotoE paddock in March. The fire, which broke out at Jerez, saw Energica’s entire fleet of race bikes destroyed as well as top secret new technology being developed for the road. ‘After MotoE we’ll rebuild our R&D, too’ ‘We want to grow and to be better’ “It won’t affect MotoE too much, but it’ll affect the new solutions we were testing for racing and the street,” Giampiero Testoni, Energica’s Chief Technology Officer, told MCN. “We’ve got a plan and once the rush of rebuilding MotoE is over we will rebuild R&D and should be able to recover the time lost. We were testing…

At 1800cc the engine in the Concept R18 is the biggest flat twin BMW have ever produced. It’s air-cooled but BMW have gone even more old school by reverting to pushrods on top of the barrel; a style not seen from Bavaria since the late ’60s. It’s fairly obvious why they’ve done this: the engine has been styled to look like a Harley big twin or an Indian Thunder Stroke. There’s no word from BMW on specs, but we’d expect it to be producing over 100bhp. The new R18 series are expected to boast all of the latest electronic rider aids, including cornering ABS and lean sensitive TC; things missing from all the big cruisers.…

If there’s one area where dirt bikes lead development, it’s suspension. Most pioneering technology, from linkage shocks to upside-down forks, has come from off-road racing. Austrian firm WP have led the way in much of the latest tech, encouraged by owners, KTM. From world series motocross to American Supercross, WP is fitted to the most KTM and Husqvarna factory bikes where lots of development takes place. Now WP have revealed the latest tech they’ve been testing for two years and are launching them as aftermarket bolt-ons. The new Supertrax shocks use patented new technology to measure and control rebound damping more accurately and for the first time allow a rider to adjust low- and high-speed rebound damping separately via two external adjusters. These are called TXN or Traction adjusters. Usually…

The Welsh market town of Llandovery is perfectly placed as a hub for some of the best riding roads the country has to offer – from fast sweeping A-roads to stunning single tracks and green lanes, there’s something enticing in every direction. We chose to ride in via the complex curves of the legendary Black Mountain pass (A4069), which lead us neatly to this week’s destination, a long-established biker’s oasis called the West End Café. The West End is one of two biker cafés in Llandovery (the other being the Owl’s Nest) and as we roll up on a sunny Saturday morning it’s already heaving with shiny sportsbikes, mud-caked enduros, bug-splattered tourers and well-worn modern classics. There’s a bit of a queue at the counter – which is always a…

I get asked a lot about whether you are born with the talent to race at the top or you can learn it. I think if you really want it, but you haven’t got that natural talent you can still get it – but you have to really work at it. I don’t actually think Hutchy is really naturally talented, but f**k me he makes up for it in terms of training. ‘CAL ISN’T A NATURAL, BUT LIKE HUTCHY HE WANTS IT ’ Then you had people like David Jefferies and Bomber Harris who were just pure talent – different gravy. Cal is different, he says himself that he’s not naturally talented, but like Hutchy he really wants it. I don’t actually think Cal particularly enjoys it – it just…

‘I pull alongside the Harley and Bruce gives me a WTF look’ 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 Chalk and cheese Brimming the tanks at Oundle gives the first chance to compare two very different takes on the ‘hot rod’ and, though sharing monster 240 rear tyres and stretched out attitude they’re chalk and cheese. Though new, the FXDR,…

With much of the 250 route sluiced in rain and the FXDR mostly out of its comfort zone, joy was in short supply. But one stands out. As we exited MK, with the Harley ahead and me on the Diavel slotted in behind exploring Sport mode for the first time, Bruce took the occurrence of the A509 turning into an empty dual-carriageway straight as his invitation to a drag race. The Harley blarted ahead, I quickshifted down one, wrung the Ducati’s neck, held on through gritted teeth and… shockingly only barely kept up until, finally, big revs unleashed the horses required to creep ahead when already well into silly speed. So, yes, when caned, the 160bhp, ultra-sophisticated and far sportier Duke IS quicker than the Harley. But thanks to the…

The length of time it’s taken to bring this bike to market has been frustrating, but Yamaha appear to have at least used the time wisely by calling on their test riders, racers and world adventurers to get the fundamentals and overall packaging right. With the proven motor from the MT-07 but in an all-new frame, it’s a slim bike that’s easy to influence with rider weight distribution and bar leverage. The tank and seat unit design means it’s comfortable sat down with adequate wind protection while, when the rider is stood up, they’re in the optimum position where they are free to move around uninhibited by the shape of the bike. The amount of travel from the suspension means it’s an impressive compromise of real-world road performance and comfort…

Supertwins may have been around before Farquhar converted his first Kawasaki ER6 into a race bike, but he can legitimately lay claim to developing Supertwin racing into the international racing class it is today. “I spoke to Kawasaki back in 2009 and they provided me with an ER6,” he recalls. “I built the race bike in about three weeks.” Back then he was living in a small, semi-detached house with a wooden shed on the side where he did all his spannering. He made his own components on a lathe put in place with a crane before he built the walls of the shed around it. “A lot of road racing was being televised in Ireland back then and when I started winning on the twins the momentum started to…

‘My brain is hard-wired to expect chaos’ They say time machines will never be invented because the evidence would be here now. You’d be sauntering with cavemen in the freezer isle of Sainsbury’s or swiping Tinder with someone from 4023. That said, the Yamaha RD350LC comes close. For those of us who grew up owning one, or were in awe of the then fearsome 80s two-stroke, a kick of the starter (flick the right foot peg up out of the way first) will transport you back to your youth. Enveloped in a haze of sweet, sticky fumes, with its deep gurgling soundtrack filling your ears, everyone has an LC story. Riding one today is a cliché of the thousands of words you’ve ever read about dear Elsie over the years.…

1. TAKE IT SLOW Don’t rush in. Gently brake in plenty of time to buy yourself time to properly assess the upcoming corner. 2. CHECK GEAR Give your gear position indicator a quick glance to check your gear and help you decide how many you need to drop. 3. CHANGE DOWN Once you’re at your chosen approach speed, drop each gear one by one until you reach the appropriate ratio. 4. WAIT FOR IT Don’t be tempted to turn in too early. Hold a wide position to maintain a good view around the corner. 5. THROTTLE Keep a small, constant throttle opening for the first part of the corner. Open wider once you can see your exit is clear. DANGER ZONE Martin’s incorrect gear selection was robbing him of control.…

While all the big players on the 2020 MotoGP grid might be firmly ensconced in two-year deals that take them until the end of next season, that hasn’t stopped the traditional summer silly season from kicking off in the paddock. Centred around Ducati, there are plenty of rumours that we could see significant changes on the grid for next year. However, with lots of speculation so far hiding the true facts of the matter, there’s plenty that remains unclear. With seats potentially hinging on the next few races before the championship takes a few weeks off for the summer break, we try to separate fact from fiction. 1 Is Bautista returning? Rumours abound that World Superbike title leader Alvaro Bautista may have an option in his Ducati contract that could…

The Honda Fireblade on the podium? Three times? You’d better believe it. The critics were silenced as British Superbike Championship newcomer Xavi Fores carried his Honda Racing CBR to three rostrums at Donington. In only his third meeting in the British Championship, 33-year-old Fores took turns in the lead and left the venue with one third and two second places, sealing the first BSB podium finishes for a Spaniard since former champ Gregorio Lavilla won at Brands on an Airwaves Ducati in 2007. “I’m extremely pleased,” said the rider from Llombai just outside Valencia, who in previous years has put factory Ducatis in the shade when riding for the Barni team on the world stage. “I thought I’d have top fives but not three podiums. It was spinning a lot,…

• ‘It could have been so much better. I want to win one’ While Scott Redding took his Ducati to triple wins, others were less content. One fourth place and two thirds left Tommy Bridewell frustrated, the Oxford Racing rider voicing his annoyance to MCN. “It could have been much better,” said the former series leader, feeling under the weather at Donington. “We had the pace to win. I want to win one. “When I was leading Race 2, it started raining. I put my hand up to get the race stopped. The Craner Curves at 160mph are sketchy at the best of times. Admittedly, Scott and Xavi Fores didn’t seem as affected, but they had to maximise the points on this track. Once Scott took the lead, it was…

The race performance experts behind Indian’s US flat track dominating FTR750 racer have now turned their attentions to Indian’s road version, the FTR1200, to produce this rip-snorting, road-going replica as unveiled at The Bike Shed Show in London last weekend. Dubbed the ‘Hooligan’ race kit and produced by S&S Cycle, the kit comprises all the parts necessary to turn the Indian FTR1200 into a full-bore, flat track monster. Starting at the front, the Hooligan kit ‘deletes’ the headlight in favour of a number board attached to a pair of new billet aluminium yokes with adjustable offsets which are modelled on those of the factory FTR750 racer and reduce rake by 2 degrees to bring the front wheel closer and thus sharpen steering. The standard ProTaper bars have been replaced with…

Although the boxer twin GSs tend to grab all the limelight, the F-series bikes deliver as many ‘real world’ thrills and BMW’s current PCP offer on the F850GS is less than ever for a bike that’s both a credible rival to the R1250GS on and off-road as well as a great alternative to Yamaha’s Tracer 900. But if your budget doesn’t stretch that far there are a plethora of F-series models stretching back to the early ’90s to choose from. 2019 F850GS What is it? Comfortable, practical and less of a handful than the 1200, the ‘baby GS’ has finally come of age. MCN says “Who needs a big capacity adventure bike when the new F850GS is around?” Want to buy one? £9875 on the road, £1850 deposit, 5000 miles…

‘These little brutes trot out excuses like poverty’SPECIALS’ SINGER TERRY HALL Ska band, The Specials, have used their latest release to launch a lyrical attack on the moped-enabled criminals who terrorise our city streets. The band topped the charts in the early ’80s with the likes of Ghost Town and have just released a new album, called Encore. And one of the new songs, Embarrassed by You, takes a swipe at the scooter criminals causing chaos in city centres up and down the land. The band appeared on the Graham Norton Show recently to talk about the album and played the song attacking scooter-enabled crime on the show in front of over two million viewers. Lead singer Terry Hall explained the sentiment behind the straight-talking song, saying: “These little brutes…

A group of us travelled from north Wales to the North West 200 for the Saturday race day. It turned out to be a damp affair and we thought there was no prospect of racing taking place, so we would like to thank and commend both riders and organisers for putting on a great day's racing considering the elements. These guys put their lives on the line in dry conditions, but to race at up to 200mph on wet roads is something else. As it was, only the last race on the programme was cancelled because conditions deteriorated. A couple of red flags appeared during the day, thankfully with no serious injuries. I’m sure the estimated 100,000 fans present enjoyed the racing regardless. Hats off to all concerned. Carl Hasson,…

Logically, this is easy: the new Diavel is far better dynamically, better equipped and better value, is slicker and gruntier than before and, in this S trim, is like comparing a Formula 1 car to a Ford Cortina. But the 1260’s fuelling, in Sport mode, again slightly annoys (it did on the Pikes Peak, too) and its authenticity as a US-style hot rod – in many ways the Diavel’s now more like a Monster with a fat rear hoop – is questionable. But the FXDR, although it looks decent, delivers as a traffic light blaster and has (some) charm ultimately disappoints. It’s needlessly uncomfortable, has limited practicality, is sparsely equipped and offensively priced. If you want a Harley ‘rod’ get a Fat Bob or Breakout instead. £20,205 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDR…

1 Having the metal Racebolt use aluminium alloys 6082 and 7075, austenitic (nonmagnetic) stainless steel and aircraft-spec Grade 5 titanium. It arrives in three-metre long bars of 1.6 to 32mm diameter. 2 Creating a program Andy creates a program, taking up to four hours for every bolt, so a CNC machine can make it. 3 Setting up the machine The CNC machines automatically swap between 10-15 cutting tools to create a bolt. 4 In one end and out the other Racebolt have over £1 million invested in seven CNC machines, all of which are fully automated. Once the program is inputted, they automatically feed the bar in one end and spit bolts out the other! 5 Production It takes 2-16 minutes to make a bolt,…

Kawasaki’s cute and authentically retro, bevel-drive twin has come and gone repeatedly since the original’s launch in W650 (actually 675cc), 49bhp form back in 1999. Beating Hinckley Triumph’s revived Bonneville to the punch it paid homage to the Japanese firm’s first motorcycle, the 1966 650cc W1 (itself based on BSA’s old A7). But although praised for its 1960s authenticity, its appeal was limited by flaccid performance (the 2001 790cc Bonnie produced 62bhp) and was dropped in 2006. It was reintroduced in 2011 as the fuel-injected W800, dropped again due to Euro4 in 2016 and, heavily reworked (Kawasaki claim, despite appearances, 90% is new), is now back again – but what exactly are the differences and have they worked? 1 A2/Euro4 compliant While, Kawasaki’s 773cc bevel-drive twin appears unchanged from the…

IRELAND BIKEFEST KILLARNEY MAY 31-JUNE 2 ‘Join the Killarney parade’ For one weekend a year Killarney plays host to 10,000 bikers for this annual free-to-enter event where bikes parade through the town. With test rides on all the latest Harleys, trade stands and live music playing into the night, it’s a fun-filled weekend. The route We head out from the hustle and bustle of BikeFest for a quick lap that touches on parts of the Wild Atlantic way, a route that covers all of the west coast of Ireland. From Killarney take the N71 through the heart of the national park, the roads are narrow and twisty with some stunning views. Be careful of oncoming traffic, in places it narrows to single track. Molls Gap is a great…

Riding a Speed Twin has put me in good company because they have been selling fast. Since taking custodianship of my Twin back in March, I had a feeling that it’d be a hit, not only because of its styling and performance, but also because of the attention it was getting. Every time I stopped at a filling station (which, given the Twin’s small tank, is fairly frequently) I got a barrage of questions from would-be owners. MCN reader Andrew Stockdale said he and his wife, Marce, took a test ride on one. Their local dealer, A1 Triumph of York, were good enough to let them take it for a few hours so the pair of them had an enjoyable afternoon on the roads between York and Bridlington. Andrew loved…

RATINGS POOR ★ AVERAGE ★★ GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ Dexter Cronos Helmet £124.99 Tested by Alison Silcox, six  months, 2000 miles The Dexter Cronos has all the features of a top-spec helmet, but at a fraction of the price. Made with a fibreglass shell, this helmet comes with a fully removable and washable liner, double-D ring chin strap, multi-density EPS and an anti-mist Pinlock insert. I’ve ridden with it through the Winter and into Spring and found it comfortable and reassuring, while the vents are well placed and easy to operate with a gloved hand. It’s easy to switch to the dark visor, which can be bought for an extra £21.99. There’s some chrome-effect detailing, which breaks up the matt black finish of the lid. Amazing value.…

• ‘I believe in myself again. I knew I could do it at Donington’ Scott Redding broke his Bennetts British Superbike Championship duck at Donington Park at the weekend. Then he won again. And again. Sealing his maiden three wins at the triple-header, the Be Wiser Ducati man has become the 50th winner in the modern era and is propelled into the championship lead. In 2008, a 15-year-old Redding made Grand Prix history by becoming the then youngest ever winner, beating Marc Marquez who collected his first ever podium. Eleven years on, 26-year-old Redding led home the field in three phenomenal races as the championship raced on Donington’s shorter National Circuit for the first time since Shane Byrne recorded his maiden win way back in 2002. Redding’s victory was his…

‘So blustery that I struggled with the apexes of the corners’ Last year’s Supersport TT winner Dean Harrison made a determined start to defending his title on the ZX-6RR Silicone Kawasaki as he set the fastest lap of Sunday’s opening TT practice evening. With arch-rival Peter Hickman competing at Donington BSB, Harrison made full use of the opportunity to bed in his 600, completing six laps in the dry but windy conditions. “The more you laps you do the better you’ll be,” the 30-year-old said after posting a speed of 126.09mph. “I just rode around steady because there were a lot of damp patches under the trees at Glen Helen and Ramsey Hairpin plus it was windy on the mountain. As the session went on I could see rubber being…

Jamie Coward’s impressive start to 2019 continued as he posted the quickest Lightweight speed on the CMS Kawasaki – a whole 13 seconds faster than last year’s Lightweight TT winner, Michael Dunlop’s Paton. Paul Jordan was third quickest on the Dafabet Kawasaki with NW200 winner Stefano Bonnetti (Paton) fifth, sandwiched between the Ryan Farquhar built KMR Kawasakis of Derek McGee and Gary Johnson. Last year’s fastest newcomer and 8th quickest in the Supersport class, described the opening TT practice as a ‘reality check’. “I have only ridden in last year’s near perfect conditions and hadn’t seen the track as dirty as it was tonight,” he said. “I was riding really tense in the wind.”…