Table of contents for 15 November 2017 in MCN

Kwakkers 125s Kawasaki revealed last week that they are building a pair of 125s that will arrive during 2018. While they didn’t reveal either bike in full, they confirmed that there will be a Z125 and a Ninja 125, and the teased outlines clearly show the bikes will directly mirror the existing families. Festival returns The Festival of 1000 bikes is back for 2018, with the VMCC announcing that Mallory Park will reverberate to the sound of classic megaphones on the weekend of July 6-9, 2018. The format of the event is unchanged, meaning that owners can ride their bikes on track throughout the weekend, and ogle some rare bikes. King of bling Harley-Davidson’s European dealers went head-to-head in the third running of their Battle of the Kings comp, and…

Off-road Hero Hero surprised everyone with the unveiling of their their XPulse Adventure bike concept last week. Details are still unclear, but it’s believed the bike will use a 200cc engine – the same one that will power their new Xtreme 200. Big-tank Huskys Husqvarna have revealed a 701 Enduro with larger fuel tanks and a set of their optional side bags, clearly suggesting the potential as a long-range adventure bike. Husky have showed a long-range tank option before, but emission changes prevented them going into production. Pack your bags British luggage specialists Kriega unveiled some new products at EICMA, including a new lightweight drinks carrier and a rackless bag system. Using their new OS-series bags and the new carrier, it’s now possible to carry up to 40 litres of…

“It sounds ambitious, but these bikes are aimed at every market in the world. We’ve tuned this bike to the highest technical specs, so it meets every emissions and regulatory target. “Finally at Royal Enfield, after decades of just bumbling around, we’ve figured out the values of scale and it still gives me goosebumps that we are one of the biggest manufacturers in the world. What’s interesting is having a development centre in the UK because we think that if we can design a bike that works in India and works in the UK, it should work everywhere else too. “What we found was that what people wanted more than power was the next level of refinement and I think we’ve delivered that.”…

AGV X3000 £323 A modern reproduction of the lid worn by Ago in the 1960s, the X3000 offers all the protection of a modern lid with a dash of retro style. www.agv.co.uk ACERBIS OTTANO JACKET £370 Off-road maestros Acerbis have produced a range of urban/retro gear with the protection of their rally gear. Range includes a jacket, pants, gloves and helmet. www.acerbis.it STYLMARTIN MATRIX £299 Stylmartin’s new Matrix boot pays homage to classic off-road boots of the 1970s. Its off-road style combined with waterproof liner makes it an ideal retro touring boot. www.stylmartin.it BUILT ISSUE 8 £4.99 Issue eight of Built features all sorts of bikes from all over the world, including a near-perfect Ducati Novant’anni built by Dutchmen Leo Fleuren and Willy Poelen. www.builtmag.co.uk…

Why no trackers? Loved all the new bikes in MCN this week with more power and more electronics, but not a single mention of factory fitted trackers which, in my opinion, should be compulsory on all new bikes. Vic Price, Herts Looking for old snaps Back in 1981 I wrote to MCN and offered a collection of photographs I’d saved from my youth. Mostly of scrambling as it was. The offer was taken up by one of your readers but now living in Australia I regret selling off my old memories! If the buyer reads this I would be happy to buy them back or pay for them to be copied. I would love to share my memories with my grandchildren. They showed the Rickmans, Geoff Ward, Dave Curtis and…

Ducati 1200 Multistrada Enduro Pro Its constantly-adjusting suspension makes it more than capable off-road and the Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres make it confidence-inspiring on the dirt. BMW R1200GS Adventure With a low centre of gravity and excellent throttle connection, the BMW is easy to manage as long as you have grip – which the standard Michelins didn’t have. KTM 1290 Super Adventure R Its wheels make the KTM by far the most off-road focused. With a close-to-perfect riding position and long travel suspension it has extra leverage and balance.…

Despite there still being around a month and a half of biking fun left to be had this year, MCN’s determined R5K clan are already doubling their 5000-mile totals and more. This includes Mike Bell from Somerset, who has just reached 10,000 miles for this year aboard his Suzuki V-Strom 650. Mike uses his bike to get to work and back, opting to take a longer route over the Mendip Hills in the summer months. Fellow rider Mike Britt has also been piling on the miles, doing roughly 12,000 this year on his Honda VFR and Fireblade. Speaking on the R5K Facebook page, he said: “I’ve had great fun on pretty much every mile. I’ve met loads of people, travelled to new places and did my first trackday. I’ve just…

SUZUKI GSX-R1000R £16,099 Fuel 16ltr@47mpg Weight 204kg (measured, full of fuel) Seat 825mm Power 188bhp@12,500rpm Torque 87ftlb@10,500rpm THE RIDER Michael Neeves. Sportsbike lover, Ron Haslam Elite instructor, racer. Height 6ft Weight 72kg michael.neeves@motorcyclenews.com To see if the Suzuki’s any faster with age and if the extra 7bhp released from my remap and Yoshi race can makes a difference, I took it to Bruntingthorpe with a freshly run-in GSX-R1000R and got MCN datalog guru Bruce to fire them down the runway. Hammering to 0-60mph in 3.11s, 100mph in 5.57 and 150mph in 10.43s, my bike is just a few tenths faster and hitting 180.63mph on our test strip (cut to a kilometre, due to road works) it’s 1.5mph quicker. So there’s bugger-all in it, which just goes to show how fine…

Last week I highlighted dirty tricks used by sellers to pump up the value of a bike by concealing its faults. What is less known is that there are also some interesting ruses used by buyers to drive down asking prices. The most obvious is to wave instant cash and offer a low price. Never, ever take a buyer’s first offer. Many people do, though. I’ll frequently try a low initial offer, just to see where we stand, but the aggressive types will come in with something along the lines of “It’s not worth what you’re asking… here’s 50% off the asking price.” Pro buyers travel in pairs, usually in a battered van. These guys aren’t private buyers; they’re buying bikes to sell on, probably at an auto jumble. One…

2011 KTM 690 Enduro Colours Orange, black and white Dealer £4000 Private good £3700 Private average £3400 This one £4750 buys you this 9692-miler from Premier Bikes. Mods include a rally fairing and aftermarket pipe. 2012 KTM 690 SMC R Colours Orange, black and white Dealer £6300 Private good £6000 Private average £5700 This one This dealer sale is littered with extras and has done just 9330 miles with a full service history, £6495. 2013 KTM 690 Enduro R Colours Orange, black and white Dealer £5300 Private good £5000 Private average £4700 This one Very clean example with an Akrapovic can and wavy discs. Three owners, 6080 miles, £5895. 2014 KTM 690 Enduro R Colours Orange, black and white Dealer £5600 Private good £5300 Private average £5000 This one This…

Not going quietly Valencia saw the final race for two stalwarts of the MotoGP world, with veteran journalists Nick Harris and Julian Ryder stepping down after incredible commentating careers.MotoGP.com commentator Harris has been in the paddock since first working as an MCN reporter 38 years ago, while Ryder (above) has been on the microphone for 24 seasons in both GP and WSB with Sky Sports, Eurosport and BT Sport. Musical chairs With the season over, the musical chairs are already underway. It’s all change at Reale Avintia Ducati as Hector Barbera and Loris Baz (above) are replaced by Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon. Barbera will join Sam Lowes in returning to Moto2, while Baz is expected to move to World Superbikes with Althea BMW. MotoGP 2018 is go! It might…

‘What makes a team is dealing with the lows’SANTI HERNANDEZ “If I’d been wearing a heart monitor I’m sure it would have been peaking – or stopping! The race was difficult, because yeah Dovi was fifth, but he wasn’t that far away. “I have no words to describe how happy I am with this guy. It’s unbelievable what he’s done in five years in MotoGP, and it’s unbelievable that I’ve been given the opportunity to work with a rider like him. “We are always in the same boat together. When he crashes, we crash, and when we make some mistakes, it’s as if we all made them together. But what makes a team is the low points. It’s easy after a win when everyone is happy, but when he wasn’t…

There were so many votes for the shortlist of the Carole Nash Biking Heroes competition that the intended top 10 list had to become a top 11! But after another round of voting, the three finalists have now been selected ahead of Motorcycle Live. The three finalists will all appear at Motorcycle Live at the NEC with an overall winner announced live at the show on November 18. Meet the contenders The three finalists are Talan Skeels-Piggins, Chrisy Thomson and Karen Neill, who were all nominated for their herculean contributions to motorcycling. They each have their own stories to tell, but they didn’t nominate themselves – it’s the people who admire them most who have thrust them into the limelight. The final winner of the Biking Hero crown will be…

LAP 1 ii Marquez wheelies off the line but maintains the lead from pole position, with team-mate Dani Pedrosa slotting into the perfect place behind him in second. LAP 3 ii With Johann Zarco making a move on Pedrosa and pressures Marquez, the race leader sits up and lets the Frenchman through, choosing to follow rather than lead. LAP 13 ii Ducati signals ‘suggested mapping eight’ to Jorge Lorenzo, the coded signal for the Spaniard to let Andrea Dovizioso through. He ignores the signal. LAP 23 ii Unable to maintain his rhythm while sitting behind the Monster Yamaha machine, Marquez decides he should lead the last three laps and makes his move on Zarco… LAP 24 ii … only for it to go disastrously wrong at turn one, with a…

‘It’s got to be an authentic Norton, but it’s got to be modern, too’SIMON SKINNER, NORTON Norton will announce their intention to build a new family of 650cc parallel-twins at this weekend’s Motorcycle Live, showing a new scrambler model to canvass input from potential owners. The firm are developing two scrambler-styled bikes, one road focused, and the other a more serious dual-purpose option for riders who want to get their kicks in the dirt. “It started off life as half of the V4,” says Norton head of design Simon Skinner. “We always knew we wanted to do a 650 parallel-twin to create a new range of bikes, the first of which will be a Scrambler. “The engine has been designed to have three power levels, with the top-end high-spec 175bhp…

Integra improves Honda have updated the Integra for 2018 with refinements to the DCT plus better electronics. The DCT gearbox now has a more natural feathered clutch feel plus traction control. The Integra also comes in an A2 compliant version. Instant Classic As well as the new 1100, Ducati also unveiled new flavours for the 803cc Scrambler with the Classic and Street Classic, which pay homage to the 1970s. The Classic bikes have spoked rims, neutral colours and brushed engine fins. R wonder stuff Yamaha have updated the R1 and R1-M for 2018. The R1-M gets revised Öhlins suspension, revised quickshifter with autoblipper, improved lift control and new ECU maps while the R1 also gets the new quickshifter and a colour refresh. Revs away Honda have updated the super-practical NC750X…

Michelin Road 5 £TBC What’s good? This sports-touring tyre takes its inspiration from the ever-popular Pilot Road 4 and promises impressive performance in wet conditions and stopping distances to rival a new one even after 3000 miles of use. Michelin also claim this new rubber will give added stability. What’s not? With the dimensions starting at 120/60-17 on the front and 150/70-17 at the rear, this tyre sits out of reach for some smaller capacity machines. www.moto.michelin.co.uk Oxford Drystash £24.99 – £34.99 What’s good? The Drystash is a waterproof travel bag, which uses a weatherproof closure system and fully taped seams. To help keep it comfy, there’s a padded shoulder strap and the bag can be attached to most bikes. Available in three capacities – 15 litres, 30 litres and…

‘You might as well buy a sofa and put some wheels on it’ QUICKFIRE ROUND • Fast, intermediate or novice group? I’d say fast, but I should be sensible and go intermediate • Mud or tarmac? Mud • Four-stroke or two-stroke? Two-stroke • Dark visor or clear? Dark • Gloves in or gloves out? I tuck them in • GPS or map? Map • Dealer service or do it yourself? Dealer service, I don’t trust myself Q1 What are you riding? A Triumph Thruxton R, which is my main bike. It’s got plenty of power, it’s nice and smooth, and narrow enough to thread through London traffic. I’ve also got a Triumph Explorer XCA. I did have a BMW R1200GS, but it was stolen after just four days. I was…

‘The GS is best, but it comes at a price’ All three bikes come from very different stables and they divided opinions amongst our three-man test team. Bruce loved the sophisticated effortless of the GS, Michael prefered the raw and heavily off-road biased KTM and I was stuck in the middle with the Ducati – which made choosing a winner hard work. BMW haven’t re-written the rulebook with the new GS, but all the small changes have made a huge difference and certainly made the book a more engaging read. The handling is outstanding considering its size, and the comfort is class-leading. It’s the best bike, but then in full-spec mode it does cost close to £20,000. ‘Picking a winner in this test wasn’t easy as we all had our…

MCN’s campaign to encourage as many readers as possible to cover 5000 miles in a year is all about getting the most enjoyment possible from your motorcycle. We realise life is full of pressures that stop you biking, but there’s always a way. So #ride5000miles is all about finding time on a Sunday to go for a blast, or doing that tour or trip you’ve always wanted to do. It can even be about just riding your bike to work more often. There’s a great network set up to help you achieve this – and thousands of bikers have already signed up to our #ride5000miles Facebook group. It’s a wonderful place full of friendly faces who are happy to share routes, experiences and tips. Even if you’re not going to…

‘If you fancy improving the dynamics then this is the way forward’ BMW R NINE T RACER £11,615 Fuel 17 litres @40mpg = 149 miles Weight 220kg (wet) Seat 805mm Power 104bhp (measured) Torque 86ftlb (measured) MATT WILDEE MCN Senior Editor Loves fast, flowing road riding and track days Height 6ft 2in Weight 85kg Worth tinkering? 30mm more ride-height front and rear, upgraded suspension, a race pipe and fuelling commander help unleash the BMW’s sporty attitude One of the most interesting parts of running the R nineT has been modifying it to improve its performance. As standard, the Racer handles well. Long and low, its steering is slow, but stability is peerless and although the suspension is soft, it is well balanced between front and rear. On fast flowing A-roads…

THE EXPERT Jim Worland is Metzeler UK Director and has worked in motorcycling for 23 years on road and race tyres. The tread pattern of a tyre performs two main functions; clearing water efficiently and maintaining the mechanical grip of the tyre on the road. As tyres have become more specialised over the years, the tread patterns have also become more focused for extreme grip, wet weather efiiciency, mileage, and braking performance. The minimum allowance for grooves in a road tyre is 4%, as seen on the Metzeler Racetec RR, while the Roadtec 01 has 20% of its surface given over to the tread pattern. A typical ratio is about 15%, while tread depths on a road tyre can vary between 5mm and 10mm, with a deeper tread for more…

Flipping AGV AGV have unveiled a new fully-carbon flip-front helmet at EICMA 2017. Ranging from £594.95 to £679.95, the Sportmodular also boasts impact resistance on a par with AGV’s flagship MotoGPinspired Pista GP R. www.agv.com Heads up from Schuberth Head-up display company Nuviz have teamed up with Schuberth to produce individual adapters for the flip-up C4 and full-face R2 helmets, ready to house the Nuviz display. The device will also be available for the C3 and C3 Pro, in conjunction with Schuberth’s SC10U comms system. uk.ridenuviz.com They’re just ace The organisers of Motorcycle Live have chosen the four finalists for the Ace Builds custom showcase competition. The bikes in question will be displayed at the Birmingham show from November 18 to 26 and visitors can vote for the ‘Ultimate Ace…

‘Buy a good one, look after it and it will be one of the best bikes you’ve owned’ “There are occasional issues with fuel pressure and with how the bike runs. This is down to the fuel filter in the tank not being changed as regularly as it’s supposed to be. “This can cause low fuel pressure, which will become apparent because the bike will hesitate under acceleration, or it will cut out when you ride along. On some occasions it will be the pump itself, or even the injector. “If the bike has not been serviced regularly and starved of oil, then it can have an adverse effect on the roller rockers and camshafts in the engine. “That’s probably the one weak point of the engine. The engines aren’t…

Rins ends on high MotoGP rookie Alex Rins took an incredible fourth place at Sunday’s Valencia GP. He once again beat team-mate Andrea Iannone and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi. “This race was fantastic. I fought with many riders but eventually I fought with Valentino – and I learned a lot! “It’s the best way to finish this difficult season, but we finished the year strong.” Martin is the man Gresini Honda rider Jorge Martin finally converted his incredible streak of Moto3 pole positions into a debut race win at Valencia. Starting from the top spot nine times this year, the Spaniard left it until the last race to convert one into a win – from champion Joan Mir by four seconds. He said: “ I worked hard this weekend…

‘When I saw Marc make a mistake I thought, now I want to win’ANDREA DOVIZIOSO Andrea Dovizioso said he isn’t disappointed to have lost out on the 2017 MotoGP World Championship crown in the final round at Valencia as he started the season thinking he wouldn’t have a chance. Since joining Ducati in 2013, the Italian’s best championship finish has been fifth (in both 2014 and 2016) and while the Bologna factory saw a significant improvement last year to win their first races since 2010, Dovizioso never believed it’d be enough to fight Honda and Yamaha for the crown. However, after tripling his MotoGP win tally by Round 12 at Silverstone, Dovizioso looked to have a decent shot at claiming his first premier class crown. Two further wins in Japan…

‘I was with the team after Le Mans and told them – I’m not enjoying riding’MARC MARQUEZ Marc Marquez admitted that his 2017 MotoGP world title may well be the most stressful of his career, after admitting how the pressures of this year not only left him falling out of love with motorcycling, but affected his health. Having to risk it week after week to take the fight to first Maverick Viñales and then Andrea Dovizioso on a Repsol Honda that was at best difficult and at worst dangerous to ride at the limit at the start of the season, the smiling assassin says that the pressure led him to question his entire future. “It’s been hard,” he said. “After Barcelona, I was with my hairdresser and she wanted to…

Motorcycle Live kicks off this weekend for nine days of motorcycle indulgence that’s likely to either damage your adrenal glands, or your wallet. Or quite possibly both. From amazingly pretty 125s, to the most insanely endowed superbikes ever built, this year’s glut of new metal has something to appeal to almost every wallet, and certainly every predilection. Some bikes obviously stand out from the crowd, and while I plan to tick off every single one of our Top 40 hot picks when I make my annual pilgrimage to Brum, there are a few that may cause me to linger longer. The first is Kawasaki’s new Ninja H2 SX SE. They probably could have thought a little harder about the name, but they’ve clearly used all their mental capacity on the…

 Silverstone will host the British Grand Prix in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The confirmed deal ends three months of uncertainty as both Silverstone and Donington pitched to host it following the collapse of the Circuit of Wales. ‘We are looking forward to moving things on now’STUART PRINGLE, SILVERSTONE The British GP has been held at the Northamptonshire circuit since 2010, but in recent years it has been contracted to the Circuit of Wales until the project collapsed earlier this year. MotoGP rights holders Dorna then entered negotiations with both Silverstone and Donington for 2018 and beyond, and while initial reports suggested things were swaying in the direction of Donington, Silverstone signed their new, three-year deal with Dorna bosses at this weekend’s MotoGP finale in Valencia. Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle told…

V4SS Flagship £44,000 special edition is all sold-out V4RR V4 superbike is a work of art. Delivery expected in early 2018 Dominator Naked The hottest of the 961 platform continues to sell like hotcakes 961 Commando Café Racer Café racer version of the roadster ‘Sport’ has clip-ons 961 Commando Sport The most authentically original bike in the Commando range 961 Commando California Newest Commando in the lineup gets high-bar 70s styling 650 Scrambler Expected as two models, one more street, one more off-road 650 Supersport Sportsbike version of the new 650 starts faired family (left)…

‘The panels are carbon and it has a stacked headlight’ CCM have had huge success with their new Spitfires since they were unveiled at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show last February. After the first Spitfire, the range expanded to include the Scrambler and Café Racer. Now MCN can exclusively reveal that the Spitfire range has grown again to include a limited edition flat track model called the FT6. Powered by the same 599cc single as the others, which generates 54.2bhp and 42ftlb of torque, it’s sure to have a decent punch thanks to its low weight. The FT6 also shares the same steel trellis frame as the other models, but the finishing kit has been altered, making the FT6 the highest spec bike yet. The body panels are…

Call me old fashioned (many do), but when my boss asks me to perform a certain task for the good of the company that pays me, I tend to perform that task – or, at the very least, try my best to do what’s wanted. As long as what he’s asking me to do is not illegal, not humiliating and not likely to attract the attention of HR, I’ll give it a go. If I didn’t, I’d be called to one of those special meeting rooms with no windows. And, quite likely, never be seen again! Jorge Lorenzo has caused many to scratch their heads after his actions in the final two MotoGP races of the season – not least his Ducati paymasters. First (in Sepang), he says he didn’t…

SUZUKI GSX 750F SLINGSHOT My first bike is the same age as me! I’ve made a few modifications so far – blackened wheels, swingarm, screen. Dave Baynes TRIUMPH T140ES Me on my first bike back in 1981. Notice that I fitted American spec bars and sissy bar. Phil Jones HONDA FIREBLADE Not my first bike but my first kneedown at Abingdon roundabout in 1996. Vinnie Wright YAMAHA TY80 My brother and I, aged nine and ten on our first trials bikes in 1976. Still enjoying trials today! Danny and Shane Stalker YAMAHA TY50 This was about 1983 in New Zealand. I’m now on a Tracer 900. Joseph Hunter KAWASAKI KX250G Me back in 1992. I have recently rejoined the off-road scene on a Honda CRF450 but this time with my…

How good is this? You can save cash on your favourite biking read – and get a set of riding jeans that’d cost you £107.99 in the shops! The SR4 Bull-it jeans are tough yet comfortable and look great both on and off the bike. • The traditional design gives you five pockets, including a coin pocket • The jeans are not just fashionable; they also include abrasion resistance coverage for up to four seconds! The side and rear have a triple seam construction for enhanced durability and abrasion resistance • They are made from water resistant material with a thermal barrier to keep you warm and comfortable and have integrated pockets for CE hip and thigh protectors • They come in nine waist sizes (28-44) and three leg lengths…

‘Wedging my hand in the throttle lever so that no bump should close it’ We’ve all seen the film; a dusty Peter O’Toole waging guerrilla warfare in the desert as ‘TE Lawrence of Arabia’. The classic film etched the British officer’s exploits into our minds. But it’s not just his military prowess that’s fascinating, perhaps lesser known is that Lawrence was the world’s first sportsbike nut and his favourite roads were in Dorset. This ride starts in Dorchester area, make your way east and jump on the A352, after five miles turn left onto the B3390, Crossways. Now you’re on Lawrence’s roads. Gently wind on the throttle and you’ll notice the roads tighten, it’ll feel like riding through a tree-lined tunnel. While you ease off the gas remember that in…

‘The semi-active Öhlins is welcome here in deepest rural Bumpshire’ HONDA FIREBLADE SP £19,125 Fuel 16 litres @ 49mpg = 172 mile range Weight 195kg (kerb) Seat 820mm Power 176bhp@13,000rpm Torque 79.6ftlb@11,000rpm(both measured) TIM THOMPSON Rode the first Blade into the UK in 1992 and had his mullet blown off in the process. Height 5ft 7in Weight 71kg 1 Emotion v efficiency That’s the first thing. The untold story of this 180mph bike is not how fast it is but how remarkably un-fast it feels. It’s hard to describe. At one extreme is the Ducati 1299 Panigale S, which carries its speed with it. It booms and clatters and pumps out heat as an emotional bi-product of its insane, liquid rapidity. At the other is the Blade SP, which goes…

Furygan Face & Neck & Plastron 2W Neck Warmer £26.99 This thermal turtleneck has a perforated nosepiece and elasticated upper construction to offer a secure fit. Made from breathable fabric, this is the most expensive warmer on offer here and is designed to be one size fits all. Held Face & Neck Warmer £10.99 This Held option comes with a nose cut out and a mesh mouthpiece. There’s a Velcro closure to keep it secure on your head and an internal moisture management system. For added comfort and warmth, there’s a microfleece lining too. Forcefield Tornado Advance, £16.99 Forcefield’s Tornado Advance comes with an anti-bacterial, wind-proof lining and is fast drying and lightweight. This warmer is available in one size to fit most riders and is designed for a close…

‘You need to be at the front at Lisboa on the first lap... and want to win 110%’GLENN IRWIN ‘You can’t steam into corners, pushing the front... you have to be very precise’GLENN IRWIN Glenn Irwin is pulling no punches about his hopes for glory at the 50th running of the Macau Grand Prix this weekend. “When the going got tough out there this morning I just kept saying ‘Macau, Macau, Macau’ to myself and pushed on,” the 27-year-old grinned after a recent training run. Following his astonishing debut in the daunting Chinese street race 12 months ago – when he mixed it with the leading trio of Peter Hickman, Martin Jessopp and Michael Rutter before being sidelined on the penultimate lap by a broken wire on his PBM/…

‘We need to improve and reduce the gap – we are worried’VALENTINO ROSSI MotoGP rookie Johann Zarco once again embarrassed the factory Yamaha team of Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales in Valencia this weekend, leading 25 laps of Sunday’s race before Dani Pedrosa forced him to settle for second on the final lap. Quicker than his vastly more experienced factory counterparts all weekend, Zarco blitzed Rossi and Viñales, who finished the race fifth and 12th. Twice a Moto2 World Champion, Zarco has been a revelation in his debut MotoGP season, beating both factory machines in a third of the races this year, taking three podiums and missing out on the win last weekend by a mere 0.3 seconds. “I must be happy,” he said after the race. “To be disappointed…

1. Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE THE FACTS • 207bhp @ 11,000rpm • 256kg • Seat height 835mm HIGHLIGHTS • Supercharged 998cc inline-four • Mass of electronic rider aids • Redesigned Ninja H2 engine Welcome to the most ballistic sports-tourer ever built. This is Kawasaki’s all-new supercharged Ninja H2 SX SE, delivering well over 200bhp of creamy excess. The combination of a new chassis, revised engine, new balanced supercharger and all-day comfort for both rider and pillion should make for a devastatingly effective continent crosser. Kawasaki blew us away with the insane Ninja H2 hyperbike when it was first released in 2015, but this takes supercharged road bikes to a whole different level. While the Ninja was all about power and acceleration, the new SX adds efficiency, fuel economy and…