Table of contents for 11 August 2021 in MCN

‘We are losing something big in MotoGP’MARQUEZ ON ROSSI’S RETIREMENT MOTOGP MOVES It’s the end of an era for MotoGP The list of rider superlatives has been hammered to a pulp over the last few days in the wake of Valentino Rossi’s decision to announce his retirement from MotoGP. Even staunch, bitter rivals have parked their animosity to tip their metaphorical hats to the man who has defined MotoGP – and, for many, motorcycling – for over a quarter of a century. Get the inside line on what his retirement means for MotoGP. 10-PAGE SPECIAL, STARTS P4 TECHWATCH Honda bikes will be uncrashable Yes, you read that right. It’s not possible, though – surely? Well, Honda believe it is, and say that by 2050 they will make sure that their…

£27,499 Honda GL1800 Gold Wing Tour DCT Honda’s fully-laden luxury full-dress tourer is famed for having it all, especially in semiautomatic DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) form, and now HGB Motorcycles are offering this new, pre-registered example with a huge £3200 saving as well. Never have we been offered so much... for so little. Well, relatively. • www.hgbmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1000 £11,999 Kawasaki Versys 1000S Clay Cross have a range of offers on Kawasakis including £1000 off the latest Versys. • claycrosskawasaki.co.uk • Engine 1043cc • Power 118bhp • Weight 255kg • Seat height 840mm SAVE £600 £5999 Honda CBR500R Save £250 on 2020 bikes and get a Supersport Pack worth £350 including seat cowl, dark screen and Lextek exhaust. • www.laguna.co.uk • Engine 471cc • Power 47bhp • Weight 192kg •…

Aftermarket plastics specialists Pyramid have created a flyscreen for Yamaha’s MT-09 and MT-09 SP which bolts on above the bike’s divisive new headlight. The unit uses a specially designed bracket and comes in matte black at the moment with four other colours, including an SP scheme, to follow. The black one has an RRP of £75 but the other colours will cost more. Want one? Call 01427 677990. Petrol ban backlash A group of 13 MPs and Lord Lilley have endorsed an all-party parliamentary group report concerning the proposed ban on new fossil fuel powered vehicles by 2030. In a statement the group said: “The Government should immediately remove the threat of the 2030 ban. Instead, they should incentivise the move to clean fuels by motivating industry.” Give it some…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR ‘Honda will strive for zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050.” Those are the words of CEO and President Toshiro Mibe and they lay out the boldest safety target of all time. While 2050 might seem a long way off, if Honda are going to come close they need to create uncrashable motorcycles, and they’ll need to be developed sooner rather than later if the tech is to be spread through the range. Making a Gold Wing with car-like rider-assistance systems is one thing, applying the same tech to every one of the millions of budget Hondas sold in Asia is another. Mibe said: “The major challenge we will face is how to eliminate motorcycle collision fatalities, especially in emerging countries. As a…

Following an enforced break in 2020, the third 1000 Dunas rally is now set to kick off in late November 2021 and will be backed by Brit bike giants Triumph. Setting off from Granada on Saturday, November 27, riders will pass through the driest areas of Morocco on motorcycle-specific tracks, reaching the Merzouga desert before returning to Spain on Saturday, December 4. If you fancy pushing yourself and your bike to its limits, then spaces are still available, with riders completing the challenge via a roadbook or GPS instructions. It’s open to anyone from novice competitors to experienced rally racers, you can find more at: 1000dunas.com/en Euro track dates Fancy a foreign getaway to ride some of the most iconic racetracks in Europe? No Limits have spaces at events between…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Murray was the real deal I was very saddened to read of the sudden loss of the wonderful Neil Murray last week and send sincere condolences to his family. Neil’s column in MCN was one of the highlights each week and my son and I would always discuss the merits of his ‘Buy this now’ recommendations in a lively ‘Hound or Holy’ debate! Regardless of where we ended up in the debate, Neil’s passion for bikes and ability to see merit in every model struck a chord in the hearts of most bikers. We all have favourite bikes and may even knock particular brands or styles, but at the end of the day every bike is still a bike and that’s what matters. Phil Barber, Wiltshire…

Ride further in 2021 with a little help from our one-stop event guide Ride out to Britain’s best biking cafes IRON HORSE HOUSE ● Bike nights every Thursday and live music almost every weekend ● Weekdays 9.30am-9pm, Sat 9am-late, Sun 9am-6pm ● Find out more / ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk Set in the sleepy town of Market Deeping, surrounded by fantastic riding roads, the Iron Horse Ranch House regularly sees bikes from all over the country packing out their carpark and kerbside area. In the 12 years since it opened, the Lincolnshire café has become so popular that it moved to larger premises on the other side of the street and has kept expanding. Front of house manager Rachel King told us: “We’re a venue that just likes to include everybody. The owner…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes Short but a very enjoyable route, with plenty of chances to stop off for an icecream and a quick trip to the amusement. Start at Minnis Bay and wind clockwise, make sure you keep the sea on your left, you follow the old 1970s and 80s open top bus route. Next along is Birchington and into Margate, which is buzzing in the summer. It’s worth stopping off to explore and visit The Bus Café, it does great breakfasts and street food. Hop back on the bike and straight to picture postcard Broadstairs before a short ride through to Ramsgate. Take time to explore the picturesque harbour, it looks a bit like St Tropez… if you squint. From here take the A299 and…

Although the Heritage Sprint can’t go ahead, the Heritage Summer Bike Show is a don’t-miss event. What’s happening? On August 15 at Betteshanger Park, near Deal, a collection of bikes from across the years are coming together for the Heritage Summer Show. With parade runs, you’ll be able to see (and hear) many of the machines in their element, and that’s alongside stands and stalls which include restorers and custom builders. Complete with a bike mart if you’re planning to buy or sell and a whole host of food choices, you’ll have plenty to see and do. The essential stuff The show is taking place on Sunday August 15 and runs from 10am until 4pm. It’ll cost £3 for adults and under 16s will be able to get in for…

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

Cruisers like these are very much ‘time and place’ bikes and the reality is that owners are highly unlikely to cover the kind of mileages on the style of road we encounter on the MCN250. However, even on short distances the issues we uncovered are certain to aggravate owners (see left). But the delights we also unearthed are what makes this style of bike so appealing. If you want a cruiser to reward you with an emotional experience every ride, the Bobber is a clear winner. The parallel twin is a peach that thumps and pops to deliver a riding experience that is backed up by stunning looks and a surprisingly agile chassis. Yes, the seat and way-too-firm shock conspire to kick any feeling from your backside, but stick to…

Back in 2020 CSS were in real trouble after their holding company ran into financial difficulties. With the blessing of Keith Code, CSS is now run by Global Motorcycle Events, which was set up by Gary Adshead (Chief Riding Coach) and Martin Plunkett (Deputy Chief Riding Coach and my instructor for the day) who have over 30 years of CSS coaching between them. “I was a police biker for many years and to be honest riding all day every day for work sort of took the fun out of it,” said Gary, who gives the classroom sessions. “I was more interested in banging up burglars than stopping bikes for speeding. “Once I’d left the police I was thinking about getting back into biking and I saw Keith Code on the…

EMMA FRANKLIN DEPUTY EDITOR Sportsbike lover with 18 years of experience, road and race. Likes day trips out THE FACTS £16,650 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa Engine 1340cc liquid-cooled, 16v, inline four Suspension (F) KYB 43mm USD forks, fully adj (R) KYB single shock, fully adj Brakes (F) 2 x 320mm discs with four piston radial Brembo Stylema. Cornering ABS (R) 250mm disc Seat height 800mm PREVIOUS UPDATE JULY 7 Standard silencers seem to figure quite highly on most new bike owner’s ‘must-replace’ list. As emissions regulations have become tighter over the years, factory –fitted end cans have got longer, bulkier and heavier, inspiring a whole aftermarket array of more aesthetically-pleasing but roadlegal aftermarket alternatives. The end cans on the new Busa, I have to admit, didn’t really stand out to me…

“Comfort braking for me is an old habit and I’m not always aware that I’m doing it. When I go into a bend, particularly if it’s a difficult one to read, it’s an instant reaction to move my fingers over the brake lever and although I’ve worked on it in the past, I haven’t been able to find a solution. It was no surprise when Mark identified the issue and his approach to solving it really made sense. “I’ve had plenty of advanced training, but you never stop learning and sometimes you have to go back to basics in order to sort something out. “I’m definitely much smoother now into corners than I was at the start of the day.” THAT’S BETTER! Mark says: “Any braking destabilises a bike and…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Clean the outside first Place the carburettor in a tray with the throttle slide and top still attached and give the external body a clean with a carburettor cleaner. Use a nylon brush to agitate any stubborn areas of dirt or debris. Don’t be tempted to use a wire brush as this will be far too harsh. A stiff bristled tooth brush will be ideal to get the job done. 2 Begin to dismantle the carb Once the outside of the carburettor has been cleaned wash all the grit out of the tray. Now start to take the carb apart. Remove the throttle slide top and the float bowl. As the bowl separates be prepared for some fuel to run out. As…

Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 MATTHEW BIRT INSIGHT ‘Consistency is improving and that’s how you win a title’ Not even Yamaha’s bogey track could halt Fabio Quartararo’s relentless charge towards what could be his first MotoGP crown. The key ingredients for success at Austria’s super-fast Red Bull Ring is top speed for three pinned sixthgear sections and acceleration out of a series of low-gear corners. All weekend in Austria, there was a huge top speed chasm of 7-10mph between Yamaha’s four YZR-M1s and the quickest Ducati. And a double-header at Austria last August was the scene of a double disaster for Quartararo, who only managed to finish eighth and 13th. So, the significance of Quartararo’s hard-fought third place was not lost on many observers. And…

Marc Marquez is not given to rash predictions, but he reckons that the 2021 MotoGP world title is Fabio Quartararo’s for the taking. The six-time champion, who is on the injury comeback trail, has declared in favour of the Yamaha star who has four wins out of 10 races with a 40-point buffer on Ducati’s Johann Zarco. “I don’t know who will win the title, but I know who can lose it: Quartararo. He is first, he has many points. Fabio is the strongest on the track right now. Only he can lose it.”…

MICHAEL SCOTT UNDER THE SKIN Veteran MotoGP correspondent shares his unique racing insight It was hardly unexpected, but predicting what Rossi will do next has always been risky. In the same way that his glittering career made MotoGP into something special, Valentino’s decision finally to retire affects everybody and everything in racing. The biggest impact is on the fans. And on series bosses Dorna – flip sides of the same coin. It is 12 years since Valentino’s last title, but his yellow-clad support army has not dwindled. None of his title successors can command anything like the grandstand space… not even Marc Marquez. Race attendances and TV figures peaked for Rossi, even when his results slumped. Dorna will be hard pressed to find a way to make up for his…

‘Rossi made it look like fun…’ We knew the announcement was coming, but we didn’t want to hear it and when they showed all the footage of his career, I welled up. What an incredible life! Nobody seems to have the same sparkle that Rossi has. You forget all the incredible races, the celebrations, and the rivals. He just made it look fun. I think some of the reaction and comments have been really interesting. Lin Jarvis, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez… even Max Biaggi himself dropped his guard. I think Casey Stoner was a little bit hollow sounding. You can sometimes forget that he’s not just famous to us as bikers, he’s super famous. I was with him at Goodwood, it was the year Nico Rosberg was F1 champion, but…

Ducati Panigale V4 £20,356 | 1103cc | 175kg (dry) | 211bhp | 835mm Now Euro5-compliant, Ducati have calmed their V4 superbike down from its original incarnation... a bit. This is a truly incredible superbike that will take your breath away on every ride. From its sound to its stunning handling to its eyewatering performance, the Panigale V4 ticks every box. Yamaha YZF-R1 £17,402 | 998cc | 201kg | 197bhp | 855mm The R1’s crossplane engine delivers a different riding experience from any other inline four and with race cans on sounds stunning. And with Yamaha doing well in WSB and MotoGP, now could be the time to take the plunge with an R1. Suzuki GSX-R1000R £17,150 | 999cc | 203kg | 199bhp | 825mm Suzuki’s range-topping GSX-R model looks amazing…

At over 1600cc, it’s a truly gargantuan engine, but thanks to BMW’s narrow bore cleverness it’s actually just 555mm wide, making it the most compact six around. Size aside, it’s wondrously flexible with 70% of peak torque from just 1500rpm, otherworldly smooth and creates a frankly epic noise. The chassis is marvellous too; despite its weight the K is agile, accurate and sporty, and you get plenty of equipment onboard. It has a plush ride, comfort from its Duolever front and Paralever rear and it is adept at its job of swift, long-range touring. If you’re thinking about getting one, bear in mind it’s expensive to keep. The 1649cc six needs fancy oil and plugs, and all the front bodywork has to come off to get at the air filter,…

Not everybody loves Valentino Rossi. But even those who don’t – and have more reason than any of us, who have only sat in a grandstand or shouted at our TV for or against him – have come out to pay their respects to the man who made MotoGP ‘the Rossi show’ for over a quarter of a century. Biaggi, Stoner, and Marquez alone represent three ages of MotoGP dominance who suffered at the prickly end of Rossi’s genius. Whether that was on the track back at his peak when Vale could do things with a bike that seemingly defied physics, or in pit lane, acerbic press conferences or hilarious – but sometimes brutally cutting – post-race celebrations, they all felt the impact of his power. But they also have…

Arai have unveiled this ‘Nicky Reset’ paint job for its RX-7V. The design is as worn by the late, great Nicky Hayden during testing and has been one of the designs most requested by fans. Arai have worked with the Hayden family who have agreed to the release to help keep memory of 2006 MotoGP champ, who died in a road accident in 2017, alive. The Nicky Reset will be available from October, priced £789.99. Sales remain strong New bike sales stayed strong in July with 12,437 machines sold. That’s actually just under 12% down compared to this time last year, however, due to pent up demand from lockdown, July 2020 was up 40% compared to a typical year. Compared to 2019, July’s sales sales are 25% up, with the…

Falklands veteran Simon Weston CBE has taken to the road on a bespoke Triumph trike paid for by crowdfunding. He was presented with the machine just days before his 60th birthday by former Triumph engineer and world speed record holder Norman Hyde, who initiated the £25k project a year ago. “I’m living my dream,” Simon said. “When I was young my late mother made me promise never to have a motorbike, but I had wanted a trike for years. I cannot thank Norman and the many people who made this happen enough, for their kindness and generosity.” Triumph donated a new 2020 T120 Bonneville and Hyde chose Trike Design of Caerphilly, South Wales to execute the conversion. While serving with the Welsh Guards during the 1982 conflict in the South…

Honda have revamped their popular mid-sized with new frames, updated engines and overhauled suspension. If you’re a bit of an off-road hero then the CRF450s might be more your thing but for most of us, the smaller CRF250 models are more than enough to get our kicks. The CRF250RX can do excellent double duty as a trail bike but also an enduro competition machine. Powering both the CRF250RX enduro bike and 250R motocross bike is a revised 249cc engine, which Honda say is more efficient than before. There’s a larger airbox, revised valve timings, new exhaust port, revised fuel injector angles and a lighter single-sided exhaust. There’s also a new clutch, with a lighter feel, as well as revised gear ratios and a dedicated fuel map (which is more suited…

The winner of MCN’s competition to win over £3000-worth of rider training is Martin Brennan from Aylesbury. Over the next six weeks, the 33-year old will complete Rapid Training’s eight-day Bikemaster course. The course training is split into two distinct halves: two days on track and six days of one-to-one coaching on road with an elite police-trained rider. “It was a bit of a shock to get the call saying I’ve won,” says Martin, who’s been reading MCN since he passed his test two years ago. He owns a Triumph Street Triple and more recently bought a Tiger 800 for commuting. “What with Covid restrictions, I haven’t ridden either bike that much, so I’m looking forward to getting a lot more confident in the corners. I’m also relishing the chance…

JON URRY ‘But what if the bubble bursts?’ I can’t help but keep a keen eye on the prices of my favourite stroker – the Yamaha RD350LC. To be honest, what I am seeing is nothing short of madness as the prices just keep rising. I bought my LC in 2004 for £800 and despite the fact it is a 250-convert, non-matching numbers bike I reckon it’s worth £4500. If it was matching numbers it would be closer to £8000 and I’ve seen restored LCs go for £12,000! They were only £1000 brand new back in the 1980s. And all this worries me. Don’t get me wrong, I have taken advantage of the trend and off-loaded my YPVS for a slightly embarrassing £6000 but I wonder if buyers think about…

Plugging in to the future of motorcycling After riding a Zero S for three years and loving every minute, Binesh upgraded to a used Zero SR/F from the English Electric Moto Co a few months ago. New tyres, new bike With my old bike I never had any problems, I didn’t even change the tyres. I had it serviced regularly over the last three years and when they finally advised me to change the tyres, I decided to change the bike as well! This new one, the SR/F, can definitely go further than 100 miles. My journey to London and back is about 95 miles and there’s always more than 25-30% battery left after that. 70p for 95miles I’m paying a hundred and seventy something finance a month but not…

Q ‘Can my ex stop pillion rides?’ I am divorced with a 16-year-old son. My ex-wife is accusing me of breaking the law by having my son ride pillion on the bike without her consent. She quotes an Act of Parliament on riding as a pillion passenger, claiming that not just one but both parents must give consent. I thought that while my son is with me then it was me that had and took the responsibility of care. Are you able to clarify and interpret the law? I don’t want to have to curtail an activity which we both share and enjoy. Name & address supplied A There is indeed a requirement for parental consent for carriage of children as passengers on motorcycles. The rule states that “no person…

Readers Jason and Susie Dorey The trip Scotland’s West Coast How many miles? 400 When to do it Now Time required Nine hours of riding. We stopped a couple of times each day for food and drink, which probably added another three hours (we were in no rush). Tell us about the ride I only passed my test in November 2019 and have been inspired by #R5K. Susie had never been on the back of a motorbike before and has amazed me how she has taken to it, I thought I might have been pushing my luck with this trip but she really enjoyed it and even relaxed enough to take some photos and video from her phone on the back of our R1250RT. My cousin came with us on…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday August 11 BIKE MEETS ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, West Yorks. 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Blue Anchor Southport, Merseyside 7pm. Facebook: Southport Carousel Bike Meet ■ Seaways Bike Night, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold Flints 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ The Plough Cadsden, Bucks www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ■ Paignton Seafront Devon www.bmad.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Ryka’s Cafe Box Hill, Surrey www.rykas.co.uk ■ Brit Bike Night Ace Cafe, London. 6pm. 020-8961-1000 or www.london.acecafe.com SPEEDWAY ■ Birmingham Brummies birmingham-speedway.com ■ Poole Pirates www.poolepirates.co/ TRACKDAY ■ MSV Road Bike Day Oulton Park, Cheshire from £192 www.MSVTrackdays.com TRIALS ■…

‘A swim in Wastwater’ R5K MEMBERS ANTHONY HILL AND STEVEN MARSDEN We had a 300-mile day trip out from Darlington, heading to Wastwater in the Lake District. It was a hot day, and we couldn’t resist a dip in the water. It was nice and sunny, and I decided to stitch various shorter routes together. ‘Ferried through Cornwall’ R5K MEMBERS SIMON OVENDEN AND PHYLLIS GARDEN A selfie on the King Harry Ferry, crossing the River Fal in Cornwall, halfway through our 2500-mile tour of southwest England and Wales, from Aberdeenshire. ‘The name’s Dighton, Keith Dighton! R5K MEMBER KEITH DIGHTON I stopped on the Skyfall road in Scotland in the exact layby James Bond and M stood in during the film, alongside the Aston Martin DB5. It had to be done.…

James Watson Age 44 Height 5ft 9in Current bike 2020 Triumph Bobber Been riding Since I was 16 First bike Kawasaki AE50 Dream bike Bobber TFC “I passed my CBT at 16, full test at 17 and then owned a succession of bikes that culminated in a Triumph Daytona 675. Then, in 2009 when my wife Jess was pregnant with our first child, the bike seemed an unnecessary expense. Three kids later and in 2020 I wanted to get back into bikes, which is when I saw the Bobber. “I used to laugh at cruisers but I’m at a different point in my life now. I don’t want a sportsbike, I wouldn’t trust myself on one and I have no interest in going fast, instead I want a nice escape.…

1996 Soleluna The first helmet that Aldo Drudi painted for Rossi, when the young rider finally stepped up to the 125GP world championship. Aldo said: “It is the sun for action and the moon for sleep.” 2009 The Donkey A reference to crashing out of the previous race, Rossi redeemed himself by winning in Misano and then sporting a set of donkey ears on the podium! 2008 The Face Possibly the most iconic of all of Rossi helmets. What better way is there to psyche out your opponents than to have a grinning photograph of yourself starring back at them? 2011 WTF? Rossi isn’t afraid of telling it how it is, and his ‘What the F***’ helmet does exactly that. He wore it at his home race in the midst…

Andrew Harris,, 53, Club Racer “I used to go on a lot of trackdays and was always nervous about where I was going to end up at corner exit. I had so many scary moments until someone recommended CSS and all of a sudden it made riding a bike easy – safer and faster. I tell anyone I go riding with to go to CSS and I’ve been doing it myself for six years now. In the same way you would go to a ski lesson and they give you a technique and a way to exercise using that technique, these guys deconstruct riding a bike. So, rather than just jumping on a bike and going as fast as you can, you learn skills that you can apply. You have…

RICHARD NEWLAND EDITOR Rides every day, all year, in all weathers. Much prefers performance to plodders. Anyone who buys a Multi V4S and leaves it languishing in their garage, treating it only to adoring looks and the odd Sunday bimble, should be flogged for cruelty to motorcycles. It’s the world’s worst bike to treat as a ‘garage queen’ – not because it ain’t pretty or precious, but because it’s just so good to ride. Welsh wonder With the office commute now reduced to walking from bedroom to home office, my daily dose of two-wheeled hedonism is lacking so I’ve been smashing out big days in the saddle to compensate. This month’s biggest was a jaunt over the Peaks and down through Cheshire into Wales, onto Anglesey, south via Snowdonia then East…

★★★★★ BMW XRide jacket/trousers £710/£535 ‘I love the sporty cut and how it’s tailored’ Tested by Ali Silcox for one year, 3500 miles This is one of the most expensive suits I’ve worn – but it’s also one of the most comfortable, stylish and best quality. It’s made from a combination of textile with leather patches at key areas and I love the sporty cut and how it’s tailored to fit my female form. It meets with CE approval and has armour at the shoulder, elbow, back, knee and hips. It’s unusual, in that rather than having a bulky lining, there’s an oversuit to slip on in cooler temperatures or damp conditions. I’ve found that in dry weather and above 10°C, I’m fine without the extra layer but drop below…

“With fuel-injection now virtually universal, stripping and rebuilding carburettors may sound a bit ‘old school’. But many of us have more than one bike, and these second bikes are often cherished ‘classics’ from the 1990s, 1980s or even older, which invariably use carbs. “I’ve mentioned before about bikes not being ridden enough, resulting in fuel ‘going off’. Fuel is usually filtered prior to reaching the carb, so, in theory, any contamination doesn’t come from the tank. Instead, any deposits are a direct result of the fuel breaking down and the compounds that are left causing issues with blocked jets and/or sludge in the float bowls. This only happens when a bike isn’t used for a period of time but it is becoming more common because of the increasing ethanol content…

GREG HAINES INSIGHT MCN’s man on the inside of the World Superbike paddock ‘Yamaha built their operation around Toprak’ The World Superbike pendulum took a massive swing as Toprak Razgatlioglu scored 57 points from a possible 62 in the Czech Republic last weekend. With nobody having tested at the Most circuit and rain hampering Friday practice, a lack of track time shook up the field and delivered surprise after surprise in what proved to be an action-packed weekend. Heading to another new venue next week, Navarra in Spain, Jonathan Rea’s advantage has been slashed to just three points. Pre-season predictions pointed towards Most favouring Yamaha – thanks to its lack of long straights and numerous sweeping corners – but it was impossible to know for sure until the time came.…

Marco Bezzecchi’s victory at the Red Bull Ring could not have come at a better time. Firstly, Moto2 needed a result like this to keep fans interested. Prior to Sunday, the Red Bull KTM Ajo due of Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez had won three races each from the opening nine races. The Styrian round also marked the first time that neither KTM rider finished on the podium since Jerez in May – which was also the last race to be won by another team thanks to Fabio Di Giannantonio on the Gresini machine. Most important of all though, at least on a personal level for Bezzecchi, is that his victory comes at a time when both Petronas Yamaha and Valentino Rossi’s Ducati MotoGP team are chasing his signature. After…

Pedro Acosta didn’t lose any speed over the summer break. If anything, he’s come back even stronger. The Spaniard came out on top in a race-long duel with Sergio Garcia to extend his lead in the championship standings to 53 points. And, once again, you never really thought that Acosta would lose this battle. He stalked his rival, weighed up his options each lap, and didn’t move until he felt ready. Race craft beyond his 17 years. On a weekend which saw Raul Fernandez gain his MotoGP ticket after a sole Moto2 campaign, eyes will now move towards Acosta’s potential promotion to Moto2 within the Red Bull KTM Ajo setup. Acosta says if the offer is made, he’ll take it, and who can blame him? He only need look at…

16 A Marquez 34 17 Bastianini 31 18 Petrucci 26 19 Rossi 20 20 Marini 16 21 Lecuona 14 22 Bradl 11 23 Pedrosa 6 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 2 11 Dixon +13.532 12 Dalla Porta +14.071 13 Di Gi’io +14.197 14 Lowes +14.536 15 Arenas +18.616 16 Luthi +19.378 17 Arbolino +19.660 18 Manzi +22.467 19 Ramirez +22.762 20 Navarro +25.267 21 Baldassarri +30.121 22 Bulega +37.544 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 3 11 Salac +36.437 12 Toba +36.659 13 McPhee +36.665 14 Guevara +37.514 15 Suzuki +37.918 16 Fellon +47.645 17 Migno +52.877 18 Alcoba +53.006…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR MATTHEW BIRT INSIGHT Getting the inside line on Grand Prix racing since 1996 Nobody has navigated a tougher path to the top step of a MotoGP podium than Jorge Martin. But his journey from skint wannabe to ground-breaking star came to fruition at the Red Bull Ring. Ducati joined MotoGP in 2003 when Martin was a five-year-old dreaming of a World Championship future. But he converted a second pole in just six races into a win and so became the first Ducati Independent Team rider to win in MotoGP. Martin’s success completed an incredible rags-to-riches story for the 23-year-old. The pressure of resisting a race long attack from reigning World Champion Joan Mir pales into insignificance when you rewind a decade to when Martin’s GP dream was hanging…

WELCOME The way we buy new bikes has changed dramatically, with PCP fast becoming one of the most popular ways to get that new metal in your garage. The overall outlay is less with PCP as long as you don’t pay the final balloon figure (which means you never actually own the bike). Equally, if you want to change machine during the contract period, or even swap brands during the process, 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 new one in three years’ time, possibly without increasing your monthly outlay,…

CASEY STONER ‘My validation…’ You’ve been without doubt one of my greatest rivals, my achievements have been all the more validated having raced against you. We’ve had some tough battles over the years and I learnt a lot from you. I hope you enjoy the next chapter in your life, there is a lot left to enjoy.” MARC MARQUEZ ‘Big loss to MotoGP’ “We lose part of MotoGP, maybe the biggest part of MotoGP, because Valentino always brings a lot of people. He did many good things inside of the track but also outside of the track. Everybody knows that our personal relationship is not the best one, and everybody has his way, but I don’t have any problem and I can recognise that we are losing something big in…

We’ve got together with Sidi to give away a pair of Adventure 2 Gore boots. The first version of these boots gained a loyal following, becoming almost the default choice among experienced adventure riders, offering good protection for the shin and the ankles, while still being flexible enough to walk in. The new and improved boot offers a full grain Technomicro Microfibre and suede upper, lined with Gore-Tex waterproofbreathable membrane. It features a non-slip rubber sole with a nylon inner and removeable arch support. The boot is secured with a Velcro strap and two buckles and has plastic support on the ankle area. HOW TO ENTER Simply visit www.motorcyclenews.com/winsidiadventure2 and submit your details to be included in the prize draw. Good luck! TERMS AND CONDITIONS The prize draw closes at…

SPECTACULAR STUNTS Four of the UK’s premier stunt displays will be thrilling the crowds over the weekend. Get ready for Two Brothers Racing Stunt team (courtesy of Michelin), the Wall of Death, JD Stunts (courtesy of BeMoto Insurance) and the Extreme Bike Battle crew with their own jaw-dropping display of BMX, trials and high-flying FMX riding. TEST RIDES GALORE WIth the event boasting Europe’s biggest demo bike fleet, there will be hundreds of test ride opportunities on offer. You can try out models from BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph, Indian, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, KTM, Royal Enfield and Zero. HUGE AUTOJUMBLE The autojumble is back! From garage clearouts to complete, non-running project bikes, the autojumble is the ideal place to spend a few hours. There’s still time to book your own autojumble…

DARYLL YOUNG 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 Daryll’s pick... Daryll Young has been involved in the bike trade since he was 15. Alongside his father, Neil, he ran a successful dealership in Northampton (he sponsored James Toseland in his early racing career) with Neil on sales and Daryll managing the workshop. Nowadays Daryll not only runs IDP Moto, who specialise in restoring classic motorcycles as well as creating bespoke customs, but at the weekends he is a chassis technician for Andrew Irwin in the Synetiq BMW Motorrad BSB team. So what would be his choice of used bike? The answer is something rather exotic… “If I was only…

1 The Brooklands Motorcycle Show August 15 at Brooklands museum. Showcasing museum bikes and some two-wheelers will even attempt to play football! www.brooklandsmuseum.com 2 Kawasaki weekend Kawasaki demo day at Fowlers of Bristol on August 14. Prebook to ride the 2021 range. www.kawasaki-enquiries.co.uk 3 Normous Newark autojumble August 15 at Newark showground. Early bird, £10 for 8am entry. Standard entry at 10am is £7. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 4 Northumberland Classic Gathering August 15 at Tynedale Park from 10am-4pm. £7.50 for adults, kids are free, and parking is free too so what’s not to like? www.markwoodwardclassicevents.com…

WEDNESDAY August 11 9pm, ITV4, NEW The Motorbike Show SATURDAY August 14 11.30am, ITV4, Goodwood Festival of Speed highlights SUNDAY August 15 7.30am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Austria: Warm Ups. Moto3 at 9.15am, Moto2 at 11am and MotoGP at 12.30pm. Chequered Flag at 2pm KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2…

GUEST TESTER £9899* Honda CMX1100 Rebel ●1084cc liquid-cooled parallel twin SOHC 8v ● 85.8bhp @ 7000rpm ●223kg kerb weight (233kg DCT) £12,200* Triumph Bonneville Bobber ● 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel twin SOHC 8v ● 76.9bhp @ 6100rpm ● 251kg kerb weight Not that many years ago, if you wanted a cruiser it was a case of buying a Harley-Davidson or putting up with a fairly humdrum offering from Japan. Today the cruiser world is a far more exciting place with everything from the Ducati Diavel performance cruiser to the old-school Moto Guzzi Bobber. And for 2021 two stand-out offerings have arrived at either end of the spectrum in the shape of the updated Triumph Bobber and allnew Honda CMX1100 Rebel. Hoping to capitalise on the success of the CMX500 Rebel, the…

If this were a competitor product, like – for example – a Honda Rebel (see p29), I’d be heaping praise on how it rides while whinging about how it doesn’t quite have that Harley-Davidson je ne sais quoi – but the new Sportster S doesn’t have it either. There’s no doubting that the new machine is leaps and bounds ahead of the old model in every area that can be measured and would be more than capable of keeping up with the current crop of naked retros from BMW, Triumph and Ducati. But in engineering such a solid bike, the Milwaukee factory have engineered out some of what, to me at least, makes Harley-Davidsons great. THE FACTS £13,995 Harley-Davidson Sportster S Engine 1252cc V-twin with VVT Frame Stressed member steel…

• CSS is split into four levels with each of the first three focusing on a different aspect of riding. Level 4 then revisits the areas you and your coach feel you most need to work. The days run at Donington, Cadwell, Bedford and Brands Hatch, each level costs £480. Bike hire is available and the school runs a fleet of Kawasaki ZX-10R, Z900 and Ninja 650 machines (a ZX-10R will cost £465 inclusive of fuel, tyres, insurance). Visit www.superbikeschool.co.uk for more info or to book a day.…

Need help with your riding skills? MCN expert can fix it THE STUDENT Gareth Crooks, 52, Clitheroe BMW R1200GSA rider Gareth passed his test seven years ago and has since gone on to take advanced training. He’s now a RoSPA observer and has successfully completed Rapid Training’s Roadmaster course. The problem “Although I’ve already done advanced training I find I’m often covering the front brake going into bends which is stopping me from being as smooth as I’d like.” THE TUTOR Mark Furnival, Rapid Training Pro Coach A Class 1 Police-trained motorcyclist, Mark’s been a coach with Rapid Training for three years. Mark’s action plan “Gareth is comfort braking. By reading the bend and setting an appropriate speed in advance, he shouldn’t need the brakes at all.” THE LESSON 1…

1 Richa Typhoon one-piece £44.99 Not pretty, but definitely waterproof. Packs into its own pocket with a belt so you can wear it round your waist. I just slip my boots off to put the suit on. Stephen Collins, Aylesbury 2 Spada 408 one-piece £64.99 I put this to the test on a tour to Nordkapp. My gloves were sodden, but my body stayed bone dry. Paul Bunyan, St Neots 3 IXS Orca Evo one-piece £49.99 The Velcro tabs do feel a bit thin. They do the job, though and are 100% waterproof. Phil Stephens, Plymouth 4 Scott Ergo Pro DP two-piece £85 (jkt), £75 (trs) Not cheap but they’re great and they don’t flap around when you ride. Gareth Fenn, Hampshire 5 Oxford Rainseal one-piece £54.99 This works great…

THE MECHANIC Paul Knight of A55 Motorcycles North Wales We’ve all done it: made a mechanical bodge on our bikes and hoped to get away with it. It never happens. That was the case with A55 Motorcycles’ Paul Knight when a young lad’s Kawasaki BN125 came in with a flat battery. Paul, who’s the boss of the workshop in Penmaenmawr, north Wales duly found that the lead from the battery to the regulator/rectifier was corroded and broken. This was relatively easily cleaned, re-soldered and then reattached to the battery. And, sure enough, with the battery charged up the little Kawasaki fired back into life. Which was when another, more serious problem reared its ugly head.. Paul tales up the tale: “The exhaust was blowing something rotten. So I got permission…

The design and development phase of Suzuki’s new ride height device has taken longer than expected – the factory riders have been calling for it since the start of the season, yet the system only arrived at the eleventh hour in Austria as Suzuki play catch-up. The components have been tested in Japan by Takuya Tsuda, checking both the effectiveness and durability of the device, and once satisfied they were shipped to Austria and arrived in time for FP3. Despite the risks of introducing such a radical new part mid-way through a race weekend, Suzuki wanted to get an initial comment from the riders in FP3, analyse the data between the two events at the Red Bull Ring and then introduce the active ride height adjusting tool for the second…

MOTOGP REPORTER Joan Mir and Suzuki kickstarted a rescue mission to salvage the defence of their MotoGP championship at the Styrian Grand Prix. The long-delayed arrival of an acceleration boosting rear ride height system and Mir’s best result of the season were both urgently needed. Mir’s surging second place, his best this season, suggests he has the potential to engage Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo in a title fight. But it is a massive task despite the impressive performance gains, with Mir still 51 points adrift. Ten races in and he is yet to taste victory in 2021 but his aggressive stalking of Jorge Martin’s Ducati was a strong step forward. “This result is really important,” Mir said. “Before this the best position we could aspire to was third. But now I…

Rossi’s weekend, much as the previous nine rounds, was undistinguished, and (to be honest) beneath his dignity. Qualifying 17th was pretty typical. But for fourth place in the first round in Qatar and ninth in damp France, he hasn’t made the top ten on the grid. He finished 13th, at least in the points for only a fifth time this year. Twice he didn’t make the top 15, another three times he fell off, and didn’t even make the flag. 19th in the championship makes him significantly the bottom of four Yamaha riders. Sometimes he’s at least been faster than he before – just not as much faster as the young guys. So far in Austria, not so… His qualifying lap of 1:24.097 was almost a full second off last…

Francesco Bagnaia has a solution to Ducati’s unravelling title campaign that has seen him and factory teammate Jack Miller leaking easy points to title favourite Fabio Quartararo: No more mistakes. “From now on we can’t afford to lose anything more. We always have to be at the front, but it is not easy to beat Fabio, he is in great shape. “We lost a great possibility today,” said Bagnaia after the first of the back-to-back Austrian rounds. Bagnaia and Miller will soon run out of races to close down the fast and consistent Frenchman. Their spiral out of contention deepened at Spielberg with Bagnaia squandering a front row start to come 11th with a lack of rear feel. He is 58 points behind, with Miller crashing out of podium contention…

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special £15,500 | 1252cc | 258kg | 148bhp | 850mm When Harley-Davidson announced that they were going to build an adventure bike, the statement was met with a fair degree of scepticism. Could a company so engrained in the cruiser segment really hope to pull off such a radical departure from their core knowledge base? Well now we know the answer – yes they could. Despite its somewhat utilitarian look, the Pan is bristling with technology and the range-topping Special model is absolutely loaded. As well as all the usual modes, TFT dash and angle-responsive safety assists, Harley have added a really neat function (as a £600 optional extra) to the semi-active suspension called adaptive ride height, which automatically lowers the bike’s seat height at slow…

Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX Tourer £12,350 | 1043cc | 235kg | 140bhp | 835mm Bikes don’t get much better value than the fantastic Ninja 1000SX and when you opt for the Tourer model, you get an incredible amount for your cash. Not only does this version come with a taller screen, it also gets hard panniers, a bracket for a GPS mount and a tank pad. One of the most popular models in Kawasaki’s range, the SX is an excellent sports tourer that remains true to Kawasaki’s rich Ninja sporting heritage while not sacrificing too much in the way of creature comforts. If you are stepping off a pure sportsbike onto this, you will honestly not feel like it is a downgrade, it will just be far easier on your wrists!…

At over 1600cc, it’s a truly gargantuan engine, but thanks to BMW’s narrow bore cleverness it’s actually just 555mm wide, making it the most compact six around. Size aside, it’s wondrously flexible with 70% of peak torque from just 1500rpm, otherworldly smooth and creates a frankly epic noise. The chassis is marvellous too; despite its weight the K is agile, accurate and sporty, and you get plenty of equipment onboard. It has a plush ride, comfort from its Duolever front and Paralever rear and it is adept at its job of swift, long-range touring. If you’re thinking about getting one, bear in mind it’s expensive to keep. The 1649cc six needs fancy oil and plugs, and all the front bodywork has to come off to get at the air filter,…