Table of contents for 16 April 2025 in MCN

James Toseland will once again be lining up to lead the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust charity Egg Run as it celebrates its 25th anniversary in the city. Toseland has led the procession since 2003 and has never missed a year, regardless of racing commitments in both the World Superbike and MotoGP world championships during that time. Upon reaching the hospital, he then meets some of the children, handing out Easter eggs, colouring books, and more. “There were about 850 bikers last year and we ride very, very slowly through the city centre,” the double WSBK champion told MCN. “There’s that many of us these days that I’m pulling up at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and they’re still coming out of the carpark at the other end; it’s becoming a bit…

BMW have confirmed that the 2025 GS Trophy UK Qualifier will not be taking place, with additional Off Road Skills courses to be run instead. Originally set to go ahead from September 5-8, a change to the structure of the International GS Trophy means that a UK team will not be included - meaning there is no need for a qualifying event this year. A letter has been sent out to UK customers already booked onto the weekend, it reads: “Unfortunately BMW Motorrad UK are unable to send a team to the 2026 GS Trophy, therefore we will be taking a hiatus for 2025 and will look to run a GS Trophy qualifier should the option be available to us in the future.” The UK weekender has traditionally been held…

Nexx X.Lifecountry helmet from £539.99 It could be argued that a flip-front adventure lid is as versatile as helmets get, in which case the new X.Lifecountry ticks all the boxes. Designed and manufactured in Portugal, it boasts a full carbon shell with dual homologation, so you can ride with it open or closed. nexx-helmet.co.uk Oxford Stormex Pro bike cover from £149.99 Keeping your bike out of sight should be the first line of defence in any security set up. But not only will this high quality cover from Oxford shield it from prying eyes, it’s also waterproof up to 10,000mm HH on the outside, with a soft, fully tethered inner liner to keep your shiny bits scratch free. oxfordproducts.com Power-TEC Cordless Hot Stapler Kit £71.16 Repairing fairing lugs is par…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Nothing boring about the racing!’ I keep hearing that World Superbikes and MotoGP are boring – does anyone who says this actually watch the races? With Bulega and Toprak going toe to toe (and separated by only 0.317 seconds over three races as you helpfully pointed out!) at Portimao and Marc Marquez being Marc Marquez (surely the definition of box office) bike racing is anything but boring! And that’s before British Superbikes gets going! Ed Jones, email Don’t miss our BSB preview supplement, April 30 – Ed MCN has teamed up with Zerofit – The World’s Warmest Baselayer® – to award the author of each week’s star letter an incredible Heatrub Ultimate worth £59.95, independently tested and proven to be five times warmer than a regular…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop ‘Is it a bird?’ PAUL STEVENS The Flight Deck at Lasham is a nice modern café with great food and views over the runway. ‘Fancy a cuppa?’ MICHAEL ALLEN Nice café for brews, sandwiches, pastries and cakes, good parking and nice roads around it too. The Tea Junction, SK17 0EZ. ‘Running dry’ DAVID BLEVINGS If you are ever near Killyleagh, the old Steele garage is worth a visit for nostalgic purposes – but not for fuel….. ‘The hunt is on’ ANDREW ROBINSON I took the Hunter to Caistor Lakes for breakfast. Caistor High St to Horncastle, Horncastle to Bardney, Bardney to Market Rasen. Nipped home for a bit of back brake tinkering. ‘Hello Squire!’ JON ASHLEY Squires last weekend – always a…

Honda had their eye on what was left of the British motorcycle industry. The CB750 had innovations which hadn’t been seen on a production motorcycle before, including disc brakes, but that was just the beginning. For the first time, a computer had been used to design and plan production and it had an electric start, better reliability than its British counterparts and the use of a four-cylinder engine rather than the familiar paralleltwin. Did we mention it was also cheaper than the BSA and Triumphs by about £120? Dubbed the ‘first’ superbike, Honda are still paying tribute to the CB750 with the likes of the new Hornet, and it’s one of those bikes that changed the biking landscape forever.…

One essential item for fitting a chain and sprocket kit is a chain tool. There are many different types available for purchase, including those that function solely as chain breakers or riveters. However, what you really need to do the best job is an all-in-one tool. Over the years, I have tried various types on many different machines; in fact, most chain manufacturers produce their own tools specifically for their chains, which can be quite expensive. Nowadays, for ease and effectiveness I prefer an all-in-one tool from Oxford Products. It’s high quality and makes it easy to split and rivet chains, while it is versatile enough to work with most makes and sizes of chains. When tackling the front sprocket nut, always be careful if you’re planning to use an…

Going behind the headlines in the Superbike paddock There could not have been a more popular winner in the World Superbike paddock as Andrea Locatelli took full advantage of Nicolo Bulega’s problems to convincingly beat the rest of the field at Assen last Sunday. It had been a long time coming for the sport’s perennial underdog, previously forever the bridesmaid, as the 28-year-old triumphed in his 154th race start. It signalled the end of the longest wait for a maiden victory, with Chris Walker having previously won (also at Assen, in 2006) on his 131st World Superbike attempt. The paddock atmosphere was buzzing. Most riders have their haters as well as their fanbase but Locatelli is universally liked in the motorcycle racing world. After six seasons in the Grand Prix…

V YES Sport is a funny old game. Supporters heap praise on the greats and will forever talk about the genius at play. It’s just that, for the most part, true praise and extensive recognition of what they witnessed won’t come until years after. Not until that team or individual has retired. In the moment, domination becomes frustrating. Knowing which team, or in this case rider, will win before the weekend has begun lessens the spectacle. Everybody loved watching Marc win at Aragon last year because it was the cumulation of a four-year journey, but now he’s topping most sessions, has taken every pole and won seven out of eight races – only losing in CoTA because of an error on his part. Fans are bored. It’s too predictable. Of…

Triumph’s TF 250-X and TF 450-RC motocross models are heading on a demo tour visiting six UK tracks this summer. Kicking off on April 16 at Tincleton MX, riders will be split into ability-based groups. The tour will then visit Preston Docks, VIP MX, Mildenhall MX, Mill Lane MX, and FatCat Motoparc. Advance bookings only. Visit triumphmotorcycles.co.uk to secure your place. Calling custom bike builders Applications are open for the Malle Mile Custom Build Challenge, which takes place from July 18-20 - and bikes need to go as well as they look. Builders are invited to create their vision of the ultimate custom machine - be it handmade, rare, classic, or downright inappropriate - and enter it into The Art of Machine exhibition before lining up for The Art of…

‘Safety and innovation’ April 21 will mark the seventh anniversary of the introduction of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Since that date, standards across Europe have been raised by requiring all motorcycle apparel (suits, jackets, trousers, gloves, boots and impact protection) to be independently tested. For years, motorcyclists had been served with predominantly unregulated kit with misleading and entirely untrue claims. The PPE Regulation changed that. Manufacturers were now obliged to test for protective characteristics including abrasion resistance, seam strength, and impact protection, aligning kit with EN standards. Legitimate brands embraced those obligations, and as a result riders gained transparency and confidence: the CE mark began to signal not just compliance, but genuine protection. The past seven years have seen innovation flourish. With benchmarks enabling comparisons to…

I’m still trying to work out the news from last week about OMG Racing pulling out of British Superbikes. The biggest shock was the timing of the announcement. If at the end of last year the team owner Alan Gardner had said look ‘we’ve lost a sponsosr or we’re running at a loss so thanks for the memories’ that would be one thing, but this was full steam ahead for the new season… until it wasn’t. Three weeks earlier I’d been out in Spain for a Yamaha dealer experience and spent four days with OMG riders Brad Ray, Joe Talbot and Kyle Ryde and they were all excited about the season, seeing the new bikes, flat out training. There wasn’t even a hint of anything being wrong. Then the same…

Q ‘My helmet came off’ I had an accident last summer when a car clipped me when I was filtering. I have a personal injury claim ongoing and the third party insurer has asked if I was wearing a helmet as I had various facial injuries. They are saying I should accept reduced compensation as: (a) Either I wasn’t wearing one or (b) If I was it was not strapped up properly as it came off. I was wearing a helmet and I don’t know how it came off. I can prove I was wearing my helmet but how can I prove it was properly strapped on? Will I receive less compensation because of this? Roger Woodgate, email A Surprisingly, there was a European study which revealed helmet loss in…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Tom Steele The ride Near Cat & Fiddle to Scotland and back When to do it Spring onwards How many miles? 513.7 in one day How long do you need? It would make a great long weekend Tell us about the trip… I did 513.7 miles to Scotland around Dumfries and Galloway and back to Cheshire in one day. I’ve learnt a lot about the Honda NX500 platform – how truly versatile it is and how easy it is to overlook what is a truly magnificent travel bike. The main reason for the trip was to decide if I fancy buying a second NX500 for my dad, or giving him this one permanently as he loves the NX500 platform and getting a V-Strom for…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday April 16 BIKE MEETS ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northants 4pm-9pm ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leics. huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ Chequered Flag, Darley Moor, Derbyshire darleymoorcentre.co.uk ■ Wheels Cafe, Sykehouse, South Yorks 01405-5785635 ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints. 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe ■ Ryka’s Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk SPEEDWAY ■ Oxford Cheetahs, 7.30pm www.oxfordspeedway.club TRACKDAY ■ MSV, Oulton Park (International), Cheshire www.MSVTrackdays.com TRIALS ■ Leamington Victory MC & LCC, Dry Hill Quarry, Edgehill, Warks www.leamingtonvictory.org.uk ■ Guisborough & DMCC, Charltons Glaisdale, North Yorks www.guisboroughdmc.co.uk Thursday April 17 BIKE MEETS…

Motorcycle engines get grubby from a build-up of road grime, oil film and general dirt. But regular cleaning with Mint Bike Degreaser can reduce wear and deterioration. Why is degreaser important? A clean engine and drivetrain allow the bike to run smoothly – boosting performance – while removing grime and build-up prevents wear and tear, improving longevity. A clean engine also means you are likely to identify any problems sooner – plus, who doesn’t like having a clean bike? Mint Degreaser is a robust formulation that effectively dissolves and washes away grease and oily residues that have built up over time. Slow-evaporating solvents remain on the cleaned surface longer to protect it and make cleaning easier the next time. On application, the degreaser is more effective if allowed to soak…

‘Changes all add up’ For the 2025 model, things haven’t been moved on a huge amount but the small tweaks do make a difference, in a positive way. Suspension changes, altered weight distribution and the addition of traction control with a ride-by-wire throttle make the Ténéré friendlier than ever for new and less confident riders, while also allowing for slightly more prowess, when ridden harder both on the tarmac and the dirty stuff. The little changes elsewhere, such as the improved interface and the reinforcements also help to move the Ténéré up a notch. THE FACTS £10,404 Yamaha Ténéré 700…

‘70s charm is still intact’ This may be Guzzi’s most advanced V7, but its personality and 70s charm are still well and truly intact. The power increase just gives it that extra helping of urgency, its upside-down forks and racy brakes add cornering confidence and the new electronics will spread a thick layer of safety on every ride. The chuggy air-cooled V-twin doesn’t drip with power, even with the extra bhp, but that’s not what the V7 is about. Instead, it oozes character, has a bulging midrange and friendly delivery that makes it a pleasure to ride at normal cruising speeds, but still packs ample performance to put a smile on your face. THE FACTS £9700 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport…

‘What will my £10k get me?’ Armed with a budget of £10,000 you can buy a new Hornet SP (with an extra £99, prices have just gone up) or a stock Hornet model and keep the £901 to invest in a quickshifter and new shock. Or you could dip into the used market. If you fancy a Yamaha MT-10, you can get one of the latest generations (it was updated in 2022) for within the £10,000 budget but if you want the top-spec SP with its semi-active Öhlins suspension, it will have to be the older generation model, which ran from 2017-2021. Kawasaki’s Z1000 was dropped in 2018 (some bikes were registered in 2019) but it can easily be had for under £10,000 and so can the current (if you…

Fixing mechanical issues needn’t always be complicated. In fact, solutions can often be found in the simplest of places. Here, a noughties supersport owner had himself a lucky escape when his Triumph Daytona 600, apparently suffering from a slipping clutch, was quickly sorted thanks to the keen eye and methodical approach to repairs of Jon Clarke, of Dave Clarke Motorcycles. “When the customer came in, his gripe was that he had a bit of clutch slip at high revs,” said Clarke. “We noticed that the chain had a serious tight spot. So, we informed him that he needed a new chain and sprockets – when we took the front sprocket cover off, we found that the front sprocket was completely worn down.” If a chain snaps, it can cause huge…

Multiple speedway world champion Tai Woffinden has shared a video of himself up and walking in hospital, following a serious racing accident in Poland on March 30 that left him in a medically induced coma. Woffinden, who is Britain’s most successful-ever speedway rider, shared a long list of injuries in the social media post including a double compound fracture to the right femur, 12 broken ribs, and the loss of three-litres of blood. Suzuki set to sizzle Suzuki have kicked off a summer demo tour series, during which the brand will appear at eight café locations with their latest fleet of machines to sample. The opening weekend kicked off at the Super Sausage Café in Northants, with attendees offered the chance to throw a leg over the brand’s adventure, naked,…

A free-to-attend event honouring the life and racing success of 26-time Isle of Man TT winner Joey Dunlop will take place in his hometown of Ballymoney on Saturday, May 24. Called ‘Joey 25’, the event is being hosted by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and will mark 25 years since Dunlop’s death at a road race in Tallinn, Estonia. Taking place the weekend before the start of practice week at this year’s TT races, the attraction promises to include the largest-ever display of Joey’s race bikes, which will be ridden by a roster of famous faces for a parade through the town centre in the evening. “We’re excited to welcome fans from all around the world to this extraordinary Joey 25 celebration,” Cllr Ciaran McQuillan said. “Joey was a…

SAVE £2600 £15,599 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R Equipped with long travel, fully-adjustable WP XPLOR suspension and combined with an 21 and 18in wheelset, the SAR’s off-road attitude is readily apparent. Don’t be fooled though, as it’s no just a one-trick pony. KTM’s adventure flagship is a continent shrinking, feature-packed missile with a smattering of sophistication woven in. www.thepotteries.co.uk SAVE £1800 £12,199 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE Suzuki’s big ’Strom oozes comfort, it’s suitably sporty, and is rock-solid reliable. This one comes with three-piece aluminium luggage. billsmithmotors.co.uk ● Engine 1037cc ● Power 106bhp ● Weight 252kg ● Seat height 880mm SAVE £1000 £17,499 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory Endowed with superbike chassis componentry and a howling motor, the Tuono V4 is one the best options out there for backroad scratching or…

● First glimpse of the greatest racing motorcycle of all time, Honda’s RC174 ● Hailwood dominated that year’s 350cc world championship ● Replicas built by George Beale The April 19, 1967 Motor Cycle News gave us the first glimpse of Mike Hailwood’s Honda RC174 ‘Six’. Our front page proudly proclaimed: “The new Honda-six which double world champion Mike Hailwood is to race in this year’s nine 350cc classics, starting with the West German GP (May 9), is actually a 297cc machine. It weighs 256lb, nine more than the 250 Honda-six, and pushes out 65bhp at 17,000rpm compared with 60bhp at 18,000 for the smaller engine. “These figures, released by Honda in Tokyo, are good for 155mph with the 297cc model – over 100,000 bangs a minute!” Despite giving away 53cc,…

Dozens are set to attend the third annual Ride Yorkshire Ride ’Owt this May 22, raising funds for the Yorkshire Children’s Charity. Tickets cost £85, with every penny supporting young people across the region. The fully escorted route leaves Grantley Hall, Ripon, at 12.30pm, taking in top biking roads via Northallerton, Stokesley, Sleights, Helmsley, and Thirsk before returning for a gourmet BBQ. Head to yorkshirechildrenscharity.org to secure your place.…

HJC RPHA 11 Eldon helmet £180 Get on track with race ready deals With the race season underway and circuits back open for trackdays, we thought we’d celebrate by digging up some deals on sports gear that would be just as good on the road as racking up hot laps at Cadwell Park. From tyre warmers to helmets, one-piece suits and boot-cut socks, it’s a broad spectrum of offers to fuel your inspiration and spark some appetite for getting back on track for the summer. The HJC RPHA 11 was designed as the firm’s top-line sports lid, and although it’s now been superseded by the 12, still has a lot to offer. It’s ACU Gold approved, with certification to the previous standard of ECE 22.05, and comes with both clear…

‘Alright on the night (and day)’ Husqvarna have become the latest manufacturer to offer a free extended warranty. In the case of Husky it applies to all bikes powered by the LC8c engine built in 2023, 2024 and 2025 – but there is a catch. To qualify for this warranty, the bike must have been bought after February 3, 2025, which seems strange. Are there really any 2023 bikes unsold in the UK? It turns out that there are a few new Norden 901s for sale that are described as 2023 bikes but the majority are 2024 models. And the same is true of the Svartpilen 801. Out of the two, I’d tend to look towards the Dennis (Norden, get it…) because I do like them. So does this extended…

The Yamaha YZR500 I’ve rebuilt with Lee Johnston is all finished and now it’s been crated up and is on its way to America to be sold. So next up is a Honda RC45. I’ve got a load of factory parts that have been collected from all over the place over the last 20 years. The idea is to do either a Cup Noodle or Lucky Strike Suzuka 8-Hour replica. I’ve got a load of Japanese magazines from back in the day, I can’t read them but I can look at the pictures. The problem is that we’ve got a tonne of bits: three sets of forks, a factory double-sided swingarm, factory shocks, different sub frames… but none of it is meant to go together! It won’t necessarily make a…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER® www.zerofit.co.uk Just after passing my test over 30 years ago. I currently have a Kawasaki Z900RS and ride as much as I can. John O’Connor With my first bike in October 1998. White wheels? Never again and I’d never fit into those leathers now! Alan Cuthbertson My first road bike was this Kawasaki ZXR400 in 1995. Clive Bell My pride and joy… 1978-ish. The brilliant Yamaha RD400E. Albert Collins My first geared bike was this Reiju – utter heap for a brand new bike and always breaking down! Dan Poxon 1980. Those were the days…or something like that! And the Yamaha was definitely the one. Nigel Baguley I bought the Suzuki instead of an FS1-E because it looked like…

1 April 20-21 Easter motor show and autojumble With more than 1000 bikes and four-wheelers at Weston Park (TF11 8LE) over the Easter weekend, what better way is there to spend a bank holiday? Stare, schmooze and sashay among the vehicles and perhaps pick up a bargain at the 100+ stall autojumble then take the family around the woodland walks and deer park. classicshows.org 2 April 19 South Midlands Autojumble Head on down to the Livestock Centre at Ross-on-Wye (HR9 7QQ) this weekend for a day of picking through potentially banging bargains or finding that part you’ve needed for ages. £4 to enter and the jumble is open from 9am. southmidlandsautojumble.com 3 April 20 Huddersfield Auto Retro Jumble Don’t worry, there’s an autojumble further north too! This Easter Sunday, head…

Now you’ve heard about Revs n Relics (see p20). Here’s a few more places to explore while you are in the area… Faun Café A café in an old RAF base surrounded by interesting shops, RAF memorabilia and usually plenty of bikes. Caenby Corner Estate, Gibson Rd, Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough DN21 5TL www.facebook.com/fauncafe Willingham Woods Nestled on the side of a road you’ll want to ride again and again, with baps, buns and even forest walks. The Picnic Kiosk, Willingham Wood, Market Rasen LN8 3QT www.facebook.com/willinghamwoods…

THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £10,999 (including £1000 Suzuki dealer contribution) Suzuki GSX-S1000 ● 999cc inline four liquid-cooled DOHC 16v ● 149.9bhp @ 11,000rpm ● 214kg kerb weight £12,320 (including £2000 Yamaha contribution) Yamaha MT-10 ● 998cc inline-four, liquid-cooled, DOHC 16v ● 163.6bhp @ 11,500rpm ● 212kg wet weight £9099 Honda CB1000 Hornet ● 1000cc inline-four, liquid-cooled, DOHC 16v ● 149.7bhp @ 11,000rpm ● 211kg wet weight The arrival of the two new CB1000 Hornet models has created shockwaves in the super-naked world. Honda’s decision to follow the path set by the Hornet 750 and create a pair of bikes with incredibly tempting prices forced their Japanese rivals to react. The riding season has only just started but in response to the Hornet SP’s £10,099…

‘Can’t beat it on value’ If all three bike cost the same, you would pick the MT-10 over the Hornet and GSX-S1000 as it offers so much – performance, practicality, a high level of tech and an overall feeling of quality. It’s just a great bike. Sadly for Suzuki, even if the GSX-S1000 cost the same as the Hornet, you would still opt for the Honda as there is nothing the Suzuki does that the Honda doesn’t do better. By releasing the Hornet at £9099, Honda have demonstrated that Suzuki were trying to up the price on what is effectively a pretty budget offering. Sorry Suzuki, it’s the truth, the engine is based on a 20-year-old design, the electronics are dated and the suspension is low spec. But the fact…

‘It was us who came up with the isolasticsnot - Norton!’ It’s the mid-60s and Triumph are struggling. The Japanese have been hounding the British motorcycle market and with 750cc superbikes on their way to UK shores, it was time for the company to make one last-ditch attempt to save their skins. The Japanese were planning a new inline four, so Triumph had to do something big. So, despite the triple concept being dismissed when it was first proposed in 1963, the heads of the organisation decided that drastic change might be just what was needed. But there came another problem. As Triumph and BSA were under the same umbrella, BSA wanted a triple too – which was the same, but with that BSA twist, so the engine was slotted…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor Fox Ranger ADV boots £179.99 2250 miles ON TEST ‘A hiking boot for biking’ Tested by Richard Newland for three months Riding an adventure bike in anything other than adventure boots feels wrong – but I don’t always want a bulky and sweaty cross between an enduro boot and a motocross boot. If you’re planning on stomping around at your destination, or just want a slightly cooler and more comfortable option – and you’re not expecting to be battering through branch-infested greenlanes or a tree stump jungle – then a mid-boot is a great option. Enter Fox’s new Ranger ADV. I have to confess that I feel a little under-protected wearing mid-height or short boots – but the Ranger is a very rugged…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Sprocket to ’em Keep your drive on top form with a fresh chain and sprocket set BRUCE’S TIPS You may have to remove the gear linkage depending on the model 1 Remove the sprocket cover Begin by placing the motorcycle on a secure stand that lifts the rear wheel off the ground, before removing the front sprocket cover. Depending on your specific bike model, there will be three or more bolts securing the cover to the engine. As you remove the bolts, make a note of where each goes because they’re often different lengths. 2 Remove the retainer plate In most cases the sprocket is secured with a large nut, but on some machines (such as this Kawasaki ZXR400) it is secured with a retaining plate which…

It’s been a good week for bike racing, hasn’t it? Firstly, it’s mega to see Kyle Ryde and Bray Ray getting themselves sorted for this year, along with Laverty’s new team joining the grid. It’s going to be really interesting to see how everyone fits in at the Donington BSB test this weekend, and I might head over too. I’m still 50/50 on whether I’m going to ride or not though; we had six days in Spain and I’m in a really good place, so I might sit this one out and wait until Oulton Park, the following week. That will be perfect prep for the North West 200 in May. But we’ve still got a bit of time until then, and I’m chatting to you from Bahrain, where we’ve…

Long-serving World Superbike Race Director, Gian Franco Carloia, passed away on Saturday morning. The Italian was diagnosed with cancer towards the end of last year and his loss leaves a huge void. Carloia had worked in the paddock since 1993, entering when Flammini Group was in charge of the championship. In 2008 he took over Race Director duties from his predecessor, Alberto Fantini. His contribution to safety improvements in the series over the past three decades has been invaluable. MCN extends its condolences to the family and friends of Gian Franco Carloia, not least son Stefano who is now Race Director and bravely continued his work at Assen.…

At the heart of the paddock for more than 35 years ‘I don’t care. This was more than a victory’ Surely nobody could be better named than Maverick Viñales. The Spaniard’s latest adventure in upsetting the established order proves it. In a blazing ride to second, with more than a sniff at possible victory, he overturned the assumption that KTM have lost the plot, and proved that Ducatis are not unbeatable. Until now, uncontrollable chatter had turned KTM’s top riders into mid-field moaners, while Ducati had a podium stranglehold. Then along came Maverick. Not only the first non-Ducati rider to lead a lap (actually six laps); he missed the Qatar win – potentially KTM’s first since 2022 – by just 1.8 seconds. Narrowly behind current genius Marc Marquez, he was…

Reporting from the heart of the paddock since 1996 TOP STORY Marc Marquez is playing MotoGP on easy mode in 2025. Four rounds down and the Spaniard has four poles, four Sprint wins and three Grand Prix victories. And let’s be frank. It should be four GP wins and a perfect record on a factory Ducati had Marquez not self-destructed while leading by more than two seconds in Austin, Texas last month. Sunday’s Qatar clash was an absorbing contest until Marquez decided he didn’t want it to be. Content initially to chase fast-starting Franco Morbidelli, Pecco Bagnaia and surprise leader Maverick Viñales, Marquez was simply playing a waiting game. A waiting game he was perhaps fortunate to be playing after taking a heavy impact on the back of his Ducati…

Things are not looking good for Pecco Bagnaia. If we assume that the battle for the 2025 MotoGP crown is a straight duel between the twice champion and his six-times champion teammate Marc Marquez, then the current scoreline looks like this: sevenone after the first four rounds. What will it look like when the final whistle is blown at Valencia on November 16? Probably much worse, unless Bagnaia looks deep inside himself. He has an unholy trinity of problems he needs to get on top of. He can’t find the vital cornerentry feel he had last season, which isn’t allowing him to ride like he wants, so he’s losing his focus and making mistakes. Bagnaia destroyed his Qatar weekend in a fraction of a second when he fell in qualifying,…

Bringing you the latest on BSB’s team drama TOP STORY Bradley Ray’s 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season has been saved thanks to the last-minute return of Steve Rodgers and Raceways Yamaha. Ray’s future was unknown following OMG Racing’s sudden departure from the series just a few days before the first official test at Navarra. The bombshell move by owner Alan Gardner left Ray, reigning champion Kyle Ryde, and newcomer Joe Talbot jobless for the upcoming season. Ray’s spot is now guaranteed and he’ll ride the same Yamaha R1 he had been destined to ride with OMG, the difference being it will carry Raceways Yamaha branding. “I went out pedalling in the morning like normal, getting in my last training session before heading to Spain, only to be contacted and…