Table of contents for 29 March 2017 in MCN

An Evel event On April 27 riders dressed as former stunt ace Evel Knievel will set off from Flint to complete a five-day, 1000-mile Welsh charity ride. With the blessing of the Knievel family, the riders will raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support. A strong position Central Bedfordshire Council’s Road Safety Team have launched a 360-degree virtual reality video to highlight the importance of positioning and observation. The film is narrated by Steve Parrish and can be seen at youtu.be/-FX4Sb9lm0E Motad goes quiet Motad, the Midlands-based exhaust manufacturer, have ceased trading. Motad had enjoyed great success and were leading manufacturers of stainless exhaust systems and had agreed to be the OEM supplier for the new Hesketh machines. A handy pointer Have you always wanted a motorcycle glove with a sundialesque…

‘In the event of an accident, insurers would have to pay out’ Taking out a Personal Contract Plan (PCP) is a fantastic way to bag yourself a new bike for low monthly payments. There are very few downsides, but there is one which could unknowingly cause owners problems with their insurance – and that’s the fact you don’t own the bike. Several MCN readers have discovered problems while trying to insure their bikes, in some cases discovering that their insurers could not cover them at all if they were not the legal owner of the bike. This is an issue unique to PCP, where you are the registered keeper, but not the legal owner. With normal finance you are classed as the legal owner from day one, albeit the finance…

1 Make a note of your mileage Make a note of your odometer’s figure and write it down or take a picture and post it on the #ride5000mile’s Facebook group. Join the campaign and thousands of like-minded bikers. 2 Ride to some great places Take that trip you’ve always planned, visit that race meet you’ve always hoped to attend or forget the lawn and head out for a blast. Get weekly updates in the paper. 3 Tell people about it all Log onto www.facebook.com/groups/ride5000miles to share stories and routes. You can add your biking friends too. It’s private so we can keep it free of spammers. DOWNLOAD OUR FREE 24-PAGE GUIDE It’s packed with inspiration for a great biking year www.motorcyclenews.com/ride5000miles OUR PARTNERS BENNETTS The dedicated insurance…

The first GP of the season gave us all a timely reminder about what it is that makes motorcycle racing so great. While the world of Formula One car racing was getting terribly excited that a red car managed to beat the silver one that normally wins, it was in the two-wheeled world where there was actually some overtaking and everything. In fact, a very lot of overtaking. In F1 just 13 cars finished the race with only six remaining unlapped. While in MotoGP an epic three-way battle went down to the wire and all of the race finishers were within 47 seconds of each other. In a breathtaking Moto3 encounter 0.8 seconds separated the top eight. It’s not just close racing that makes for an enthralling encounter – as…

1 WHO IS THIS? Who is this famous Valentino Rossi-loving Italian right-hand man? 2 WHO’S THIS? Who’s this fresh-faced GP rider at the South African GP in 1985? 3 NAME THE HONDA What brand new 2017 Honda wears this somewhat wonky face? 4 WHO’S THIS DUDE? He turned into one of the UK’s most successful racers, who is it? 5 NAME THE BSB RIDER Who is this moustache-wearing British Supersport 600 rider standing on the podium in 1990? 6 NAME THE RIDER There aren’t many people who have been round the world more times, or faster. Who is he? 7 NAME THE BIKE Affectionately known as Wagon Wheels, thanks to it’s pioneering cast wheels, what was the bike? 8 WHAT BIKE? Polished top yoke, twin clocks, fat Showa fork –…

‘All it really lacks is the X-factor to make it stand out’ HIGHLIGHTS • Refined 645cc V-twin gets more low and mid-range torque • Uprated suspension is confidence-inspiring on challenging roads • Screen and large soft seat make the 650XT all-day comfortable • New look pays homage to DR BIG PCP deal £134 A MONTH Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT 35 monthly payments of £134, £1000 deposit, 8.9%APR, 5000 miles per annum, optional final p ayment of £3631 The new V-Strom 650XT proves good adventure bikes don’t need more electronics than the space shuttle. For 2017 the XT gets a much needed facelift to bring it inline with its big brother and give it a sharper adventure look, and there’s a raft of performance upgrades too. The SV650-based V-twin has received…

1 Southport Carousel, Promenade, Southport, Mersyside. Wednesdays. www.visitsouthport.com 2 Sycamore Harley-Davidson, Uppingham, Rutland. Busy café in the bike park at weekends. sycamorehd.co.uk 3 Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum, Perthshire. www.thegreenwellystop.co.uk 4 TT Super Sausage, A5 Wattlng Street, Potterspur, Northants. Always busy and serving top quality grub. www.supersausagecafe.co.uk 5 H’s Cafe, Kent Motorcycles, A2 near Barham, Kent. Stop for a cuppa and check out the latest Hondas or maybe nip over the A2 and see what’s happening at Lydden Hill race track kent-motorcycles.co.uk…

‘The garage owner said he would help but is reluctant to return the money’ Andrew Campbell Solicitor and author of the MCN Law column for the last five years Andrew Campbell, Bikelawyer. Visit www.bikelawyer.co.uk or email andrew@bikelawyer.co.uk or call 01446 794169 Q Can I claim back money paid for a now unwanted bike? My late husband selected a motorbike from a local dealership. At first he paid a deposit, then paid the balance. But unfortunately my husband died before he took delivery and I informed the dealership that I could not accept the motorbike. The garage owner informed me that he would sort something out to return the money. The motorbike was not registered in my husband’s name. The garage owner is now reluctant to return the money. How do…

‘On depreciation all the brands took a similar percentage hit’ With the influx of cheap 125s, buyers are left facing a tough decision – pay a premium for a Japanese or European 125 or opt for the budget choice. With prices for Chinese-built geared 125s starting at just over £1000, rather than £2500 for a Japanese brand, you can see why so many cash-strapped riders plump for the cheaper option. According to industry figures in 2016, the major players in the UK’s 125 market from the Far East were Lexmoto, Keeway, Kymco and Hyosung while Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki represented Japan with KTM and Aprilia the European entrants. By comparing the prices of the new 2017 models with the same (or similar) used 2015 bikes, MCN has built up a…

Monster deal for £89 a month Launched last week, the new Monster 797 (see first test, p30) is already making its way to dealers and Ducati are offering PCP deals on the entry-level naked of just £89 per month. After a £1700 deposit, you could sign up for a three-year deal. Find out more at www.ducatiuk.com Stay dry and organised Ditch the carrier bags next time you pack to go touring because Oxford have launched new waterproof bags. The set of three different sized Aqua D inner bags allow you to organize your luggage within your panniers or rucksack and keep your stuff dry too. The packing ‘cubes’ cost £24.99 for a set of three. www.oxprods.com Win six wheels with Carole Nash Carole Nash are giving away a Suzuki car…

PETE LLOYD Marketing Director of TranAm 1998 YAMAHA YZF-R1 4XV “I’d buy a low-mileage, first-generation Yamaha YZF-R1 (and I actually have). Purely because they were way ahead of their time in looks and performance and have no electronic rider aids to take the fun away from riding. It’s also still quick even by today’s standards and it’s surprisingly comfortable even over long distances.” LOZ STAPLES Sales Manager Held UK 2007 TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 “I’d have to go for a Triumph Tiger 1050, there are some great examples of this model about at the moment and for £5k you can get a whole lot of motorcycle! The Tiger 1050 is a great all-rounder, perfect for carrying a pillion, at home on the twisties, and a mile-muncher all thrown into a great-looking…

1999 Yamaha YZF-R6 Colours Red/white, blue/ white Dealer £2400 Private good £2199 Private average £2000 This one This 1999 R6 is in a private sale for £1999 and having covered less than 20,000 miles is good value. 2000 Yamaha YZF-R6 Colours Red/white, blue/ white Dealer £2695 Private good £2400 Private average £2000 This one Showing 21,100 miles, this R6 is standard, which is rare on a 17-year-old bike, explaining its £2895 price. 2001 Yamaha YZF-R6 Colours Red/white, blue/ white Dealer £2999 Private good £2700 Private average £2400 This one A tidy 2001 model with 19,739 miles on its clocks and an aftermarket exhaust can fitted. It’s up for £2999. 2002 Yamaha YZF-R6 Colours Red/white, blue/ white Dealer £3199 Private good £2800 Private average £2600 This one This tidy-looking £2999 R6…

The road surface during the TT’s second decade consisted of gravel and deep ruts, especially over the mountain section. Between 1911 and the early 20s the track differed from the modern Mountain course in that it turned right at Cronk Ny Mona and rejoined at St Ninian’s. In the first race after the Great War in 1920 the present layout was introduced via Signpost and Governor’s to the current start and finish. Two years later the 37.73-mile Mountain course as we know it today was finalised and a year later the Sidecar TT was introduced for the first time. With the solos being divided into Lightweight (250cc), Junior and Senior classes the first 60mph lap came in 1924 and 1926 saw the 70mph barrier broken by Jimmy Simpson.…

 John McPhee cemented an amazing comeback after taking a stunning second position in the opening round of the 2017 Moto3 world championship – only five months after crashing out and sustaining serious injuries at Phillip Island. ‘I’m a contender. I’ve got a great opportunity and all the boxes ticked’JOHN MCPHEE Recovering from injuries severe enough to keep him in Australia for weeks after the crash, the fast-maturing Scot made a podium return and was only just denied the win after a tiny mistake in the closing stages of the frantic 18-lap race. Making his debut on the British Talent Team Honda project built around him by organisers Dorna to help promote talent from the UK, McPhee was able to make the most of the huge top-end power of the factory-supported…

‘For Aprilia to fight with two factory Hondas at the first race is a dream’ ‘In the race the bike is great. It’s a Sunday bike’ALEIX ESPARGARO Aprilia have the smallest racing department of any manufacturer in MotoGP and are viewed by many as the team that’s on the grid to make up the numbers, but in Qatar on Sunday the Italian factory and their star rider Aleix Espargaro changed all that. In his first race on the RS-GP machine, Espargaro took a stunning top six result and set the third fastest lap of the race, only just missing out on the chance to beat the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa in the closing laps. The 27-year-old Spaniard has enjoyed some strong pre-season testing results,…

Dani Pedrosa suffered from similar issues as his fellow Honda riders during Sunday’s race despite his lighter size, opting for the medium front tyre but struggling with the same overheating issues as Marquez and Crutchlow as he tried to get the confidence he needed from it. “We did our best to manage the race, but we suffered a lot with the front tyre, which turned out to be too soft for us. Saving the tyre to make it last until the end was hard, and above all we weren’t able to push. Anyway, it’s just the first race; we must immediately concentrate on the next one, try to solve this issue and have a good race in Argentina.”…

Miller on a charge One of the most impressive performances of the opening weekend of the season went to Jack Miller, with the Australian showing some of his real potential to bring the Marc VDS Honda home to his best ever dry condition result in eighth. Bautista denied by early crash Alvaro Bautista was denied the chance to make his own mark on the race after running as high as sixth place, before a small mistake saw the Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati rider crash out of the race. Rins wins race of the rookies Alex Rins won the battle for top rookie in the first race of the year finishing ninth. Capitalising on a slow but steady approach to the weekend to take the honour from Jonas Folger by only 0.3s…

New Ducati signing Jorge Lorenzo has conceded that a lack of experience on-board his Ducati was the reason for his poor showing during his debut for the Italian firm in Sunday’s race. The Spaniard has spent all winter working to adapt his riding style to the new bike after nine seasons on a Yamaha M1 – but says that despite that, he still has work to do before he can make match the results of his teammate Andrea Dovizioso. He finished 11th, 20 seconds behind the winner. “It was disappointing – not what I had dreamed about. Andrea started ahead of me, he didn’t make a mistake that cost him three or four seconds and he has a lot more experience than me, especially with old tyres when they’ve started…

How to make it in BSB as a young gun The key to success for the young guns is to learn – that might sound obvious but they’re sharing a track with riders like Shane Byrne. Get in behind him in a practice session! Even if they can only keep up with him for four corners each weekend they can learn so much from that. What a lot of these youngsters need to understand is when they’re ready and when they’re not. Recognising you can’t win at that particular time is hard, but it’s a skill any top racer needs to learn fairly early on and it’s not just something to take on board when you’re building experience. The other thing they need is guidance, good guidance from a good…

‘Maverick has transformed from boy to man’ Maverick Viñales might have shown at the weekend that he’s the real deal on the track as he romped to an utterly dominant second MotoGP victory, but his actions off the track over the weekend confirmed his new status not only as a title contender but as one of the elite group of aliens that sit atop MotoGP’s pecking order. That new status was never more clear than during Saturday evening’s press conference, where the debutant pole setter quickly took command of his surroundings. Showing confidence without arrogance as he fielded tough ‘It seems unlikely that mindgames will be able to dent his armour’ questions that had fellow front row starters Iannone and Marquez deferring to the young usurper, the 22-year-old showed just…

‘When the LC came out I could see it was the bike to have’ “When I first started as a motorbike mechanic in the 1960s it was at the real boom time of bikes, but it was everyman’s transport. For a family it was a sidecar and for a man going to work, he used his motorbike. “When I started racing for myself in about 1970 I became the person to go to for preparing the race engines. I raced for myself in all categories – solo racing, sidecar racing, drag racing, a bit of trials, but mainly I was known for road racing. “I raced all the way through the 70s and in that time production racing was starting to take off. When the LC came out I could…

SW MESSENGER -MOTECH BAG £158.99 Made from a combination of waxed canvas and robust Napalon synthetic leather the 12l Messenger Bag looks great and should be tough enough for motorcycle life. The pièce de résistance is that with two additional straps it can be converted into a tail pack. www.sw-motech.com HOLY FREEDOM SCARF £19 A soft and lightweight tubular scarf, this model from Holy Freedom is made with Primaloft insulation so it should keep out what remains of the winter. Also available with a lighter material once things warm up a little. www.holyfreedomshop.com BUILT ISSUE 4 £4.99 If you worship at the shrine that is custom, then there’s no better place to indulge your passion and get the lowdown on some of the best custom bikes the world has to…

The Big Breakfast Harry’s Café, above Fowler’s Motorcycles in Bristol, have been running a giant breakfast challenge since 2013. Challengers must eat the feast in an hour and until recently no-one had succeeded. Well, on March 19 the challenge was finally achieved in just 35 minutes by Radim Dvořáček, but it begs the question: what could he have eaten in the spare 25 minutes? Winner-in-Chief Indian have announced that Tequila Sunset built by Hollister Powersport, California, is the winning bike in their Project Chieftain competition. Tequila Sunset features a 23in custom front wheel, stretched front fender, raked triple trees, custom gold metallic paint, custom-made side covers, custom made air cleaners and ‘frenched’ indicators in the saddle bags. MT Tour rides again Yamaha have announced the return of their popular MT…

‘I’d love to be able to backflip a bike, but I’m too old now’ Q1. What are you currently riding? I’m swapping between a Vertigo 300, an AJS 350 and a Norton 500T. Q2. Which living motorcyclist do you most admire? Back when I was winning all the time I admired Mick Doohan, who I once met on holiday and bugged with questions for two days. Also Stefan Everts, who took the 250 and 500 motocross titles in one year, which was very impressive. And any TT rider. Q3. What’s your worst riding habit? I stick my tongue out. Not a great look. Q4. If you could have one riding super skill, what would it be? I’d love to be able to backflip a bike, but I doubt I’ll ever…

‘New forks give you confidence to brake later into corners’ It’s no secret supersport sales have plummeted over the last decade. And while most manufacturers have put their 600s out to pasture, using a get-out clause to allow them to keep selling non-Euro4 bikes for this year and next, Yamaha have injected a new lease of life into their long-serving YZF-R6. It’s easy to question why they bothered, especially at a time when Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Triumph are deserting the class. But Yamaha are confident the R6 still has an important role to play – to cater for riders who want to move up through their sportsbike range, from YZF-R125 to R3 to R6 to the full-bore R1. Yamaha have also identified a significant group of hardcore customers who…

‘After a day of steep rocky trails and twisty roads I still felt sharp’ PCP deal £174 A MONTH Suzuki V-Strom 1000 XT 35 monthly payments of £174, £1000 deposit, 8.9%APR, 5000 miles per annum, optional final payment of £4720 There wasn’t anything wrong with the outgoing Suzuki V-Strom 1000 but for 2017 Suzuki have made a few tweaks and introduced the more adventure-focused XT version, which gets wire wheels, a bashplate, handguards and tapered handlebars for better positioning when stood on the pegs. The XT remains much the same as the standard outgoing V-Strom. There’s a slight lumpiness at 3000rpm, but anything above that is smooth, effortless drive. The bike’s 101bhp might not sound like much in 2017, but it’s more than enough to have fun with on the…

‘The Suzuki feels low tech with basic suspension’ After time spent on both nakeds, Suzuki’s evergreen £9999 GSX-R750 feels claustrophobic. Before nakeds got so good sportsbikes were our bread and butter, but now it seems odd you’d want pay such a big price in comfort, for performance you’ll never use on the road. The GSX-R750 is one of MCN’s all-time favourites. It’s as fun, easy and rewarding to ride as a 600, with an added dollop of grunt. But after a dozen miles in the saddle the Suzuki feels normal again (apart from the brake and clutch levers set pointing to the stars) and in terms of sheer power and speed it leaves the Street Triple for dead. A GSX-R750 will do a genuine 180mph on a good day. It’s…

‘Be very careful going between lines of vehicles’ RIDING EXPERT Mark Edwards Retired police motorcyclist, now Class One certified instructor for Rapid Cars are notorious for changing lanes without warning Stand the bike up and accelerate towards the exit Don’t rush into anything On the face of it negotiating a roundabout seems like pretty basic stuff – especially if you have been driving cars for years before starting out on bikes. But some riders make a much better fist of it than others. Your approach speed will depend on the amount of view available: for example, the view could be obscured by trees and shrubs planted in the centre of the roundabout. Build in enough time to assess the roundabout properly and also allow other traffic time to see you…

JAMES ARCHIBALD Big miles rider who enjoys being on a bike whatever the weather/season Height 5ft 11in Weight 80kg james.archibald@motorcyclenews.com Price £6549 Fuel 15 litres @ 52mpg = 170 mile range Weight 193kg Seat 790mm Power 67bhp Torque 49ftlb ‘Even when playing fuel roulette, there’s still three litres left in the tank’ ‘My first impressions have been really positive and I’m excited to be using the new Ninja’ Kawasaki’s new Ninja 650 had me at hello. The sharp styling was the first thing that turned me on to the new model, and now I’ve taken delivery of the bike I was able to appreciate just how pretty it is. I personally don’t think there’s another machine in this price bracket that looks quite so good. My first weeks with the…

Aldi Textile Jacket £89.99 and Trousers £69.99 Tested by Jordan Gibbons Time tested 300 miles What’s good? Despite the bargain price, the general quality of the suit is pretty good. The fabric is strong, it’s well stitched and adequately finished. There’s protection too with knee, elbow, shoulder and back armour, which is all CE Level 2 approved. The jacket has four decent sized front pockets, along with a big map pocket on the back, and the trousers have two pockets at the waist, but would benefit from some on the thigh. Aldi say the fabric is waterproof to 10,000 metres and although I didn’t actually ride under the ocean, I did get caught in some heavy showers and nothing came through. The price paid is breathability though as even without…

THE EXPERT Richard Vanags Owns P3 Composites. With a background in motorsport engineering, P3 make exquisite carbon parts for BSB teams and bikes such as Aprilia’s RS250 and even Honda’s 250 GP RSW. www.p3composites.co.uk Carbon-fibre can be used to make very lightweight and very strong components. This makes it great for the aerospace industry and motorsport, with whole bike frames such as the Ducati Superleggera and BMW S1000 Race and even whole cars, such as McLaren, now being made from it. It’s a versatile material that can be tailored to what attributes you’re after – weight, strength, or just plain good-looking. Carbon-fibre products tend to be expensive because it is very time-consuming and hard to make carbon components in bulk numbers, because of the processes involved. It is also only…

‘Why hasn’t it been done? Never assume anything is an easy fix’ There comes a time when you have to sell a bike that isn’t going, that you know could be coaxed into going, but you also know won’t be because you haven’t got the time. There are also occasions when you’re tempted by a non-running bike, which is described as “an easy fix; should pass MoT”. Ho, ho, ho. If you’re selling a non-runner, then you’ve got to accept that buyers are going to be sceptical. If you know exactly why the thing isn’t running, and clearly say so, then that’s fair enough. For example, if it’s been stuck in the back of the garage for three years, then the battery will be flat as the tyres, and if…

‘Get yourself a new bike for less’ DEPUTY EDITOR RICHARD NEWLAND Personal Contract Purchase now finances 20-30% of all new bikes sold in the UK, and it’s a method of ownership that is growing fast. But it might not be right for you, so make sure you understand the ins and outs. You can have these new bikes for less than you might have ever imagined – and what’s more you can have another new one in three years’ time, probably without increasing your monthly outlay or having to find a fresh deposit. This is how it works… • Work out what you can afford as a deposit and in monthly repayments for the duration of the contract. • You can get PCP on any amount from £1500 upwards. •…

With Ducati riding high in WSB and MotoGP and producing true exotica like the Superleggera it’s easy to forget success wasn’t always a given for the Italian brand. In the early 90s commercial success was uncertain and some models less than exciting and through much of the 80s the Bologna manufacturer was in big trouble. The original 750 Paso, launched in 1987, was intended to change that. Unfortunately it only partially succeeded. Conceived as a flagship, tech-laden sports tourer, designed by Massimo ‘916’ Tamburini, the Paso was astonishingly advanced for Ducati at the time. Named in honour of late racing great Renzo ‘Paso’ Pasolini, it featured the latest version of the belt-drive ‘Pantah’ V-twin; a box-section steel frame held the best in Marzocchi and Brembo cycle parts; it rolled on…

Daryll Young, runs IDP Moto, an independent workshop in Silverstone.www.idpmoto.com ‘Early supersport bikes like this R6 live their lives on the limiter’ “I have seen so many R6s pass through my workshop over the years and they nearly always fall into one of two camps – hounds or really tidy. It’s not exactly a rare bike, so if you are looking at buying one hold out for a good example rather than just buy the first cheap one you see. But remember whatever the outward condition, the engine will have been thrashed! Early supersport bikes live their lives on the limiter as they are a great source of cheap speed, it’s just the nature of the beast, but some are better buys than others. “Whenever looking at an R6 your…

Dunlop drops it Michael Dunlop was present at the BSB test for another run out on his Bennetts Suzuki GSX-R but his day was cut short when he crashed out at in the second session. Running late McAMS Yamaha are unlikely to race their WSB-spec factory underslung swingarm at Donington Park this weekend after the part arrived late, meaning they were unable to fit it in time for the Donington test. Out in the cold Leon Haslam tried to find a wet setting on his ZX-10RR at the test, but with track temperature so low he couldn’t get enough heat into the tyres to test any set-up changes.…

August 21 McPhee takes a stunning wet weather victory in Brno. October 23 Running in the top 10 at Phillip Island, he becomes entangled in a nasty fall at Lukey Heights, leaving him with broken ribs and punctured lungs. December 5Finally able to fly home (accompanied by a doctor). January 21 Able to resume training, moving to Spain with Chaz Davies and Michael Laverty to ride motocross, supermoto and cycles. February 14 Makes a strong start to testing, setting fast times first time out on the bike at Jerez and finishing inside the top 10. March 19 Ends the final test at Losail just outside the top 10, but by concentrating on race pace not fast laps, he’s kept his powder dry for the race. March 26 Building on strong…

Yamaha Tech 3 rookie Johann Zarco burst onto the MotoGP stage in spectacular form, by leading not only the first lap of his premier class career, but opening a gap at the front. It all looked to be going so well until he crashed out of the race. “Despite the end result, I am happy and it was so good to lead the field in my first race. When the race finally commenced, I was focused and I could see that I was not far from first so I wanted to take the opportunity to do well. I know that my starts are strong and I overtook some good riders at the first corner and I then got into a consistent rhythm. “I kept pushing but on the sixth lap,…

 Cal Crutchlow was lucky to come away from the opening round of the 2017 MotoGP world championship unscathed, after not one but two crashes in short succession during Sunday’s race. ‘We changed the front tyre on the grid. It was completely wrong’CAL CRUTCHLOW The LCR Honda rider was left furious after the race, after a decision by his team to change from the hardest option of Michelin front tyre to the medium option. It was a decision made without his consent, leaving him unable to achieve what he expected in the race. “We changed the front tyre on the grid and we shouldn’t have. We knew that the medium option tyre was too soft, but because the race was later than expected they were concerned about it. It was completely…

 The 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship promises to be dynamite with a heady collection of big name riders and up-and-coming stars. ‘With the Blade struggling in WSB, can they make it work in BSB spec?’ Shane Byrne starts with a huge target on his back after taking a record fifth title last year. But with a host of hot new talent, making it to title number six won’t be easy. Having pushed Byrne to the limit last year, Leon Haslam heads into the season as No1 challenger onboard his JGSpeedfit Kawasaki, but unlike 2016, 2017 is unlikely to be a two-horse race. 2014 WSB champion Sylvain Guintoli already looks strong onboard the all-new Bennetts Suzuki GSX-R1000, while the man who beat Byrne to the title in 2015, Josh Brookes, also…

Shakey is without a doubt the favourite after last year, but while it’s hard to win one championship it’s much harder to come back the next year and do it again. As the old saying goes, it’s hard to get to the top but it’s even harder staying there. He’ll have a massive target on his back this year, but he knows how to play it. Leon for me is the person best placed to challenge him after last year, and I really hope he can turn things around as I’d hate for him to become another Chris Walker. You could look back over Leon’s career and say he’s always been the nearly man, he’s always been knocking on the door of great things and it’s just never happened. He…

‘Going to a smaller team in BSB you have much more control over your destiny’ Josh Brookes and Yamaha’s R1 were a fearsome combination in 2015 when he cruised to his first MCE British Superbike title after a bitter battle with Shane Byrne. Brookes’ domination was perhaps the only time during BSB’s Showdown era that the series has been a one-man show with the Aussie taking 13 wins from the last 16 races of the season. Brookes is returning to BSB after a dismal year on the world stage to join the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha squad. While the team’s pedigree is questionable – they only scored three points with James Rispoli last year – Brookes’ initial feedback has been positive. “The general DNA of the bike is the same…

TYRE CODES EXPLAINED Have you ever wondered what the numbers on your tyres’ side walls actually mean? Well, wonder no more. A sporty rear motorcycle tyre might be marked 200/55 ZR17 M/C (78W). The first number is the tyre’s section width, which on this example is 200mm. The 55 is the tyre’s height as a percentage of the width, so here 55% of 200mm or 110mm (manufacturers are allowed +/- 4% variation). The Z is the tyre’s speed rating, in this case Z means over 150mph, while the R states it is a radial construction. The 17 indicates its is a 17in diameter tyre and M/C means it is for use on a motorcycle. Finally, the 78W is the tyre’s load and speed index, which is this case is 425kg…

Smell Italian Ducati have released a range of toiletries consisting of shower gel, deodorant and an Eau de Toilet. Ducati say the fragrance is that of tangerine juxtaposed against a bitter hint of bergamot with a powerful base note of cedar. Which is nice. Law breakers A survey of 2000 motorists has shown than nearly one in four drivers thinks driving while using a mobile phone is less serious than speeding. Hopefully the government’s recent decision to increase the penalty to a £200 fine and six points will discourage these misguided people. Buddy up Carole Nash say that two-thirds of adults want to make new friends, and that’s prompted them to start a scheme to help bikers connect. The Biker Buddy scheme runs until April 17 and aims to match…

YAMAHA FS1-E 1979: Me and a mate with my Fizzy and my . Both barking mad! Happy days. Robert Palmer HONDA CB750 My first bikes – a Honda 750 and 500 BMW. I’m now 65 and have progressed to an MV Agusta. Steve BSA A10 My first bike in 1968. BSA A10 in a B31 frame. Thanks for the decades of brilliant reading. Ian Muir YAMAHA DT175 MX I loved blasting up and down my friend’s drive on this little beauty. Dan Kilbourn HONDA NS125F First bike 30 years ago; time flies. Painted wheels and belly pan. Good times had on this bike. Darren Martin BSA ROAD ROCKET My dad Terry Hoare on his 1957 Road Rocket taken in 1962, aged 19. It was his first big road bike –…

AN INFAMOUS REVEAL In Milan on September 15, 1997 the R1 was unveiled with Scott Russell in a silver suit and just two words: 150bhp and 177kg. Life was never the same again. A SPORTING DYNASTY The choice of ‘R1’ was deliberately simple and powerful. A whole family (of Rs (R6, R7, R3) followed… TWO TT LEGENDS David Jefferies notched up his first win aboard the V&M bike in 1999’s F1 race and there was glory for John McGuinness in the same class in 2004. ‘BLUE SPOT’ CALIPERS Iconic four-pot brake calipers appeared on the mid-90s Thunderace but it's the R1 that cemented their iconic status.…

RICHARD NEWLAND Sportsbike addict with a love of road riding, in all weathers. Height 5ft 11in Weight 115kg richard.newland@motorcyclenews.com SUZUKI GSX-S1000 Price £9599 Fuel 17litres @ 38mpg = 141miles range Weight 209kg (kerb) Seat 810mm Power 143.4bhp Torque 78.2ftlb ‘Suzuki should sort the problems out and then it’d be a right little nutter’ It’s so easy for bikes to become famous for an inexplicable weakness; something that should never have made it past the skilled factory test riders whose only job is to ensure perfection (or something close). And that’s exactly what’s happened with the GSX-S. So, let’s expunge the elephant from the throttle bodies so we can move on. The fueling has some problems, and they’re unforgivable – but they don’t ruin the bike as some have claimed. Keep…

What is it? Carbon-fibre is produced in sheets woven from strands of fibre, using polymers such as polyacrylonite and rayon, but can also include other materials such as Kevlar, or Diolem, for extra strength. As it is, the sheets are flexible and weak. So they are then mixed with epoxy resin that, once hard, gives the shape its strength. How’s it made? All methods start with a mould of the part needed, which is polished to within an inch of its life to help the finished part come out once it’s set. Some parts, like mudguards or covers, seem much cheaper than other parts made from carbon-fibre. This is because they often use a layer of carbon sheet as the surface you see, while underneath will be fibreglass sheet. They…

1984 Honda VT700C £900 Seller says Spares or repairs, clutch and electrics U/S, flat tyre, should improve with detailing Neil says US model not sold here, so many spares impossible to find, can’t believe someone bought this. 2001 BMW F650ST £900 Seller says 15,000 miles, oil leak, mismatched bodywork, needs fork seals fitting (supplied). Neil says Overpriced, chequered past (and seemingly no history), oil leak is a worry, I’d avoid. 1992 Kawasaki ZZ-R1100 £900 Seller says 60k miles, laid up since 2013, flakey paintwork. Neil says Potential bargain if you know what you’re doing and have the tools; money pit if not.…

 Reigning MCE British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne is concerned with how little track time he’s had ahead of this weekend’s opening round at Donington Park. ‘I’d be lying if I said I was heading into the season full of confidence’SHANE BYRNE Byrne and his BeWiser PBM Ducati team last completed any meaningful testing back in January at Portimao and Jerez. They were unable to return to Spain like the vast majority of their BSB rivals because they were awaiting arrival of a new swingarm and exhaust from the Ducati factory in Italy. The 40-year-old, five-time BSB champion did manage to at least ride at the official one day test at Donington Park but got only very limited track time due to heavy rain. “I’d be lying to you if I…

Johnson’s choice Gary Johnson has bought two 2017-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000RRs for the Superbike and Superstock races this year. He will also race a Triumph 675 in the Supersport and a Chinese-built WK/CF Moto in the Lightweight. New dream team Manxman Conor Cummins will line up alongside Bruce Anstey in the Padgett’s Honda team for TT 2017. The Ramsey Rocket is expected to ride a new Fireblade in the Superbike and Senior races with his Kiwi teammate renewing his challenge on the RC213V Honda. No lightweights Former Lightweight TT winners James Hillier and Dean Harrison will not race in the class this year, concentrating on the big bike races for the JG Speedfit and Silicone Engineering Kawasaki squads. Some fresh faces Irishmen Paul Jordan and Adam McLean will join Ian Lougher’s…

SCOTT REDDING Started 6th Finished 7th Redding came away form the opening weekend of 2017 with a better result than he had anticipated, as the Pramac Ducati rider managed to secure an impressive seventh place, finishing as the first satellite bike and second Ducati only to the factory machine of Andrea Dovizioso. Building on his big breakthrough in front-end feeling and capitalising on a good grid position he admitted afterwards that the performance exceeded his own expectations. He said: “We knew we had okay pace, but it was hard to judge it throughout the weekend thanks to the conditions. But I got my head down and was able to go. I couldn’t get the bike to turn or get much grip form the rear tyre, so I just had to…

 He’s well known as a race day man, but on Sunday night Valentino Rossi delivered an utterly unexpected podium at the Qatar GP after struggling throughout pre-season testing and in the race build up. ‘My secret is my team. We never give up and we keep concentrating’VALENTINO ROSSI Unlike his new superstar Spanish team-mate, Maverick Viñales (see page 4-5) the Italian looked set to make little impact on Sunday’s race, starting on the fourth row in 12th and with an acute lack of race pace. But if there is one thing we’ve learned about Rossi is that you can never, ever write him off and the nine-time champion delivered the goods, taking third behind Viñales and Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso. But, in typical Rossi fashion, the 38-year-old admitted after the race…