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Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Tassie finally tackledIt’s not just the roads and scenery that make Tasmania special, it’s the way the state embraces motorcyclistsAFTER FOUR FAILED attempts to ride around the Apple Isle, I finally did it last week, thrashing a motorcycle along some of the fantastic stretches of bitumen that make up stages of the Targa Tasmania rally. The trip also included sampling fine food and a local hospitality that embraces motorcycle culture.This was not any old ride but the launch of four 2017 BMW models: the S1000XR, S1000R, S1000RR and K1600GT. You’ll be able to read my full launch report in an upcoming issue of AMCN, but I know the suspense is probably already eating away at you. You want to know which of the four models was my favourite on the twisty strips…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Holden’s shocking two-wheel plansACCORDING TO INDUSTRY insiders, General Motors Holden is about to start manufacturing motorcycles in Australia at its Elizabeth facility in South Australia, where production of its Holden Commodore car will cease in October.The top-secret plan has the backing of the Australian Government, which was shocked at the backlash over its callous abandonment of the local car industry. It will now invest $500 million in an Aussie Holden motorcycle to save thousands of jobs.A Holden insider said the top-secret project could be revealed as early as Saturday, 1 April.Holden will leverage GM’s close links with Suzuki, which helped develop the Cruze small car that was built in Australia until last year. Suzuki has been asked to supply motors, including the 250cc twin from the forthcoming GSX250R.Holden wants to repeat the foolproof…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Race techMUGEN SHINDEN, THE dominant force in the annual TT Zero held at the Isle of Man TT, has unveiled its 2017 electric-powered TT contender.Looking leaner and meaner than the firm’s outgoing Go (which translates to five from Japanese), the updated Roku (yep, meaning six) is visibly narrower than its predecessor despite only tipping the scales one kilogram lighter.According to the firm, the 370-volt laminate-type lithium-ion battery is capable of 119kW and 210Nm. That’s impressive performance, but it will be needed to propel a 248kg machine around the punishing 37.74-mile Mountain Course.The bike will be ridden by Mugen Shinden’s regular rider John McGuinness, whose factory Honda teammate Guy Martin has been named to replace 2016 race-winner Bruce Anstey for the 2017 event.Expectation is high that either the Team Mugen duo, or…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Around the world on $50FORMER BRIT COMMANDO Peter Lee-Warner was of two minds about emigrating to Australia. Ten quid (that was twenty bucks in 1953) would see him on a government-assisted voyage, but if he didn’t like the joint he’d have to pay his own return fare. If, on the other hand, he made his own way to Oz, he was free to do as he liked.“Riding the luxurious Power-Pak is cheaper than walking”Peter was a very fit 34-year-old and may even have considered backpacking overland had he not spotted an advertisem*nt declaring: “An amazing fact: riding the luxurious Power-Pak is cheaper than walking.”The Power-Pak was a 49cc two-stroke that clipped over the rear wheel of a bicycle, which it propelled by means of a friction roller. It had a flywheel magneto, ‘petroil lubriction’…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19To the MaxIt’s not motorbike acceleration, but the sprint to the ton is in the realm of some pretty expensive sports carsA 12-volt power outlet means you can charge your phone on the goFront end features 41mm upside-down forkA single full-face helmet can be safely secured under the seatRear wheel is controlled by a separate swingarm and horizontally positioned rear shockPROSBrakesComfortKeyless operationCONSNo cruise controlLack of storageWITH EVER-INCREASING traffic and a dwindling supply of city parking, scooters have become a logical and popular choice for commuters – all you have to do is look at CBD parking lots to see a plethora of them. The reason for this is that scooters are easy to handle, convenient and relaxing, not only for the new rider but also the experienced motorcyclist who wants a runabout…5 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Three things we like…A cubed-up powerplant that unlocks the gateway to extra power and torqueThat engineThe new 765 unit offers major improvements in rideability and performance. Triumph gave us a hint of what to expect by producing the Tiger 800 triple in 2010, even if it was quite a different engine aimed at multi-purpose use. This liquid-cooled, 12-valve, DOHC, in-line three-cylinder powerplant has been bored and stroked to 78 x 53.4mm for a capacity of 765cc. In RS form it now produces 90kW @11,700rpm compared to 78kW @ 11,850rpm on the outgoing model. Torque is also up from 68Nm @9750rpm to 77Nm @10,800rpm.Lightweight middleweightTriumph spruiks its bike as the lightest in its class, and the new Street Triple is indeed lean and mean. At a claimed 166kg dry, it weighs in at 2kg…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19MONSTER MASHInstant and adrenaline-pumping power erupts from this wild motorWhat’s new...Up front- Higher spec front suspension - Twin-eye four-bulb LED headlights (1), six-bulb LED position lights with winglets and front turn signals beside radiator - Radiator side fins and enlarged air intakes (2) - Instruments integrated with headlight assembly (3)Out back- Re-designed seat, flatter and 5mm higher - 30mm shorter tail with integrated 3D light - Rear fender licence plate holder with single-sided mount (4)Under the skin- Quickshifter for clutchless upshifts - Assist and slipper clutch - Flat muffler surface with restyled end cap (5)Do you remember when riding ‘bitza’ bikes with superbike mills, cut-back subframes, brightly painted wheels and a tiny supermotard front cowl was all the rage? It was probably around the same time you were glued to your…10 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 191934 - 2017 CHAMPION FOR ALL TIMEIn his autobiography, John Surtees spoke of “the inherent Surtees family cussedness”. He was describing his father. Many people who knew John as a racer would say the same about him. Certainly he was stubborn. John Surtees was also intelligent, far-sighted, mechanically gifted, intensely competitive, and a perfectionist – qualities that mark out the greatest champions in this and other branches of motorsport.Indeed, this English rider eventually left motorcycling for cars, and four years later won the F1 World Championship in a factory Ferrari. He remains the only man to be world champion on two and four wheels at the premier level and, given the level of specialisation today in both disciplines, is likely to remain so.After retirement, pondering whether two or four wheels had been more important to him,…12 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Apart from the day job…Moonlighting job 1: The Moto RanchRossi built his own dirt track near Tavullia. “All those kids at the ranch, they’re trying to kill him!” says mechanic Alex Briggs. “It’s like he’s found the fountain of youth!”Moonlighting job 2: Moto2 teamRossi’s new Sky VR46 Moto2 team takes his team-boss duties up a gear. The squad features Italians Pecco Bagnaia (pictured) and Stefano Manzi who will use the Kalex chassis in the CBR600-powered series.Moonlighting job 4: VR46 apparelRossi’s VR46 apparel business employs 30 people and has an annual turnover of almost A$17 million. It “represents his vision that quality comes from passion, authenticity, fun and professionalism.”Moonlighting job 4: Moto3 teamRossi launched his Sky VR46 Moto3 team in 2014 and is very hands-on. “During a race weekend I like to go on track…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Flipped my lidWHEN EDITOR DOBES sent through an email advising of the pending delivery of a new helmet that he wanted me to test on our upcoming ride, I must admit that I was a little dubious. Road testing a brand new helmet straight out of the box on a three-day ride? What if it was uncomfortable, or I couldn’t see out of it? What if I just didn’t like it? So I packed my well worn trusty favourite lid in our Fiat Ducato support vehicle just in case a sneaky swap was needed.I’ve had helmets in the past that have taken a bit of getting used to and a little running in, but I was pleasantly surprised with the Roof Boxer V8 1995; it was a great fit and really comfortable…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19True blueYamaha WR250R$8299 (+ ORC)List of modifications: 13.8L Safari tank $571.91Blue and white bark busters $129.90GTYR alloy sump guard $189.94GYTR slip-on muffler $550.18Carbon look indicators $91.10Y-Shop Australia yshop.yamaha-motor.com.auDunlop tyres D907F 90/90-21 $113.95 D606 120/90-18 $119.95Monza Imports monzaimports.com.auWHAT BETTER WAY to send off the WR250R than with a retreat to the beautiful Blue Mountains in NSW? After a good six months of blinging the Yamahammer out with performance mods and accessories from Y-Shop, and brushing up on my off-road riding skills, it was time for the final hoorah. It took the form of a proper two-day adventure with a good mate who spends most of his weekends exploring trails around Katoomba. After hours of late night planning and some ale-fuelled debate on the pros and cons of different routes, we decided to…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Bag it up!Ventura Snetterton tank bag $109.00Ventura Seti-Moto seat bag $109.00Kenma Australia1800 251 145 kenma.com.auA CRUCIAL STEP in turning our CFMoto into a super-commuter was adding some storage. We’ve enjoyed one of the best weather stretches in Melbourne history over the last month, but the rainy days can’t be far away, and the tired old backpack won’t cut it.Kenma came to our aid with a couple of Ventura products: the 6L Snetterton tank bag and the 11L Seti-Moto seat bag. The tank bag attaches easily with four suction cups. I did a bit of a double-take the first time I went to refuel, but obviously you just pull the suction caps off on one side to access the petrol cap. It’s 100 per cent waterproof and has a clear panel on top…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19eventsShow time31 MARCH-2 APRILThe Machine Show, Braidwood Showgrounds, Kings Highway, Braidwood, NSW. Open to all motorcycles 30 years and older. Hosted by Braidwood CC. Roll in noon Friday; roll out noon Sunday.1 APRILPitstop Motorcycle of the Year 2017, 2070a Mount Mee Rd, Ocean View, Qld. Registration starts 7.30am, judging from 11.15am and winners announced 1.30pm. Best Street Cruiser, Best Sports Bike, Best Vintage, Most Unique and more. Plenty of prizes. Proceeds to Jaie’s Journey Inc. Registrations finalised before 24 March. Phone (07) 3425 3652 or email jaies_journey_inc@icloud.com.6-7 MAYGloucester Motorcycle Expo and Swap Meet, Gloucester Showgrounds, Gloucester, NSW. Motorcycles, accessories, luggage and clothing. Bar facilities 2pm until 11pm, barbecue, kitchen and barista. Heaven VMX Club Grass Track TT, Ulysses Club show ’n’ shine, live entertainment, free camping and hot showers. Sponsored…5 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19We are family?Perhaps ‘family’ is appropriate for MotoGP, given that in some cases families are rife with sibling rivalry of astonishing proportionsIT’S PROUD AND happy time again. As the 2017 MotoGP circus assembled again at Qatar, a great tide of obvious cliché swept through the paddock, as one rider after another spoke intimately about his hopes and dreams.Here’s a sample, from Marc Márquez: “I am very motivated to try to fight for the title for another year.” Well, there’s a surprise.All the others likewise plan to do the best they can for the best possible results.There was another shared emotion lapping at the ankles in the Qatar pitlane. Not just pride and happiness with oneself and one’s team. It was more to do with the beating heart of ‘the MotoGP family’.And it’s…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Herfoss was left tantalisingly close to the home-town doubleConsent2Go/Pirelli/Raceworks/Senior Engineering Yamaha) and Ducati-tamer Beau Beaton (Racers Edge Performance/McMartinRacing/North Coast V-Twins Ducati) were fifth, sixth and seventh respectively, ahead of Maxwell who was the first finisher on all wet tyres.Race 1 was all about Troy Herfoss though, who held a lead of over 15 seconds at one stage and cruised to an emphatic victory.With all riders on a now dry track and the kind of confidence that only a ‘come from behind’ victory can give, Herfoss looked a much more relaxed figure on pole position for Race 2.That was until the start light went out.The Goulburn native was left frantically trying to engage a gear while the rest of the field blazed past. This time the situation was even more desperate – if Herfoss was to complete a prized…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Young star shinesSHOWING POISE BEYOND his 17 years, another Goulburn local in Tom Toparis (Cube Racing/Australian Outdoor Living/Motul/Pirelli/Sprint Filter) managed to withstand enormous pressure to hold on for his breakthrough Supersport race win and also the round win.A wet track made for a dramatic opening lap in Race 1, with Triumph-mounted Mark Chiodo (Repsol Gas Racing/Alpinestars/Bell Helmets/ Dunlop Tyres/SBS), Chris Quinn (Coopers HXR Yamaha/Dunlop/ Shark Helmets/Ipone/Channon Tavern) and Phillip Island round winner Mason Coote (Aark Racing/Consent 2 Go/Kabuto/Spidi/Motul/Pirelli) all crashing, while polesitter Toparis held it together after a few early nervous moments.Toparis, with a host of mentors in his pit including Troy Herfoss, Wayne Maxwell and Troy Bayliss, said later he felt no pressure to win in front of his home crowd and surged to the lead. As his gap increased the…6 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19briefsReliving historyAgo was hoarse and tired by the end of Sunday and parked himself up in a corporate suite to watch the Melbourne F1 GP. “I was very surprised that so many people wanted to talk to me about my first time here, in 1971,” he revealed. “They said my presence and my MV (a three-cylinder 500) gave them so much pleasure.” Ago was beaten that day at Oran Park by Bryan Hindle, but he was a winner this weekend.JB on the RGsIt was the seventies all over again for Jeremy Burgess. He rolled up his sleeves and got immersed in several of the RG500s being ridden by the GP legends. “You never forget how these things work,” he said taking a break from changing carburettor jets. Burgess owned and…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19briefsRigged races!?Match-fixing on motorbikes? Some might think riders’ egos would be enough to rule it out, but Dorna has taken further steps with new partners Sportradar Integrity Services and a first session held at Losail, attended by team managers and other personnel. Sportradar gave a talk focused on forms of cheating and sporting corruption, with “a host of examples from other sports of how innocent-seeming situations can change,” according to a statement.Honda woesFactory men Márquez and Pedrosa are not the only Honda riders struggling with a lack of performance from the new big bang engine. While those two remain diplomatic, satellite rider Cal Crutchlow was marginally more outspoken. When asked what were the weak points, he replied: “I haven’t got all night.”Jack needs speedJack Miller also admitted he is still…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Lorenzo: “I must change”JORGE LORENZO HAS admitted he needs to make some big changes to his riding to maximise the potential of his brave switch to Ducati. The former Yamaha rider has signed with the Bologna factory for two years and, based on his difficult first day at the office in the Qatar Grand Prix, the size of the challenge is now frightfully clear.When asked by AMCN how much change as a rider is needed for the unique character of the high-horsepower and often nervous Desmosedici, Lorenzo said: “A lot. But I think Qatar was worse than I really am.”On a track that is heaven for Ducati’s rocketship speed, Lorenzo was overshadowed by teammate Andrea Dovizioso, a clever and experienced MotoGP campaigner. Lorenzo finished 11th and 20 seconds behind Dovizioso who came within…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Power deficit helps ApriliaA LACK OF horsepower helped Aleix Espargaró and Aprilia to a surprise sixth place at the Qatar Grand Prix.Espargaró was the big mover in the race, surging from 15th on the opening lap to finish just half a second behind factory Honda’s Dani Pedrosa in fifth.“The Aprilia has a lot of grip and traction, especially when the tyre goes down,” Espargaró said. “But a lot this is to do with the fact we don’t have the power to burn up the tyre like some others, and the Aprilia has a nice chassis and good electronics.“So in these conditions I was able to be fast late in the race. The Aprilia is a Sunday bike.“For sure we need more power but I hope that we don’t lose our traction and acceleration…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Honda’s loss is Yamaha’s gainWHILE THE HONDA riders, factory-backed or otherwise, all suffered with the lack of performance promised by the firm’s new big-bang engine, the counterpoint is the sheer strength of Yamaha.Maverick Viñales has been dominant ever since first tests at Valencia in November, but more surprising has been the strength of class rookies in the Tech3 Monster team: last year’s Moto2 champion Johann Zarco and even more so Jonas Folger.Zarco is an analytical and clever rider, and most expected him to (eventually) do well in the premier class. German rider Folger, however, was more of a gamble.Asked what he thought were the German’s strengths before the opening race in Qatar, team owner Hervé Poncharal said: “Sometimes there are things you cannot explain. This is one of them.“From the first time he got…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Aussie to lead 2017 TT!CHANGES ANNOUNCED AT last week’s Isle of Man TT launch event will see Australia’s David ‘DJ’ Johnson (Norton) first off the line during both the Superbike TT and the event’s blue-riband Senior TT. It’s a role 23-time Isle of Man winner John McGuinness (Honda Racing) has filled every year since 2011, except in 2013 when he ran the number three plate as a tribute to the late, great Joey Dunlop.“The last Aussie to run number one was back in the 70s so this is such a huge honour,” the Aussie said. “I am ready for this and I will give it my all!”Kiwi veteran Bruce Anstey (Padgetts Honda) will start behind the Norton-mounted rider for an Antipodean one-two ahead of James Hillier (JG Speedfit Kawasaki), Ian Hutchinson (Tyco BMW) and…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Tomac hunts Dungey’s leadMONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI rider Eli Tomac notched up his fourth consecutive 450SX Main Event win during the 12th round of the AMA Supercross on Saturday 25 March, in front of more than 46,000 fans in Detroit. The win came just a week after his victory at Indianapolis and leaves him just seven points shy of series leader and reigning champion Ryan Dungey (Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).Dungey, who has led the championship standings since the third round, softened the blow by scoring two podium finishes over the two rounds, placing second in Indianapolis and third in Detroit.Dungey’s Red Bull KTM teammate Marvin Musquin moves into third place in the overall standings (207) with a third- and second-place finish over the two events.“I just felt good and comfortable,” said Tomac.…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19New name, venue for Oz SafariTHE SUNRAYSIA SAFARI Rally will pick up where the Australasian Safari left off with a four-leg off-road race slated for 16-19 August this year in Victoria.Held in the Mildura, Wentworth and Pooncarie regions, the course will take in a variety of terrain using public roads and tracks as well as private property, with a mix of timed sections and untimed transport sections.Six classes of competition have been announced, with H1 allowing 0-250cc motorcycles, the popular H2 class consisting of machines between 251cc and 450cc, and the H3 class for bikes of 451-1000cc, as well as Quads, Masters and Sidecar categories. All bikes must be roadworthy and hold an appropriate registration permit.Accommodation can be organised and full catering packages are available. If Toby Price has inspired you to give rally racing…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Wil RuprechtJUST A FEW years ago, Wil Ruprecht was contesting the East Coast Junior Motocross series – a championship known for its intensity – and also riding the occasional NSW enduro round, where he was happy with the extra seat time and less aggressive atmosphere. So it was a no-brainer when the offer came to join Trent Lean’s Suzuki-backed Australian Off Road Championship (AORC) Team in 2011.“I can run with the big-hitters”“Wil’s riding technique was a little different to the norm,” Lean recalls, “but regardless of the terrain, his speed was impressive and his quiet-achiever ways made him easy to work with.”Nic Tomlinson and Broc Grabham had already begun to establish credibility when 12-year-old Wil joined the mix in Juniors, running fourth in 2011, second in 2012, then winning the AORC…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Meet the Vyrus 986 M2IT’S BEEN SIX long years since we first got a glimpse of the 986 M2. Though Vyrus originally planned it as a Moto2 racebike, the firm always said it would make a road-going version, and now it has finally come good on that promise.While the Italian boutique builder has been turning out its hub-centre-steered Bimota Tesi descendants – the Ducatipowered 984 and 985 – since 2001, the 986 represents a departure. It retains the hub-steered, swingarm-based front suspension design that defines the firm’s bikes, but the move to an in-line four-cylinder engine from a Honda CBR600RR means it’s a totally new machine.The firm initially hoped, as many did, that the four-stroke Moto2 series with its standard CBR600RRbased engines and free chassis regulations would provide a springboard for alternative frame designs.…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Show us yer…!Honda CB1100RS Customised ConceptWHEN HONDA REVEALED the new CB1100RS last year there was a collective groan of disappointment around the globe. Sure, the RS has better suspension, brakes and wheels than the stocker, but it’s a far cry from the coveted 2007 CB1100R concept bike.At the Osaka show, Honda revealed another take on the CB1100RS theme, taking the stock machine’s café racer dreams a little further. The addition of a small nose cowl and single seat hump, both finished in a combination of red and polished aluminium (as is the tank and front mudguard), turn the subdued CB1100RS into a head-turner. A Moriwaki exhaust with blue-tinged titanium headers adds a bit of performance attitude, too.Although purely a cosmetic exercise, and merely a concept, the bike shows that Honda is aware…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Would you pay $256,604 for this?THAT WAS THE current bid (US$195,748) for what the Italian-based seller is calling “the earliest example of the Piaggio masterpiece, as created by Corradino d’Ascanio.” Or in other words, the oldest Vespa in the world ... allegedly.As AMCN went to press there was still just over one day left before bidding closed on the auction site catawiki.com, but according to the auctioneer’s estimate, the piece of two-wheeled history was expected to pull somewhere between US$268,150 and US$348,600 (A$351,480 and A$456,930).The 1946 Series 0 Vespa is powered by a 98cc two-stroke engine matched to a three-speed transmission and is said to be in working order.…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19HeadcheckThe year was... 0 01 9 99THE WORLD’S POPULATION of 5.996 billion people awaited the consequences of the Y2K bug with warnings of Armageddon, and Australia’s population was voting on whether we should become a republic. Nelson Mandela stepped down from South Africa’s top job and US President Bill Clinton had his own political woes as he faced impeachment over his affair with Monica Lewinski. Fab Four member George Harrison was attacked and stabbed in the chest in his home near London, while John F Kennedy Jr and his wife, Carolyn Besette Kennedy, died when the plane John was piloting crashed off the coast near Martha’s Vineyard. Two students opened fire on their classmates in Columbine, Colorado, and back home eight bodies were found in barrels in Snowtown, South Australia.How…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19accessLetter of the issueTough old birdAbsolutely the best mag any motorcyclist could read – job well done team.I had a melanoma cancer in my RHS shin and have been dealing with it for nearly 10 years. At 62 it’s a prick. Melanoma cancer is not your fault, it’s just your ‘lot’.I have had all the ops, now inoperable.I have had all the test trial drugs the Yanks could throw at me.I’ve had every alternative pill, potion, paste and poultice my lady could find to administer. Turns out her care, and the care of family and friends is the best medicine.I have been doing the Border Pudding Run to the WA/SA border on the first Saturday in August since 2000.Only missed one Border Run since 2000, a result of being too…11 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19A bigger boatPIPEBURN.COMLORENZRICHARD.COM“With the fully operational quickshifter on board, the twin cans launch impressive sets of flames out the bike’s tail”WITH THE CIRCUS that is the WSBK wrapping up for the weekend at the Imola circuit last May, Ducati asked a few select journalists to stay behind. After a superlative-laden speech by Ducati supremo Claudio Domenicali, they hit the track on the brand-new 2016 Ducati Panigale R.All things considered, it’s probably for the best that a certain bunch of Swiss motorcycle fanatics weren’t on hand – they would be thinking there was even more to be had from the bike.Fortunately, their absence did nothing to quell their creativity. And the result was a unique collaboration of talents that delivered a freakishly cool animal known as ‘The Blue Shark’, arguably the world’s fastest…4 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Family mattersIn addition to the range-topping RS, Triumph’s supporting cast in its new five-strong middleweight Street Triple family of naked roadsters comprises three further versions on its 765cc platform, as well as another variant using a special 660cc motor which caters for A2/LAMS licence holders. Each has its own quite distinct specification of engine and running gear...SThe entry-level model will be available for $13,800 (+ ORC). Power is up 6.6 per cent compared to the old 675 engine, with a claimed 83kW and 72Nm. There are just two riding modes available, but ABS and switchable TC come standard. The powershifter is available as an option. The S has Nissin two-piston sliding calipers, and more conservative geometry than on the R and RS, with a 24.8 fork rake and 104mm of trail.…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19TRIBUTES TO SURTEESVALENTINO ROSSI SAID: “As the only one to win F1 and the 500cc championship, he did something very special. I was lucky; I met him three or four times, and he was still in good shape. I am very sorry for him and his family.”Rossi, who flirted with F1 a decade ago, also with Ferrari, was talking to Crash.net at the Qatar tests, when news of Surtees’ death broke.Freddie Spencer (world champion 1983 and 1985), who also met Surtees many times at classic events, revealed a special memory from his forthcoming autobiography. He was struggling in practice for the 1983 British GP, his Honda triple outpaced by rival Kenny Roberts’ Yamaha four. In the pits, awaiting a tyre change, “I felt two hands touch my shoulders. I can still feel…2 min
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Issue 28-Jul-2018 - What's on TVAustralian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Power and the passionLet’s start by going back to 2014. You returned to Honda after winning the Australian Superbike title with Suzuki. Troy Herfoss came in to take Josh Hook’s place and ended up staying in the team. He quickly became your number one rival. Tell us about that year.In 2014 I was doing double duties riding the Yamaha in Europe for the endurance racing and the Honda in Australia, and that unsettled things a bit. I have known Troy since I was quite young and whenever I would be passing through Goulburn and he was home from America we would always catch up. It was always like we had only seen each other yesterday, so we had a pretty close relationship. When he came into the team after taking a break I…7 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Two hands for beginnersIT’S HARD NOT to develop a soft spot for your ‘first’ of anything. So, as the Ixon RS Dry HPs were the first motorcycle gloves I pulled on, they represent a kind of happy baseline for me. They’ve been my everyday riding gloves for more than a year now, accompanying me on long and short trips, through the hot summers and our ‘shoulder’ seasons, in the wet and the dry.These gloves are ‘midseason’ mits, and will cover you for all but the seriously cold months.They are made of nylon and polyester, with Lycra between the fingers, endowing the gloves with some stretch. The cuffs, which extend to the wrist, are secured with Velcro tabs, and there’s integrated protection on the knuckles and a slider on the bottom of the palms.…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19LONG TERMERS In our garageYamaha MT-10NOW IN FULL touring mode, our Big Daddy long-termer has been spotted around the Great Ocean Road with Steve Martin on board. And to test this bike’s versatility to the max, there’s also a trackday on the cards...Fiat Ducato Maxi ProfessionalNO SLEEP TILL GOULBURN! was the call as our troop mover headed up the highway towards Wakefield Park. Yep, the Fiat was on its way to Round 2 of the ASBK as support vehicle to Editor/racer Dobie.AMCN’s long-termers are kept clean with a range of Ipone products…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Rally the troops1 APRILFools Run, Sundowner Saloon, Blacksoil, Qld. April Fool’s Day Poker Run. Sign on 9am; stands up 10am. $20 entry. $200 best hand, prizes and raffle. Hosted by Veterans MC Brisbane. For more information email vmcbrisbane@hotmail.com.8 APRILPig’s Arse Poker Run, Isis Club, Bruce Hwy, Childers, Qld. Sign on from 9am; stands up at 11.30am. $10 per hand; raffles and prizes. Meet ’n’ greet Friday night, after run party Saturday night. Live music, dinner Saturday and breakfast Saturday and Sunday. For more information phone 0439 484 666.7-9 APRILTriumph RAT Rally, Hahndorf Resort, 145a Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf, SA. Rides, demo rides, show ’n’ shine, dining, live entertainment and much more. Registration from 9.30am Friday. Event $200 per person; accommodation from $139 per room (call resort direct on (08) 8388 7921). For…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Harder, better, stronger, fasterAt my first race meeting I was knackered after just four laps and spent the next four laps barely able to hang onto the bikeIT MAY STILL be early days for my foray into the world of racing, but that’s not to say I’ve not already learned a great deal, and how to become a better rider is just part of it.It goes without saying that to be a racer you need to be able to ride a motorcycle quickly. How quickly you can persuade your chosen pile of nuts, bolts, pistons and tyres to go around a racing circuit will quickly determine whether you will be a contender or an also-ran. My age and late start to the sport means I will forever be an also-ran, but I still…4 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19BriefsLTR entered on R3The legacy of the late Lachie Thomas entered a new chapter as his younger brother Dan made his road-racing debut for the team in the R3 Cup and Supersport 300 class. It was an emotional weekend for the Armidale-based family as this was the first time since Lachie tragically passed away almost four years ago that the team’s rider would bear the Thomas name.MV Agusta and ApriliaAfter crashing at Phillip Island in Round 1, Chas Hern and his MV Agusta were absent from Wakefield Park, but word is they are still planning on attending future rounds. Another absentee was Alex Phillis, on board the Race Dynamics Aprilia. Alex said he is still not sure about Round 3, but is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Legends shine againAs the great Giacomo Agostini walked towards his old MV Agusta grand prix motorcycle, the years seemed to peel off him.A few minutes earlier he had appeared to be what he really is: a successful retiree from the hedonistic sixties and seventies. He’s still got most of his wealth and is impossibly tanned, albeit slightly overweight from enjoying the fruits of that long ago ‘moment in the sun’.Then his GP bike was fired up.These days 500cc of four-stroke engine may not sound like much, but when it’s the bike that took a rider to seven consecutive GP championship titles it sounds out of this world.The pinnacle of four-stroke race engineering of its time, it created a legend for MV Agusta and Giacomo Agostini. Seven consecutive world titles in the premier…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Records tumbleMcWilliams and Aaron Morris took the InterFOS racing component into another league.It all started when the Period 5 class early races looked like a continuation of the Island Classic International Challenge.Jeremy McWilliams was entered at the last minute on the Tom Dermody XR69 that was ridden so well last year by Team Ireland’s Derek Sheils.Early clutch troubles didn’t dent his enthusiasm, even while Irving Vincent ace Beau Beaton and Island Classic race winner Alex Phillis slugged it out in the early races.Then Beaton took the Irving Vincent, which had failed so spectacularly at the Island Classic, up another notch on Saturday afternoon.Not content with dominating the Period 5 class, he actually led the combined P5-P6 races for a time in the best race of the weekend early on Saturday afternoon.…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Franco’s firstFranco Morbidelli (EG Kalex) was a popular first-time pole qualifier, and took firm control of the race to become a popular first-time winner. Less popular, however, with his rivals, for the dominant style of his victory – by a clear 2.6 seconds.“I feel amazing, very happy,” he said. Morbidelli came close to winning several times last season, but now the long wait was over.He had a brief tussle with Thomas Lüthi on the first couple of laps, before leaving the Swiss CarXpert Kalex rider to his own devices, resisting steady pressure from the pursuing Takaaki Nakagami’s Idemitsu Honda.Nakagami had taken third from second qualifier Álex Márquez, Morbidelli’s teammate, and now the Spaniard was coming under pressure from Miguel Oliveira, in his first outing on the all-new Red Bull KTM.Márquez succumbed…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Miller battles arm pump and rookies in QatarJACK MILLER (MARC VDS Honda) overcame self-induced arm pump and a scary touch-up from rookie Álex Rins (Ecstar Suzuki) for a confidence boosting eighth-place finish in Qatar.The opening round of the championship was a tense one, no surprise given the rain-delayed start causing knife-edge grip levels on a dewy surface.Miller admitted the delays, combined with his desire for a good result from 17th place, destabilised his composure. A crash in FP1, just after switching to a soft front tyre, had put the 22-year-old on the back foot in terms of race preparation.“The first 10 laps I was riding tight, giving myself some arm pump. I got a little bit excited at the first race, plus with all the drama at the start,” Miller told AMCN. “I had power in the…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19The debacle of desert downpoursHEAVY RAIN AND abysmal track drainage put paid to any Saturday action at the opening round of the MotoGP at Qatar, with all free practice and qualifying sessions cancelled. In place of qualifying, grid positions were decided on combined free practice times from the previous two days.Saturday’s debacle was an object lesson in hubris and folly; it brings into question the wisdom of the Qatar GP, the quality of track planning and construction, as well as the need to run it at night. Then there are the extra problems of floodlights on wet surfaces and dense spray, all at a time of year when temperatures are not that high.But perhaps nobody could have anticipated the unprecedented levels of water and the continuation of rain that spoiled Moto2 and Moto3 tests…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Allerton sidelined with snapped humerusAUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE STAR Glenn Allerton (YRT) has undergone successful surgery to a badly broken arm sustained during the second round of the ASBK championship, an injury that is likely to see the NSW rider sidelined until at least the fourth round of the series in July.“I don’t know where I really stand at the moment as the injuries are so fresh. I just have to give myself some time to heal and then see what is actually going on with my arm. If my arm is good and I feel strong on the bike when I do some practicing at Sydney Motorsport Park, then I’ll go to Darwin,” Allerton said.The 36-year-old three-time Aussie champ broke his left humerus into three pieces when he crashed his Yamaha YZF-R1M in just the…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19BSB 2017: Aussies to watchTHE 30TH RUNNING of the British Superbike (BSB) Championship begins this weekend at Donington Park, and three Aussies will be battling for supremacy in the hugely competitive Superbike field.2015 BSB Champion Josh Brookes (right) will return to the series after a challenging year in WSBK. The Sydney-born rider is linking up with the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha team, and is back with the same marque on which he won the title two seasons ago.BSB paddock veteran Jason O’Halloran will be campaigning his ninth year in the British series with the factory-supported Honda Racing squad. The Wollongong-born rider will be looking to improve on his 2016 result of fifth overall, the best to date for the Aussie in the Superbike class.The pair will be joined by South Australian native Billy McConnell,…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Unstoppable TreloarTWO MORE MEETING wins for speedway sidecar rider extraordinaire Darrin Treloar and passenger Blake Cox have reminded rivals to never afford them a second chance.A dramatic Gillman Sidecar Championship event in South Australia on 4 March saw a coming together and a subsequent restart, and while Justin Plaisted and Simon Cohrs initially led the re-run, the Treloar/Cox duo claimed the win.Two weeks later at Broken Hill, Treloar went on to win his 19th New South Wales Championship and his 36th state title, again taking the victory in a re-run final after he trailed in the first attempt.Three New Zealand teams had their first outing in the Trans-Tasman Sidecar Spectacular at Gillman the same weekend, with two former Australian champions finishing on top – Plaisted/ Cohrs taking the honours over Mark…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19“The jump to the English league and world championships was a steep learning curve”John Titman was a big part of the Golden Era of speedwayWhat got you into bikes?I was born in Brisbane and when we went to Rockhampton for our family Christmas holidays when I was six, seven, eight, we’d go to the local speedway. I got a 350 Matchless in my mid-teens. I lived about eight blocks from the local mud flats and that’s where we would ‘push’ our bikes to and learn how to slide. We didn’t have steel shoes; we’d buy army surplus boots for a couple of quid and have a ton of fun.When was your first race?I lied about my age and raced short-circuit on oil tracks, but my first speedway ride was at the Ekka in 1969.There was speedway everywhere back in those days in Queensland.…4 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19A new Kawasaki 250 four? Don’t hold your breathDESPITE PERSISTENT RUMOURS, the chances of Kawasaki developing a four-cylinder 250cc rival to the Yamaha R25 and Honda CBR250RR are slim.The story appears to trace back to leaked images of a styling model for a new Kawasaki Ninja 250. Far from being a four-cylinder, it was a proposed revamp for the existing parallel-twin.The idea of a 250cc four, harking back to the early 1990s and days of the ZXR250, which made 33kW from its screaming, miniature four-cylinder engine, is tempting. But it’s a dream that would be near impossible to achieve today.The reality is that Kawasaki may well be developing a new Ninja 250/Ninja 300 to meet the CBR250RR and Yamaha R25/R3 head-on. But it’s almost certain to remain a parallel twin.The latest-spec, Euro 4 version of the 300cc engine,…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Five stars1. CBR250RR HRC RacerSlap the letters HRC onto a Honda and the results are sure to be good, and HRC’s take on the firm’s latest entry-level sportsbike is no exception. Destined for the Japanese 250cc championship, this racer gets a new ECU with three power modes: normal, a rain mode, and one with reduced engine braking. It also loses the stock model’s ABS and gets a new exhaust and rearsets.2. Yamaha MT-09 Authentic SportsThat red-and-white paint job alone is enough to make this MT-09 stand out from the crowd – surely it’s a no-brainer to make it a factory option? This bike is also fitted with the firm’s official ‘Y’s Gear’ kit including a screen, fog lights, a new seat and that stunning three-exit Prunus exhaust with carbon covering. While…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19briefs100This year marks 100 years since the arrival of Harley-Davidson on Australian soil. Kind of takes the wind out of its Japanese rivals’ recent 60- and 70-year anniversary celebrations when you think about it.SA SPLITTING WINSouth Australian motorcyclists will be able to legally lane filter from 15 April after changes were made to the state’s road rules to align the region with other Australian states and territories. Lane filtering will be allowed between stopped or slow-moving (no faster than 30km/h) vehicles, and can only be performed by riders with full R or R-Date licences.$2.8 millionThat’s how much Valentino Rossi apparently turned down to spend half a day shooting a TV commercial.FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DOCTOR’S SURGICAL RACE FOCUS ON PAGE 78LONGEST NAME EVER?Based on a tie-in with hipster lifestyle…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Why these two?2015 Benelli TnT 1130RThe TnT (standing for Tornado Naked Tre) would have to be one of the most visually striking machines of the last decade. When the TnT 1130 first hit the scene in 2004 it was the raw power and torque from the 1131cc triple that stood out almost as much as the unique styling. Fast forward a decade and the TnT still has that famed Italian styling flair and exotic high-end components with slipper clutch and an adjustable swingarm.And 116kW of power inevitably gives it a raw performance edge. Be prepared to stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons.What it’s gotThe 1130R is powered by a liquid-cooled, 1131cc, three-cylinder, fuel-injected, four-stroke engine with four valves per cylinder. Power runs through a six-speed gearbox with dry…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Giz a squizGiz a squizRider: Jonny DevineRide: 2009 Honda CB1000RHe says: This is the bike I brought from England to Australia in 2012, where I used it as a daily commuter. Now I just use it for jollies. Occasionally I am tempted by the KTM Super Duke or BMW S1000R, but I have never been happier with it and very much doubt I will replace it by choice. It’s pretty standard as I don’t like to make it easy for the police to ticket me – nothing worse than being stopped for no reason then watching them poke around to find something to do you for (to be fair this only happened in the UK but the attitude is ingrained). The seat is starting to be a bit of an issue now…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Street 3A decade ago Triumph launched the Street Triple as a stripped-off streetfighter derived from its Supersport counterpart, the 675 Daytona. Since then the nakedbike has become the British marque’s best-selling single model under John Bloor’s ownership, with over 50,000 examples built and sold. So reinventing this two-wheeled money tree that’s so essential to Triumph’s ongoing prosperity is a big deal.And just how do you improve on a winner? Many would take a cautious approach and look for incremental advances – refine rather than rethink. Triumph, however, has gone bold.The project started three years ago when chief engineer Stuart Wood and his team decided to bore and stroke the existing three-cylinder 675cc engine to produce enhanced performance via an uprated 78 x 53.4mm format (versus 74 x 52.3mm before) for a…12 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Street Triple 765ENGINEConfiguration Three-cylinder in-lineCylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinderCapacity 765ccBore/stroke 78 x 53.4mmCompression ratio 12.65:1Cooling LiquidFuelling EFIPower 83kW @ 11,250rpm (S) 87kW @ 12,000rpm (R) 90kW @ 11,700rpm (RS) (claimed)Torque 73Nm @ 9100rpm (S) 77Nm @ 9400rpm (R) 77Nm @ 10,800 (RS) (claimed)TRANSMISSIONType Six-speedClutch Wet (Slip & assist clutch, R/RS)Final drive ChainCHASSISFrame material AluminiumFrame layout Twin sparRake 24.8° (S), 23.9° (R/RS)Trail 104.3mm (S), 100mm (R/RS)SUSPENSIONFront: Showa 41mm USD separate function fork, 110mm travel (S); 41mm USD fully adjustable Big Piston Fork (RS), Separate Function BPF (R), 115mm travelRear: Showa monoshock, preload adjustable, 124mm travel (S); fully adjustable, 131mm travel (R); Öhlins STX40 monoshock, fully adjustable, 131mm travel (RS)WHEELS/TYRESWheels Aluminium alloy Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 5.5Tyres Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa (S/R) Diablo Supercorsa SP (RS) Front: 120/70 ZR17…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Banned but not forgottenThe motorcycle world stopped when Kenny Roberts climbed aboard a Yamaha TZ750 flat-tracker at Indianapolis in 2009. In at the deep end, he rode it like he stole it during that famous Saturday evening demonstration over Indy MotoGP weekend. He rode it as only the great King Kenny knows how.But that wasn’t his first time at the Indy Mile on a TZ750 flat-tracker. His first appearance was even more famous after Roberts proclaimed: “They don’t pay me enough to ride that thing”! It was this comment that helped make up the minds of AMA officials, who banned it from competition.The now legendary saga started in early 1974 when Steve Baker and mechanic Bob Work stopped by to visit Doug Schwerma at Champion Racing Frames, in California. The pair were on…13 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19The world’s fastest junkieValentino Rossi’s achievements are unparalleled: he has taken the most premier-class grand prix victories, has amassed the most grand prix podiums across all classes, scored the most world championship points across all classes, has contested the most GPs and has the longest winning career, spanning from August 1996 to (at the time of going to print) June 2016.Statistics make some fans keel over with boredom but you cannot deny that racing is all about numbers – it’s about lap times, championship points, suspension clicks and the zeroes and ones of digital electronics.So, yes, the numbers are important; with some riders they are pretty much all that matter. But Rossi is different. With him it’s not only the stats, it’s also the man himself. Not only is he the only rider…5 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19In the pocketFantastic little loop ride complete with panoramic views and a good pub for lunchDetourA bit further up the M1 motorway you can turn left and head back through the hinterland on the Tweed Valley Way, which takes you into Murwillumbah and the north-eastern end of the fabulous Kyogle Road. You could do much worse than head back down this road to Kyogle and create a much larger riding loop along some excellent motorcycling bitumen featuring several sections of corners that we are still smiling about as we recall the ride months later.There is plenty to like about the far north coast of NSW, and when you’re done with working on your suntan at the incredible beaches, you can find some great riding roads just a little inland. The Hinterland Way…5 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Sink the boot inTHESE COMFORTABLE OFF-ROAD kicks just arrived and have already had a thorough drenching to test their waterproof claims.Their rugged soles have a deep tread for pushing through the rough stuff, as well as a steel shank to protect your delicate hooves from the wrath of obese adventure bikes and all things bush. The three buckles on each boot are easily adjusted and very secure thanks to a double locking system, and there’s a shift pad on the toes to reduce wear. They come in a classy Anthracite Grey suede colour, with a tough polyurethane shin plate that looks good to boot (boom-tish).We’ll be giving these boots a serious workout in the winter months so look out for the full review in an upcoming issue. TCX Track Evo WP $419.95Colour options:…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Balls and allAT LAST IT’S all mine. When Chris said we were getting the BMW R1200RS as our next long-termer I have to admit a little bit of wee came out. I’d heard good things about the new RS and there is just something uniquely cool about the boxer donk and the torque rock that you get from the big grey pots that hang off each side, protruding like a set of massive nuts on a prize bull.But my excitement had to be contained because this beautiful new Beema turned up only a day before the flying Scotsman Gordon Ritchie snaffled it out from underneath me for commuting duties while here in Oz covering WSBK.So after what seemed like an eternity, I finally got to take the beauty out for a blat…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19The endless summerOf the more than 400,000 Victorians with a current motorcycle licence or permit, 69 per cent are over 40FOR MANY OF us former seventies longhairs, summer begins with the AMCN International Island Classic at Phillip Island. It continues with the International Festival of Speed in Sydney and winds down at the Easter Broadford Bonanza. This makes our summer of motorcycling feel almost endless as it takes us well into autumn.All these events are well established and hugely popular, even attracting current high-profile riders to compete. They have many times the spectators and participants of any round of Australia’s national road-racing championship. In fact, the Island Classic has the third-biggest crowd, behind the MotoGP and World Superbikes.So what is going on here? How can these largely enthusiast-run events have more interest…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19He who dares…The mark of a real champion is knowing when to back your judgement, and Crankt Protein Honda’s Troy Herfoss proved he has this quality in spades to take out the second round of the YMI ASBK Superbike series.Patchy rain fell throughout the weekend, and so did the riders. Yamaha Racing Team ace Glenn Allerton was one of the highest profile casualties, fracturing his arm (see p. 138 ) in practice. The first Superbike race had been declared wet, but as the riders left pitlane the sun started shining and the track quickly began to dry.What happened next was one of the ballsiest moves of the weekend.After sampling the grip on offer during the sighting lap, Herfoss decided to change from wet to slick tyres. The decision cost him his pole…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Sprung!It was a horrible weekend for me, breaking my arm after a highside on Saturday requiring 12 screws and a plate!Wakefield is a tough, tight and bumpy 2.2km circuit that requires strong acceleration and just as strong braking. As always, we’re searching for grip. Grip means we can get on the gas, grip means we can hold corner speed, grip means we can pull the brakes later and harder. We want the suspension to be pushing the tyres firmly onto the track surface at all times, while also soaking up the bumps that Wakefield has become known for. To achieve this you need a soft, plush set-up, riding over the bumps, not unlike the way we set the bike up at Phillip island, but for completely different reasons.Soft suspension, however,…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19This annual event has been transformed from just classic racing into a classic spectacleriding like Ago is now?The moment summed up a special weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park. It also underlined how this annual event has been transformed from just classic racing into a classic spectacle that salutes great eras of endeavour.Last year it was two-strokes, this year it was a weekend of Italian four-stroke exotica from the 60s and 70s, mixed in with a couple of spicy Cagiva two-strokes from the following decades. Ago was joined by a squadron of racing legends and their old bikes: Pierfrancesco ‘Frankie’ Chili, Jeremy McWilliams and Barry Sheene’s former grand prix teammate Steve Parrish were backed up by local heroes Graeme Crosby, Kevin Magee and Troy Bayliss.Organisers pulled off a coup by bringing over Piero Laverda and his family company’s amazing V6 endurance racer. This weirdo…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Desert stormerThe new season is up and running, but only by the skin of its teeth. The first MotoGP race of the year was so fraught that it almost didn’t happen. When it did get going, more than 40 minutes late, and still under the threat of sudden termination, it was a marvel. And the rain that caused all the trouble held off, until just a few minutes after the race finished, when it poured down once again.With three different leaders and a full-frontal battle right until the final lap, it was something of a relief when the rider who had dominated testing and practice came good. But Maverick Viñales took his first win for Movistar Yamaha with a combination of patience and aggression.First he showed patience, after surviving a first-corner…6 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Mir lights up QatarThe first race of the new year was typical Moto3: both nail-biting and heartwarming. And, importantly, run at last on a fully dry track.Halfway through, the lead pack was still 12-strong, and covered by less than 1.3 seconds. It would get bigger as a 13th rider joined in next time round, and it was only on lap 13 that it started to shrink, as KTM riders Juan Guevara and Philipp Öttl crashed out after the latter had skittled the former.In the end it was a triumph for Honda, taking the first five positions, the top eight still less than a second apart.First-time pole qualifier Jorge Martín, switched from Mahindra to Honda with the Gresini team, led the first lap. Next time round it was Leopard Honda’s Joan Mir up front,…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19KTM buoyed by mixed resultsKTM RACE BOSS Pit Beirer says the Qatar Grand Prix has only reinforced his team’s resolve to develop the firm’s tubular-steel framed bikes into winners in both MotoGP and Moto2.KTM’s Honda-powered Moto2 entry made an impressive debut with Miguel Oliveira storming to fourth in the season’s opening race, just 0.2sec off the podium. And Beirer said he wasn’t dismayed by the first official race in MotoGP, even though Pol Espargaró finished 33 seconds behind the winning Yamaha of Maverick Viñales.“The Moto2 result was amazing because we didn’t expect fourth and just two 10ths off the podium at our first race,” Beirer reflected. “The Qatar weekend has proven that KTM can build its own bikes and the tubular frame has a future in Moto2 and MotoGP.”While KTM is represented in all…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19The curious price of banning wingletsHIDDEN-WING FAIRINGS were in abeyance at Qatar, with only Suzuki running its version of bodywork with internal down-force ducting.All MotoGP entrants, except newcomers KTM, had tested various solutions to the 2017 ban on external winglets, with variations on internal ducting — up at handlebar level for most — but sandwiched in the fairing flanks for Yamaha.The most radical was Ducati’s solution, with the fairing nose narrowed to intake width, and massive squared-off hoops on either side.Suzuki’s is altogether more restrained, and team chief Davide Brivio said: “It is almost the same, so we thought we would try and see if there is any advantage.” Riders Andrea Iannone and Álex Rins exercised both types — the newly hom*ologated fairing with ducts, and the very similar 2016 wing-free version.With the high top…2 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Cousens shines off track for MAC-points trophyFOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Victorian rider Jack Cousens has claimed the inaugural GP Juniors MAC-points trophy at the opening round of the season at Wakefield Park over 17-19 March.The trophy is awarded by an independent panel of judges to the rider who performs the best off the track, based on their marketability, attitude and character. The AMCN-sponsored initiative has been launched with the goal of arming up-and-coming talent with the best tools to attract sponsors as their racing careers develop.“It’s more than just a good behaviour award,” the series’ Mark Bracks said. “GP Juniors Australia aims to assist in all aspects of development, providing junior riders with a good foundation to build on as they progress through the ranks on their quest for success.”Competing on standardised Yamaha R15 machinery and running the Bridgestone…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19BriefsMore talentAussies Mike Jones and Glenn Scott will be campaigning in the WSBK Superstock 1000 European Championship. Jones will be riding a Ducati Panigale R in Aruba.it Racing’s junior squad, while Scott will be riding a Kawasaki ZX-10R with the Dutch team, Agro-On BenJan Kawasaki. The pair will have their hands full in a field of 31 riders from 23 teams, which will not include 2016 frontrunners Raffaele de Rosa and Leandro Mercado. KBSwap stropMotoGP-style flag-to-flag bike swaps were cause for controversy during the second round of the ASBK Championship at Wakefield Park recently when a handful of riders opted to swap machinery in the changing weather conditions. While the rulebook ultimately allows it, many riders claimed they didn’t know and, with no one policing pitlane speed limits or pedestrian…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19UK speedway season is go!THE 2017 BRITISH speedway season will burst into life in the next few weeks, with the usual contingent of Australian riders spread across the teams in all three tiers of competition.There’s been a shake-up in teams, naming of the leagues, and even the venues, with one of the series’ longest-running tracks – Coventry – not operating this year.Along with Coventry, the Lakeside Hammers are also missing from the top tier, now called the Premiership, with Rye House and Somerset stepping up to maintain an eight-team competition. There are no fewer than 15 Australian riders involved.There are 10 teams in the second tier, now called the Championship, and it also has 15 Australians competing.The third tier, the National League, has 12 teams with three Aussies competing.With many riders doubling up, there’s…1 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19Tri Trak treatTHE BRISBANE MOTORCYCLEClub is taking advantage of the wave of popularity in vintage motocross by staging the inaugural Harrisville TT on the weekend of April 29-30.The TT in this instance refers to ‘Tri Trak’ – three separate rounds of racing on different courses that will provide a variety of action for spectators and competitors alike.The idea came from club president Colin Metcher, himself still a keen competitor at almost 80 years of age.“We had these three totally different tracks that were really well prepared for club use and we thought, why not run an event that combines all three?” Metcher said.The spectator-friendly track is located at Harrisville on the Boonah-Ipswich Road, just behind Peak Crossing – about an hour from Brisbane.The first round of heats will be conducted on a…3 min
Australian Motorcycle News|Vol 66 Issue 19GrassitAustralian Motorcycle News road test photographs are posed for by skilled, professional riders under controlled circ*mstances. Attempting to imitate their actions may be dangerous. Australian Motorcycle News supports and endorses rider training and wearing protective riding gear. Sometimes, however, imitating the actions of skilled, professional riders is very entertaining. The journos at the recent MT-09 launch were treated to a spectacle when Dave McKenna’s MT-10 was rolled out: the stunt-ready bike has a hand-built supercharger, elongated swingarm, additional rear brake rotors and produces 250bhp at the rear wheel! And the show took a new turn when Yamaha’s truck driver grabbed the keys to Dave’s tyre-fryer – smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.…1 min
