Table of contents for 21 September 2022 in MCN

Oliver’s Mount chiefs are planning a full season of racing for 2023, after bikes returned to the 2.43-mile Scarborough venue last weekend for the first time since 2021. England’s only road racing circuit hasn’t run a full calendar of events since 2017 – operating just six of a potential 20 meetings – but venue director, Andy Hayes has big plans. “My plan for next year is four events,” he told MCN. “There’s 76 years’ worth of legacy here. You just cannot let that go and road racing means so much to so many people. “I’m just doing my best to keep this thing going as long as it possibly can and to try and get new generations into it.” The Mount’s problems began in 2017 when two crashes at the…

BMW’s R1300GS adventure bike looks to be just weeks away from an official reveal, with these fresh spy shots shows showing portions of a road-ready machine, complete with factory-fitted accessories. MCN became aware of the new bike back in March this year when an embarrassing glitch on BMW’s website allowed people to book servicing for an R1300GS, R1400GS and M1300GS. The new 1300 will take over from the R1250GS. Although a tarpaulin obscures much of the machine, it’s clear that the traditional beaky GS silhouette will remain, with plenty of ground clearance for all-road escapades. This particular model rolls on five-spoke cast rims and dual-purpose rubber – although it’s likely a spoked rim option will also be available. The front radial calipers appear to be new – differing in style…

Scooter specialists Neco have released their first, full-size motorcycle with specifications set to rival any of the ‘Big Four’ Japanese manufacturers. The NC-N01 features a liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve, fuel-injected 125, tubular steel and aluminium frame, alloy swingarm, inverted forks and a monoshock. The naked is also easy on the wallet and will retail in the UK for just £2999; over £1800 cheaper than Yamaha’s MT-125 and a grand less than Kawasaki’s Z125. The single produces a claimed 14.8bhp, the maximum output permissible in the A1 learner class. Stopping power is provided by front and rear disc brakes using a combined braking system. The NC-N01 has a wheelbase of 1365mm, a seat height of 815mm and a fuel tank capacity of 17 litres. A digital dash keeps the rider informed, while…

Competition Werkes Slip-On Exhaust for Husqvarna 401 £426.39 Husqvarna Svart- and Vitpilen 401 owners now have the option of unleashing a fruity soundtrack from their funky singles thanks to US exhaust specialist Competition Werkes. Hand-welded from stainless steel, these slip-on silencers not only have that raceready MotoGP look, but save a few pounds in weight, too. www.competitionwerkes.com HJC V60 Helmet £299.99 Inspired by a classic 1980s design, HJC’s all-new V60 brings the retro look bang up to date with ECE 22.06 approval. The fibreglass composite shell features a clear drop-down visor, press studs for a peak and aggressive-looking chin vents. Removable and washable interior pads have both speaker pockets and glasses grooves. www.oxfordproducts.com Harley-Davidson Darnel Boots £185.00 These new boots from H-D boast a full-grain leather upper and slip-resistant outsole,…

Anew street-tracking naked version of Royal Enfield’s 650 twin range looks almost ready to go into production. These covert pictures were taken by an MCN reader, who spotted the machine – sporting unfamiliar lines, a lack of badging and running on a trade registration plate – on the on the M5 near Exeter. Appearing to be powered by the same air-cooled 648cc parallel twin as the existing Interceptor and Continental GT – albeit with a new singleexit exhaust – the bike follows reports of two new 650 models being added to the range. With bikes previously spotted in testing back in April, it’s thought that a laid-back cruiser and sportier straight-barred naked will appear – both inspired by the firm’s SG 650 concept revealed at the 2021 EICMA trade show.…

I have considered purchasing an electric bicycle for getting to the shops but what strikes me is the price of these simple and basic bits of kit compared with motorcycles. I know that lithium batteries are expensive but the comparisons are amazing. For the price of an average electric bike, say £3000, you can buy a powerful and reliable motorcycle from the classified pages of MCN any day of the week. And for the price of an ‘upper end’ lecky bicycle you could buy, say, a Honda VFR1200 with only a few thousand miles on the clock. It fair puts me off the shopping bicycle but am I being fair to the people who produce them? Ted Wilson, email Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected…

Back in the 1990s a sportsbike-crazed generation spent their weekends hunting out the twistiest roads and smoothest roundabouts to melt kneesliders and emulate their racing heroes. But a lot has happened in 30 years and what was once acceptable behaviour could now land you in hot water. As a result, trackdays are serious business, with riders dropping thousands on trips to circuits across the UK and beyond. On the right track Yamaha are acutely aware of this and have unleashed a new R1 GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) – a track-only version of their 998cc superbike, complete with 25 additional racing parts, aimed at bringing it in line with FIM Stock 1000 racing regulations. Available from the company’s 17 European Pro Shops, plug-and-play additions include a new GYTR ECU and…

The official F.C.C TSR Honda squad of Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio and Alan Techer became the 2022 Endurance World Champions after finishing fourth in the 100th running of the prestigious Bol d’Or 24 hour race. In what was a highly eventful race that saw all of the top teams endure varying levels of technical issues, it was the Honda squad that kept running and did enough to take the crown. Heading into the event, 2021 champions Sert Suzuki held the advantage but an early exit due to mechanical failure ended any chance of a repeat title. The race was eventually won by privateer team Vilitais Racing Igol onboard their Yamaha R1 who kept their heads and benefitted from zero technical issues to overhaul their bigbudget factory rivals. One team…

It’s been a frustrating run for John McPhee. Sunday was another example when a promising encounter was spoiled by transmission issues. “I had a good start and was P4. Unfortunately, I was hindered by technical issues yet again. The bike jumped out of gear, like it did on Saturday. It rolled out and wouldn’t select any gear.” Along with the civil war raging between Team Owner Max Biaggi and Team Manager Peter Oettl over next year’s grid, McPhee’s had to contend with his side of the garage not taking complaints onboard.…

It doesn’t matter whether you have £500 or £50,000 – you can still find a bike that’ll put a smile on your face. Of course, buying a minter gets more difficult the older the bike becomes, or the less you’re willing to spend. But that doesn’t mean one can’t be found, it just means you need to look harder and make sure you’re getting the bike you think you’re getting. At least if you buy a dog, know it’s a dog and budget accordingly. And just because a bike seems cheap, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s some deep, dark secret lurking below the plastics ready to turn you into a sobbing wreck the first time you venture into the great outdoors. Some bikes simply never appealed to the market and…

Power: 97bhp Weight: 193kg (dry) Seat height: 810mm It’s not a Japanese 916. This is a good thing. If you want a focused sportsbike buy a Ducati – if you fancy a flexible, usable, high-quality real-roads V-twin then buy a FireStorm. There’s not really another big twin with its sporty practicality; Aprilia’s Falco is close, but you get half the comfort for twice the money. There are loads of ’Storms about, starting at under a grand. With £1500 you can be picky, waiting until you find the right bike (2001-on have better forks and a bigger tank), with the right bits (heated grips, maybe fruity cans) and in the right colour (yellow, surely?). BUYING ONE Mechanically, that 998cc V-twin is pretty bulletproof. On high mileage bikes, check that the camchain…

TOP FOUR EXTREME BIKES YAMAHA V-MAX 1991-2004, £3500-£6500 Power: 145bhp Weight: 262kg (dry) Seat height: 765mm Why mess around? If you want a naked, then buy the most ridiculous comedy naked you can. This is it. The flamboyant intake trumpets, the 145bhp V4, the armchair saddle, the spindly forks… it makes most modern bikes feel as thrilling as an audience with Ed Sheeran. Yes, the V-Max can be rather too exciting in corners, but if you want a comfy cruiser that will annihilate anything at traffic lights, this is the one. It’s a future classic, too. BUYING ONE The biggest issue when buying a used V-MAX is locating one in the first place as Yamaha sold very few and most are cherished by their owners, which means they hold high…

With the September 1 new registrations behind us, there will be an influx of used trade-ins off the back of new model sales, releasing more used stock onto the market and giving dealers a second spike in activity. But with winter looming, it’s a great time to buy as dealers don’t want to be sitting on stock for months on end. And, with so many ways available to pay for your bike (beyond cold, hard, cash, such as PCP, HP, bank loans and credit cards, and the increasing number of manufacturer-backed ‘approved used’ schemes, it’s never been easier, either. All of which raises an obvious question: what is the BEST way for YOU to finance a used bike? Here’s our guide to the options and the pros and cons… Getting…

Again, there’s pros and cons to each. Buying privately gives you the best potential for a bargain, as the vendor has none of an official dealer’s overheads to add to the price, but also brings with it more risk and gives you fewer finance options. A privately sold machine has less legal protection (being ‘sold as seen’) and, apart from having to reassure yourself about the bike’s condition, service and financial history and so on, also won’t come with any warranty or guarantees. You’ll also have to pay cash, limiting your finance options to a personal loan.…

I really thought we might see Marc Marquez achieve the almost unimaginable at MotorLand Aragon. He looked dangerously sharp throughout the weekend, and narrowly missing out during qualifying was only going to increase the spectacle as he inevitably tried to scythe through the 12 riders ahead of him as the grid launched into T1. By the time the second corner was disappearing out of view it seemed we really might see him pull off the ultimate coup. His start was as explosive as you’d expect from an on-form, break-free, Marquez. But that impressive start soon turned into breathholding fear for Quartararo as his own bike clouted him down the asphalt like a badly struck croquet ball. Only Marquez could spark such drama. But while the haters will always provide a…

Kawasaki are offering the chance to experience their 2023 enduro range, including the KX250X and KX450X, at a event on October 8. Coney Grove Farm just outside Stourport in Worcestershire is the venue for the Kawasaki Enduro Demo Day, which is free to attend, open to all riders and will be run by Craig Chamberlain and the Kawasaki MX Experience team. There are limited spaces available so attendees need to pre-book a morning or afternoon session to ride across a range of terrains. Book now: kawasakimxdays.co.uk…

This just-revealed special edition Moto Guzzi V7 Stone was one of the surprise highlights of the Italian brand’s World Days festival last week. Called the V7 Stone Special Edition, it was unveiled at GMG, Moto Guzzi World Days, the weekend-long celebration of all things Guzzi held at the firm’s historic home in Mandello del Lario on the banks of Lake Como. It’s based on the standard V7 Stone, most recently updated to 850cc in 2021, and gets a sporty, bespoke black and red colourscheme, a variety of extras including bar end mirrors and new exhaust and even a mild performance boost. Specifically, there’s a ‘Shining Black’ paintjob with special tank graphics and red details inspired by Guzzi’s historic sporting models, red painted shock springs and contrasting red saddle stitching. An…

Shoei’s new X-SPR Pro looks set to raise the bar in helmet tech – and particularly aerodynamics. The Pro is Shoei’s top-of-the-range, FIM-homologated racing lid, built to meet the new ECE 22.06 safety regs and replaces Shoei’s X-Spirit III. With a wind tunnel-developed shell intended to keep the wearer’s head still at up to 217mph, it’s claimed go be one of the most advanced helmets yet. Taku Nimura, Shoei’s Creative Director of Product Design, told MCN how the innovative design came about. “It’s taken two-and-a-half years. Research started around June 2019 and the design from August 2019,” he said. Protection remains paramount but he says there are many other factors to consider, for example stability with the need top stop turbulence upsetting a rider’s concentration at race speeds. In order…

Readers Steve Hubbard and Kevin Rayson The trip 22 countries (and The Vatican City) in 22 days in 2022 How many miles? 5500 How long do you need? Three weeks-plus Best time to go Summer for the best riding weather Tell us about the trip… We had three nights in Istanbul, two nights in Rome and 17 other one-night stops. We’ve visited some amazing places from Venice/San Marino, Monaco to the Anzac Cove where 97,000 Allied servicemen lost their lives in the First World War, we’ve been so lucky to see these places. My Ninja 1000SX didn’t miss a beat and the bulletproof engine cruised at speeds I’d never dream of in the UK, with my mate’s Ducati Multistrada just eating up the 5500 miles. Stay safe and know that…

FRIDAY September 23 6am BTS2, Live MotoGP from Japan 9.20am EUR2, Live WSB Catalunya SATURDAY September 24 8.30am EUR2, Live WSB 10.45am EUR2 Live BSB 2am BTS2, Live MotoGP SUNDAY September 25 6.30am Live MotoGP from Japan 9.30am EUR2, Live World Superbikes 2.15pm EUR2, Live Bennetts BSB KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 –…

BMW offer the R18 in B format (£22,450), which is a bagger, but if you want full-dress touring the inline six K1600GTL (£22,390) or K1600 Grand America (£24,295) are your best options with the K1600B bagger (£20,665) also worth considering. Indian have the full-dress Roadmaster (£26,695), which comes in Limited (£26,995) or Dark Horse (£26,895) variations, as well as the Pursuit, which is available as a Dark Horse (£27,895) or Limited model (£27,695). Plus there are the Springfield, Chieftain or Challenger bagger options which also have a number of variations. Harley’s ‘Grand America Touring’ model family consists of 11 models but in reality they are based upon the Road King (£22,195), Road Glide (£23,895) and Street Glide (£26,995) with the rest of the models made up of Special, Limited or…

CEDRIC LYNCH, 66, BRITISH Electric bike pioneer Engineer and creator of the axial flux electric motor, founder of Agni Motors. Created the electric bike that won the 2009 TTXGP on the Isle of Man, ridden by Rob Barber. ‘I’ll be on my electric, but it won’t need charging,” says Cedric. Quite something when he’s ridden 140 miles from Potters Bar to deepest Dorset. Something else when he says it would get home to Potters Bar, then back to Dorset again, all on a single charge. No doubt about it, Cedric Lynch is Britain’s Mr Electric Motorcycle. A biker since he was 16, he designed and built the first electric TT winner, came up with a revolutionary motor and his homebuilt electric has a 500-mile range at the equivalent of 1350mpg.…

☆☆☆☆☆ Fastback 2 Drystar Waterproof Shoes £179.99 ‘All-day comfortable boots’ Tested by Michael Neeves for 10 months / 5000 miles With a style evolved from the car racing world (and a passing resemblance to boxing boots), these lace-up boots are slim, flat-soled and give lots of feel and control through the footpegs, gear and back brake levers. That’s useful for the day job, especially on sportier bikes. They don’t claim to offer the same level of protection or durability as a fulllength armoured boot, but I’m happy to take the trade-off in terms of their extra comfort and practicality on and off the bike. That makes them useful for when you’re visiting somewhere, or touring and you don’t want to carry an extra of shoes or trainers with you. I’ve…

It’s crunch time! The 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship enters its Showdown stage this weekend at Oulton Park and the pressure on the eight title fighters is set to reach fever pitch. Bradley Ray is the man to beat, but McAMS Yamaha duo of Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie will be hard on his tail. OULTON PARK ● Circuit length 2.69m ● Corners 17 (six left, 11 right) ● Lap Record 1:33.941 (Bridewell, 2019) 2021 results: Race One Race Two Race Three 1st Bradley Ray Ray leads the championship and has the momentum heading into the Showdown after a fantastic end to the ‘Main Season’. The Rich Energy OMG Racing rider has been the most consistent rider all year and has finished on the podium in each of the last…

He may not have fought for the championship as everyone was expecting at the start of the year but Pedro Acosta showed once again he is coming into his own in the intermediate class as the rookie romped to a dominant win just 12 weeks after fracturing his left femur in a motocross crash. No one could live with the 18-year old at Aragon as he ran out a comfortable winner by 2.6s over Aron Canet and Augusto Fernandez. Acosta’s results since returning from the leg break have been eye-catching and way beyond his team’s expectations. Fernandez established an early 1.8s lead but overworked his rear tyre and on a low-grip surface in track temperatures of 35°C, Acosta was smarter over the 21 laps than his adversaries. Aside from his…

Aragon was Brad Binder’s best result since his stellar second place at the season opener in Qatar which had suggested a competitive upswing for the Austrian factory. But since Miguel Oliveira’s wet race win in Mandalika in the middle of March, it has been an unrewarding season for KTM’s MotoGP effort. For 21 of 23 laps Binder was in the top three at Motorland before losing out by just 0.2s to Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia for the final podium spot. It was another dose of the South African’s famed Sunday heroics after the battering of an FP3 crash upset race preparations. “I struggled with my swollen right ankle but in the race I pushed the pain away and went on the move,” Binder said afterwards. “I had an amazing start and…

KAWASAKI ZX-7R 1996-2003, £1500-£5k Power 123bhp Weight 203kg (kerb) Seat height 790mm The ZX-7R inspires confidence on grotty roads while the riding position and dials overflow with old-school cool and the flexible, reliable inline four has a delicious intake noise. Best of all are the looks. ZX-7Rs haven’t attracted the collectors/investors buying ZXRs, GSX-Rs and other iconic ’90s bikes, so you can get a desirable modern classic for little more than beer money (if you drink a lot)! BUYING ONE Pipes rust, paint flakes off chassis bits and stiff-when-new suspension gets tired, but there are lots about so wait for a mint one. Go for an early green/purple bike and be the most envied person in the bike park. Texport leathers and Chris Walker lid advised. DUCATI 749 2003-2007, £4000-£5000…

YAMAHA MT-07 2014-NOW, £3000-£7200 (new) Power: 74bhp Weight: 182kg (kerb) Seat height: 805mm This is the motorcycle success story of the modern era and the bike that proved you didn’t need big power and a big budget to have loads of fun. The MT-07 is brilliant not only because its frisky, 698cc parallel twin is crammed with character and puts cheeky wheelies within easy reach. Nor just because its lightweight chassis makes darting in and out of corners an uncomplicated hoot; it’s brilliant because you can now pick one up for as little as £3500! BUYING ONE Being a fairly new bike and a very good one, there aren’t many issues surfacing yet. But the standard suspension isn’t great so check any mods in this area work for you, or…

‘Approved Used’ is the term first coined by BMW, but now generically adopted by other manufacturers, to describe used bikes in their official dealer stock that have been vetted and inspected to a degree, which makes them almost as reassuring to buy as a new bike. As well as BMW’s ‘Approved Used’ bikes, Triumph have a ‘Triumph Approved’ scheme, Ducati have a similar ‘Ducati Approved’ one, and so on. The machines concerned also often qualify for PCP deals. Specifics vary, but BMW Approved Used bikes will have gone through rigorous quality inspections including full documentation, mileage and history checks and have a fresh 12-month MoT, all to give the used buyer confidence. In addition, BMW’s ‘Premium Selection’ used machines will have been maintained to their standards, bikes with a service…

1 What’s it worth? Are your sure how much you should be paying for the bike you’ve chosen? You can never do too much research before handing over your cash. Read the buying guides and online reviews at motorcyclenews.com. Browse the values of as many comparable bikes as possible on mcnbikesforsale.com. Be sure to differentiate between private sales and dealer bikes, take into consideration age, mileage, condition and any accessories the bike may have. Focus on bikes that are close to the model and specification you’re looking for and don’t forget things like condition and service history. 2 Insurance costs If there’s any chance that your insurance premium could be prohibitive, check it out early on in the process before you become financially (or emotionally) committed to the bike. You…

Honda have unveiled their latest vision for a carbon-neutral future – with ten all-new electrics by 2025. A big increase on the four planned for 2024, the plans include three full-size ‘fun’ bikes, announced this week in Japan. The firm now plan for ten or more battery-powered two-wheelers by 2025, to increase sales of electric models to one million units a year within five years and to 3.5m annually by 2030. They will also explore carbon-neutral combustion machines. Images released at the briefing include a 2025 electric motorcycle line-up of 11 silhouetted machines, seven of which are small scooters. The four remaining bikes are what Honda call ‘Fun EV’ machines aimed at the enthusiast and targeted at Japan, the US and Europe and comprising three full-size bikes whose shapes imply…

A sellout crowd of 150,000 descended on Goodwood Motor Circuit at the weekend to celebrate heritage motorsport on two and four wheels at the annual Revival meeting. Part of the weekend’s festivities is the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy, which saw high-flying motorcycling stars including John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson, Bradley Smith, and Peter Hickman trading in their high-spec modern rides to race bikes from the 1920s to the 1950s. “It’s something you have to experience,” said McGuinness who was riding a 1954 Manx Norton with Sebastian Perez. “Me, Hicky and Hutchy were having a three-way ding-dong for the whole of our stint in race one – we were laughing our heads off. “Hutchy’s bike was a bit quicker down the straight, but our Nortons were faster around the bends, so we…

1 Yamaha RD350LC It was ground-breaking. I’d get MCN every Wednesday, and I remember opening it in 1981 and there in the centre pages was a Yamaha RD350LC. It was the loveliest bike I’d ever seen. Modern, beautiful proportions, and with Barry Sheene standing behind it in deck shoes (no socks) saying it was the best thing since sliced bread. Sold! 2 Yamaha FS1-E I wanted a moped and bought an unrestricted FS1-E for £80 and had the best year of my life on it – and even kissed girls! 3 Yamaha YZF750SP I spent a lot of my time on a race SP version, and they were two of my most enjoyable years. One was ’93 on the Fast Orange bike and then in ’96 on the Boost bike…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com MATCHLESS WD G3/L My boss, John Parton on his army-issue Matchless during the Second World War. Padraig Ocinneide HONDA CBR500R This is my son, Kris, lining up in the Brands pitlane doing his first-ever trackday on his first bike, a Honda CBR500R. Bruce Dunn TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE My friend Naomi with her latest purchase, which is a bit bigger than the machine she started out riding (see right)! Pete Mills HONDA XL125 Here I am aged 17 in 1976 on my beloved Honda XL125. This lasted until one girl too many refused to ride pillion but I am back riding now. Paul Williams HONDA MONKEY My friend Naomi having the best time at the start of her biking career. She has gone onto…

1 September 24-25 Sywell Classic Pistons and Props Historic racers, hot rods and bikes will plough down the makeshift Northants drag strip. www.sywellclassic.co.uk 2 September 24-25 STP National Finals Day tickets start at £19 with kids £5, and you can livestream the coverage if you can’t make it. santapod.co.uk 3 September 24-25 Squire’s Café Annual Show Treat yourself to a stunt show and live music, with a classic bike show in the car park on the Sunday. There is sure to be plenty of like-minded folk, and as always, good food too. www.squires-cafe.co.uk…

What’s happening? Stunt shows are back in all their white knuckle glory this weekend in Chelmsford. With four mammoth stunt acts, as well as monster trucks galore, and not to mention 80s icon Eddie Kidd (see p34) meeting and greeting the public, there’s so many reasons to head there this weekend. Top it off with a fun fair and the chance to ride in a monster truck. The essentials There are four shows over the weekend at Kings Farm, Chelmsford. The morning shows start at 9.30am and run until 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, and the afternoon shows start at 2.30pm and run until 7pm. Tickets are £22.15 in advance with children 5-15 £16.91 (including fees). www.motorshowevents.com…

★★★★☆ £29,095 Indian Pursuit Limited ★★☆☆☆ £25,163 BMW R18 Transcontinental…

It sounds a tad Heath Robinson, but it’s a very efficient device, an axial flux motor, in which the magnetic flux races along parallel with the axis of rotation, instead of radially as in a conventional motor. The rotating part is built from rectangular pieces of laminated steel. The magnets, originally ferrite or Alnico but now neodymium-iron-boron sit on the stationary end-plates. “The prototype really did use baked bean tins as laminations,” says Cedric. “These were cut to shape, so they were very cheap. Because the magnetic flux is running along the laminations in one direction only, the motor is more efficient because it can use grain-oriented electrical steel with about 25% of the electromagnetic losses of conventional electrical steel.” The bottom line for the rest of us is that…

Stunt rider, record breaker, movie star, model; Eddie Kidd OBE has lived a life that most of us could only dream of. The London-born star had his eyes opened to the high-flying world of stunt riding after watching Evel Knievel at the cinema as a youngster, and it wasn’t long after that before he joined a cycle stunt team and set the wheels in motion for a career that would define the British stunt scene. Although it was pedal power to begin with, Eddie got his first taste of motorcycles when he was just 13, then spent 25 years conquering near-impossible feats. But in 1996, Eddie’s career was cut short when he sustained lifechanging injuries whilst landing a jump at the Bulldog Bash. Undeterred, the self-proclaimed Black Knight’s bravery still…

THE FACTS £11,799 otr Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT PREVIOUS UPDATE: AUG 17 GET PROTECTED! What will it cost to get insurance? We ran quotes based on an average risk UK rider through MCN Compare for fully comprehensive cover to get an idea: Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT £313.83 Multistrada V2S £315.10 MCN COMPARE Sportsbike lover, enjoys track-days, Sunday blasts and the occasional club race Who doesn’t love a two-for-one deal? No, not a BOGOF down the local supermarket, this is about indulging two of your fondest hobbies in one weekend. On the rare moments I’m not writing about, thinking about, looking at, riding or talking about bikes, I like to go trail running. Most of the time, this dovetails quite nicely with some elements of my motorcycling life (you can’t beat a dawn…

It’s official, Jack Kennedy and his Mar-Train Yamaha squad will move up into BSB next season. The record-breaking, four-time Supersport champion’s team have signed a deal similar to the one agreed between Yamaha and Rich Energy OMG Racing last year with full support from Yamaha Motor UK, Steve Rodgers’ McAMS team and his Raceways Motorcycles GYTR Pro Shop. How excited are you about this move into Superbikes? JK I’m over the moon. It’s a massive investment from MarTrain so I feel lucky that they’re putting all this time, effort and money into me. I know how passionate they are about racing and how good they’ve been this year, and how happy I’ve made them by doing so well. It’s a reward for me and for them. It’s the right transition…

Coming out of retirement for a second time wasn’t in Cal Crutchlow’s plans. But Yamaha’s test rider yet again reminded the paddock of his talents with 14th in his first race in 12 months. Entering the weekend, the 36-year-old quipped that Andrea Dovizioso, the man he has replaced, “owes me a significant amount of money because I had to cancel a holiday with the girls!” But Crutchlow gave no indication his mind was elsewhere by finishing as the top Yamaha and just 20 seconds back from the race winner – not bad considering he admitted to not yet finding a comfortable riding position aboard the M1, a bike drastically different from Honda’s RC213V, on which he competed from 2015-’20. ‘I had to cancel a holiday with the girls…’ “I used…

COLIN YOUNG INSIGHT Paddock veteran shares his MotoGP experience Fast, aggressive and a daredevil risk taker. Marc Marquez was back at Aragon and his racing mentality seemingly undimmed after a six-race, 112-day hiatus to recover from a career-saving fourth round of surgery on his right humerus. The instinctive and audacious surge from 13th to sixth in the first three corners was pure Marquez. As was his glorious knee-and-elbow-scraping save from a lurid front-end slide in free practice. But just 22 seconds after lights out, the hugely hyped return of the six time MotoGP world champion disintegrated into chaos at the Spanish track. An unintentional slide and shut-off by Marquez saw Yamaha star Fabio Quartararo battered out of the race as he struck the back of Marquez – and his title…

Alex Rins was an innocent and largely unnoticed victim of the Marc Marquez induced lap one bedlam at Aragon but staged a remarkable recovery, deploying his podium potential pace to salvage an impressive ninth and just 0.7s off sixth as Suzuki’s sole contender at the Spanish track. “My race was over when Marc and Fabio came together,” said Rins. “I had to go off the track and after the first sector I was last. I had to try to stay calm because I had the pace to get a podium finish. It took me more than one lap to get past some riders but I am quite happy that I was able to make up a lot of positions even though ninth is not exhilarating.” Still recovering from an ankle…

“My life is all about resilience.” These were Aleix Espargaro’s first words after his first return to the podium in seven races. The seemingly ever-cheerful Spaniard had been best of the rest at Aragon, six seconds behind the two duelling Ducatis. It was another demonstration, if one were needed, of the growing strength of the upgraded 2022 Aprilia, former underdog of the grid. And also of the fighting spirit of this – yes, resilient rider. Backed by his string of podiums earlier in the year, and an ability to make the most of the bad days and ignore pain and injuries, the podium return means that Espargaro is still in the championship game. Thanks to Quartararo’s no-score, Aleix is just 17 points off the lead and seven down on Bagnaia,…

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 955i 2001-2004, £2250-£2750 Power: 147bhp Weight: 191kg (dry) Seat height: 815mm Big and heavy compared to Japanese superbikes, the 955i wasn’t the success Triumph hoped for despite its gorgeous 147bhp three-cylinder motor, decent handling and sensible riding position. Consequently it’s easy to forget it was a very good, practical superbike. Those who did buy it were generally older riders who knew how to look after a motorcycle, which means there are now some beautifully clean bikes for sale at pitiful prices. BUYING ONE Reg/recs have been known to fail but most will have a new one fitted. And they benefit from have the charging/starting wiring upgraded, which costs about £200 to do. Other than that, they’re pretty bulletproof. KAWASAKI ZX-9R 1994-2002, £1600-£2500 Power: 143bhp Weight: 183kg (dry) Seat…

HONDA VFR750 1986-1998, £1000-£5000 Power (1986 model): 100bhp Weight: 205kg (dry) Seat height: 800mm There are many compelling reasons to become deeply engaged with a not-too-shabby Honda VFR750F, even it is getting a bit long in the tooth. The VFR was beautifully made and a brilliantly balanced package that was comfortable, even for passengers, real-world fast and easy to ride. They looked good too, in a classy, restrained sort of way when compared to the shell-suited garb of other Japanese 750s of the period. Lasting for a 12-year model run, from 1986 to 1998, they were replaced by the less charismatic and uglier VFR800 (which also sprouted a linked braking system). BUYING ONE Most big Japanese bikes are capable of big, trouble-free mileages if they’ve been looked after properly. A…