Table of contents for 17th April 2019 in MCN

Harley-Davidson have opened the online pre-ordering system for its electric LiveWire – with the radical bike priced from £28,995. With numbers of the first deliveries this autumn strictly limited, the American firm are urging customers to order early to avoid disappointment. The LiveWire is a big departure for Harley, not only for the obvious reasons but also as it’s a sporty naked bike with a focus on handling and high tech. Harley claim it can do 0-60mph in 3 seconds, which is superbike speed. They also say that it has a range of 140 miles in urban use, or 88 in mixed use, while charging from 0 – 100% on a fast charger takes just 60 minutes. The LiveWire also has the spec of a top super-naked including fully-adjustable Showa…

Bring back Bloodbikers Just been reading the story about the Bloodbikers being snubbed (MCN, April 10). I can’t believe the job has been given to a company for £14m when there were riders who had been working for free. I think what they have done is disgusting and just wait until the trust starts bleating on about running out of money. Iain, Cardiff Mercer treated badly I read your brief report (April 10, page 67) that the ACU has denied Steve Mercer access to the results of their investigation into his entirely avoidable accident at last year’s TT. Steve was the victim of a set of circumstances not of his making and has life-changing injuries as a result. Surely any sane organisation would understand that as the person most impacted…

I rode the Kielder 500 on a Triumph Tiger 800 XCA. It was in ‘showroom’ spec bar the fitting of the handbook approved Pirelli Rally tyres. In hindsight you could complete the ride on road tyres, albeit taking the corners more gently. The 21in front meant the rocky sections were defeated with ease, while the 45kg weight saving was a welcome change after covering 20,000 miles last year on its 1200cc brother. Unlike some of its rivals the 800 doesn’t lose any of the bigger bike’s good bits such as a heated seat or cruise control, which made the 600-mile round trip to the event entirely pleasant. For this sort of off-road event, you’d struggle to find much else so well suited.…

With its dark, rumbling soundtrack, lavish reserves of low-down power and a searing top-end, BMW’s new R1250R is as classy as they come. Its new ShiftCam engine offers just the right balance of quirky refinement, transforming even the shortest journey into a grin-fest. Wind protection is non-existent, but it’s roomy, calm and easy to manage, with the poise and grace of a super-naked in the corners with brakes to match. Build quality is Tonka Toy-tough and standard spec is generous, but it’s pricey and isn’t a big step on from the old 1200. Tech spec What it costs £12,575 On the road cash price £226.45 PCP per month x36 £169 HP per month x36…

• Bikers Classics, Spa, 5-7 July With the 24-hr race at the famous Belgian circuit sadly no more, the retro-themed Bikers Classics with a full weekend of classic GP, superbike and more activity is the next best thing. • Bol d’Or, 21-22 September Now restored to the famous Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet right on the French Riviera (after moving to Magny Cours in 1999) and its famous September slot this 24-hr event, although not quite up to its 1990s heyday, is the perfect way to round out summer.…

“Then just cut into the loom to pick up a live feed.” It’s a simple enough job – but also one that’s regularly deterred me from fitting certain modifications. Electrical looms, like brains, can be sensitive things. If you’ve ever suffered a malfunctioning alarm or the effects of electrical bodgery, you’ll probably feel the same. The 2019 R1250GSA is absolutely dominated by its electronics, and the CAN bus system is not something I’m comfortable tapping into, even just to pick up a live feed. So when I fitted the new INNOVV K2 camera this month, I also used a HEX Innovate CAN bus controller to prevent sleepless nights, while also giving scope for further accessories. Camera, action I rarely ride with a GoPro rolling. Charging batteries, pressing buttons, downloading memory…

“It’s been really enlightening. Even though I regularly ride in groups I know there’s room for improvement. Prior to today, I was aware that when I wasn’t in the role of lead rider or ‘Tail-end Charlie’, I had a tendency to switch off and just follow the rider ahead. It’s quite scary really – you just fixate on them and follow their lines without thinking for yourself, so snapping yourself out of it and riding your own ride is something I’ve got to do. “I also really like Mark’s suggestion for not allowing riders to overtake and doing so at natural stops instead. We’ve had a few hairy moments over the years involving crazy overtakes so this rule would keep things calmer and safer. “We’ll probably have 20 riders on…

It didn’t take long for alarm bells to start ringing when the guys at GT Motorcycles in Plymouth were called out to Dartmoor to rescue a 125 with a chain that had mysteriously ‘come off’. “We started our usual free healthcheck on the bike and it quickly became apparent the back wheel was at an odd angle,” said GT mechanic Andy Fern. ‘It hadn’t just happened and the racket must have been horrendous’ The chain on the 2011 YZF-R125 had come off and gone to the inside of the sprocket and onto the hub because the whole wheel assembly had shifted to the left. Not only had the sprocket carrier bearing failed, but the nearside wheel bearing had collapsed too. When that happened it allowed the carrier to twist so…

“TT 2018 was an almost perfect example of road racing. In almost ideal conditions, with a fortnight of dry weather providing plenty of practice time and coating the Mountain circuit in grippy rubber, race week itself duly delivered a non-stop series of record-breaking rides. “Peter Hickman was the one who made the most of the conditions, claiming two wins and setting a new record of 135.452mph on the Smith’s Racing S1000RR on the last lap of the Senior race. “The BSB star was pushed all the way by Silicone Kawasaki’s Dean Harrison, the rider who made the biggest improvement in lap speeds, as he shaved an incredible 22 seconds off his previous best with a lap of 134.918mph. “Michael Dunlop, the previous TT speed kingpin, was eclipsed by Hickman and…

“The biggest advantage Bautista has is he knows how to ride with wings. You have to hang off the bike but keep it as upright as you can. Wings push the bike into the tyres, not just downwards but towards the outside of the corner. It puts a lot more stress through the tyres. The rider must hang off the bike more to move the centre of gravity more towards the middle of the corner to help make the bike turn. The position of the centre of gravity of the rider and bike is what makes the bike turn.”…

John McPhee admitted after Sunday’s Moto3 race that concentrating on the wrong things during practice had left him unable to do better than 14th in Sunday’s race. By setting up his bike for fast times alone it meant he was unable to run in the pack in the race. And after planning on a breakaway at the Circuit of The Americas, he instead became embroiled in race-long pack warfare, which meant that his gearing was out and he was unable to compete to his full ability.…

GLENN IRWIN #2 Quattro Plant JG Speedfit  Kawasaki Starts 74 Wins 2 Podiums 12 2018 3rd (Be Wiser Ducati) KEITH FARMER #33 Tyco BMW Starts 29 Wins 0  Podiums 1 2018 1st (British Superstock 1000 championship) JOE FRANCIS #40 Lloyd & Jones Bowker Motorrad  BMW Starts 7 Wins 0 Podiums 0 2018 British Supersport & BSB SCOTT REDDING #45 Be Wiser Ducati  Starts 0 Wins 0 Podiums 0 2018 MotoGP Aprilia TOMMY BRIDEWELL #46 Oxford Racing Ducati  Starts 246 Wins 2 Podiums 21 2018 7th (MotoRapido Ducati) MATT TRUELOVE #59 Raceways Yamaha  Starts 0 Wins 0 Podiums 0 2018 9th British Superstock 1000 championship PETER HICKMAN #60 Smiths Racing BMW  Starts 293 Wins 4 Podiums 15 2018 5th (Smiths BMW) BEN CURRIE #61 Quattro Plant JG Speedfit  Kawasaki Starts 0…

Ever wished you’d a super-power? Maybe being able to fly? How about invisibly? Well it turns out that, as a biker, you’ve already got it nailed. The so-called SMIDSY syndrome (Sorry Mate, I Didn’t See You) from drivers is all too common. As someone whose life has been turned upside down by a car pulling across my path I’ve always been curious to discover how we can remove the ‘invisibility cape’ on motorcycles. Accepted wisdom isn’t the answer, either – I had hi-viz, and it still went wrong. It turns out there’s huge complexity to the science of being seen. And if urban junction collisions remain the single-most common crash involving bikes, what are we all doing wrong? Have you ever thought about what attracts your eyes? I mean subconsciously.…

I’m happy buying bikes that need attention. I’m confident in my abilities to sort out things like iffy steering head bearings, worn suspension linkages, shagged brakes… things that should have been covered by routine maintenance but often aren’t. Not long ago, I bought a bike with a bent valve that meant it had lost all compression on one pot, sourced a good, used cylinder head, and swapped it over. Something like £70 and an afternoon’s work saw the bike running sweetly again. If you visit motorcycle forums you see one question crop up again and again. “I’ve decided to buy an XYZ as although it’s a non-runner, I’m skint and reckon I can fix it up cheaply. What do you think?” My usual answer is: ‘Don’t bother’. The ‘10,000 hour’…

Do you know a stunning biker café that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves? Head online to MCN’s #ride5000miles Facebook page and nominate your favourite nosh-pit at, or drop your recommendation on an email to mcn.letters@ motorcyclenews.com Entice us with pictures of floury bacon baps and sizzling big breakfasts, and we’ll consider it for inclusion in this year’s hunt. We’ll be visiting one café each week and as Autumn creeps into our bones, we’ll reveal the top ten best ranking cafés on tour, and open them up to a public vote to pick the 2019 winner of MCN’s Golden Sausage Award.…

Q‘Is insurer trying to trick me?’ I was riding through London in midday traffic and was indicating to turn left at a junction. The traffic lights were green and so gave me right-of-way. Some pedestrians ignored the traffic lights and went to cross the road in front of me, forcing me to slam on the brakes. The car driving behind then crashed into me, causing a lot of damage both to my bike and to me! I suffered whiplash and sprained wrists. The car driver’s insurer has just called and admitted responsibility but what is strange is that they offered me a lawyer for my personal injury claim. I think this is a bit suspicious and would rather choose my own – can you help? I am worried they are…

KELVIN LYMER Age 55 Height 6ft 3in Been riding 39 years Current bike 2018 BMW R1200GSA First bike A Garelli moped Dream bike Reliable Ducati 916 “I have already sat on a Scrambler in a Triumph dealership and I’m going to buy one after a test ride. I really like the look of it and it seems like a fun all-rounder, which is exactly what I’m after. My GS is brilliant for long tours, so I’ll definitely keep it as I do over 10,000-miles a year, but the Triumph will be used for short hops on sunny days. The GS is a tool, the Triumph will be a toy to have fun on. I’ll go for the XE version as I’m used to the latest electronics on my GS and…

The Kielder 500 was the first event in a three part series called the Adventure Spec Challenge. The next event is the Wales 500, May 25-26, followed by the Isle of Man 500, September 21-22. A ticket for the Wales 500 costs £180 inc camping, evening meal and ACU day licence while the IoM 500 is £160. The courses are made for adventure bikes with road tyres and you do not have to be an experienced off-roader to ride the route. For more information on the series and to book, head to www. adventure-spec.com/challenge…

‘The air is thick with anticipation then it’s all GO!!!’ Of all the European sporting events you can ride to, the big 24-hour endurance races are at the very top of must-dos – and the biggest of all is taking place this weekend! The Le Mans 24-hour motorcycle endurance race, or ‘24 Heures Motos’, to use the correct vernacular, is one of the classics of endurance racing (along with Suzuka, the Bol d’Or and the now defunct Spa 24-hours) and has been run at the legendary Bugatti circuit at Le Mans since 1978. Being in the Sarthe region of north/central France makes it an easy ride from the UK and a brilliant way to kick off the biking year. This weekend being Easter, you won’t even need take time off…

Le Mans is 274 miles from Calais and just 160 from Le Havre and so is a reasonably easy ride. Four-day entrance tickets cost from €71, with paddock, grandstand seats and other options costing more. • Crossings Eurotunnel is cheapest at around £90 return but requires the longest ride, overnight ferries to Le Havre, Caen or St Malo can be had for around £250-£300, including cabin. • Camping/hotels There are free red and blue zone camping areas out side the circuit but we’d recommend the more secure green zone (€20) inside the circuit, which is both nearer, and more secure (although we’d still recommend some hefty locks). Hotels in the Le Mans area are still available as we write starting at £100.…

The average chain consists of about 500 separate pieces, gets subjected to a tremendous force and often has to operate in fairly horrendous conditions. So it’s little wonder that they require a little bit of care and attention. A mate of mine had a chain snap whilst he was on a trackday. Luckily, when it there was no one directly behind him to run into him as he abruptly lost drive, so he managed to stay on the bike and coast back to the pits. The flailing chain had wrapped itself round the front sprocket and took a fair bit of effort to untangle – but it eventually came off, was promptly replaced and the trackday continued… for another couple of sessions… Unbeknownst to my mate, the flailing end of…

Senior winner and TT lap record holder, Peter Hickman, now has his sights set on Supersport glory after gaining support from the Triumph factory in Hinckley for his 2019 bid. And the 32-year-old, who finished on the podium in the last four Supersport TTs aboard the Trooper Beer/ Smith’s Racing Triumph 675 Daytona, thinks a 130mph lap could now be on the cards in the Supersport class, too. Speaking exclusively to MCN at the British manufacturer’s Hinckley factory last week where Triumph unveiled their support for his 2019 campaign, Hickman said: “We’ve had two really good years on the Triumph but need that little bit more to win the TT. The bike I raced last year was five-years-old even though it had been fitted with new parts,” explained the BSB…

Michael Dunlop has had his first test on his 2019 Tyco BMW S1000RR. A day after his 30th birthday, the 18-time TT winner rode the new superbike at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown over three days last week. Dunlop, who’s also swapped from Öhlins to K-Tech suspension, made no comment but team boss Philip Neill tried to put a positive spin on the bike’s late arrival. “We’ve started our testing a little later than expected to be fair but the boys have been very busy at the workshop trying to prepare these new 2019 model S1000RRs.”…

‘My main goal is to secure a factory seat and I’d love it to be at Ducati’ Ducati’s MotoGP bosses have told MCN that Jack Miller is in line for Danilo Petrucci’s factory seat next season and that the time when they need to make a decision on who will partner Andrea Dovizioso in 2020 is rapidly approaching. The announcement comes after Miller took a strong third place onboard his 2019 spec Pramac Ducati at CoTA. Ducati Corse boss Paolo Ciabatti told MCN after the race they’re aware a difficult decision is looming, but that Petrucci still has some time to get back to podium form and hold onto his seat. He said: “When we have to make the decision it will be a difficult one because we like Danilo…

There’s a couple of riders currently ruining racing. They’re just too good. I’m talking about Marc Marquez and his compatriot Alvaro Bautista. Why should they win so much? It just spoils everything. This at least is a view clearly cherished by the control-tower cronies who run both series. Why else would Dorna and their FIM allies conspire to make racing more equal? In general life, it is humane to succour the disadvantaged. I’m not so sure it’s desirable at World Championship level. In MotoGP, the thrust of dumb-down regulations and control tyres, electronics and aerodynamics has come in the name of cutting costs, but the hidden agenda is also to hobble any advantage of the big-spending factories. ‘Maybe Marquez should carry a passenger’ The technical socialism is all the more…

Franco Morbidelli bagged his best-ever MotoGP finish with a strong fifth for Petronas Yamaha. The Italian’s result was backed up by rookie team-mate Fabio Quartararo who impressed yet again by taking a strong seventh. Quartararo said: “The race was really hard so I can say that my physical condition is good! I made a few mistakes in the first lap, being too aggressive and losing the group in front. But I’m happy with it and the positive thing is that I was just behind a factory Ducati with Petrucci.”…

“I talked to Rins when he arrived and he told me he was unlucky in Qatar. I stopped him right there and told him it wasn’t bad luck. He thought the pace was too slow but the slower the pace the better, because it makes keeping stuff underneath you easier, and the longer you can do it the better. “But if you’ve been following all race, it’s tough to leave it to the end then execute a perfect lap when you see a clear track for the first time. It was good to see him put that into practice because we’ve seen he’s got the speed and bike and rider are coming into their own at a really good time of the year.”…

Life passes in a heartbeat in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. It feels like a long, long time ago since my accident but I’m still here, still smiling, still happy and can’t wait for this season to get going. At the moment, there genuinely isn’t a guy who stands out as a night-and-day favourite. It’s perfect! Scott Redding comes in from MotoGP, Xavi Fores comes in from World Superbikes and Josh Brookes has exactly what he has always asked for. There are new BMWs for Smiths and Tyco; the S1000RR is completely new and the chassis is great, which really might work in their favour. What about Tarran Mackenzie? After a year on the Yamaha, he can fight for the title. So can James Ellison, who comes back for one…

“Ducati are winning everywhere: Bautista in WSB, Dovizioso won the first MotoGP race and Michele Pirro recently won the opening CIV Superbike round in Italy. So the pressure is on PBM and the Moto Rapido team to deliver, too. “The one massive advantage PBM have is Giovanni Crupi. The V4 R is his baby. He’s the guy in charge of development. He and Gigi Dall’Igna work on ideas and then test it with whichever test rider they want. You can’t get any closer to Ducati Corse and the factory when it comes to superbikes than Giovanni Crupi. “I worked with him in 2009-10, so when we joined Ducati in 2016 the relationship was seamless, like picking up where we left off, because we always got on really well. When we…

A pair of Suzuki TR500s owned and raced by Barry Sheene will be exhibited at the Prescott Bike Festival in July. Sheene owned the bikes before joining the factory Suzuki team. One was sold to a friend, while the other had a chequered history involving being stolen, found in a ditch, recovered then stored in an attic. It’s now been fully restored but spends most of its time in Europe rather than the UK because of the noise! Prescott Bike Festival is Saturday-Sunday, July 15- 16 with tickets costing £12 from www.prescottbikefestival.com.…

THIS WEEK THURSDAY 18TH Bridge Motorcycles Bike Nights Exeter, Devon Entry From 5pm Info 01392-260200 or www. bridgemotorcycles.com FRIDAY 19TH – 21ST Bennetts British Superbikes, Round 1 Silverstone National, Northants. www.britishsuperbike.com Entry From £10. See website for different ticket options. Info www.britishsuperbike.com FRIDAY 19TH - 21ST Reading MAG Easter Bike Show Reading Abbey Rugby Club, Emmer Green, Berks Entry £3, children under 16’s free Info www.readingmag.org.uk SUNDAY 21ST Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Easter Egg Run Greendyke Street, Glasgow Entry 10am, leaving at 11am. Suggested donation of £10 per bike. Info 0141-2128750 or www. glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org BOOK NOW MCN Festival East of England Arena, Peterborough, May 18-19. See left for more info. Info www.mcnfestival.com…

SAVE £31 Dainese Street Biker D-WP £109.99 Urban high-top boots designed for cutting through city streets. Suede cowhide outer with ankle protection, they’ll also keep your feet dry due to an internal breathable membrane. www.fowlers.co.uk SAVE 65% XLMoto Easy-Up Race Tent £59.99 Ideal for trackdays and race meets, the 3x3m Race Tent’s polyester outer and steel frame should shield from rain and sun, pops up in seconds and comes in a carry bag. www.xlmoto.co.uk SAVE £210 Halfords Advanced 200 piece socket set £160 Great quality at a great price, plus it comes with a lifetime guarantee. It has ¼, 3/8 and ½-inch drive ratchets, metric and AF sockets and spanners, screwdriver bits and breaker bar. www.halfords.co.uk SAVE £98 Held Crackerjane ladies jeans £158.97 Made from a denim and Kevlar mix…

A PACKED WEEKEND OF PROPER RACING The DTRA will be holding a full two-day round of their championships at the festival including the heavyweight Hooligan racing that sees large capacity machines thunder round the dirt oval. New for this year we’ve got a taster of the incredible DirtQuake series. Dubbed the ‘DirtQuake Showdown, pre-event special’, there will be five DirtQuake races per day covering all the classes you’ll see at the 2019 DirtQuake event that’s held at the Arlington Stadium in Sussex on August 9-10 (visit Dirtquake.com). RAMPING UP THE STUNT ACTION The excitement is turned up to 11 this year with crazy stunt action at the Festival. Acts thrilling the crowds include the Steve Colley Trials show, the Wall of Death and the fast-paced and high-flying Arenacross FMX crew.…

Heritage models such as the BMW R nineT Urban G/S and Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE sell as much on looks as they do their performance. And on this score you have to say it is an instant one-nil win to the Brit. The Triumph may borrow from the firm’s other 1200 twins, but its designers have been savvy enough to ensure the Scrambler more than holds its own. So much so that as we fuel up at the start of the day the Urban G/S is visually overshadowed by the 1200. A fact that isn’t helped by the BMW’s paint. Maybe I’m being pedantic, but when I buy a retro I want it to remind me of its heritage. The Triumph’s blue tank with its black stripe makes me think…

ALLSPEED IS BORN In 1977 Peter Gibson sets up Allspeed, the name was suggested as it ‘gives you all speed, doesn’t it?’ Coinciding with the boom in two-strokes in the 1980s, Allspeed soon becomes the pipe to fit to your LC. A CHANGE OF NAME Having sold Allspeed to Micron, Peter sets up Gibson Exhausts in ’86 making two and four-stroke systems for race teams like JPS Norton. The logo is a nod towards the Toblerones he bought returning from foreign races! NEW OWNER After a chance encounter, LC fan Tony Greenslade buys Gibson’s exhaust building business in 2003 as well as all his original tools, jigs and patterns. Peter stays on for the next three years to train Tony in the art of pipe building. THE NAME RETURNS With…

1. SORT YOUR PAPERWORK Check your insurance is valid, take all your documents (inc V5), have a GB plate, your helmet should have reflective stickers front/rear and you need to carry a hi-viz vest. Recovery is wise, too. 2. TRAVEL LIGHT Luggage depends on accommodation but if camping take the bar minimum and be prepared to fully ‘immerse’ yourself in the Le Mans experience (ie, rough it). 3. GO AS A GANG You can go solo but it’s a far better, bigger adventure with a small group of mates with your own encampment at the circuit.…

Q ‘Why does it have less power than a 2002 CBR600F Sport?’ Mick Fairley, Sheffield A A lot of people have asked about the bike’s power output and it boils down to the rules of the A2 licence system. You can still restrict a bike down to 47bhp (like you could in the old system) but it must not produce more than double that in unrestricted guise. 94bhp is therefore the most power a bike can make before A2 licence holders can’t buy one. Q ‘Would you buy one with your own money?’ Bryan Waghorn, Fleet A It feels every bit worth its price tag so far, the build quality is excellent and it feels substantial and grown-up but it hasn’t convinced me yet to turn my back on twins…

Ian Atkins East Harling Hoop – 69 miles Take the B1111 from East Harling to Swaffham. Head west on the A1122 to Downham Market before you join the A134 to Munford. From here it’s through to Brandon before dropping down to Elvedon. Skirt round Thetford and nip through Euston before turning right on the A1066. Emma Franklin Rivington Reviver – 46 miles From the Scotch Piper, head through Scarisbrick and join the A570 and as you arrive in Southport, turn right along the seafront until you see the signs for Mere Brow, as you hit the A59 turn south towards Rufford but before you get there turn to Croston and onto Euxton. Head to Hoghton Arms before Belmont and finally to Rivvy Barn. GET INVOLVED AND RIDE MORE IN 2018…

1. Oxford Mondial Advanced jacket £249.99 A brand new model. I only got it last week after the zip in my old jacket burst open. It’s warm, very comfortable and a lot lighter than my old jacket. I can’t say whether it’s waterproof yet as I’ve not used it in the rain but I’ve high hopes. 2. Hein Gericke Performance Shell trousers £discontinued Probably done 100k miles and they’ve been great. I’ve never got wet and they’re comfortable and draught-free. It’s just a shame they don’t make them anymore. 3. Hein Gericke gloves £discontinued Lost their waterproofing over the years but they’re really warm and comfy. I can’t part with them. 4. Hein Gericke boots £discontinued Also donkey’s years old. Used to be waterproof, not anymore…

You need to know what you’re getting into with an old two-stroke. It’s more than just a riding experience: owning a ‘smoker’ is about serious garage time, fettling and care. When you go to view a prospective purchase, don’t expect it to have a complete, dealer service history – rather, expect it to come with a stash of invoices for parts, consumables and fluids which should then roughly tally up with what the seller has told you about how much work the bike’s top-end and crank have done. Steer clear of any that have been tuned. Unlike in the ’80s and ’90s, there aren’t many good people tuning these bikes nowadays so you’ll be much better off with a slow standard engine than one that’s been tuned by ‘my mate…

Chain riveter These kits can be used as both a chain breaker and a riveter. A quality one will cost around £30. Don’t be tempted to buy cheap ones as quite often they will break before your chain does. Torque wrench An electronic torque wrench like this is simple to use. Input the desired torque setting via the buttons, then listen for the beep when the torque has been reached. Manual wrenches work just as well but can be a little trickier to set. Allen key T-bar Perfect for a multitude of jobs, particularly those where a deft hand is required. Here they’ll be perfect for winding in chain adjusters, if yours are set by Allen head bolts. If not, you may need spanners instead. Rubber mallet The good old…

In a busy week for the BSB and TT star, Peter Hickman had his first outing on the new Smith’s Racing S1000RR BMW superbike he will race this year. “I had a brief session at Cadwell and then a full day at Rockingham,” the ace explained. “Given that we only got the bikes 22 days ago, we weren’t a million miles away.” The S1000RR Hickman rode was still equipped with the standard production swinging arm and it is understood the motors available to his team will be limited to blueprinted stock versions as BMW Motorrad concentrate their efforts on their WSB squad.…

It was meant to be the round where the established World Superbike stars took the fight to runaway series leader Alvaro Bautista, but although snow and sleet at Assen meant no racing on Saturday and a cancellation of the short sprint race, the Ducati-mounted Spaniard continued his domination of the series with two more full-length race wins on Sunday. Phillip Island, Buriram and MotorLand Aragon all feature long straights which played into the hands of Ducati’s new V4. Assen is different: a twisty layout with hard braking zones. Friday practice suggested new winners with Bautista down in sixth, but it wasn’t to be. Instead the Aruba Ducati rider has become the first rider to win the opening 11 races of a season, equalling the amount of consecutive wins Jonathan Rea…

Sam Lowes came away from Sunday’s Moto2 race pleased with his feeling on the bike despite finishing seventh. The Briton admitted afterwards that he wasn’t able to stay with the top three after going the wrong way with setup and leaving himself with no rear tyre at the end of the race. The race was won by Tom Luthi who returned to winning form in his third race back in Moto2 after a difficult season in MotoGP in 2018. The 32-year-old Swiss pulled clear of the chasing pack and held off teammate Marcel Schrotter and Speed Up rider Jorge Navarro.…

Maverick Viñales and Joan Mir became the latest riders to fall foul of MotoGP’s jump start rules, only one race after Cal Crutchlow’s high-profile penalty last time out in Argentina. With Cal’s punishment already the subject of much discussion over the weekend in Austin, the pair saw podium potential snatched away them when they were hit with ride-through penalties for small infringements. ‘The clutch slipped a little and pulled me forward’ Rolling off the line ahead of the lights going out but gaining only a minimal advantage, Viñales’ pace as he cut through the field was good enough to be in contention for the win, while rookie Mir could well have backed up team-mate Alex Rins’ win with a podium of his own. Speaking after the race, Viñales was circumspect…

• ‘I’m ready to get stuck in and rip it up’ SCOTT REDDING 45 SCOTT REDDING Be Wiser Ducati 2018 n/a There are no clear favourites heading into the 2019 British Superbike season but there isn’t another rider on the grid that will be feeling the pressure like MotoGP exile Scott Redding. But he says he’s not letting it get to him: “I have to go to BSB to win the championship. I don’t have a choice to be honest. No one is expecting anything less and yes, it is pressure, but I thrive off it.” Some assumed Redding would struggle to adapt to Pirelli tyres, new tracks and the argy-bargy nature of BSB, yet he’s answered some of those critics by bossing pre-season testing; Portimao and Monteblanco were both…

95 TARRAN MACKENZIE ‘Three crashes in four races ended his title hopes in 2018’ McAMS Yamaha 2018 10th Traditionally a second year is more difficult than a first: no more learning, no more excuses. But Tarran Mackenzie knows all that. Into his second season with McAMS Yamaha and with his first win just around the corner, it’s ‘Game on’. When we asked fans and insiders for their Showdown predictions, the name ‘Mackenzie’ was rarely missing from the top three. No pressure then, Taz… “The two strongest riders will be Redding and O’Halloran,” he laughs. “Jason has just clicked with the bike and is very fast. He’s a top guy and brings a different dynamic to the team. I’m learning from him. He’s ridden so many bikes and is spotting…

BRITISH SUPERSPORT It’s difficult to look past reigning British Supersport champion, Jack Kennedy for 2019 honours as he returns with Integro Yamaha, although the full-time return of Alastair Seeley should provide some stern competition and epic battles. Kennedy’s team-mate, Bradley Jones is also looking to build on a season of potential in 2018. For 2019, the series again welcomes GP2 bikes to run a class within a class but expect an increased presence, ex-Moto2 bikes with Honda engines and a few other prototypes that adopt Superstock 600 engine regs. Superbike outcast, Kyle Ryde has to be favourite. NATIONAL SUPERSTOCK The Superstock classes often provide the closest racing at any BSB meeting. The 1000cc class, as ever, will be a season-long slog between ex-superbike riders, Richard Cooper, Billy McConnell and Taylor…

ROUND 1 SILVERSTONE NATIONAL APRIL 19-21 Length 1.64 miles Corners 6 Lap record 54.109 Dixon (2018) 2018 podium R1 Haslam, Irwin, Mackenzie R2 Haslam, Brookes, Irwin R3 Haslam, Mackenzie, Dixon Tickets www.silverstone.co.uk ROUND 2 OULTON PARK MAY 4-6 Length 2.69 miles Corners 17 Lap record 1:34.483 Brookes (2015) 2018 podium R1 Haslam, Dixon, Byrne R2 Haslam, O’Halloran, Dixon Tickets www.oultonpark.co.uk ROUND 3 DONINGTON NATIONAL MAY 24-26 Length 1.957 miles Corners 10 Lap record N/A 2018 podium R1 Ray, Byrne, Ellison R2 Ray, Haslam, Linfoot Tickets www.donington-park.co.uk ROUND 4 BRANDS HATCH GP JUNE 14-16 Length 2.99 miles Corners 12 Lap record 1:24.873 Brookes (2017) 2018 podium (Indy) R1 Byrne, Ray, O’Halloran R2 Haslam, Irwin, Laverty Tickets www.brandshatch.co.uk ROUND 5 KNOCKHILL JUNE 28-30 Length 1.27 miles Corners…

With the British Superbike grid so fierce this year, predicting the top six come the end of the year is no easy task. With a mix of established stars including Josh Brookes, Glenn Irwin and Jason O’Halloran, young guns Bradley Ray and Taz Mackenzie plus some seriously fast rookies with MotoGP man Scott Redding and WSB contender Xavi Fores it’s certainly going to be tight at the top. Making a prediction for the top six Title Fighters going into the Showdown isn’t easy and our expert pundits had their reservations, but we’ve twisted their arms to get their thoughts on what the 2019 season will bring. JAMES WHITHAM FORMER BSB, WSB AND 500GP RIDER • Taz Mackenzie• Scott Redding• Jason O’Halloran• Glenn Irwin• Josh Brookes• Tommy Bridewell SHAKEY BYRNE SIX-TIME…