Table of contents for 18 November 2020 in MCN

‘I’ve been fighting for this all my life’JOAN MIR, 2020 MOTOGP CHAMPION MOTOGP CHAMPION Mir makes history with Suzuki title The cold may be setting in, but if Mir’s extraordinary championship win doesn’t warm your heart, you should check you’re still breathing. Not only has he shocked himself, but he’s stunned the GP paddock, and given Suzuki a miraculous dream title - a whole 20 years after Kenny Roberts Junior last put them atop the GP tree. What a year - what a result. FULL ANALYSIS FROM PAGE 70 INSPIRATION Time to plan now - play later Lockdowns here and abroad have limited our biking horizons in 2020 like looking the wrong way down a pair of binoculars. However much you want to bring the horizon closer, the truth is…

£16,499 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory This is a 2019 model, so it doesn’t have the latest electronic suspension, but it still comes with Öhlins, Brembo, Pirelli, Akrapovic, carbon wings/side panels/front mudguard/exhaust cover and a suite of rider aids to cope with the fluid and elastic power delivery that delivers acceleration like an iron fist in a velvet glove. ● www.onyerbike.net SAVE £2500 £8999 Suzuki Katana Its 38-year-old styling is still striking, almost as much as that £2500 saving from Arnolds. • www.arnoldsmotorcycles.com • Engine 999cc • Power 145bhp • Weight 215kg • Seat height 835mm SAVE £2000 £13,880 MV Agusta Dragster RR A visual and aural treat. This is a brand new machine, but running last year’s colours. • www.cupar.co.uk • Engine 798cc • Power 138bhp • Weight 168kg •…

Aerostich Twistgrip Clamp Alarm Lock £44.84 The 10mm carbide reinforced hardened steel locking pin and built- in 120dB anti-theft security alarm offers both physical and audible security. Simply close the sturdy nylon-construction body around the throttle grip and clutch lever, push the lock button to secure and arm the unit and walk away. www.aerostich.com CNC Racing RPS Easy rearsets for Ducati V2/959 £637.99 High-spec, lightweight racing style rearsets made from strong-but- lightweight aerospace grade alloy. Adjustable for both height and tilt, they feature knurled fixed footpegs for all-weather grip, bearings in the lever joints for smooth operation, and there’s provision for a rear brake light switch to make them road legal. Can be used in road or race pattern. www.reactiveparts.com Gerbing Heated Trouser Liner £189.99 A toasty treat, this heated…

We’ve teamed up with expert MotoGP riding trainer Andy Ibbott to give away ten signed copies of his new book, MotoGP Performance Riding Techniques - The MotoGP manual of track riding skills (4th edition). The book has been written by former MCN road tester and racer Ibbott who went on to run the UK arm of the pioneering California Superbike School for many years. It includes a foreword by US legend Keith Code - the man behind the original California Superbike School which revolutionised thinking about track riding. It examines the secrets of the success behind riders including Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Ana Carrasco. As well as being essential reading for anyone wanting to improve their racing technique, the book has plenty to offer road riders because it will…

‘Bag a ‘90s Bimota before prices rise’ Motorcycles as investments: a thorny topic. Some dislike the idea of bikes being viewed as financial instruments, but that’s the way it goes for cars, aircraft, works of art, fine wines, you name it. The difficulty is working out what exotica is worth buying, what’s overpriced by dealers and isn’t an investment at all, and what’s overlooked, cheap now, and probably destined for stardom and decent appreciation. At one end of the scale you have the Honda RC213V-S, priced at €188,000. Apart from the fact that few can afford it, resale value is limited. Anyone who has decided they must have one has probably already got one. Special editions are an old trick, and not all appreciate. Think Silver Jubilee and Royal Wedding…

Electric motorcycles have created a grey area in the licensing laws due to the way they produce power. Petrol vehicles make constant power until the fuel runs out, so they have an easily recorded average power figure over a set time period. Electric vehicles, however, are limited by their battery’s charge and so have to record an average power output, which is often far less than their peak power output. This is why you can ride an electric bike whose peak power is higher than a restricted licence allows but its average is within the restrictions, such as the Zero S ZF 7.2 which can make a peak power of 43.4bhp (33kW) yet is classed as A1-legal because its average power is 15bhp (11kW). So what can you ride? Age…

THE PLAN We’d planned to explore Spain and also get to St Petersburg but Covid kyboshed that so took a three-week tour of Scotland. • Readers Julie Allan & partner• The Ride Started in N Yorks through the Borders, then Skye, the Western Isles from Ullapool then some of the best bits of the North Coast 500 route. Returning via Peterhead, the Grampians, Fife and the Tweed.• Miles 2005• Don’t miss this Scottish castles that are also hotels for a treat, the beaches on West Harris and the Butt of Lewis, NW leg of NC500 and Calmac return Stornoway to Ullapool THE ROUTE THE BIKES I have a Tiger 800 low, I am a shorty and it is the best bike I have ever had and dropped least (only once).…

Q ‘How can I get a refund for my MotoGP tickets?’ I bought five gold tickets for the Czech MotoGP through the MotoGP website, Dorna Sports. I received an email offering a refund in early summer. I am still £500 out of pocket. Every time I email Dorna they say that they are waiting for the organisers of Brno MotoGP to release funds. We’ve been travelling Europe for many years to MotoGP races including five consecutive years to Brno. I know that these are very difficult times but this seems to have been dealt with very poorly. Colin Spear, email A I imagine that there were very many refunds requested and that staff numbers to process these may have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is likely the organisers…

SIMON WILSON Age 53 Height 5ft 10in Current bike Ducati Monster 1200 S Been riding 37 years First bike Suzuki TS50ER Dream bike Don’t have one “The Monster was my first naked bike. Before it I owned a 1299 Panigale but in truth it was a bit too much for the road and so I decided to try something with flat bars instead. I test rode a BMW S1000R and a Triumph Speed Triple, which were both very good, but in the end opted for the Monster 1200 S. The bike’s heritage played a small part in my decision but mainly I like the way the Monster makes me feel. When you ride it the Monster feels special and I love the way the V-twin grunt drives out of corners,…

This experience costs £175 (£160 for youths) which includes bike and kit hire and operates from venues in Worcestershire, Walsall, Uttoxeter, Cornwall and a few more for 2021 with groups of 15 the max on the day. The school runs Kawasaki KX65, KLX110 and KX85 big and small wheels for younger riders with adults riding brand new 2021 KX250 and KX450s. www.kawasakimxdays.co.uk Most firms who sell motocross bikes have their own experience centres in the UK, so if green isn’t your colour, get online to find one more suiting your taste.…

Even the best kept bikes and ‘sunny day only’ garage queens will suffer the ill effects of time, and rubber and plastic parts seem to suffer more than other bits - and none more so than fuel lines. The effects of heating and cooling from the engine mixed with the harsh chemical attack from fuel means they become dry, brittle and prone to damage. I always stress how important it is to purchase OE parts, and with fuel lines it’s particularly relevant advice. Fowlers Parts have most major makes and models covered. However, I appreciate that if you’ve got an older bike which perhaps have parts that have been discontinued, then it’s not always possible to get original bits. So, here’s where you need to be a bit creative… The…

• Since WSB began in 1988, only six riders have started more races than Chaz Davies: Corser, Sykes, Haga, Rea, Haslam and Chili • Davies has claimed 32 race victories, the seventh highest number in WSB history. Only Rea, Fogarty, Bayliss, Haga, Sykes and Corser have won more - this bunch have 16 world titles between them! • Davies’ total of 98 podiums is the sixth highest of all-time and only 11 shy of four-time champion Carl Fogarty • Only Fogarty and Bayliss have more Ducati wins than Davies: 55 for Foggy, 52 for Bayliss and 28 for Chaz Davies…

Cal Crutchlow’s head ruled his heart and battered body as he called time on a career that saw him become one of Britain’s most successful MotoGP stars in history. Only Mike Hailwood, Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Barry Sheene, Phil Read and Leslie Graham have won more premier class races for Britain since 1949. But Sunday’s Portimao clash will be the 35-year-old’s farewell as a full-time racer after he accepted an offer to be Yamaha’s official test rider in 2021. Crutchlow, who at Brno in 2016 became the first British rider to win in MotoGP since Sheene some 35 years earlier, had been linked with the second seat at Aprilia. But after a 10-season stint in MotoGP, he wants to dedicate more time to wife Lucy and four-year-old daughter Willow, while…

1976 &1977–RG500 Barry Sheene Britain’s most celebrated racer secured Suzuki’s maiden 500cc titles in 1976 and again in 1977 on the hugely successful RG500. Sheene, who remains Suzuki’s only premier class double champion, helped develop the RG500 in Japan and was determined to make it perfect. Sheene and Suzuki became an iconic pairing and despite his time with Yamaha in the eighties, the charismatic Brit is most known for his time at Suzuki. The factory had a huge talent on the circuit and the first two-wheeled celebrity off it. Sheene competed in 15 races between 1976 and 1977and won 11 times. Remarkably, his titles followed an horrific practice accident at the 1975 Daytona 200; breaking a femur, arm, ribs and seven vertebrae. 1976 Season 72 POINTS 1977 Season 107 POINTS…

Davide Brivio Suzuki team Manager I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams winning on the 100th anniversary of Suzuki. Our target was the world championship but I didn’t expect it this year. Fabio Quartararo Petronas Yamaha SRT Joan deserves this title. Consistency from race four until the end is what won him the championship. That consistency is what I was missing. Chris Vermeulen former MotoGP winner The championship is not devalued because Marc Marquez was absent this year. Marc turned up fit, fast and ready to race at Jerez and crashed. Pol Espargaro KTM rider It was just an amazing job this year. His riding style fits perfectly with the Suzuki and he’s a funny, hard working guy and I’m so happy for him.…

We’re only a few miles inside the Scottish Border and the roads take you through historic towns, sweep through fields strewn with stunning heather and twist by castles and into quaint villages. Set out from Jedburgh on the A68, south, to take the right turn to Hawick on the A6088. It was the hometown Steve Hislop, where a memorial stands in his honour. Turn left into the town and find the signs for the A7 to Edinburgh and Selkirk. From the Selkirk market place, go left on the A707 towards Peebles and take the A72. Follow the River Tweed to Innerleithen and head north on the B709 until you meet the A7. Hang right and at the junction with the B6362 head into Lauder. Hop along the A68 and left…

“I’ve got the maximum potential out of the talent I have,” said Cal Crutchlow when announcing his decision to retire from racing in order to become a key cog in Yamaha’s future title hopes as their official test rider. It’s a phenomenally bold and transparent statement. Perhaps that shouldn’t be a surprise, Cal has never been one to say anything that’s devoid of meaning - but it still struck me as a remarkably candid and blunt self-critique. And, of course, one can’t argue that he’s not right - afterall, he should know - but it also downplays what an utterly incredible career he’s had. His dogged determination and brutal physical endurance make many other racers look a little delicate, while his outright results speak for themselves - he’s one of…

‘The Tracer’s new chassis is lighter and stronger’ Hot on the heels of the revised MT-09 comes the Tracer 9 and 9 GT - a pair of sports tourers powered by the same new triple. If you missed the MT-09 update, there’s a brand new CP3 engine. Capacity has been boosted to 890cc with all new innards, which has resulted in a modest power gain of 4bhp plus a saving of 1.7kg. Most importantly, peak torque comes in 1500rpm sooner, for stronger midrange drive - just the thing for a sports tourer. Also, just like the MT-09, the Tracer 9 gets a brand new chassis but in the Tracer, Yamaha have canted the engine more upright, which they say gives a better feel to the front-end. The swingarm is 60mm…

The annual ritual of heading to Birmingham to kick tyres, squeeze levers and twist throttles before stocking up on a mass of biking bargains whether we need them or not has been hit by Covid - so this year’s Motorcycle Live will take place online rather than at the NEC. Hosted at www.motorcyclelive.co.uk the virtual show will include not only galleries and info on the new bikes but video content with various celebrities and star racers. There will also be discount codes and offers on kit, if you’re used to heading to the NEC to get your biking discounts. Best of all, it’s completely free and there won’t be any grumbles about car parking or expensive burgers. The online show runs from Saturday, November 21, to Saturday, November 29, and…

Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Dave’s pick… Dave Hancock spent more than 25 years as Honda’s Chief Development Rider, starting this role working alongside Tadao Baba on the 1992 FireBlade and finishing it helping to make the RC213V-S roadgoing MotoGP rep a reality before retiring as Head of Product Planning at Honda Europe. One of only three people whose signature confirmed that a Honda motorcycle model was ready for production, Dave has ridden and rated nearly every bike the company has produced for well over two decades. Armed with this vast knowledge base, what used Honda would he spend his cash on? “For me it would have to…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Drivers can’t work lights Monday morning’s ride into work was wet grey and misty but on top of the North Downs here in Kent there was thick fog on the A249. The number of new cars that had no rear lights on never mind their fog lights was staggering. In the old days you had to turn your lights on and not rely on tech to do it for you. Alan Townsend, email What a year in racing MotoGP 2020 has been compulsive viewing. Back in March when coronavirus struck hard could we have dreamed of such a season? Steven King, email Great day riding with Ron Let me second the praise for Ron Haslam. Thanks to the generosity of my colleagues at my retirement, they…

£14,895 Ducati Monster 1200 S • 1198cc desmo V-twin DOHC 8v• 144.9bhp @ 9250rpm• 213kg wet weight £14,140 (as tested £16,705) BMW R1250R SE • 1254cc boxer twin DOHC 8v• 134.1bhp @ 7750rpm• 239kg wet weight When it was launched in 1993 the Monster was a massive hit for Ducati as riders lapped up its café-cool styling and sportsbike handing. At the same time BMW’s naked boxer R-series was enjoying huge success as the ultimate do-it-all. The rise of the super-naked saw Ducati’s big-capacity Monster fall out of favour and despite turning to water-cooling in 2014, it never quite cut the mustard. The naked boxer has also been forced to the sidelines, falling foul of the GS and retro R nineT’s popularity. But is it time riders rediscovered the charms…

VILLA 125 Chas entered his first GP on the Villa in 1969, taking it to Finland. Astonishingly, he came sixth and was on the road to stardom. YAMAHA TZ250 Chas scored some of his most famous victories on this bike, winning the Isle of Man TT in 1975 and the Hungarian GP in 1974. YAMAHA TZ350 Though more famous for riding smaller bikes, Chas had a great year on the 350 in 1976, coming third in the world championship. ARMSTRONG 250 In 1985 Chas ran the Armstrong GP team with Niall Mackenzie and Donnie McLeod riding. Donny came second in the 1986 Belgian GP.…

I’m a sucker for a small-wheel bike – despite looking like a giraffe when I ride one – and as a result I absolutely love not only the TnT’s remarkably low price tag but also its utterly outrageous styling. For me the lime green (technically SuperFast Green) makes the Benelli because on a machine like this there is no point trying to be subtle. The ride is typical for this genre of bike, internet research shows that you can get a plethora of hop-up parts and the build quality seems decent enough considering its affordable price tag. But would I have one in my garage? Definitely! THE FACTS £2299 Benelli TnT 125 Engine 125cc 4-valve air-cooled single cylinder Frame High-tensile tubular steel trellis Suspension (F) 35mm inverted forks, non-adjustable (R)…

AGV K6 Minimal £399.99 ‘Light, stable, comfy and top quality too’ Tested by Emma Franklin for three months, 2000 miles A sports-touring helmet for riders (like me) who don’t really want a sports-touring helmet but who are fed up with being deafened by race-style lids. There’s no drop-down sun visor, winglets or complicated vents, with the K6 AGV have concentrated purely on safety, comfort, and noise reduction. First off, the K6 is lightweight, thanks to its carbon and aramid shell. It weighs so little (just over 1270g for this m/s size) that it feels like a plastic-shelled lid. Beneath that high-tech outer is an impressive inner - no fewer than five different densities of EPS to help absorb impact energy. AGV say the shell has been designed to remain stable…

“I’ve got a 2018 GT and I’ve taken it abroad, plus plenty of trips here. I’ve been down to Cornwall and up to the Midlands and the North, too. I wish they’d made it 10 years ago and I’d never have bought a GS - that’s how good I think it is. I love the electronic suspension and put it in comfort on the motorway to smooth out all the harshness and cruise at high speed. As soon as I pull off, it’s back up to Sport mode and it takes away that compromised feeling. I had a Super Duke R with the ergo seat but swapped it back to standard. I do still have one on my GT - it feels a bit narrower when you come to a…

‘It’s not like buying (or owning) a GS’ Chances are that if you’re looking to expand your riding experiences with an Enfield you’ll buy a Bullet. It’s the most common bike, the base behind the Classic and Continental GT 535, and provides sensations furthest away from today’s semi-active, TFT-screen, 180bhp self-riding missiles. When buying, you can’t assess one like a modern bike. Older four-speed Bullets have right-hand shifts that need time to get used to. All versions are like proper classics; they can’t be rushed, make chunky vibes, and have suspension that’s bouncy and crashy at the same time. Which sounds bad, but they’re engaging and great fun. They’re also hands-on bikes. Enfields shrug off faults and plod on, but vibes loosen bolts and shake wires loose, blown bulbs and…

The owner of this Aprilia RS50 couldn’t work out why his chain kept coming off. But it didn’t take long for Stourbridge Motorcycle Centre boss John Birchill to see what was wrong because the rear sprocket’s teeth were so worn and hooked that the chain was sliding over them instead of meshing properly. A drive chain jumping off can lock up the rear wheel, or snap. If it snaps and you’re lucky it will unfurl and lie on the road behind you, but it can also thrash about and wrap itself around your leg, take out the gearbox, or punch a hole in your crankcases. John told us: “He didn’t seem that bothered when I pointed it all out to him, but youngsters think they are immortal, so he actually…

McAMS Yamaha have confirmed that Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie will remain with the team for the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike season. O’Halloran remains for a third consecutive season after enjoying his best campaign yet in Yamaha colours. Staying injury-free, O’Halloran secured three victories and eight further podiums on his way to the runner-up spot - finishing 21 points behind Josh Brookes. In a season full of surprises and unpredictability, the Australian was often the most consistent rider on the grid. Meanwhile, Mackenzie re-signs for an unprecedented fourth consecutive campaign with BSB’s factory Yamaha team. ‘Continuity may prove valuable for the squad’ The 25-year-old continued his natural progression in BSB last season and, despite a difficult start to the year, ended the year with two victories and four further podiums.…

Takaaki Nakagami can taste the podium and his resilience and optimism in the face of adversity was again on show at Valencia 2 - even as he stepped over the edge and bounced into the gravel on lap 19, just after a bold inside move for third on Pol Espargaro. “At the time of the move against Pol, I also believed in victory,” Nakagami said. With eight laps to go Nakagami was slicing into the race-leading pace of Franco Morbidelli, but that was of little consolation after he also came within inches of wiping out Espargaro’s KTM. “My front wheel slipped away. I don’t know why, I didn’t brake late. I gave everything,” he added. The LCR Honda rider has twice finished fourth this year, at Jerez 2 and Valencia…

Jack Miller came within inches of a first Ducati win after an exhilarating lastgasp battle with Franco Morbidelli in Valencia. No Ducati rider from an independent team has ever won in MotoGP, but Aussie rider Miller looked like he would end that barren run when he took the lead twice in the closing stages. Miller looked to have timed his assault to perfection when he used a 7mph speed advantage on the home straight to blitz past Morbidelli’s Petronas Yamaha SRT YZR-M1 at the start of a pulsating final lap. A powerful tailwind and the extra speed from Morbidell’s slipstream though sent Miller wide on the exit of the first corner. Miller refused to give up and a daring lunge on Morbidelli’s inside at turn four looked to have paved…

Roll up! Roll up! And get your wallet out... This may have been a pretty poor year for getting out and browsing around bike dealerships thanks to all the restrictions – but that doesn’t mean the kit you want, or need, is beyond your clutches. And with no bike shows throughout the summer and autumn, all those end-of-year bargains have now landed online – ripe for the picking and just in time for Christmas. There are some super-hot deals in the offing, too. How about £100 off a new AGV helmet, or £220 off a new Premier carbon lid? Maybe £80 off a new jacket or a pair of Dainese boots at less than half-price will tempt you? Or perhaps a few stylish Alpinestars T-shirts at just £19.99 per pop,…

Starting out from Grantham, home to Chris Walker Kawasaki – and also the birthplace of the much-loved TV host Nicholas Parsons and more widely unloved first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher – this 70-mile ride combines undulating rural roads with sweeping A-roads. Head north on the A607 towards Belton and head to the A17 towards Newark and onto the A1 north for a short hop. Leave the dual behind and you are suddenly on a very minor but reasonably well surfaced road through Ossington and into Kneesall. Be careful as the road forks, you need to be taking the left fork onto the A616 towards Newark. A wide road with fast sweeping bends, be mindful there are speed restrictions in place so don’t get caught out. Back at Newark briefly…

Nestled in the centre of the Malvern Hills, the Cotswolds, the Brecon Beacons, the Forest of Dean and on the English/Welsh border, Hereford is blessed with stunning scenery and riding roads to match. Our route skirts the Brecon Beacons but aims mainly into mid-Wales with bikers’ haunt, Devil’s Bridge Fall, firmly on the map. We start from the centre of Hereford and take the A438, along the valley of the River Wye to the A4111, towards Eardsley. At Kington, hang left on the A44 and the Welcome to Wales sign beckons. It’s a roller coaster ride that that twists and turns through Old Radnor, Llanfihangel- nant-Melan and through a series of switchback bends to Crossgates. Head due north to Llanbister on the A483 and in Newton, a short hop west…

Dainese Gran Turismo Gore-Tex jacket £699.99 ‘It’s a tour de force’ A welcome £250 saving turns this very expensive jacket into merely an expensive one. But, for the price you get a top-quality bit of Gore-Tex riding kit that’s completely waterproof. We put it through a rigorous test over ten months and 2000 miles and awarded it top marks for quality after it kept our tester dry in torrential downpours. The laminated outer means that water runs off, rather than being absorbed, so not only are you kept dry, it helps maintain your core temperature. There are abrasion-resistant panels at the shoulders and elbows, combined with CE-approved shoulder, elbow and back armour, for maximum protection. There’s a removable high collar and the fleecy thermal lining can be whipped out and…

THURSDAY 19 November 2pm, EUR2, World Superbikes Extra: Highlights of the support races from Magny Cours 2020 FRIDAY 20 November 8.30am, BTS2, Live MotoGP rom Portimao, Portugal Free Practice 1. Free Practice 2 at 12.45pm. SATURDAY 21 November 9am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Portimao, Portugal: Free Practice 3. Qualifying at 12pm. SUNDAY 22 November 8.45am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Portimao, Portugal: Warm-Ups. Moto3 at 10.30am, MotoGP 12.30pm and Moto2 at 2.15pm. Chequered Flag at 3.30pm 11.30pm, EUR2, WSV: Season Review 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…

KTM have updated their 690 Enduro R and SMC R for 2021 with a Euro5 version of the bigbore thumper engine. The LC4 single-cylinder engine was heavily reworked in order to clear Euro4 regs in 2018. The bore was increased by 3mm and the stroke reduced to keep the displacement the same, while a new head and balancer helped it run more cleanly and smoothly. Now a new catalytic converter is all that is needed to clear Euro5. Both bikes get a new dash with the ability to switch between ABS settings on the go. This set up also makes it easier than before to hop between the two riding modes (Street and Off road for the Enduro; Street and Supermoto for the SMC). Street offers standard levels of traction…

Just when you thought the year couldn’t throw up any more drama, it’s been a mad week in the racing world. We’ve got a new world champion with Mir, Cal is retiring to become a test rider, Dovi’s taking a sabbatical and Iannone has been given a four- year ban for taking drugs. The drugs thing isn’t to be taken lightly, is it? It’s just not acceptable. I think he’s got off lightly; I’d have banned him for life. I think his biggest problem was that he didn’t hold his hand up. If he’d shown some remorse he might have got a shorter ban, but instead he came out with a load of waffle and that didn’t help. ‘It’s just not acceptable. I’d ban him from racing for life’ Now…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fast-flowing A and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A roads and motorway…

Once we’d completed the MCN250, the first thing that Bruce and I wanted to talk about was the Monster and we both agreed we had forgotten just how good it was. Where the original Monster benefitted from a sportsbike chassis to bring an unexpected level of handling to the naked market, this latest generation has reaped the rewards of modern electronic assists to take it to another level. Aside from a horrible quickshifter, the Monster’s electronics are faultless and the performance of the V-twin combines with a sorted chassis boasting top-rate components. Next to the Monster the R1250R does lose a bit of its shine, but is far from a bad bike. Slightly iffy traction control notwithstanding, as a do-it- all roadster it is a tremendous ride with a spec…

Wendy Lloyd, 39, owns a 2000 Yamaha YZF-R6 and collection of classic scooters “I had a go at green lane riding on a DR-Z400 a few years ago with some friends but I lacked the skill to really enjoy it. The problem was that they were more experienced than me and I felt under pressure to keep up – something that almost saw me end up in a canal. I read about the Kawasaki MX Experience and was drawn to it as it involved learning to ride off-road on proper terrain and on dedicated motocross bikes. And ones that I didn’t own! “Being able to use the Experience’s bikes was a bonus and having the team there to not only help pick up the bike when I dropped it if…

HJC IS-MAX II £169.99 I bought mine two years ago and have ridden over 35,000 miles in it, I wear glasses when riding and find the lid to be comfortable and not too noisy. Duncan Mepham, Peterborough Shoei Neotec II £549.99 It’s a great lid. It’s ideal when refuelling, no need to remove it and replace it, two minutes later. Alex Williamson, Royston Nolan N100-5 £299.99 You get the best of both worlds when it’s warm (flip up)… or cold (flip down). Mark Powlett, Redditch LS2 Valiant £229.99 The 180° chin bar is great and I used the lid, with an intercom system, for a tour of Europe. Mark Cox, Wallasey Caberg Tourmax £239.99 I have had this lid for four years and ridden 30,000 miles in it. You can…

25, Suffolk, Charlie traded in a 2014 Fireblade for his 2018 Yamaha MT-10. “I bought myself a 2014 Fireblade as soon as I gained my full unrestricted licence as I’d always lusted after a proper sportsbike - but despite the fact I loved the bike, I just couldn’t live with its riding position. I was doing trips from Ipswich to Cornwall at the time to visit family and the Fireblade was agony, so much so that I decided to trade it in for an MT-10. “I bought an MT-10 Touring Edition because it came with a few extra creature comforts such as the panniers, taller screen, comfort seat and knuckle guards, making it ideal for longer journeys. But it wasn’t all plain sailing and initially I thought I might have…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Drip, drip, drip If you’ve noticed a fuel leak from your bike chances are it’ll be from a perished pipe. As well as being a safety concern, leaking fuel will also result in an MoT failure, so you’ll need to investigate. First, completely drain the tank into a suitable container to make the job safer and easier - do this outside using a fuel syphon (these are cheap to buy and essential). BRUCE’S TIPS No - don’t use your mouth! A proper syphon is the way forward 2 Free the tank When the tank is completely drained you next need to gain access to the underside. Check the specific procedure for your machine in a workshop manual. The Honda VFR800 we are working on…

Chaz Davies has emerged as a surprise contender to take a 2021 Aprilia MotoGP seat. Dumped by Ducati’s World Superbike team and with Cal Crutchlow off the GP grid, Dorna need a Brit to satisfy their big-money TV deals. Is this a spectacular case of right place, right time for Davies? We sat down with the popular Welshman to find out. People are saying you could soon be racing for Aprilia in MotoGP There are discussions taking place regarding various career options but it’s a bit early to know the full picture. What have you made of MotoGP 2020? Incredible! And really hard to call! For years there has been dominance from Honda and Yamaha, with Ducati thrown in. Now other manufacturers are coming to the fore, which is cool.…

‘I went through all this pain, so I wanted a point’ While he couldn’t battle for victory, Sam Lowes was the rider of the day in Valencia after fighting through the pain barrier to clinch two potentially vital points. Lowes’ right hand was injured in a huge FP3 crash, in which he was on the receiving end of an uppercut from his bike as they tangled in the gravel trap. An x-ray showed no fractures, but there was plenty of swelling, with the Brit wincing while trying to remove his glove on Sunday morning. Lowes qualified 18th and lost places at the start but as the adrenaline kicked in, the 30-year- old closed down the point scorers. He finished 14th and is now 14 points behind Enea Bastianini who finished…

‘The highs for Cal have been incredible’ It’s the moment to pay tribute to Joan Mir, squeaky-clean new world champion. Marc Marquez’s new nightmare. But heck, there’s plenty time for that in the future. But we’re running out of time for tributes to the most successful British rider in almost half a century. Cal Crutchlow has announced that he’s calling it a day. It’s news that, thinking back on all the times we’ve seen him limping towards his bike smelling of surgical spirit, is welcome as well as sad. He’s given so much. Time to walk away – even if he can’t walk in a straight line. The lopsided gait is one legacy, as he explained at Silverstone last year, of a long career of big highs and lows. The…

RACE 1 JEREZ 1 QP 10th | Race DNF | Points 0 | Championship position Last A sloppy, unimpressive opening race with a Lap two crash delivering an early setback to Suzuki’s 2020 GSX-RR MotoGP campaign. RACE 2 JEREZ 2 QP 10th | Race 5th | Points 11 | Championship position 11th Regroups to score first points of 2020 with a conservative performance in oppressively hot conditions. RACE 3 BRNO QP 9th | Race DNF | Points 11 Championship position 14th Title aspirations suffer another early blow when he is bumped out by Iker Lecuona on lap four. Three races in and he’s suffered two DNFs. RACE 4 AUSTRIA 1 QP 6th | Race 2nd | Points 31 Championship position 9th Elated to score his first premier class podium with…