Table of contents for 21 January 2026 in MCN

TOP STORY Triumph are making significant updates to their Tiger Sport and Trident 660 models for 2026, including a spicier engine promising enhanced power and torque. Bikes are set to arrive in dealers from March, with the Trident starting at £8095 OTR (up by £200) and the Tiger Sport beginning at £9295 OTR (a rise of £300). The upgraded engine has been lifted from the existing Daytona 660 sportsbike, meaning a claimed 13bhp and 3lb.ft uplift. As a result, peak power is now said to be 93.9bhp at 11,250rpm, with 50.2lb.ft of torque arriving at 8250rpm. This has increased from 81bhp at 10,250rpm and 47.2lb.ft at 6250rpm on the outgoing version, with Triumph saying that 80% of the new torque value is available from 3000rpm to almost 12,000rpm. An A2…

TOP STORY Honda's launch of the batterypowered WN7 naked suggests attitudes towards the viability of largercapacity electric two-wheelers are changing – but bosses say customer feedback is key to future plans. The Japanese brand are the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world by a considerable margin - with the ability to produce more than 20 million bikes in over 20 countries and territories - to then be sold across more than 30,000 dealerships worldwide. For them to throw their hat into the electric motorcycle ring is very significant news, but the project leaders behind their first offering the £12,999 WN7 - say that more now needs to be done in order to fully achieve their goals and attract more customers to life outside of conventional combustion. “I guess the comparator…

‘It's something people feel strongly about’ An online petition calling for Blood Bike charity riders to be able use green lights during their delivery runs has attracted 27,000+ signatures since the beginning of January. It follows two volunteer riders losing their lives in recent months, and was established by Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes volunteer, Louise Burns-Lunt. Andrew Rogers, aged 61, from Hayscastle, passed away in hospital on January 1, following a road traffic collision near Llanddarog on December 29. He was riding for Blood Bikes Wales. “I was just asking ‘what more could be done?’” she told MCN. “How did they miss somebody who's so visible on the road when the bikes are mostly massive, they're luminous, the guys are in luminous gear?” Blood Bike charities operate across the…

Electric off-road specialists Stark Future have posted record growth and a run of profitable months in 2025, with the Spanish brand now looking to enter the mainstream motorcycle market following the success of their Varg motocross, enduro, and supermoto models. The company have confirmed that larger-capacity equivalent machines are already in development, and that new partnerships are in the works to bring these plans to fruition. In the off-road niche that Stark currently occupy the Barcelonabased brand claim to have already secured more than 3% of the global enduro market since the launch of the £10,990 Varg EX model. Germany, in particular, has led this charge, with Stark reporting a 50% market share during 2025. A particularly strong final quarter lifted total revenue to €115 million across the full year.…

‘Low price but is it legit?’ I received an enquiry about an online vendor selling leather jackets claimed to have been tested to EN 17092-2:2020, ‘AAA’ and certified. A price of under £100 made the claims seem implausible. That scepticism was reasonable – it's roughly what genuinely certified jackets cost in 1995. The seller was already known to me, having investigated them previously, as reported in MCN on September 3 last year. Notably, the company publishes its Declarations of Conformity on its website, something many brands do not do. Alongside correct marking and user information, the Declaration of Conformity completes the statutory hattrick that allows riders to verify whether claims of testing and certification are genuine. In this case, both the name of the certification body and the certificate number…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? Earlier this month, small-scale Finnish firm Verge Motorcycles took to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to announce a world-first range of TS Pro nakeds, powered by solid-state batteries. Not just a breakthrough for bikes, the announcement has the potential to change the way we consider EVs full stop - with solid-state batteries said to offer faster recharge times, greater energy storage, and reduced risk of fire when compared with traditional lithium-ion cells. The batteries are being produced with sister company Donut Lab, with the larger of the two versions claiming up to 370 miles on a single charge, including 180 miles when plugged into the appropriate DC fast charger for 10 minutes. Not only that, but it's said to be able to retain over…

Wednesday January 21 BIKE MEETS The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints. 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe Thursday January 22 BIKE MEETS Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Nadee Bike Meet, Lagon Bar & Grill, Findern, Derbyshire 6pm. Facebook: Nadee Bike Meet The Whistlestop Motorcycle Club, Rhyl Rugby Sports & Social Club, Rhyl, Denbighshire. From 5pm 07544-143494 Vintage Metals, Coleford, Gloucestershire. 6pm-10pm www.vintagemetals.co.uk Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk Friday January 23 BIKE MEETS The Courtyard Bistro, Crown Walk, Bourne, Lincolnshire 6pm-8pm Facebook: The Courtyard bistro bourne Woodys, Holmrook, Cumbria 4pm-8pm Woodys.seascale@gmail.com Bike Night…

John McGuinness Honda Racing TT rider Age 53 TT starts 114 TT wins 23 TT podiums 47 Ricky Brabec Honda HRC Dakar rider Age 34 Dakar starts: 11 Dakar wins 2 Dakar podiums 4 ‘You get fuel spilt on your nackers and you're gone’ As the sand settles on another gruelling fortnight of desert racing at the Dakar (see page 62), MCN brought together two of the biggest stars from the world's toughest, most extreme forms of bike racing – TT hero John McGuinness and rally star Ricky Brabec. Here's how it all panned out… You're both factory Honda riders and have been for a long time, but have you guys met before? McGuinness: No and it's one of the first times I've felt nervous, a bit star-struck. Ricky has…

With savings stretched, the majority of new bike sales are on finance. It makes sense as such deals, especially PCP with its low monthly payments, allow riders to afford a new bike. And this trend has benefits for those who prefer to shop in the used market. Most PCP deals are taken out over a 36-month period with owners rolling-on to another deal rather than paying the final bill, meaning dealers receive a steady supply of used bikes. Here are five great bikes released in 2023 that should be landing soon. YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN used bike guru. He had ridden all of these bikes and is a huge fan of nearly new machines because they offer great value for money. £3999-£6999 (2023-current) Suzuki GSX-8S Suzuki's peppy middleweight…

YOUR EXPERT BOB TEAHAN Bob is Director of The Machine Shop, Hinckley – a workshop that operates like a gym and offers its members access to tools, workbenches, knowledge and help. Bob's been engineering, racing and welding for over 15 years, and he's as comfortable chasing records as he is teaching in The Machine Shop workshop. When he's not fabricating or racing, Bob's passion is passing on hard-won skills to the next generation of welders and riders. • www.the-machine-shop.co.uk Banish the gloom Make your headlights clear and more effective in ten easy steps 1 Get nice and stable This bike failed its MoT due to a dull, faded headlight lens. Before starting work, make sure the bike is secure and on level ground, using a side- or paddock stand. You'll be…

MCN Sports Editor and adventure riding expert In what was the tightest finish in Dakar history, factory Red Bull KTM rider Luciano Benavides secured victory by just two seconds from Monster Energy Honda rider Ricky Brabec. In a brutal two-week event, which saw high drama and a multitude of big crashes, it was Brabec that held the cards heading into the 13th and final stage on Saturday. Having won the previous stage, Brabec started first, meaning he was opening the track. The final stage of Dakar has historically been drama-free due to it generally being relatively short and straightforward to allow the competitors to enjoy what they have achieved throughout the previous 12 stages. With a 3m 20s lead and with only 105km special stage to cover, the smart money…

Britain's Robbie Wallace achieved his dream of earning a Dakar finishers’ medal after crossing the finish line in a brilliant 43rd position overall. The 28-year-old, who was comfortably running inside the top 40 during the opening week, had to dig deep after suffering a heavy crash and a painful back injury on stage eight. Speaking to MCN from the finish line, he said: “I'm absolutely over the moon. It didn't come easy and it's taken two attempts, but god I'm happy. I've put in years and years to get here so to finally get it over the line is amazing and it wasn't the easiest task after my crash.” The incident led to serious questions over whether he could even continue, but in true Dakar style, he dug deep and…

There's possible good news on potholes thanks to a new map from the Department for Transport to keep track of road repairs. The map has landed amid fresh pressure for improved repair standards, with a cross-industry road safety partnership calling for five-year warranties on non-emergency pothole fixes, with a proposal for this now submitted to officials in Westminster. The new traffic light system grades all 154 local highway authorities in England as green, amber or red, based on road condition, maintenance spending, and how effectively damage is prevented and repaired. Thirteen councils were handed red ratings, while 16 were authorities awarded green status. The majority, 125 councils, were rated amber. The ratings are tied to a £7.3 billion highways maintenance funding package announced in November's Budget. Councils will be required…

Finding safe ways to repurpose old batteries is one of the major challenges for manufacturers hoping to push green credentials but Honda are making steps in that direction. For Honda's Mobile Power Pack e (the removable power unit in the CUV e and EM1 e) a scheme has been trialled in parts of India that sees secondhand units supplied to provide a stable power supply and reduce the reliance on generators for people living off-grid or in areas where supply is unreliable. The brand have now invested in OMC Power, who will be launching a leasing business in the country from January 2026 utilising old power packs to produce a cleaner energy supply via a unit called the Uninterruptible Power Supply. “After the usage of this emergency battery, we buy…

World Superbike fans with the fat end of 60 grand to spare have the chance to own one of the rarest Yamaha R1s on the planet, as Crescent Motorcycles put their one-of-21 Toprak Razgatlioglu World Championship Replica up for sale. The model celebrates Toprak's breakthrough 2021 season, claiming his first WSBK crown and helping Yamaha to secure their first Manufacturers’ title since 2009. Each replica was hand-built in Crescent's Racing Pro Shop in Verwood, Dorset, with the dealership responsible for the running of the official Yamaha WSBK operation. Described by Crescent as the ultimate “track-ready” R1, it produces a claimed 205bhp at the rear wheel – a 20bhp increase over the standard R1 – thanks to a host of modifications including a WSBK-spec Akrapovič exhaust and GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology…

While Verge might claim to have unlocked a 180-mile recharge in 10 minutes, Donut Lab promise far more radical specifications. In a statement on January 5, the partly British-based company claimed that their new power unit would be capable of a full charge in just five minutes, and up to 100,000 cycles with a minimal fade in capacity. When asked about the claims, Dr John-Joseph Marie told MCN: “I haven't looked at it in that much detail. The numbers are flamboyant. “I think a lot of people in the battery industry raise a lot of question marks about it. “Until those numbers can be independently verified, it's very hard to be able to comment on them.”…

I joined Honda UK on June 6, 1987, as an Area Manager for the South East. It was a great era for motorcycling and for Honda in the UK, we had 37% market share and a Honda dealer on virtually every corner. We've had some great models like FireBlade, SP-1, SP-2, Blackbird, VFR750, CBR600 etc but over the years things change such as legislation, demographics, congestion, etc. I retired in 2016… for two weeks. Then Tetsuo Suzuki the then President of HRC and Managing Director of R&D put me back on a contract to work for R&D Asaka. I still do, but now the development path has changed dramatically and I had to change with it – my motto is: you get on with it, or you get out! But…

‘New Year, new route’ HARRY HAWKINS A great turnout for the Furness VJMC New Year's Day run. Old King's Head in Broughton for a brew and a chat, then Coniston for the Herdwick Café. We went the long way round via Hawkshead. ‘Goodbye 2025’ GEORGE STEVENS This was taken outside H Cafe during the last ride of 2025 with my biking mate Richard Atlas. ‘New Pit Stop?’ AIDAN TOUGH Posh Pigs Cafe near Beccles, Suffolk. This has to be one of the best cafés around! Proper biker friendly. ‘Wrapping up, starting again’ IAN SPEIGHT Had a brilliant, riding-packed 2025, totalling 16,900 miles and saw my 23-plate GSA pass the 40,000 mile mark. Two trips to Scotland, one to Wales and one to the Alps all helped rack up those miles.…

FIRST RIDE The R625 is a new cut-price parallel twin from Voge, the Chinese manufacturer (a luxury subsidiary of the Loncin Motor group). It's an upgrade in engine size, chassis spec and performance over its predecessor, the R525 – which was itself an improved derivative of the Voge 500R, closely based on (or a copy of) Honda's CB500, down to bore, stroke and frame design. But whatever its original DNA, the new R625 is almost pure Voge, and features some surprisingly familiar, up-spec component brand names for the price. Get ready to get riding The R625 sends out all the right signals to prospective buyers, if you look at the right bits; it's got plenty of nice touches and quality details. A large 7in TFT dash is bright and suitably…

‘0.54 seconds at the line’ One of William's greatest rides came in the opening Superbike race at the NW200 in 2014. The NW meant a lot to the brothers since their dad had held the record number of wins (14) and also lost his life at the event in 2008. William had yet to win an international road race on a Superbike. He was hugely successful on 125s, 250s and 600s, but mastering a big bike had proved more difficult – until he joined TAS Suzuki. “They let me do what I wanted, whereas with other teams I've been told what to do,” he explained. “I was allowed to bring one of my own mechanics, and I brought my own suspension guy. The team made things so much easier for…

Both McGuinness and Brabec are synonymous with Honda, having secured all of their biggest wins for the Japanese giant. So how has that factor shaped their racing careers? Do you remember signing your first Honda contract? Brabec: Yes I was in my house, I had a broken neck and Taichi Honda flew from Japan, drove to LA and gave me a contract to sign. It was crazy as up until that point I'd bought and raced my own bikes. I signed a one-race contract for 2015, did pretty good, signed another one-race contract and then after that they asked if I wanted to go to Dakar. I didn't know anything about it apart from watching it on TV. I didn't know about contracts, but I just signed anything they put…

@asaffronscrapbook Serial tourer and weekend journey-er always looking for the next adventure whether that is in the UK or riding across Europe. With my time with Bumblebike running out, I thought I'd reflect on the additional equipment I've installed. I didn't change masses, just a few of those small-but-important things that enhance the everyday ride. So how did they work out, or is the new Tiger Sport 800 Tour the model to opt for? Scottoiler xSystem 3.0 Chain oiler system £249.99 If you hate oiling your chain, this is a great option for you. I used this for a good few thousand miles, and although it did keep my chain well lubed and in great condition, the residue on the back wheel meant that regular cleaning was that bit more…

MCN's website has expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for dozens more. 2023-2024 YAMAHA MT-07 Owner's rating Yamaha's middleweight gained a 5in TFT dash for 2023 plus the ability to fit a plug-and-play quickshifter. Owners are underwhelmed by its soft ride quality and weak finish. 2023-2025 TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 765 R Owner's rating Updated with a more powerful motor, revised gearing and a quickshifter, the middle-ground Street Triple model scores a perfect 5/5 from owners who left online reviews. 2023-CURRENT DUCATI DIAVEL V4 Owner's rating An acquired taste but owners who have left online reviews seem disappointed by their choice. A high price and perceived lack of equipment see it score just…

In an ideal world, Rivola would make a decision regarding his 2027 rider line-up some way into this year. But the Italian revealed he won't have that luxury due to approaches to his riders from rival manufacturers. “I would prefer not to do it quickly, but maybe I am forced to because the others are moving fast. I know that they are offering a lot of money to our riders, but it's a commitment that we need to have together. With Marco we started building something that could stay in the books. It would be really nice to see Jorge with us in the future.”…

Unsurprisingly, a key objective for Ducati is to secure the services of Marc Marquez sooner rather than later. It appears from the official launch in Italy that this objective is shared by Marquez himself, who confirmed that talks are already underway for 2027 and beyond. “2026 will be tricky outside of the track because in 2027 everything is open,” Marquez said. “Nobody can promise the best bike. Of course, you need to feel and follow your instincts; which is the best project for yourself? “Some riders will close [their contracts] before the first race. I might be one of them; we are in conversation, but I need to analyse everything to see what's best for my professional and personal life.” Of course, every manufacturer would jump to sign Marquez, but…

Glenn Irwin will make a surprise return to the North West 200 this year despite announcing his road racing retirement in October 2024. Irwin, the most successful superbike rider of all-time at the Northern Irish event, will race his Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati V4 R upon his return. The local hero won 11 consecutive NW200 superbike races between 2017 and 2024, whilst riding Kawasaki, Ducati and Honda machinery. In his original retirement video, Irwin reminded fans of the serious injuries he'd previously sustained in his career on the short circuits due to crashes triggered by factors beyond his control and warned of the dangerous consequences of such events occurring on the roads. It was this worry that played a pivotal role in his decision to step away from the road…

There were more reasons for Brit celebration with Neil Hawker as well as Craig and Carl Searles all doing a brilliant job to make it to the Dakar finish line. Neil Hawker secured his second Dakar finish in style by securing 57th overall and 13th in the Original by Motul class. Getting to the Dakar finish is a major achievement for anyone, but completing it in the ‘Originals’ class where the riders are not allowed any outside assistance is a truly remarkable achievement. ‘You make it look fun and easy. It's not…’ Speaking about his achievement eight-time Dakar finisher Simon Pavey put it into perspective: “Neil. You make the Originals class look fun and easy. Trust me people, it's not. Always so impressed with your calm, your planning and your…

Suzuki have rolled out a fresh set of winter savings, cutting prices across several models via dealer contributions. Buyers can secure a £1000 deposit contribution on the GSX-S1000GT+, GSX-8T and GSX-8TT, while the GSX-8S gets £300 off. That drops the GT+ to £11,999 OTR, the 8T to £8599, and the 8TT to £8999. All the offer bikes include free heated grips until the end of January. Phoenix Training roll into Bicester Phoenix Motorcycle Training have opened a centre in Bicester, expanding their UK network to 23 sites. Based at the Bicester Motion Innovation Centre, the new school offers CBT, DAS and advanced courses seven days a week, with DVSA test slots booked up to 10 weeks ahead. New customers can claim 10% off until March 1, 2026 using the code…

The Isle of Man TT has confirmed the Great North Air Ambulance Service as its Official Charity Partner for the TT and Classic TT 2026. GNAAS delivers advanced pre-hospital critical care across the North East, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and the Isle of Man, having completed more than 70 missions on the Island since 2022. The partnership aims to help raise £124,000 to support the service. KTM cut 500 jobs KTM AG have confirmed plans to cut around 500 jobs, marking the latest step in the firm's postinsolvency strategy. The layoffs, which are expected to fall largely on salaried staff and middle management roles, come as KTM's parent company is officially renamed from Pierer Mobility AG to Bajaj Mobility AG. It removes the name of former majority owner Stefan Pierer from…

Harley-Davidson's Pan America 1250 has so far failed to dent BMW GS sales in the UK but a specc'd up Pan America 1250 Limited version is aiming to lure in wavering buyers. First introduced in 2021, this is the fourth iteration of the Pan America and brings with it the ultimate in long-distance comfort for a price of £22,995. The Milwaukee-based firm have essentially gone with every conceivable extra – adding 36kg to the overall weight, which now sits at a claimed 299kg. That's 30kg more than a standard, fully fuelled R1300GS Adventure. Part of the package is 120 litres of luggage space thanks to a topbox and hard panniers, which are powder-coated in smart matte black. Much like the sportier ST model introduced in 2025 (which features a 17in…

The number of new motorcycles registered in the UK fell by 19.3% across 2025 - representing a 22,477-bike decline when compared with the previous 12 months. The data, revealed by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), showed that 90,640 internal combustion engine (ICE) machines were registered across 2025, with an additional 3282 electric bikes leaving dealers. This compares with 112,649 ICE bikes in 2024, plus an additional 3750 EVs - ending a year of struggles for the UK motorcycle industry that has seen a number of well-established dealerships closing their doors for good. Back in November, MCIA Chief Executive Tony Campbell had expressed hopes of achieving 95,000 registrations by the end of December - a plan that fell short by 1078 two- and three-wheelers. What's more, the 2025 sales total comes…

The rising cost of living is rarely out of the headlines these days – but what about the cost of biking? We've taken an in-depth look at how motorcycling costs have changed over the last decade, covering everything from new bike prices to finance, fuel and insurance premiums to discover that, while some things have got better, a few are significantly worse. Throughout, we've based our figures on two bikes from opposite ends of the spectrum but with comparable 2015 and 2025 incarnations – Yamaha's YZF-R125 (now the R125) and Kawasaki's Z1000SX, now the Ninja 1100SX. THE MCN INVESTIGATION Our reporting team go the extra mile to uncover the facts behind the claims in motorcycling £1143 The difference between owning a Z1000SX in 2015 and a Ninja 1100SX in 2025,…

HJC C50 £119.99 Replacing the ECE 22.05 i50, the c50 brings HJC's MX offering up to snuff with ECE 22.06. Though it drops the sliding layer impact distribution system found on the previous model (presumably due to the updated regulations), it does feature a redesigned venting system, an easily removable peak and 12 different colours. www.hjchelmets.eu Fidlock Pannier mounts £TBA From the people who brought you magnetic tank bag locks back in the noughties, Fidlock are back in the hopes of wowing the motorcycling world once again with the power of magnets. It uses a mixture of guiding magnets and latches to secure the bags in place, all of which can be done one-handed. It looks simple enough, but the proof will be in the pudding. www.sw-motech.co.uk Gerbing Xtreme Cosmo…

Swedish helmet safety specialists, Mips have purchased Monaco-based impact protection firm Koroyd for €40million – officially completing the transaction on December 18. Koroyd have previously worked across motorcycling as well as snow sports, construction, and even children's car seats. Past projects include helmet linings for Klim, using their unique hollow tube design to absorb energy in the event of an impact, as well as reducing the amount of expanded polystyrene needed for the internal EPS liner. Recognised by the luminous green colour of their material, Koroyd have also branched out into breathable, stretchy limb armour – featuring a unique honeycomb structure that's designed to work with the movements of your body. It's said that the two brands will continue to operate separately, with Mips CEO Max Strandwitz adding: “The acquisition…

Send your bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com My BSA 650 Lightning provided an early introduction to biking for my son (now aged 53). Terry Hewitt I've read for so long how good, fast and smooth these bikes are, so I've treated myself to one. Amazing. Giles Lincoln Very fortunate my wife Natacha has the same passion, transport for holidays has never been an issue. Dominic Tee Here's my T120 Bonneville Icon at Holm Mast near Holmfirth. Lovely bike. Trevor James One from the archives. I now ride a Voge 900 DSX. Richard Dodsworth Here's one of the Indian, my wife and I both ride motorcycles (see below left). Dominic Tee I still love a bit of speed but value a relaxed ride too. Finally got two bikes which scratch both itches!…

Meet Atmos – Oxford's purposebuilt layering system designed to keep riders comfortable in changing conditions. Unlike generic base layers created for multiple sports, Atmos is engineered specifically for motorcycling, addressing the challenges of windchill, sweat management and temperature regulation. Each Atmos layer is designed to work seamlessly with the next, allowing you to adapt your setup as conditions demand. Whether you're commuting, touring or pushing on through unpredictable weather, Atmos gives you the flexibility to layer smartly without added bulk. The Atmos Thermo Puffer Jacket is engineered to provide warmth without bulk, using high-loft insulation that's lightweight yet warm. It features a slim fit, a lowprofile neckline and a comfortable underarm stretch jersey, making it perfect for layering. By minimising heat loss in cool weather, your body expends less energy…

Dashed if I know The 7in TFT is big and bright, but some functionality is wonky; there's no mpg figure and resetting the trip is fiddly. But important info is clear and there's Bluetooth turn-by-turn nav. What's in a name? KYB forks, Pirelli rubber and Nissin brakes are all signs Voge are making an effort to impress buyers. And, on the whole, it's good stuff that helps create a quality ride. LED lighting The Voge's headlights, indicators and rear light are all LED; no bulbs. Also, check out the beefy bottom yoke gripping the 43mm inverted forks - total overkill, but looks great.…

APRILIA HONDA KAWASAKI…

William Dunlop was the gentleman of road racing. Humble and unfailingly polite, he might not have achieved the same success at the TT as brother Michael, father Robert or uncle Joey, but he enjoyed triumphs at almost every other roads event. During his 18-year career, William won four times at the North West 200 and seven times at the Ulster Grand Prix, as well as taking 108 Irish national road race wins. One of three brothers, William was born in 1985, when his father Robert was just starting to emerge from Joey's shadow. Michael would go on to become the most successful TT racer in history, while Daniel would opt for a career in the army. Under the guidance of Robert (winner of five TTs, nine Ulster GPs and 15…

@dan_sutherland Lover of 90s sportsbike and garish colour schemes, happiest at a racetrack. When Yamaha confirmed the arrival of the R9 in late 2024, it sent the internet into a frenzy - with sportsbike fans across the globe immediately poring over the specs and banging down the doors of dealerships to place deposits. The bike's announcement followed over a decade of campaigning, with riders pleading with Yamaha to make a sporty triple since the introduction of the MT-09 naked in 2013. As a result, I was fully expecting it to be an absolute conversation magnet this year - especially when parked up at motorcycling events or meeting points in my local area. This wouldn't have been a problem, as I love nothing more than chatting about all things bikes over…

Over time, motorcycle headlights can become dull, cloudy or yellowed, reducing light output and, in some cases, causing an MoT failure. The main culprit isn't dirt or neglect, but it's actually UV damage from exposure to the sun. Most modern headlights are made from polycarbonate plastic, which is lightweight and impact-resistant but vulnerable to UV radiation. Constant exposure breaks down the protective outer layer, leaving the surface oxidised and hazy. The good news is that this damage is usually superficial. With the right tools, patience and technique, a faded headlight can be restored in under an hour. Polishing your headlight improves visibility, restores the bike's appearance and ensures it meets MoT standards without the need to replace expensive parts. This process works by carefully removing the damaged outer layer using…

1 Can anybody stop Marquez? Last year's MotoGP title fight was a forgone conclusion fairly early in the season as Marc Marquez obliterated the field on the factory Ducati. What all the other riders had feared came true. For the fans, while appreciative of Marquez's truly astonishing comeback, the results became too predictable. So, can anybody stop Marquez this year… or at least move a little closer? Even before a wheel is spun in anger in 2026 it's hard to see anybody being able to stop Marquez ruling once again. In reality, everybody else is an underdog against a once-in-a-lifetime talent racing like Marc. But that's what could make this storyline huge if somebody is able to topple him. What an incredible achievement that would be. The candidates? Outside of…

After going to injury hell and back in 2025, Jorge Martin has said he's “still full of hope” that he can make a success of his Aprilia move, and has even indicated he'd favour staying with the Italian factory beyond this season. As he continues his comeback from a right collarbone fracture sustained last September, the two-time World Champion rated his current level of fitness at “75%”. But he's confident that won't hold him back come the start of the season, saying: “I'm sure that I'll be 100%.” ‘I feel ready, I feel nobody can stop me’ “Mentally it's tough,” he said with reference to his recent injury comeback. “Anytime that you have bad moments in life, you just doubt everything. But as soon as I feel ready, I feel…