MCN的9th October 2019目录

Riding Norton’s new 650s for this week’s exclusive first test was a genuine revelation. My ever-cynical natural disposition meant I was preparing to be just a little bit disappointed, so I spent the ride to Donington Park preparing some noncommittal niceties to deliver post-ride to the waiting designers and engineers. But after spending the day riding these final-stage prototypes, I needn’t have been so prepared. The new 650s offer an exciting glimpse of how good a built-for-the-masses £10k Norton can be. Yes, there are still some minor flaws to be ironed out, but I’ve ridden less impressive bikes from major manufacturers that spend more on one model than Norton have in total since rebirth. The one frustration is the niggling cloud of uncertainty that follows the business. Bikes arrive with…

A61-year-old Brit has ridden across all 48 contiguous (connected) US states in just 48 days to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Gordon Wilson, a retired senior lecturer from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, departed Orlando, Florida, on August 1 before completing his ride 10,000 miles later in Alabama on September 17. Rather than fly his own bike out for the trip, Wilson, who’s been riding in the UK since he was 17, decided to use a rented Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail 107 from EagleRider, who have been supplying rental bikes since 1992. He told MCN afterwards: “I’ve ridden in America a few times but on this bigger ride, there were more variables like high winds, massive storms and hot temperatures.” ‘There were high winds and massive storms’US TRAVELLER GORDON WILSON Starting…

Kawasaki have given the popular Ninja 650 a revamp for 2020. The middleweight has packed decent performance at a sensible price and now looks to add a bit of modernity to the mix with a high tech dash, Bluetooth connectivity and a styling revamp. The 650 replaced the old ER-6F in 2017 and immediately appealed to the cost-conscious with a competitive £6599 price. The new bike gets a new 10.9cm full-colour TFT dash – with reversible display – complete with Bluetooth connectivity via a smart phone app, which includes a navigation function. There are also new LED lights front and rear and Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tyres as standard. The bike also gets sharper styling while the pillion seat has been redesigned to make it more comfortable. Kawasaki will be…

Reader Simon Gale The ride Western Cyprus When to do it September Miles 350 Time required Three days Don’t miss this “The whole ride is wonderful and very varied with traditional Cypriot villages, beautiful coastal roads and winding hill routes.” GREAT RIDE Parked at Argaka where there's a great pub called 'Fly Again' MOUNTAINS In the Troodos Mountains with a view of the reservoir at Panyia COASTS At Aphrodite’s Rock, fantastic ride from Paphos towards Limassol GREAT FISH Pomos harbour with a fantastic winding road and fish taverna THE ROUTE SEND US YOUR TRIP PICS EMAIL YOURPICS@ MOTORCYCLENEWS.COM SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE SIGN UP NOW!…

The cheapest time to buy anything is when no-one else wants it. That’s a rare phenomenon in bike land – but it happens, by degrees. Remember back in 2007 when Honda SP2s were being sold off for £6700 brand new? Or how about Ducati’s Sport Classics exiting dealers for similar money? But look at them now, commanding prices not far from double those bargain basement blow-outs. Of course, for every mildly eclectic tough-to-shift potential future classic there are a hundred more bikes that won’t soar in value, but are still great buys. And as the end-of-year seasonal sales softening inevitably creeps over dealers in tandem with the darkness of Autumn, it’s the perfect time to sniff out a stellar deal, even if you’ve got no intention of racking up the…

STAYING SAFE Don’t go too close to the centre line in order to protect your road position and guard against traffic cutting the corner. 1. SLOWLY DOES IT Approach slowly so that you can build up a picture of the junction. Will you need to come to a complete stop? 2. MIRROR SIGNAL Check your rear observations then flick on your right-hand indicator to make your intentions clear. 3. GEAR AND REAR Select first gear and use the back brake as you continue to evaluate the junction. Be prepared to stop. 4. POINT IT Point the front wheel towards the direction of travel for a smooth exit. Keep behind the give way markings. STOP MEANS STOP Dangerous junctions have a Stop sign rather than a Give Way so you must…

Christian Iddon may have been down but he is certainly not out. That was proved at Donington Park last weekend as the Tyco BMW rider bagged two top six results, even though he was riding with a broken footpeg. After starting from fifth on the grid, the 34-year-old from Stockport made a welcome return to the front of a BSB race. Race One saw a podium chance go out the window when the aforementioned footpeg gave way, but he still held sixth before backing it up with fifth spot in the later encounter. Iddon may have never made it as far as The Showdown but his Donington performances confirmed it could have been on the cards had he not suffered a badly broken leg earlier in the season. “I bust…

Former BSB solo favourite Chris Walker thrilled the Donington Park crowd as, together with passenger Ashley Hawes he stormed to his second sidecar podium finish of the season. The TAG Racing Yamaha duo had to work for it, though, edging out former champions Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood. Elsewhere, 31-year-old newcomer Josh Day clinched the Ducati Trioptions Cup in a nail-biting finale as he saw off Sean Neary and championship runner-up Rob Guiver.…

Ryan Vickers is never far from people’s minds in the paddock and this incredible save at the final corner at Donington Park helped ensure that the BSB rookie’s ability on-track remains at the forefront of team owners’ minds, too. As his maiden British Superbike Championship season nears its conclusion, the Norfolk-born 20-year-old achieved a creditable eighth place in Race 1. this marked another impressive performance for the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki ZX-10RR Ninja rider, who had previously suffered heavy crashes at both Donington Park and at Brands Hatch earlier in the season. Still unsigned for next year he is yet to confirm his racing plans for 2020.…

The pain of surrendering a third consecutive MotoGP championship to the irrepressible Marc Marquez and Honda has hit Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati with a stinging reality check. And the gap is getting bigger not smaller. Two years ago Dovi pushed Marquez to a last race decider in Valencia but 12 months on there was a three-race margin. Now Dovi and Ducati have lost the title with a full four races remaining humbled by the dominance of Marquez aboard the RCV. “It is painful if your goal is to win the championship,” said Dovizioso after finishing fourth, 11 seconds behind Marquez at the Chang International Circuit. “This season it is worse because Marc created a bigger gap than the last two seasons. We can just say congratulations because they had an…

Riding with Honda Marquez has won all his MotoGP titles with Honda and moves above Doohan with the most premier class titles with the firm. 200th mile stone At the Aragon GP, Marquez became the youngest rider to reach the milestone of 200 Grand Prix races, aged 26 years and 217 days old. At the top This season Marquez has won more MotoGP races than any other rider (9). He has also scored the most podiums (14) and the most pole positions (9). 26 years and 231 days The youngest-ever rider to win six premier class titles, at the age of 26 years and 231 days, taking the record from Agostini. Up there with the greats Marquez has joined Rossi and Agostini as one of only three riders to have…

The family of a motorcyclist who was killed in an accident outside an RAF base are fighting for justice after the named suspect fled the country using diplomatic immunity status. Harry Dunn, 19, died after colliding with a car that was being driven on the wrong side of the road. Harry was riding on the B4031 Park End, Croughton, Northants, when he was hit by the car. Northamptonshire Police have named the suspect as Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US diplomat – who was questioned at the time of the accident on August 27, but who has since fled back to America. Now the family is fighting for to have Sacoolas brought back to the UK so that the investigation into the collision can continue. Their battle is…

Yamaha have unveiled an updated version of their A2 middleweight MT-03, featuring updates to the suspension, styling and a new LCD dash. The most obvious change is a new dual headlight which gives the front-end an aggressive stance. This is further exaggerated by small styling tweaks to give the bike a more muscular profile including a wider tank cover and lightweight air scoops. And the changes aren’t just skin-deep, with a new 37mm USD fork replacing the conventional unit on the old bike and an extended asymmetric swingarm that pivots closer to the middle of the bike. The shock features revised preload and damping, plus a stiffer spring. Yamaha have opted for a black and white LCD dash which they say is easier to operate than the old unit. The…

‘The biggest improvement is cut in wear’DR MARIO KRAFT, S100 R&D Chain care is one of the less glamorous parts of owning a motorbike, but we all know that a well looked-after chain will last longer than a neglected one. Chain lube can be a contentious issue, with some riders opting for purpose-made products, others using WD-40, or even engine oil. But you might be surprised how much technology goes into developing something as seemingly simple as chain lube. Everything from the design of the spray nozzle to the choice of propellant, the viscosity and penetration of the lubricant and the amount of fling (how much of the lubricant comes off when you are riding) has been carefully and painstakingly designed, tested and developed in lab conditions. At least that…

★NEW AND EXCLUSIVE ★ In a tribute to one of the greatest and best loved motorcycle racers of all time, MCN have teamed up with Michelin, the Sheene family and Suzuki GB to create an unmissable display of Sheene machines and memorabilia. This unique collection includes no fewer than nine genuine ex-Sheene Grand Prix machines, including Sheene’s two world championship bikes plus the great man’s first Grand Prix machine, an exquisite 1967 125cc Suzuki twin: the bike which he rode to victory at the Mallory Park post TT in 1970. His first of many race wins. The assembly of bikes also includes three Yamaha Grand Prix machines from the early 1980s. These gems are exclusive to the Carole Nash MCN London show, so make sure you don’t miss the chance…

HONDA Z50R Martha Alice testing out what used to be her dad’s first bike. You have to start them young! Christine Whitehouse YAMAHA TY80 My brother Chris Guy onboard his Yamaha TY80. Michael Guy ROYAL ENFIELD 350 Bill Needham with his RE 350 in Hove. He’d have been 100 this week. His great grandson was born this year and is already a Rossi fan! Roger Needham YAMAHA R6 Here I am with my trusty Yamaha back in the day. Paul Garnett HONDA 400/4 SUPER SPORT This is me on the first Honda 400/4 in Fort William, Scotland, on the way to my first Claymore rally. Mick Gwynne YAMAHA FJR1300 My partner picking up his first bike. Why start small? It’s straight to the big boy toys with a Yamaha FJR1300.…

Sports-tourer is a wishy-washy term. It conjures images of bikes lacking definition and purpose, of previous-generation sportsbikes eased into retirement. There’s no wishy and definitely no washy with today’s sports-tourers, though. With continent-swallowing comfort and the latest technology, they’re the leading edge of design. Sports-tourers sell well for Kawasaki. The ZZR1400 and Z1000SX have battled to be their best-selling UK model for years. In 2018 they added the H2 SX, developed from the H2 superbike but with a bespoke supercharged 998cc inline-four engine in an all-new frame. The H2 SX is plusher, faster and has a sportier riding position than the Z1000SX, while being sharper, more high-tech and easier on wrists than the ZZR. It’s staggering, especially in better-equipped SX SE form. And now Kawasaki have gone a step further…

The long-legged thrust of the Kawasaki has a sense of old-school inline four about it, and so does the dash. Yes, it’s colour TFT with optional modes, and tells you everything from gear and riding mode to lean angle (bar graph or actual degrees). But with 17 idiot and warning lights surrounding the analogue tacho, the mix of dial and screen is pleasing to old boys like us. There’s no denying that the KTM’s cinema-sized screen is more contemporary, though. It’s slick, menus slide into view fluidly, and there’s oodles of info. KTM 1290SUPER DUKE GT SWITCHGEAR Four buttons on the left ’bar control all the functions and electronic thingies, but operation is a lot easier and more logical than earlier KTMs. FUNCTIONALITY KAWASAKI H2 SX SE+ SWITCHGEAR Nice feel,…

‘It’s unbelievable to me that I only won one GP’ In 1983 Alan Carter seemed destined to be the next Barry Sheene. At just 18 in only his second grand prix he stormed through the Le Mans field from the back of the grid to stand on the top step of the podium. It made him the youngest GP winner ever, a record that stood for 21 years until Dani Pedrosa eclipsed him in 2004. “I actually nearly won several GPs,” says Alan today. “I finished fourth in a few, led the British GP by 13 seconds before crashing, led in South Africa before a tyre shredded, a crank broke when I was catching the leaders at Paul Ricard, the list goes on. Honestly, it’s unbelievable to me that I…

‘It delivers a smooth surging punch of drive’ Trading off heritage is so common now that companies will go to extraordinary lengths to invent a heart-tugging backstory to underpin their latest cynical attempt at world domination. But for all their business challenges and struggles, the one thing Norton don’t have to do is fabricate their heritage. But while the first decade of ‘new Norton’ was dominated by their unapologetically old-school Commando 961 model range, they are now dragging themselves into a whole new era, deliberately colliding their past with their future. New world order The TT-developed V4SS may have signalled a polar shift in the firm’s road-bike range, but it’s actually this bike, the Atlas, that really matters. If Norton can make the crucial move from hand-built production to more…

‘More than a million tonnes of sand is piled up’ When it comes to big, bonkers events, people usually think of the TT, Dirtquake or even the Bol d’Or but one of the largest and wildest of all takes place next weekend at a usually sleepy British seaside resort, involves huge numbers of competitors, 50,000+ fans, riding like you’ll see nowhere else and is a must for anyone’s biking bucket list – the Weston Beach Race. By far the biggest event of its type in Britain, this year’s 37th annual running takes place over the weekend of October 18-20 on the seafront at the north Somerset resort of Weston-super-Mare, 18 miles southwest of Bristol which is otherwise most famous as the hometown of John Cleese. Basically, a three-hour beach endurance…

RATINGS POOR ★AVERAGE ★★GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ Suomy SR-GP £639.99 Tested by Emma Franklin for three months This is Italian brand Suomy’s range-topping race helmet, developed with the help of Andrea Dovizioso. FIMhomologated like its main Shoei, Arai and AGV rivals, the SR-GP features a strong-but-lightweight carbon-fibre/aramid composite shell available in four sizes, advanced ventilation, and wind tunnel-developed aerodynamics to help boost stability at high speeds. In terms of comfort it feels very functional and firm, as you’d expect from a racing lid, and although the removable lining is very luxurious, this is a lid designed to be worn for very short periods of time and as such outright comfort is minimal. The Suomy’s ace card, however, is its phenomenally large visor aperture, which gives a completely unimpeded…

More silly-season rumours emerged at Donington Park, again proving how the rider line-ups of the World and British Superbike Championships are intrinsically linked. Josh Brookes is all but confirmed at PBM Ducati as Paul Bird continues his search for a new title sponsor. In WSB, a pair of Leons – Haslam and Camier – are vying for the same rides. Both are also ex-BSB champions with a truck-load of world championship experience. ‘Haslam could yet ride a WSB Honda or Kawasaki or a BSB Ducati’ As previously reported by MCN, Camier is in talks with PBM for a potential BSB return – a ride Haslam could also take should he not accept a Puccetti Kawasaki on the world stage or perhaps a Honda ride alongside Alvaro Bautista. The second HRC…

As Scott Redding departed Donington a double winner on Sunday, the Bennetts British Superbike Championship had a familiar feeling about it: the MotoGP specialist had again triumphed on the track where he became the youngest ever GP winner 11 years earlier. At the same time, with teammate Brookes 28 points in arrears but with 75 left on the table, some pondered a final twist in the tale at the championship finale at Brands Hatch in 10 days time. Earlier in the season paddock wags had surmised that Redding could control proceedings once into The Showdown, thanks to his knowledge of Assen, Donington and Brands. And sure enough, the Be Wiser Ducati man has excelled in all four Showdown races so far. It’s looking good for the Gloucestershire rider. He remains…

Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales and Franco Morbidelli heaped praise on Fabio Quartararo after the rookie sensation simply outclassed his Yamaha co-riders in Thailand. In the end, Quartararo had a last lap heartache against Marc Marquez in Buriram for the second time in the last three races. But just like at Misano last month the 20-year-old Frenchman was the standout performer for Yamaha and again comprehensively defeated Rossi, who suffered rear grip issues on his way to a lowly eighth. Rossi said: “I expected he would be strong this season because he was already fantastic when he was 15. But he is doing something special and I didn’t expect it. I don’t think anybody expected it. He is fast, doesn’t make mistakes and he can be very strong in the future.…

‘The MCIA hope it will reduce theft’ The Motorcycle Industry Association have launched a new scheme to help bike buyers more easily see what level of security a new bike has before they buy. The scheme is an attempt to help buyers make more of a conscious effort to think about bike security at the time of purchase to help combat the recent increase in motorcycle theft. ‘ It will help buyers compare security devices ’MCIA SPOKESMAN The vast majority of bikes on sale come with some form of security but there’s often no easy way to see what type it is at a glance – this is where the new scheme steps in. Called MCIA Secured, it’s a rating system that awards stars for each recognised security feature up…

Don’t be pushed into anything you don’t want to do on two wheels. There’s no comprehensive blueprint or set curriculum to follow, regardless of the pub talk or ‘expert’ opinion. This sentiment sticks for not only those new to biking, but more experienced pilots too. Despite the camaraderie and brotherhood that’s so evident amongst biking, there can also be a certain amount of expectation to perform and this particular prose focuses on winter riding. From personal experience, more and more people are taxing their bikes for the summer months and leaving them to rest as the inclement weather settles in for winter, which is entirely acceptable. For the die-hards – or those that absolutely need to ride in every possible condition – fair play, but don’t assume everyone else is…

Bikers from across the UK took part in a series of rides on Saturday converging at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire for the 12th annual Ride to the Wall, a unique event designed to give people the chance to pay their respects to over 16,000 men and women who have given their lives in service since the end of WWII. Setting off from 11 different start points an estimated 15,000 took part. Midland Express waived charges on the M6 Toll, helping smooth the flow of bikes into the Arboretum for the volunteer marshals to then shepherd into the parking areas, while a contingency plan had to be put in place at the last minute due to local flooding. ‘It’s my first time and it’s been phenomenal’ “Today has been…

Good to read that Ewan, Charley and their entourage have chosen to go electric on their latest trip. Let’s face it, riding in far-off places is not so much of a challenge today. Everywhere is so much more accessible and connected. A real challenge, however, is doing it with zero emissions. I think these guys, perhaps unintentionally, changed the face of biking in the UK when they set off on their first trip (the adventure class was just a niche before). My hope is that their publicity machine can do the same for electric bikes. They may even help bring on board younger riders who do not want to follow in the steps of their fossil-fuelled elders. Enjoy the trip guys. Dave Robinson-Smith, email…

It’s hard to put into words what Marquez is doing in MotoGP right now – he is super, super human. ‘THE LIMIT SHE’S FINDINGARE BEYOND ANYONE ELSE’S REACH’ To have a crash as big as he did in FP1, crash again in qualifying and still bounce back is something else. It seems like if he gets a kick in the shins, it somehow just makes him stronger. Whenever I’ve crashed and hurt myself, it always takes me a while to get up, but it takes Marquez about 0.3s to be back where he needs to be. It’s like he thrives on it. He thrives on pushing things over the edge and as a result the limits he’s finding are beyond anyone else’s reach. Then he just comes back half a…

It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B- roads, a stretch of motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time for sportsbike evaluation, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Non-identical twins Odd couple? Not at all. The 1290 and H2 SX SE+ both put performance and technology as high as big-mile comfort, and specs are far closer than looks suggest. Both have single-sided swingarms, 190/50 rear tyres, in-built panniers mounts, fixed screens, plus blingy gizmos. Power-to-weight ratio (using claimed bhp, Kwak’s wet weight…

Attempting to experience the full excitement of the Super Duke GT and H2 SX SE+ on bustling roads can be like trying to use a powerboat on a pond. Snappy 173bhp V-twins and dimension-shifting 197bhp supercharged fours don’t mix with 40mph limits, chock-full towns and lost DPD vans. As the MCN250 slides into its latter sections the route takes on a fresh form. Away from the main arteries and urban hustle, the roads become drastically quieter and the landscape flattens out, giving curve-of-the-earth visibility. Open sweeps of the B660 and quiet lanes back to Oundle are an opportunity to dip a toe into the bewildering performance pool without upsetting residents, scaring car drivers or too much risk of arranging an appointment with the local magistrate. Both bikes are happier here.…

Although imbued with the Ranger’s chunky ruggedness, the lower stance and resultant 824mm seat height of the Nomad make this dinky brute even easier to manage for the short of leg, while its compactness makes it a brilliant urban friend. On the road it feels surprisingly different to the Ranger. You feel more ‘in’ the bike and find yourself dropping your elbows and letting your chin sink towards the tank on fast sweepers and long straights. The chassis, suspension control (but not travel), engine and cycle parts are all shared – but the 18-inch front rim gives the steering more precision. It’s so taut that it’s begging for some stickier rubber and a fast B-road. It’s also the more authentic feeling of the Atlas duo and the combined cuteness of…

THE STUDENT Derek Sol, 60, Hertfordshire Africa Twin rider Derek rediscovered bikes after a 30-year break. He now enjoys two-up rides and plans a European tour. Derek’s riding problem ‘I feel a bit awkward turning out of junctions, especially when my wife’s on the back. I just want to be smooth and safe.’ THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training Former police rider Mark has been teaching people to be faster and safer on the roads for the past 20 years. Mark’s action plan ‘I’ll show Derek a little tip I learned when I was in the police which will help make turning right out of junctions much, much easier.’ THE LESSON 1 Angle of attack After a 30-year break, Derek was positioning himself at junctions in the same way as…

‘I had a go at the MCN Festival and fell in love’ Biking’s addictive, we all know that. Once you’ve sampled life on two wheels there’s very little you can do to shake it out of your system. And it’s something MCN reader Richard Rodriguez knows only too well. “It was partly my son’s fault, really,” says Richard as he describes how he came to be the owner of a 2018 Bonneville T120. “I was teaching him to drive and I think he was getting a bit sick of my lessons, so he started to wonder whether learning to ride a bike would be easier. We both went to the MCN Festival and had a taster session: he took to it like a duck to water whereas I was struggled…

1 Something not feeling right? If you’ve fitted some new tyres or are experiencing a vibration through the handlebars it could be that your wheels need balancing. This is an easy task to do at home, especially because the equipment required is easily and cheaply available. As a first step, if the wheels are still in the bike, you will need to put it up on stands and remove them from the machine. 2 Slide in the spindle A static wheel balancer will come with three or four different sized spindles. Choose the correct size then slide it through the wheel bearing and mount the wheel in the balancer. Make sure you place the wheel in the centre of the spindle so the weight is evenly distributed. Give the wheel…

Bradley Ray was on fine form at Donington, the track where the bespectacled, now 22-year-old, set the world alight when he had a double victory at the start of the 2018 season. Fast-forward 18 months and the Buildbase Suzuki star couldn’t replicate that breakthrough ride, but he did impress by storming through the field from 19th to sixth in Race Two. Qualifying on the front row, Ray was at the sharp end of Race One when he was forced out with an errant rear brake caliper. Not only did it rule him out, but his lap four retirement meant no decent time had been set for his second race grid position. But he muscled his GSX-R1000 up 13 positions almost resulting in a heroic fifth place before his Suzuki finally…

The extreme, furnace-like temperatures at the Thai Grand Prix were a pleasant cool breeze compared to the overheated mood of Aprilia riders Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone. Espargaro was an emotional wreck after an electronics failure ended an inspired top 10 opportunity. While the flagging fortunes of Aprilia’s RS-GP machine and the resulting tense team atmosphere were further exposed by Iannone who finished a full 40 seconds down in 15th place. Espargaro said an ‘electronics failure’ stopped his bike with a non-functioning gearbox and its engine brake locked. “I had no control of the throttle and it was almost impossible to get back the pits,” he said afterwards. “It’s very frustrating. It doesn’t sound good to talk about yourself but I feel I am riding very, very good and stressing…

Fabio Quartararo insists his primary goal next year in MotoGP is NOT to break the domination of now six-time champion Marc Marquez. Marquez, along with a host of top riders, has backed the 20-year-old Frenchman to emerge as a serious title contender in 2020 in the wake of a series of sensational performances as a rookie this year. But Quartararo himself is now trying to calm the hype that is gathering around him ahead of next season – despite almost gatecrashing Marquez’s world title party in Buriram. Boosted by an engine upgrade at the Chang International Circuit that saw his Petronas SRT Yamaha benefit from an additional 500rpm, Quartararo almost piloted his M1 to a maiden win. His bold but ultimately failed overtaking manouvere at the final corner was the…