Table of contents for 5 February 2025 in MCN

BIG TEST Sporty saviours For those of us who love sportsbikes but just want a bit more comfort, 2025 has already delivered… Kawasaki’s new Ninja 1100SX SE not only builds upon the brilliant basis of the top-selling Ninja 1000SX via a gutsier motor and more refinement, but it also appeals to our performance predilections via a glistening Öhlins gold shock at the rear, plus high-spec Brembo calipers for extra sporty bite. Is it enough to satisfy the every whim of today’s unrecovered sportsbike addicts, and does it justify the extra bit of cash over its nearest sports-touring rival, Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT? We pair them both up to find out. PAGE 29 ‘We all demand a bit more of an all-round bike’ WHY YOU NEED A SPORTS-TOURER, P29 FIRST RIDE Ducati’s new…

KTM’s parent company, Pierer Mobility AG have sold their 50.1% majority stake in MV Agusta, returning control of the boutique Italian brand to former CEO Timur Sardarov. Pierer Mobility, who also own Husqvarna and GasGas, upped their share of the Varese factory in spring 2024, when they purchased an additional 25% by way of a capital increase. The first 25.1% chunk of MV was purchased back in November 2022. The second manoeuvre saw Sardarov step back from his role as CEO after five years to become Vice Chairman, brand ambassador, and consultant. He was replaced by Hubert Trunkenpolz, who was a member of the Pierer Mobility executive board before it was cut from six to two members in late October 2024 as KTM’s financial difficulties bubbled up. The MV Agusta…

SAVE £5350 £13,495 Kawasaki ZX-10R 40th Anniversary Edition This 40th Anniversary Edition ZX-10R is a true racer for the road, with a mind-bendingly powerful motor and a seriously track focused attitude. Despite this, the big Kwak still offers its fair share of road orientated bells and whistles. There’s cruise control and a TFT dash, meaning that despite the raciness, it’s also a brilliant real-world machine. www.ironcitymotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £4500 £12,999 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S KTM’s adventure touring flagship is a continent shrinking, feature-packed missile with a smattering of sophistication woven in. www.ironcitymotorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 1301cc ● Power 160bhp ● Weight 245kg ● Seat height 849mm SAVE £2100 £11,995 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Triumph’s mid-sized Tiger is an ultra-impressive all-rounder, with a slick three-cylinder motor, excellent ergos, and class-topping performance. www.lind.co.uk…

‘Has the retro bubble burst?’ I was having a look at the new bikes dealers were discounting recently and it certainly appears as if the bubble has burst, or at the very least sprung a leak, on the Japanese retro market. Why do I think this? Well, the facts speak for themselves. There are three modern Japanese retros – the Suzuki Katana, Kawasaki RS and Yamaha XSR as Honda’s CB1000R was killed off in 2023. The Kawasaki comes in Z650RS, Z900RS and Z900RS SE, while the Yamaha is sold in naked XSR900 or half-faired XSR900 GP as well as XSR700 and XSR700 Legacy. Suzuki are happy just to sell the Katana. Dealers are discounting the Z900RS by £2300, meaning you can buy a preregistered model for £9495. That’s a fairly…

‘They operate with impunity’ I recently launched an MCN-backed petition cracking down on fake bike kit, which has got off to a really encouraging start. More than 1800 have already signed up to the Implement a strategy to protect motorcyclists from imports of unsafe clothing cause – with riders telling me it’s convinced them not to buy from sellers on social media or e-commerce platforms. The need for a petition was brought on by a recent case I helped work on. A common London address appeared on two websites that were selling non-conforming motorcycle clothing direct to the consumer. The local Trading Standards department was notified and, on this occasion, the officer handling the case called me – revealing that someone was scheduled to be interviewed but had fled to…

Q ‘The MIB won’t touch my case’ I was riding my Harley-Davidson Softail when I was involved in an accident where I was taken out by an SUV driver who then left the scene. I had multiple injuries, and my bike was damaged beyond repair as well as property damage. I made a claim to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau but they rejected it for the stated reason that the SUV driver leaving the scene was not evidence that he was negligent in causing my accident! He collided with me when he cut across a bend in the road. What more do they need and what can I do? Harry B, email A The Motor Insurers’ Bureau compensate victims of negligent untraced drivers (as well as uninsured drivers). To win a…

Although I already had the record from the 2009 TT, in 2010 I broke the record again for the fastest woman around the Mountain Course with an average speed of 119.945mph. I achieved it in the last race of the week, the Senior TT, but I didn’t set out to break the record – I just wanted to be out there. At the time I was working as a bike mechanic at my business, the Two Wheel Workshop, but before that I was working at Bill Smith’s. Both he and Tim Leech (who worked there too) were TT riders, and people used to come and prep bikes in the back of the workshop for the Isle of Man. Being a mechanic in that environment, the TT was part of my…

SAVE £££s – BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR THE mcnmotorcycleshow.com ‘Shiver me timbers’ RICHIE SALT Fresh ride today on the red rocket! Stopped at Falstone Tea Rooms to warm up, met up with my pal then had a scenic blast back for a cuppa and some craic with the lads. ‘Café cruising’ NATHAN JONES I popped to one of my favourite cafés on the Honda in January. That takes my mileage this year to 215.6. ‘Weather pain’ HARRY HAWKINS The Tiddler Run was supposed to be to Caton, Lancashire, but the weather was grim. That didn’t stop us getting out to the Herdwick Cafe and back via some very dirty lanes. ‘Snow stopping me’ MICK TUCKER 917 miles this month, and 10,000 miles in 12 months! The weather is trying…

Load up for some bigmile fun There was a time when sports-tourers looked like a breed on the verge of extinction as modern adventure bikes took over their role. Today the sports-tourer is now back in fashion and there is a stack of options out there for anyone looking at buying this do-it-all genre of bike. Starting off with the GSX-S1000GT, you can have the standard model (£12,899) or the GT+ (£13,999), which adds panniers. Kawasaki’s Ninja 1100SX comes in standard (£12,421), Tourer (£13,621) with panniers, Performance (£13,521) with an Akrapovic can or Performance Tourer (£14,721) with both as well as a higher-spec SE version (£14,171), which also has the three same variants. Honda sell the NT1100, which comes with panniers, in standard (£12,679), with DCT (£13,679) or DCT and…

While its smaller sibling, the RD250LC, comprehensively saw off the Suzuki X7 (which was the first 250cc road bike to record 100mph) to such an extent that licence laws were changed to restrict new riders to 125cc and 12bhp, the RD350LC had few rivals. On track its better ground clearance saw it outperform the RD400 in 500cc production racing while on the road its sporty power-to-weight ratio made it far sprightlier than air-cooled four-stroke 1000cc sportsbikes. It wasn’t until the new wave of four-stroke sportsbikes brought a new level of reliability and performance to the table that the RD was ousted.…

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. 2009-2015 Yamaha XJ6 Owners’ rating A total of 34 owners have left reviews of the middleweight. Friendlier than the FZ6 (and also available with a half-fairing as the Diversion or fully-faired Diversion F) it’s an unsung hero of the bargain bike world. 2013-2016 Suzuki Inazuma 250 Owners’ rating Cheap and cheerful, the Inazuma 250 is a basic parallel-twin that plods along merrily and is generally very solid with an overall score of 4.7/5. Never a massive seller here. 2006-2009 Honda CBF1000 Owners’ rating A massive 52 owners have reviewed Honda’s Blade-powered do-it-all. Like its smaller-capacity sibling, the CBF is…

Becoming the youngest ever Grand Prix victor in the 125cc class at Donington Park in 2008, breaking Marco Melandri’s ten-year record by winning as a 15-year-old schoolboy. The record stood for another decade, broken by Can Oncu in 2018. Finishing runner-up in the 2013 Moto2 World Championship, narrowly missing out to Pol Espargaro after a season-long battle also including Tito Rabat; Redding won three races that year, most memorably his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Claiming two MotoGP podiums in third position: the 2015 San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on a Marc VDS Honda and 2016 Dutch TT at Assen with a Pramac Ducati. Bouncing back from a miserable spell in MotoGP to claim the British Superbike title in his solo season of 2019, riding a PBM Ducati…

Heading into his second season, Sam Lowes is calm. His new crew chief at Marc VDS Ducati is Gorka Segura, who reunites with rider coach Leon Camier having previously worked together at Honda. Old crew chief, Giovanni Crupi is now working on Ducati’s motocross project. Lowes is pleased with race pace and satisfied on a qualifying tyre, while a small winglet on the bottom of his bike helps to direct airflow around the rear tyre to cool it as much as possible. Twin brother, Alex claims his new Bimota is already as good as the Kawasaki he raced last year. The pair of KB998 bikes – which will be launched at their Rimini HQ on Thursday – have been inside the top five for both race pace and single-lap runs…

Alongside the 390 Adventure R, KTM have lifted the lid on a budget friendly X model, coming in £1600 cheaper than its sibling. Set to hit dealers by Autumn for £5399, the Adventure X shares the same frame and engine as the R, but gets a more moderate spec, with changes to the wheels, suspension, tech and controls. Alongside the more restrained look, the X wears 17/19in cast hoops and comes equipped with less dirt orientated rubber. Suspension travel is also reduced to 200mm and comes with no adjustability for compression or rebound damping at either end. With the drop in bounce, the Adventure X’s seat height is reduced from 870mm on the R to a less lofty 825mm.…

Honda have given their flagship tourer, the GL1800 Gold Wing, a light update to celebrate its golden anniversary. First launched as a production model 50 years ago, as the naked four-cylinder GL1000 in 1975, it’s since grown to become an 1833cc flat-six continent crusher – receiving its last ground-up redesign for 2018. Updates have been given to both the standard and Tour variants of the bike – including two new paint finishes influenced by models of the past. Among them is a combination of Eternal Gold and Mahogany Brown, which draws inspiration from the 1988 GL1500 variant – with unique badging also celebrating the bike’s significant birthday. Helping the 124.7bhp engine to meet new Euro5+ regulations is an additional O2 sensor, and tweaks to the ECU settings. Options will be…

The National Motorcycle Museum have located and acquired an ultrarare 500cc Marsh V8. Described as the ‘discovery of the decade’ in classic motorcycling circles, the bike will now join its sister model, the Marsh 4 Cylinder 500cc racer, which was purchased by the museum almost two decades ago. Hand-built in the 1960s by engineer Fred Marsh, the bike had been in secret storage since 1979. Go racing for less British Mini Bikes (BMB) are hoping to make racing more affordable in 2025 with a new rebate scheme. As well as dropping entry fees to £140 per class for a whole weekend, BMB will credit up to £55 per event to individuals who have pre-booked. The system works on a sliding scale, with costs reduced incrementally once 120 entrants have been…

Honda have announced updates to their 2025 ST125 Dax, Monkey, and Super Cub C125 retros, with new colours and Euro5+ compliance. Prices will now start at £4059 for the Monkey, with the Super Cub arriving at £3869, and the Dax from £3799. All three learner-friendly machines have new colour options, with minor tweaks to meet emissions targets including an uprated catalyser, new ECU settings and an additional OBD2-2 sensor in the Dax. There are some handy new accessories for 2025 too, including a USB socket and heated grips on the Super Cub. Visit honda.co.uk for more details.…

When asked ahead of its world release, Triumph Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent said that the new Speed Triple 1200RS had three main rivals for 2025. These are the latest BMW S1000R, Aprilia Tuono, and KTM 1390 Super Duke R families. Although the Ducati uses the same suspension system, it starts at a much higher price point – with the S model yours from £24,995. “Having said that, that doesn’t mean that we’re uncompetitive against the Ducati,” Sargent said. “So, for example, if you’re looking at the suspension system and the Smart EC3, that is what the Ducati has. “We have a lot of technology on our bike that matches things that are at a much higher price point, I would say.”…

• Book in advance! Last chance to save money on admission. • Tickets are just £26.50 until midnight on February 13. PLUS! Free indoor motorcycle parking. • Meet big names from racing royalty to TV’s two-wheel stars. • Britain’s fastest bikers go bar-to-bar in Live Action with Bridgestone flat track racing across all three days. • Meet MotoGP’s Pedro Acosta on Saturday, PLUS be in with a chance of winning a signed visor. • See the latest new bikes, timeless classics from The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, premium bike gear at great prices and much more. • Ride away on your dream bike in the Iconic Auctioneers Motorcycle Auction.…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER® www.zerofit.co.uk Off to wedding, Mum: “Put your Fizzie in the garage.” Fell off. Tore sleeve off jacket. Mum not pleased. Martin Hosking Me in 1981 on my Yamaha 250LC – I still own the bike a full 44 years later. Ralph Peters Me and my mate Dave Kain just before passing our bike tests in 1985. Still got the Dax. Scott Powers Strictly speaking this was never my bike. My friend Mick had two Monkey bikes and we had a big garden. Julian Hough Taking my oldest pal on his first Euro bike trip! Get well soon, more bike trips waiting! Peter Stone Never was much good at parking my Suzuki RL250. Col Butterworth 1980 and my first big…

Once I’d passed my bike test at the age of 16, I would attempt, well, as much as I could on a 125, to ride around on the road like a hooligan. I used to go after work at around midnight when there would be no traffic or people around so I could go for a blast. But this was the start of my itch to go road racing. I’ve always said I’m a big fan of motorcycle racing, and the Isle of Man is the ultimate road race, isn’t it? What’s better is that they’ve shut the roads for you, there’s no police to tell you not to do it and it’s the perfect place where you can just go as fast as you want – and that’s exactly…

1 February 8-9 Classic Dirt Bike show Open from 10am on both Saturday and Sunday at the Telford International Centre (TF3 4JH) in Shropshire, there will be everything off-road, all in one place. Graham Noyce is the guest of honour alongside Mick Andrews, with club stands, an autojumble and more. Tickets are discounted if bought in advance, or are £21 on the gate. www.classicbikeshows.com 2 February 9 Fred Hill Run The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) are once again honouring Fred Hill, the activist who protested against the compulsory helmet laws. In a tradition which has been running for many years, MAG visit the prison where Fred was banged up. Run starts at the Ace Cafe at 10.30am. london.acecafe.com 3 February 9 Hawkstone International MX Held at Hawkstone Park MX Circuit…

THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £14,171 (£15,171 for Tourer as tested) Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE • 1099cc 16v inline four • 134.1bhp @9000rpm • 235kg kerb weight £12,899 (£13,999 for GT+ model as tested) Suzuki GSX-S1000GT • 999cc 16v inline four • 149.9bhp @ ll,000rpm • 226kg kerb weight There is so much choice on offer if you want to cover big miles in comfort, without breaking your back - and hopefully, without breaking the bank either. Of course, adventure bikes are popular and they come in all shapes and sizes but for a new high spec, high capacity machine you’re going to be dropping a fair bit of cash for a sizeable bit of kit, and for some riders, they won’t be ticking the…

£12,899 (£13,999 for GT+ model) Suzuki GSX-S1000GT £14,171 (£15,171 for Tourer) Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE…

‘He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail.’ That’s how the saying goes. It’s very true when it comes to bikes because the majority of breakdowns occur thanks to a simple fault that could’ve been detected and rectified prior to leaving home. Regardless of whether it’s a spin with mates at the weekend or a touring trip abroad, a breakdown is costly and inconvenient wherever it happens – not to mention increasing the risk of you being involved in an accident. So think like a factory rider. Treat your preparation for every ride as though you’re in the championship-leading MotoGP team and give your bike a thorough check before you swing your leg over. MotoGP riders get their bikes inspected each and every time they enter the garage – and…

Checks out the rollercoaster world of SuperEnduro racing OFF-ROAD Billy Bolt is etching his name into the history books as one of the best enduro riders in both the indoor and outdoor scenes, with multiple world titles across the SuperEnduro, Hard Enduro and World Enduro Super Series classes. But that’s not all – the 27-year-old has also made a name and following for himself as a larger-than-life figure, winning over fans with his incredible bike control, social media presence and a popular YouTube channel that gives an in-depth-yet-entertaining glance behind the scenes with the young Brit – honestly, you should check it out. But he’s far more than just a man with a camera… After a blistering start to 2025 where he’s leading the SuperEnduro Championship once again with a…

HRC have reverted from Showa to Öhlins suspension – a huge change which requires plenty of track time. Unfortunately, the weather has conspired against them. Xavi Vierge escaped a Turn 1 crash but admits HRC are behind. Teammate, Iker Lecuona is suffering with his training injury. “The shoulder problem is really painful for my back muscles,” Lecuona says. “I’m p***ed off and frustrated.” Aegerter goes under the knife A plate and seven screws have been removed from Dominique Aegerter’s right shoulder during an operation in Bern, Switzerland; the GRT Yamaha rider required them after a mountain bike accident last August. Over at Motoxracing, Bahattin Sofuoglu’s Round 1 participation is in doubt after he hurt his collarbone at Portimao, the affable Turk telling MCN: “I hope to be ready for Australia.”…

After seeing what Toprak did in the test at Portimão, he’s odds on to back it up and win his second title. I actually think the only person he has to beat is himself. He’s just the best at the minute and it’s hard to see anyone else beating him. Teams and riders are like politicians nowadays in the way that they defend themselves or talk themselves up, but no matter what way you look at it – Toprak is the best right now. He’s not on the best bike, he’s not on the worst bike, but he can ride anything. He could make a garden gate look competitive. I honestly don’t know what the solution is for his rivals because no matter how you attack him, he’s going to…

Bringing you the inside line from the MotoGP paddock TOP STORY KTM intend to remain a part of grand prix racing for many years to come despite months of financial uncertainty, according to Motorsport Director Pit Beirer. Presenting his MotoGP line up for 2025, the German sounded not only confident on the factory’s chances of survival amid an exhaustive self-administration process, but also of their continued presence in all GP classes “It’s been a rough winter,” Beirer conceded, referencing KTM’s bankruptcy proceedings which started in November. While KTM riders and team managers were forbidden to talk about the troubled Austrian factory’s financial position, Beirer spoke openly of the situation and the company’s long-term future. Principle among the talking points was February 25. That’s when creditors will be given the choice…

Soon after confirmation of Francesco Guidotti’s departure last year, Aki Ajo was confirmed to take the reins as new Team Manager. Along with winning ten World Championships in Moto2, Moto3 and 125s, the Finn’s no-nonsense approach is already appreciated by his riders. “He’s super straightforward,” said Brad Binder, who previously worked with Ajo from 2015-2019. “With Aki there’s always a ‘no bullsh*t policy’.” Asked about his own management philosophy, Ajo stated that simplicity is key. “In the points where you can keep the work simple, you have to. Even our ex-riders are laughing sometimes when I always repeat the same things: keep it simple and focus on the right things. “What I personally feel is our technical package is really good and I think it’s always important to keep it…

This year marks 20 years of trading for kit retailer, Sportsbike Shop and last weekend they opened their newest store in Norwich. Located on Ber Street, in a space previously occupied by Harley-Davidson, it’s set to stock over 6000 products from more than 250 brands. “Our Norwich store has been a long time coming as it’s taken quite a while to find the perfect location,” said Managing Director, Chris Winters. £75k prize fund boosts F900R Cup The BMW F900R Cup has secured motorcycle product firm ROKiT OFF as the title sponsor for 2025, bringing with them a prize fund worth over £75,000. Now in its third year, the British Superbike support series consists of nine-rounds, with the champion gifted a new BMW S1000RR – a machine that could be used…

Furygan Montroc jacket £419.90 The three-in-one Montroc packs a waterproof layer that can be worn either over or under the AA CE-certified main shell, plus a cosy thermal liner for when temperatures drop. Level 2 D3O armour is included for shoulder and elbow, with provision for back and chest protectors. Available in sizes S to 4XL. furygan.com Knox Zero Mk4 Gloves £179.99 Knox’s highly regarded winter glove has been totally redesigned with a new eVent waterproof membrane and Primaloft Gold waterproof insulation. The company’s signature scaphoid protector adorns the palm and the wrist closure features a micro adjustable BOA system. Constructed from goatskin and available in sizes XS to 3XL planet-knox.com Oxford Darkeye Indicators £59.99 These micro flush-fit flashers are CE-approved indicators designed to give your ride a clean smooth…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews We’re going ballistic over TNT shocker Eurosport and other derivative broadcasts will be closed down on February 28! So to watch BSB and WSBK I’d have to pay £30.99 a month for the whole TNT Sports! I remember years ago when MotoGP was grabbed from Eurosport by a subscription paying channel, since then I’ve had to make do with highlights on ITV4 later. I’m not paying £350 a year for TNT Sports when I’m not interested football. I just want my bike fix! Truly a bad day. No wonder so many get dodgy Fire sticks and other cheats. Bill Slater, email MCN has teamed up with Zerofit – The World’s Warmest Baselayer® – to award the author of each week’s star letter an incredible Heatrub Ultimate…

‘Perfectly matured’ The Ninja 1100SX is a perfect example of a motorcycle that has matured into a polished performer. Next to the GT it feels more refined with none of the Suzuki’s rough edges. But it isn’t perfect and I think it is about time Kawasaki re-thought their instruments… they do let the side down. That said, despite being a touch more cramped than the GT in its riding position, I’d pick the Kawasaki over the Suzuki for a sporty tour simply because its refined nature makes it easier going. And in my book the SE is just about worth paying that £1750 over the SX. It is easy to spot the Öhlins and assume it is all about sporty handling but with luggage and/or a pillion, this area of…

‘More agile, but easier’ The 2025 Multistrada V2 S is faster, lighter, better handling, more sophisticated and easier to manage than its predecessor – which sounds like a win. But at a cost: at £16,562 for the V2 S (the V2 is £14,167), the price is up £767. Plenty of rivals too: Triumph’s less sophisticated but similarly powered Tiger Sport 800 is £10,995, or the better-equipped Tiger 900 GT Pro is £14,095. BMW’s F900 XR in equivalent trim is £12,555, and Yamaha’s Tracer 9 GT is £14,350 – which puts the Ducati at the upper end. But you get flagship performance and features, and you don’t need to stretch to a V4 S to impress. THE FACTS £16,562 Ducati Multistrada V2 S…

‘The RD was the cheapest way to go fast’ THE FACTS Few bikes can claim to have defined an era but the Yamaha RD350LC is one of them. This master stroke by Yamaha (with encouragement from their European team) arrived like a smoking bolt from the blue and swept all away before it. Cheap, fast and plentiful, the LC introduced a generation of riders to powerbands, the smell of two-stroke, engine rebuilds, theft and grazed knees. Lot of grazed knees. Having already established a strong reputation throughout the 1970s for their racing two-stroke TZ engines, Yamaha decided to capitalise on this success with a new road bike. The firm already had a fairly rapid two-stroke in the shape of the aging RD400 but it was air-cooled, twin-shocked and not all…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 2500 miles ON TEST Nexx X.WST3 Fluence £359.99 ‘A great alternative’ Tested by Steve Herbert-Mattick for six months I’m a long-time fan of Nexx helmets, having used them on-and-off since 2016. The feature-laden X.WST3 is the Portuguese manufacturer’s latest street style product and includes a drop-down sun visor, quick-release cheek pads, built-in intercom and action camera integration, great ventilation, F.R.S fast release safety system and all-day comfort from its high-quality lining. This is the third helmet brand since the introduction of ECE 22.06 where I’ve had to go up to a medium, having always been a small. The shell is slightly on the large side (there are three shell sizes covering eight helmet sizes). The silky-smooth, anti-allergy, anti-sweat, fully removable and washable lining…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Pre-flight checklist Time for your first ride of the year? Make sure your bike is ready… 1 Check your oil level You should check it prior to every ride, referring to the specific method in your bike’s manual (not all bikes have the same system). Low oil results in low oil pressure, which dramatically reduces the lubrication to fast-moving parts inside your bike’s engine. With the bike upright, make sure the oil is at the correct level between the upper and lower marker lines. 2 Don’t forget the coolant Coolant carries the heat away from the engine via the radiator, as well as acting as an antifreeze in winter. Running low will cause your engine to overheat with lasting damage to the internals. Check the level before…

Looking ahead to the start of the 2025 championship RIDER PROFILE If there’s one person in the World Superbike paddock who wears his heart on his sleeve, it’s Britain’s Scott Redding. A rider who tells it like it is: good, bad or ugly. Redding is refreshing in his honesty… even if it does get him into trouble from time to time. For 2025, gone are his struggles on a BMW and back comes a Ducati. Also gone are the days of being a factory rider – for now, at least. This season sees Redding coming at it as a good old privateer entry; he’s really slotted into the role of people motivator, is happily married with a kid and seems as relaxed as he’s ever been. As a 12-time winner…

Reporting direct from the latest pre-season test session All too often in sport, the achievements of the greats are overlooked by virtue of the fact their accomplishments are expected, but there’s no doubt about it: Toprak Razgatlioglu should not have been fastest in last week’s Portimao World Superbike test. It’s been only weeks since the World Champion broke a finger while training on an enduro bike; the fact he topped the timesheets without even using a super-soft qualifying tyre has troubled his rivals, to say the least. It was a sensational return. After the enduro crash in his native Turkey which ruled him out of the opening 2025 test in Jerez a week earlier, Toprak still has three screws in his right index finger to hold it together during his…

Bringing you the inside line from the MotoGP paddock ‘We want to be back fighting for top positions’ Team presentations are always laced with optimism, but Yamaha had plenty of reason to look hopefully towards the year ahead as they launched their 2025 set-up in Kuala Lumpur. For the first time since 2022, the factory will field four bikes in the premier class. Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins were bullish looking to the new season. New satellite squad Pramac have been fully integrated into the operation, with Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira showing off new purple colours. And there was even an eye on the future, as the BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 line up was revealed, with Tony Arbolino and Izan Guevara. The ambition was clear. “We want to…