Table of contents for 19 October 2022 in MCN

‘I'm super proud of everybody involved' BRADLEY RAY BSB FINALE The day belongs to Brad Ray Huge congratulations go to newly crowned British Superbike champ Bradley Ray, who did what he needed to do in Race 1 on Saturday to claim his first British Superbike title. It's been over 11 years of hard work and dedication by Brad and his family, a journey that's taken him to the international stage, via Red Bull Rookies and the Suzuka 8-hours, and even a go on a MotoGP bike. We can't wait to see what's next for our new champ. Read all about his rise to the top on page 60. Plus, with the news that Rory Skinner has bagged himself a full-time Moto2 ride for 2023, it's an exciting time for young…

Helmet firm HJC were at the Intermot trade show in Cologne earlier this month with a roster of new models and fresh liveries for some existing designs. Included in the line-up was a new V10 retro, which meets the latest and more stringent ECE22.06 standards whilst sporting a look reminiscent of the original Simpson Bandit and is sure to be a hit among retro motorcycling fans. Available in sizes XS-XXL, with a range of solid colours and graphics, the fibre glass V10 gets a Pinlockready visor and a replaceable chin curtain, cheek pads, headliner, and peak. The fastener is a double D-ring, and the classy design is set to go up against products such as the Shoei Glamster, Arai Rapide, and Simpson's own Venom. Alongside the new retro, the firm…

Oxford Oximiser 3X £54.99 On a charge As the leaves turn and the autumn weather starts to blow in, many of us will be leaving our bikes for longer spells between rides… and there's nothing worse than trying to take advantage of a crisp, dry day for a blast and discovering that your battery has died. The Oxford Oximiser 3X has been around for a while now but it's a great tool for keeping your battery topped up and in optimum condition. The Oximiser is also capable of recovering batteries that have discharged to as low as 8V thanks to its ‘soft start’ mode. MCN Editor, Rich Newland, gave the Oximiser 3X a four-star rating with five stars for value after using it for three years (and that was at…

‘The throttle stuck!’ 1. Suzuki X1-50 As soon as I turned 16, I got myself a moped. It had a Micron exhaust and a big-bore kit but I needed something reliable to get to work on and this was it. 2. Suzuki GP100 I passed my test a week after my 17th birthday. I'd already bought the GP100 six months before my birthday and I'd been riding it round fields and down tracks, so it was great to go legal. 3. Suzuki GS1000G Being a sensible young man, I moved from a GP100 to a GS1000G when I was 18! I was building a car showroom in Hull and someone traded the GS in for a car. I made them a mad offer and they accepted. Bingo! 4. Suzuki GSX-R1100-L…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNews ‘The very best kind of celebrity’ Phil Read was the best kind of celebrity, because you got no hint of celebrity behaviour when speaking with him. In July this year, I bought some merchandise from Phil, which he kindly signed with the comment “this will be worth much more money when I am dead”. I replied that I would rather that he stayed alive, because I would never sell it. This typified the down-to-earth attitude I always encountered with Phil. The motorcycle world has lost one of its greatest racers, a unique character and a great representative. Classic motorcycling events will never be quite the same. Paul Delanoy, email STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter…

KEY TO THE AREA SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST WEDNESDAY October 19 BIKE MEETS ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Seaways Bike Night Fridaythorpe, East Yorks. 4pm8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk SHOW Paris Motorcycle & Scooter Show Porte de Versailles, France www.lesalondelamoto.com THURSDAY October 20 BIKE MEETS ■ Vic Bikers Pub Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Down and Out Motorcycles The Boiler House, Rotherham S Yorks. 5.30pm onwards www.facebook.com/downandoutmotorcycles or downandoutcustoms.co.uk ■ The Flotterstone Inn Penicuik A702, nr Edinburgh City Bypass, Edinburgh 7pm 01968-673717 ■ Whistlestop Cafe Whitby, North Yorks 4.30pm-8.30pm Facebook: Whistlestop Cafe…

‘Irish IAM adventure’ R5K MEMBER PAWEL ZIELINSKI A recent trip with my I AM group to Connemara National Park in Ireland. This picture was taken on the Wild Atlantic Way, near Lough Shindilla. We did over 600 miles over a weekend. ‘Quick stop on the NC500’ R5K MEMBER MARCUS WARD The highlight was Dunnet Head! Knowing we were in the most northerly point of the UK mainland and then taking the awesome ride down from John O'Groats to Inverness, ‘Solo road trip’ R5K MEMBER SHAUN AKROYD I enjoyed a solo trip out around Lancashire, Yorkshire, County Durham and Cumbria. This picture with my ZZR was taken at the popular Ribblehead Viaduct. ‘Great friends and weather’ R5K MEMBERS CAROLINE PASSEY, ALLIE HUNT, AND JEMIMA ATKINSON We rode through Beckford to Cheltenham…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £20,015* BMW R1250RT LE • 1254cc 8v flat twin • 134bhp/106lb.ft • £236.60 per month PCP £23,623 BMW K1600GTL LE • 1649cc 24v inline six • 158bhp/133lb.ft • £250.21 per month PGP We've always said that money-no-object, the BMW R1250RT is the best tourer around. The boxer twin has won numerous MCN Awards (just like the 1200 version before it) and is such a barn-stonner no other manufacturer bothers to produce a direct rival anymore. It's ill a class of one, well… almost. BMW also make another conventional road-shaped tourer: the 158bhp, inline six-cylinder K1600. It comes in four flavours: a sports-touring K1600GT, baggerstyle K1600B, bagger-with-a topbox K1600 Grand America and the Continued over limo-like K1600GTLyou see here. They've…

ESSENTIAL KIT 1500 MILES TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT It's got to be at least 15 years since I last wore an Arai and when I first opened the box of my new Quantic it was like meeting up with an old friend. From the moment I slipped the lid on, there was that reassuringly comfortable feel I'd hoped for. Conforming to the latest ECE22.06 standard and at close to £600, this full-face lid isn't cheap, but it does have all the lovely touches you'd expect from a helmet in this price bracket. Vents are plentiful, easy to operate and work. There's a spoiler on the rear, which doubles as an exhaust vent. The fully removable and washable lining is plush and exceedingly welcoming. There are…

When mechanic Chris Davies saw a battered Suzuki Bandit 600 pull up, he suspected he was going to have his work cut out. Chris, 41, works at Davies Motorcycles in Ilkeston and has been in the bike trade for 21 years, so he's seen most things and the only ‘maintenance’ this poor old Bandit had received was a classic bodge job. A rough patch on the righthand fork leg (probably from a stone chip) had lead to the seal failing. But instead of going for a proper fix by a professional, the owner had packed tissues under the fork seal cap to soak up the spillage. That hadn't worked for long and the oil had been pumped out past the drenched tissue before trickling onto the brake caliper and all…

A year ago Yamaha ignored 2021 MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo. And now they are paying the price as Quartararo's title defence is dismantled by Pecco Bagnaia. At Phillip Island Quartararo conceded the points lead which he had held since race five in Portimao. Two races to go (Sepang and Valencia) and Bagnaia now leads by 14 points. The failure of Yamaha engineers to weaponise the Ml with a bhp, acceleration and grip boost remains the weak link, not the Frenchman's brain. Quartararo dismisses the punditry that he is succumbing to pressure. He admits to riding at the limit to cover Ml weaknesses but says his this is not a repeat of his 2020 collapse. “No, actually 2020 was mental and technical,” Quartararo said. “And now I don't feel mentally…

ROUND 18 PHILLIP ISLAND | MOTOGP Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 TOP STORY So, there was one last hurrah for Suzuki. Less than a month before locking the doors and throwing away the key to their MotoGP project, Alex Rins reminded the world why the decision to mothball the GSX-RR is such a travesty on both a sporting and human level. As final flings go, his victory in one the most memorable races in the modern four-stroke era at Phillip Island is right up there with the very best. A swashbuckling charge from 10th to first in the second-closest top 10 in premier class history sparked wild celebrations from Suzuki's close-knit sauad. A squad still in shock and reeling from the bombshell news that broke…

SPORT Lee Jackson's weekend came to an end on the first lp of Race One when he crashed at Paddock Hill Bend. Jackson broke his wrist, the first bone he's ever broken, following contact with Josh Brookes, who in-turn had been pushed out by other riders in the melee. The incident left Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Racing Kawasaki with no riders on Sunday, with Rory Skinner already out with a broken hand. Stourbridge is Ducati series king David Stourbridge was crowned the 13th and final Ducati Tri-Options Cup champion at Brands Hatch. The Rich Energy Ducati rider finished fourth in Saturday's race to clinch the crown. Stourbridge ends 2022 with 11 victories and 12 podiums. The Ducati series will be replaced by the new BMW F900R Championship in 2023. McManus crowned…

WELCOME What do BSB champ Brad Ray, British Talent Cup winner Johnny Garness, Junior Superstock victor Max Cook, and new Moto2 graduate Rory Skinner have in common? Apart from being winners, they're all graduates of the FAB-Racing MiniGP championships. Launched in 2004 by Roger and Robert Keys as a response to dwindling numbers of British GP riders, FAB-Racing allows UK youngsters from the age of six to get on track on miniature GP bikes, just as kids in Spain and Italy have been doing for decades. The idea is that young riders learn their craft on proper racing machines, 70cc Metrakits, on kart circuits before progressing to Honda Moto3 bikes, preparing them for the chassis feel of real racing bikes later in their careers. It really is a great British…

SAVE £1000 £10,449 KTM 890 Adventure The 890 Adventure is an accomplished softroader and offers a more real-world alternative to the big, powerful and sometimes unwieldy, full-blown adventure bikes. It's well-equipped and its engine mixes serious guts with anew level of refinement, making it easy to get on with but with enough of an edge to make it fun. www.teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk £13,995 MV Agusta Brutale 800RR SAVE £1600 The Brutale is light, flighty and fun to ride-giving you a sensation of speed backed up by one of the sweetest soundtracks on the road. www.thunderroad.co.uk • Engine 798cc • Power bhp • Weight 175kg • Seat height 830mm £11,199 Suzuki V-Strom DL1050XT Save £1200 The 1050XT has class-rivalling electronic rider aids, feisty acceleration and retro styling. The suspension feels plush, too. www.5-ways.co.uk…

Talon Raptor Triple Clamps £699.99 Available to pre-order now, the Talon Raptor triple clamps are a serious upgrade for off-road models and come in a wide range of colours. They're CNC machined in-house at Talon from aerospace-grade aluminium alloy and are lightweight and adjustable. They use standard OEM handlebar rubber-mounts, allowing riders to fit all current OEM and aftermarket bar mount systems. talon-eng.co.uk Pyramid Z900RS accessories from £163 UK aftermarket bodywork specialists Pyramid Plastics have launched a range of new colours for their Kawasaki Z900RS huggers and flyscreens. The parts are now available in the latest 2022 50th Anniversary Candy Diamond Brown & Metallic Orange, as well as the Metallic Dark Green Scheme to give you that factory look. pyramid-plastics.co.uk Oxford Fuel and Water Flasks from £19.99 Oxford's latest range…

‘Save cash, buy the old colours’ It seems like every morning I'm greeted by an email announcing a hot new 2023 model but things aren't quite what they seem because an increasing number of brands (Kawasaki and Honda being the key culprits) class a fresh paintjob as defining a ‘new’ model. But does fancy paint really make that much difference to a bike? Not in my book, and that's why I always advise canny buyers to visit their local dealer at this time of year. Even more so now, considering the economic climate. As I've already said in a previous column, prices are certain to go up in 2023 simply due to the falling value of the pound. So any bike that is a 2023 model will, without doubt, cost…

Fantic's XEF Rally will mark the Italian manufacturer's first foray into the rally replica market and has been developed based on their own Dakar racing experience. The XEF was first seen as a concept at the 2021 Eicma show and is powered by a singlecylinder 450cc DOHC unit, housed in a double girder frame made from an aluminium front and steel rear. The bike has been developed with endurance rallying in mind, as evidenced by its 30-litre fuel tank which Fantic describe as being ‘Dakar proof’. Bumps and jumps are softened by KYB 48mm, fully adjustable forks and rear shock, with front wheel travel sitting at 310mm and 300mm available at the back. Instrumentation comes in the form of a shock, dust and waterproof, 7in display that can be controlled…

Q ‘Can I ride with a pacemaker?’ I will soon turn 70 and I have sent all my documents to the DVLA to renew my driving Licence. I have a car as well as my Norton motorcycle. In 2018 I had a pacemaker fitted that, along with medication, has cured my heart arrhythmia but the DVLA say I am unfit to drive/ride because of my pacemaker. Can this be appealed? My licence has not yet been revoked and we are still corresponding over the issue. Roger Simpson, email A After having a pacemaker fitted you can start driving again after one week as long as you don't have any symptoms (such as dizziness or fainting) that would affect your driving, you have regular checkups at the pacemaker clinic and you…

Readers Amy Kelham, Jake Davies family The trip NC500 How many miles? 753 miles (558 miles on the trike, the rest in a hire car) over a five-day period Best time to go Aug/Sept Tell us about the trip… I started to learn to ride a bike last year but then I suffered a TIA which put learning to ride on hold. Undeterred, I got a trike… a 1990 Pan European which I named ‘Big Betty’. Starting in Flint, North Wales, with me on Big Betty and my partner Jake on his 2017 Aprilia Tuono 1100 V4 Factory, we met his family down the road so there was a group of 11 of us in total.. We travelled to Helensburgh, doing the NC500 going East to West to visit Fort…

WEDNESDAY October 19 9pm, ITV4 NEW: The Motorbike Show THURSDAY October 20 2am, BTS2, Live MotoGP of Sepang, Malaysia: Free Practice 1 FRIDAY October 21 6.15am, Live MotoGP from Sepang, Malaysia: Free Practice 2 2.30pm, EUR2, Live WSB from Argentina: Free Practice 1 SATURDAY October 22 3pm, EUR2, Live World Superbikes from Argentina: Day 1. 3am, BTS2, Live MotoGP SUNDAY October 23 6am, BTS2, Live MotoGP 8,40am, ITV4, MotoGP Highlights 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 ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST…

Unlike service intervals, manufacturers won't tell you how often you should wash your motorcycle. Of course it will need to be cleaned when it gets dirty, but it isn't always obvious that a wash is required. When you ride on a rainy day, you can see the muck quite clearly, but in dry conditions, things like bug splat, brake dust and bits of tar thrown up from the road can easily be missed at first glance. For regular riders, you will probably need to wash your bike every couple of weeks in dry weather, and weekly when conditions are wet and wintry. If you only ride occasionally, then you should wash your motorcycle before putting it away. That might sound excessive, even obsessive, but this will remove any grime that…

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. MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK WEATHER WATCH…

‘BMW know how to do it’ When it comes to producing Luxurious, mile-munching touring bikes, BMW know exactly how to do it. Both the R1250RT and K1600GTL have ergonomics that have been fine-tuned over decades, superb road-holding and willing engines. They're unapologetically expensive, too, especially in these trim Levels, but in return you get the Latest gadgets that make every ride more comfortable, practical, safe and enjoyable. On paper the K1600GTL Looks hard to beat and it's an impressive tourer that could waft you to southern Europe in an instant. The star of the show is undoubtedly its six-cylinder engine which mixes sublime Low-down smoothness with growling urgency up top. It isn't a Lightweight by any stretch, which isn't a big deal the more you get used to it, but…

It's not often you get the opportunity to let rip on a 100+bhp adventure bike, but the Baja event at Sweet Lamb is the place to do just that and the perfect antidote to speed limits or the passiveaggressive ramblers you may encounter riding green lanes. The 13.5-mile lap, all on private land, was a pleasure to ride and a mix of fast gravel fire roads combined with more technical off-piste sections. As the man in charge Mark Molineux explained to me, the course has to be rideable for all abilities – they don't want people getting stuck. Turning up at the final round of the three-round series, it was clear that the vast majority of riders weren't here for a pootle – they'd come to race. There was a…

2 YEARS I think the key to the 70 Litre SW Motech 700 tail bag is its clever design. Where a lot of tail bags fall down, and I mean literally off one or the other side of the bike, the upside down ‘U’ shape of the bag helps it stay centred, as the two Lower parts of the pack sit neatly either side of the saddle. To add to this, I tend to put any heavier items into these sections for both stability and to keep any weight as Low as possible. This bag can be quickly, easily and securely attached to most bikes in a matter of minutes thanks to the four loop straps which connect the bag to the bike, two either side, one towards the front…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Keep them inline Make sure your wheels are running straight and true 1 Do a visual check If your bike is unstable at speed or you've noticed uneven tread wear on the front tyre then it's possible the wheels could be out of alignment. Crouch down and look from the top or bottom of the rear sprocket then shine a torch forward to the front sprocket. The chain should run perfectly straight. Anything other than this will require the chain/wheel to be adjusted. 2 No adjustment needed Some bikes do not require any special, care when it comes to wheel alignment. If you're the owner of a shaft-drive motorcycle then its rear wheel is permanently fixed in one place with no adjustment at all. Another…

Bringing you the inside line on the Brisish Superhike paddock 1 Rookie sensation Ray entered the British paddock via the 125cc category in 2011, finishing fifth overall in a campaign won by current teammate Kyle Ryde. Ray secured a best result of second at Donington Park. The following year, alongside his Red Bull Rookie campaign, Ray entered the MotoStar class onboard a 125 and finished runner-up to Luke Hedger despite missing multiple rounds. Ray won five races in total. 2 Taking on the world Ray spent three years in Red Bull Rookies/CEV Junior Moto3 from 201214, securing a victory at the CoTA, as well as podiums at Silverstone, Assen and Aragon. His best campaign was in 2014 when he finished fourth, ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu and Fabio di Giannantonio. Ray…

Maeving electric motorcycles may have found a new home after a last-minute call-up and some “full on” preparations saw them part of the Battersea Power Station grand opening event. Somewhat ironically, the former coal burning Grade II listed art-deco building now houses several electric vehicle manufacturers with Maeving representing two-wheelers. The pop-up shop comes as the company bade farewell to their London Bridge location. “We were offered the space last Tuesday,” said Chris Poolton, Sales and Marketing Executive at Maeving. “We thought you can't really say no to an event like this; Battersea Power Station opening. It's something even I've heard of in a Little farming town in the middle of Shropshire and if I have heard about it then it's huge.” The turnout had indeed been huge with thousands…

NEWS ANALYSIS Motorcycle fatalities have fallen to the lowest number in 10 years outside of lockdown-hit 2020. Newly published Department for Transport (DfT) statistics show 322 riders lost their lives in collisions involving another vehicle during 2021. The only year with lower numbers is 2020 with 299. If motorcycle-only accident fatalities are added, where no other vehicle was involved, the number rises to 341, also the lowest recorded number since 2012. Tony Campbell, CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), said: “It is encouraging to see the significant decline in motorcycle related fatalities.” He said the MCIA believe there are several reasons behind the improvement. They include steps forward with protective kit and electronics which are making bikes both easier and safer to ride. In addition he believes the greater…

THIS WEEK ‘We feel it will be our greatest sales success’ Electric brand Energica have plans to develop up to five new models based on the Experia adventure bike before the end of 2027. Sales Director Giacomo Leone confirmed the move at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany earlier this month. This is the first bike ot a range that we will develop based on the Experia,” Leone said. “We have a plan up to 2027.” The sales chief would not go into full details but did say that the plans will see four or five different machines all sharing a common motor/frame platform. Producing a claimed 1O1bhp, the trellis-framed Experia has a maximum battery capacity of 22.5kWh and a permanent magnet motor capable of around 120 miles between charges…

Drug dealer Steven Peter Reilly's illicit career came to an end after police spotted him riding without a helmet. Officers noticed two men loitering dose by, whom they discovered had been sold cannabis by Reilly. His home was searched where between £12,000 and £26,000 worth of cannabis, and the bike were located. He was jailed for five years and three months at Stafford Crown Court. Get set for Armoy The dates for the 2023 Armoy Road Races in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, have been confirmed as July 28-29. The Armoy Race Circuit is a 3.03-mile triangular course ridden in an anticlockwise clockwise direction. Last year saw Davey Todd set a lap record of 108.534mph. For more info, visit amrrc.com Elec-triathlon NIU have teamed up with British Triathlon, the governing body…

OUT AND ABOUT THE ROUTE • 45 miles • Next stop: Scarboroughs ‘Go east young man! Phil Wests crosses the moors to visit Yorkshire's east coast A ‘one road’ route that happens to link up the pretty market town of Thirsk with the coastal resort of Scarborough with 45 miles of the best of Yorkshire inbetween. After joining the A170, a fast, sweeping A-road, you soon find yourself joining the hairpins up Sutton Bank, which is great fun and delivers fantastic views. From here there's a fast middle section over the moors to Helmsley. After that it's resuming on the A170 past Kirkbymoorside, then Pickering all the way to Scarborough. Make your way down to the seafront, ride along the promenade and park up near the harbour to grab something…

What's happening? Weston-super-Mare seafront is set to be transformed this weekend for the 39th Weston Beach Race, which sees the beach become a six-mile circuit crammed with hundreds of up-for-it riders. But it's not just about the racers, spectators will have plenty to cheer about over the two days racing, and there are also plenty of stands along the main promenade to enjoy as well as a trade area nearby and trials demos, too. The essentials To get a glimpse of the action, head onlineto bag yourselves a ticket in advance. For an adult day ticket it's £22; £44 for the whole weekend. For kids, a day ticket is just £3 or £6 for the weekend, and for families it's £45 for the day and £90 for the weekend. If…

Riding bikes isn't just something we do at MCN, it's in our blood – in just the same way as it's in yours. Whether we're skinning our knuckles in the garage on an old project, reviewing all the latest new bikes, delivering the hottest news, or fighting for bikers’ rights – MCN brings you a whole world of biking every week. And if you become an MCN Member, you'll not only pay less than you would at the newsstand, but you'll also get a raft of other exclusive personal rewards and benefits as we build the best club in biking. Enjoy the ride, Become an MCN member from just £5.99* per month for full digital access on your new MCN app DIGITAL ONLY Read MCN on your phone or tablet…

Age 68 Height 5ft lOin Profession Retired police project manager Been riding 53 years Previous bikes Matchless G2.BSAA7, Honda VFR800, BMW R1200GS and two R1200RTs Having owned a Honda VFR800 I discovered the joys of BMW boxer twins. My first was a liquidcooled R1250GS and after that an RT. I'm on my third RT now and have done over 189,000 miles on them. The first one I ran through to 81,000 miles and I've done 30,000 miles on my current 2017 R1200RT, in the UK and on European trips. It's so easy to ride and it does everything I ask of it. The power is always there to accelerate out of corners and at higher revs it really goes. The engine braking and non-diving Telelever forks help bring the bike…

‘Affordable and fun, too’ I'll get straight to the point. The SM-XE is… well, it's alright. The engine packs a punch, the suspension's good and it rides well. In fact, despite its off-road set-up it's as good as Sinnis’ own Akuma on the road. I think it looks good, too, and better than the SM-R version. However, I'm not sure I'd want one because the dirt-bike seating is uncomfortable, its height makes it impractical, and it hasn't encouraged me to hunt out any trails. For the road, I prefer a pure road bike. But would I recommend the Sinnis if you live near Lots of off-road routes? Absolutely. It's affordable and fun to ride – and that's what it's for. THE FACTS £3476 Sinnis SM-XE 125…

It's worth keeping in mind that the alignment marks stamped onto the swingarms of some bikes can be inaccurate. So, if you're a bit of a perfectionist, or use your bike for high performance (either racing ortrackdays) then you should always measure each side. But there is another type of wheel alignment issue that cannot be cured with correct rear wheel adjustment – crash damage. If you have had a spill and made the necessary repairs to the bike, such as handlebars, levers etc and then subsequently it still doesn't feel quite right then it needs to be checked over by a specialist. Do a visual check looking from low down, viewing the front to the rear with the handlebars straight. You need to reference the rear and front wheels,…

SPORT Having made no secret of his desire to step up to the world stage, Rory Skinner has sealed a spot in next year's Moto2 World Championship with the American Racing Team. It initially appeared there was no room at the Moto2 inn for the 21-year old in 2023. But Cameron Beaubier's decision to quit Moto2 and return to the Moto America Superbike Championship at the dose of this year opened up a space for the Scot in the team, run by his personal managers Eitan Butbul and John Hopkins. Skinner, who finished eighth in this year's BSB Championship, is aware of the challenge ahead. But his experience of the class, when he made wildcard appearances for the team at the British and Austrian GPs, proved that he is a…

A whirlwind 24 hours descended into a home race nightmare for Ducati's Jack Miller at Philip Island. Just one day after the turn four hairpin was named Miller Corner, as a wedding gift from circuit owners, he was unceremoniously T-boned out of the race there by LCR Honda's Alex Marquez. Of the lap nine exit Miller said: “No hard feelings, we've all made mistakes. My balls have copped a bit of a hiding where they got jammed against the tank and the calf's a bit sore but it's all good.” Marquez apologised in the Ducati garage saying Miller had every right “to be angry”. ‘There's no hard feelings, we all make mistakes’…

Glenn Irwin ended his campaign like he started it, on top of the podium. Two victories and third ensure that the Honda Racing UK man ends 2022 as the best of the rest behind Bradley Ray. Such was Irwin's form towards the end of the season, paired with Ray's crash and lack of podiums at Brands, he was only 21 points adrift. No other rider has scored more points (155) than Irwin during this year's Showdown. The Northern Irishman took six podiums, two fourths and a fifth en route to his best-ever campaign finish. “It's been a fitting end to a fantastic season.” Irwin said. “I believe this is my foundation now and we're starting from here. I'm excited for the future now.” Irwin is riding on a crest of…

The finale proved to be a huge success for SYNETIQ BMW duo Andrew Irwin and Danny Buchan. Buchan secured a second and a third to take his season podium tally to four, while Irwin also matched his teammate's results. It's been a strong end to the year for the younger of the Irwin brothers, who has three podiums and four top fours from the final six races. The only blemish was the penalty points handed to him following contact with Jason O'Halloran in Race Two. I've turned my season and career around’ ANDREW IRWIN Still, it's been quite the turnaround after a touqh time. “I think everybody knows what went on in the middle of the year, and I probably let that affect my mental side, but it's about how…

Stuart Higgs, Series Director “From the moment he got on that Yamaha, that was the click-and everybody heard that click. We've seen it in the past, Hodgson on the INS Ducati or Brookes on the Milwaukee Yamaha; when you get to that point where it just clicks, everything starts rolling into one and things that would once have been DNFs or things going wrong, just don't go wrong anymore and you build that head of steam of confidence.” Kevin Ray, Dad “This championship success is not something you can put into words; it's unbelievable. It's what you always dream of and hope for… you just hope it comes along and keep working towards it. He's had some real big lows and nearly thought about quitting at one stage, but he's…