Table of contents for 05 April 2023 in MCN

THE TECH INSIDERS We get under the skin of the new 2023 BSB race bikes with exclusive insight from the teams’ technical gurus. THE RIDERS So, who will lift the title in 2023? Can a luckless Jason O’Halloran finally do it - and who else will be in the fight? THE ROOKIES No less than SIX new riders will enter the fray this year - we grab them for a natter… FIRST RIDE Multistrada V4 Rally's GS assault It's 20 years since Ducati shocked the world with their first Multistrada - a bike which MCN's editor described as looking like the illicit offspring of Cyclops and a wheelie bin (he actually loves them). But the firm have been closing the gap to the top of the adventure bike class ever…

A Ukranian app that turns a smartphone into a dashcam capabLe of uploading evidence straight to the police couLd Launch in the UK in this year, according to its maker. DashcamUa (or DashcamUK as it will be called here) uses your phone's camera hardware to capture a rolling 30 seconds of footage that overwrites itseLf as the vehicLe drives along. If the user feels the need to record something that has happened on the road more permanently, touching anywhere on the screen wiLL save the Last 30 seconds of footage. "The main idea of our start-up, and the whoLe product, actually, is reducing the amount of fatalities on the roads," DashcamUa founder, Oleksiy Afonin toLd MCN. “That is why we're focusing on violations Like running red Lights, illegal overtaking and…

Swedish electric motorcycle manufacturer Cake may have a solution to meet the demand for last mile delivery vehicles – a subscription service to rent modified Mukka and Ösa models. As reported in February the need for green delivery solutions for the billions of packages delivered to homes every year is what Institute of Couriers boss, Dr Tracey Worth described as “low hanging fruit” at this year’s Motorcycle Industry Association conference. Cake Subscribe allows businesses to rent a fleet of adapted e-bikes on a month-by-month basis with service and maintenance, normal tyre wear, and warranty issues included plus no milage limit or down payment. Jack Groves, Cake’s B2B lead, said: “Cake Subscribe has been launched across our European markets with the expectation of it becoming a significant business segment. “Subscribe is…

‘New SMT? I am getting excited!’ So I see KTM are bringing back their big supermoto, this time basing it around the parallel twin. I am genuinely quite excited about the 890 SMT as the old 990 SM and its slightly more touring-inspired SMT sibling are two of my favourite bikes. But will the new 890 SM be as good? I hope so but I'd still be tempted to buy an old 990 model over one. The 990 V-twin has a lovely lazy punch about it that the new 890 parallel twin's fasterrevving nature won't be able to replicate and I suspect the newer bike will be smaller than the 990, something a six-foot-plus rider like myself won't appreciate. Don't get me wrong, the 890 with its sportier chassis will…

1 April 8 South Midlands Autojumble The ever-popular South MidLands Autojumble is back this weekend with goodies, spares and bargains for just £4 entry! Open from 9am at the Ross-onWye Livestock Centre (HR97QQ). Time to have a rummage! www.southmidlandsautojumble.com 2 April 10 Red Marley Hillclimb With two new classes (Pre-74 cLassics and pre-81 twinshocks) Easter Monday just got more exciting with the Red Marley Hillclimb at Walsgrove Farm, Great Witley, Worcester. Entry is £10 with kids under 11 free. redmarleyhillclimb.com 3 April 7-9 Festival of Power The Easter weekend just got kicked up a gear at the famous Santa Pod dragstrip. With entertainment like the Jet Car Shootout, 300mph top fuel dragsters, as well as stunts, sideshows and funfair rides, you and the family will love every minute. Tickets £33, kids £5. santapod.co.uk…

FRIDAY April 7 9am, BTS3 FIM X-Trial World Championship Highlights 1.30pm, EUR2 Bennetts British Superbikes2022 Support Race of the Season, Donington SATURDAY April 8 8am, EUR2 Bennetts British Superbikes — 2022 Race of the Season 1pm, EUR2 Live Bennetts British Superbikes Silverstone Day 1. Highlights at 8pm SUNDAY April 9 1pm, EUR2 Live Bennetts British Superbikes SilverstoneDay2 4pm, EUR2 World Superbikes from Australia: Weekend highlights from the first weekend of the 2023 season 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…

Since 1995 all body armour fitted to motorcycle clothing must be tested and approved to the CE standard, but there is no requirement to supply a back protector with jackets. Some brands fit a CEapproved back protector as standard to their jackets. However, this isn’t always the case, so buying a back protector is one of the most popular armour upgrades. These are not particularly expensive - for example, Weise offer a replacement back protector for just £21.99. Another common reason to upgrade is to improve the performance of the armour, or because the old armour is worn out. Over time, armour can degrade and become less effective and cracking and hardening of the foam are typical signs of this. Alternatively, upgrading armour from CE Level 1 to the higher…

Brian Crighton has been one of Britain’s most innovative motorcycle engineers for over 50 years. He developed ram air and traction control before the Japanese, turned a police bike into a GP machine and created bikes that won a Senior TT and two British titles. And last year the 75-year-old launched the £95,000 Crighton CR700W track bike. Brian's remarkable engineering brain first came to the attention of race fans in 1973 when he won the British 50cc championship on a self-tuned Honda CR110 fourstroke, beating a swarm of Kreidler two-strokes. Working completely on his own, the young Crighton had developed a way of ‘seeing’ how gas flowed through the engine. “I dismantled the engine and attached a hose pipe to the inlet,” he says. “Obviously, I got soaked, but if…

‘Grunty and up for fun’ Indian's new Sport Chief is well built, classy, has a fantastic dash and works exactly as intended. It's a characterful, grunt-laden cruiser that loves to corner. Steering is accurate, brakes are strong and there's plenty of grip, but its lack of ground clearance quickly puts a stop to the fun. It also has an odd, hybrid riding position that's neither sporty nor comfortable over distance. Is it worth twenty grand? That kind of money will buy you a top-spec adventure, sports, naked or touring bike, but for a machine that's so single minded and relatively basic, the answer must be no. THE FACTS £19,995 (in black*) Indian Sport Chief…

Well connected… Fix up that dodgy wiring with a freshly crimped or soldered joint BRUCE’S TIPS You’ll need wire strippers, cutters, and a precision flathead screwdriver 1 Get equipped to crimp You’ve a couple of options for fixing a broken wire or connection – solder or crimp. The one you choose should depend on where and what you’re repairing. Most looms use crimped connectors which, when done properly, will create a join that will be weatherproof and resistant to vibration. First, make sure you have the OE type connectors and the right tools. 2 Assess the length This connector has previously been bodged up, and what little insulation there once was has perished. Thankfully, it’s easy to restore it to its original condition using the correct connector and pins. First, assess the…

MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 BEZZECCHI 50 Pts 2 BAGNAIA 41 Pts 3 ZARCO 35 Pts FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP 16 Binder 47.753 17 Bagnaia 48.106 FINAL POSITIONS SPRINT 11 Nakagami 5.574 12 Di Giannantonio 6.965 13 Zarco 7.568 14 Fernandez R 7.725 15 Rins 8.687 16 Fernandez A 9.04 DNF Espargaro A 8 laps DNF Mir 0 laps FINAL POSITIONS MOTO2 11 Gonzalez 15.581 12 Acosta 16.913 13 Vietti 17.135 14 Roberts 25.871 15 Aldeguer 27.388 16 Torres 31.901 17 Alcoba 32.583 18 VD Goorbergh 33.523 19 Baltus 33.755 20 Minamimoto 33.918 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO3 11 Azman 14.033 12 Bertelle 20.736 13 Fenati 26.304 14 Alonso 27.524 15 Whatley 37.275 16 Munoz 39.602 17 Almansa 41.959 18 Furusato 45.783 19 Ortola 47.086 20 Farioli 47.38…

Andrew Irwin is poised to return to the front this year after re-joining Honda -the team with which he scored three wins in 2020. That coincided with the launch of this current generation of Fireblade, the bike which has since gone through a huge development programme and ended last season second overall, with brother Glenn Irwin scoring more points than anybody in the Showdown. When you talk to Irwin about being back at Honda he can't take the smile off his face, and this was still the case after an extensive two-week testing schedule in Spain last month. Two private tests at Monteblanco and Andalucia were followed by three days at Navarra, where Irwin back-to-back tested two different Fireblades. He and the team are certainly putting the effort in to…

SAVE £2350 £13,999 KTM 1290 Super Duke R With arm-wrenching performance from a brilliant engine, the third-gen Super Duke R is one of the best super-nakeds you can buy. SP have just one R left in the sought-after teal colourscheme, as well as a 1290 Super Duke R Evo in the orange and silver livery with a tech pack fitted and enjoyng a similar saving. www.spmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £2182 £19,397 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX Along with great build quality and reliability, the supercharged engine in this huge performance sports tourer has loads of charm. www.blademotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 998cc • Power 197bhp • Weight 260kg • Seat height 835mm SAVE £1305 £8995 Aprilia RS660 Perfect step up the Ladder for newer riders, and for anyone who wants the thrill of a sportsbike…

ELectric superbike manufacturer Verge have appointed F1 legend Mika Hakkinen to their newLy created advisory board. He wiLL be joined by Mark WiLson, former CFO of Aston Martin Lagonda PLC as well as professionals from other fields including cyber security and artificial intelligence as they look to expand. “Our ambition is to grow quickly and expand our operations to more and more new markets," said Tuomo Lehtimäki, CEO of Verge Motorcycles. Suzuki summers Suzuki will be touring the UK as they embark on a dozen test ride summer roadshows with a fleet of on- and off-road focused machines. From April 8, when the roadshow visits Northern Ireland, the 2023 GSX-8S, their new 776cc parallel twin will be among the test ride fleet. Away from the test rides, Suzuki staff will…

DXR Blacksmith CE £179.99 Grab a new jacket for under £300 Once upon a time every biker wore a leather jacket, the tough hide being the ideal material for keeping us warm and protecting against road rash in a slide. These properties make them just as relevant today, so this week we’ve been digging around to see what we can bag for under £300. This retro styled DXR Blacksmith features distinctive quilting across the shoulders front and back, with a matching panel down both sides and ribbing on the elbows. Boasting an AA CE rating for abrasion and tear resistance, inside there’s a mesh lining for comfort and enhanced air circulation, plus a removable thermal liner for when temperatures drop. Armour for shoulders and elbows comes as standard, but this…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews 'Proper men at Elvington' John McGuinness’s assertion that the Portimao Grand Prix was like a club meeting at Elvington was way off the mark (MCN, March 29). A good 350 Proddy Racer would have wiped out half the field, knocked over the burger van and cut off the power supply to York. Proper men, not Spanish wimps. Brian Beck, email STAR LETTER Sammy's the best We were visiting friends in Christchurch and popped into Sammy Miller’s wonderful establishment. It is brilliant with around 500 bikes, and many makes you will never have seen before. We returned the following day for a longer visit it was that good. Keith Gamble, North Norfolk Buzzing about my Hornet I’ve just bought a new Honda Hornet- a fantastic little bike…

The devil must be a busy bloke. I've seen his staircase in New Zealand, his tower, bathtub, kitchen and garden in America, his window in Spain, his beef-tub in Scotland and he's left bridges all over the shop. One of the best, of course, is in Kirkby Lonsdale. This route heads out from Lancaster on the A683 to Kirkby LonsdaLe. Turn left on the A65 to go into Kirkby Lonsdale and turn right (by the speed camera) to Devil's Bridge then continue on the A683 to Casterton and Sedburgh. At the A684 turn left to Kendal, then after a mile and a half turn right to Tebay on the B6257-single-track in places. Turn left on the A685 into Kendal, cross the town and head back to Kirkby Lonsdale on the…

What's happening This year's Kickback Custom Show is back with a bang and promises everything you need for a great weekend. Not only is there a kick-butt custom show, you can take yourself and the kids for a free ride on the bumper cars, or take in the views on the ferris wheel. There’ll be stage shows and circus acts as well as fire performers and tattoo artists, so you won’t be at a loss for stuff to do. Top that with street food, coffee, bars and plenty of trade stalls and merch, why would you go elsewhere? The essentials Hosted at Manchester Central (M2 3GX) it’s £20 for an advanced online ticket, or it’s £25 to pay on the day. Kids under 12 go free, and doors open on…

THE MCN TEST • TEST HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £10,527 Kymco AK550 Premium • 550.5cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 50.3bhp @ 7500rpm • 237.5kg kerb weight £9449* SYM Maxsym TL 508 • 508cc Liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 44.9bhp @ 6750rpm • 227kg kerb weight £13,800 Yamaha TMAX Tech MAX • 562cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 46.9bhp @ 7500rpm • 220kg kerb weight Maxi scooters are huge across Europe but are all-to-often shunned by us Brits. Are we missing a trick? With all practicality of a scoot and the power of a proper motorcycle, there’s not much they can’t do. “I honestly don’t get why British riders haven’t taken to maxi scooters,” says fellow tester Alison Silcox, “looking at the spec, and having ridden…

‘A genuine GS beater’ Manufacturers far and wide have been trying to topple the mighty BMW R1250 GS and GSA for close to two decades, with questionable success… until now. The Multistrada V4 Rally offers a level of electronic and rider aid sophistication previously not seen in the adventure bike class. With its V4 engine and 170bhp on tap, the Ducati retains its ultimate performance bragging rights, but it’s its usability and the way it flatters the rider that are the game-changers here. The level of refinement and usable performance will benefit any rider who gets on it, regardless of their skill level or experience. THE FACTS £23,590 (base) Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally…

Oxford Mint 5-litre bike wash £19.99 Tested by Richard Newland for six months I ride all year in all weathers, so I get through A LOT of bike cleaner. One-litre bottles are a mere aperitif to my consumption, and with bike cleaners being pricy, it’s great that this Mint wash is available in a 5L size at sub £20. That’s about £1.35 per wash in winter and £1 per wash in summer. After a quick jet wash of major filth and gritty cling-ons, simply give the bike a uniform mist of Mint wash, leave for a couple of minutes, then agitate with a brush, and rinse… I’ve noted zero filmy deposits, residues or negative reactions to any surface/finishes – just a superbly clean motorcycle emerging from the minty freshness. Superb.…

‘The teeth were so hooked it looked like a throwing star’ BMW owners are generally mature and therefore vaguely sensible and conscientious, but one F800 owner made a schoolboy error that GP Motorcycles in Pontypridd had to sort out for him. GP owner Simon Harris said: “The owner rang and said ‘there’s a clattering sound every time I change gear. I think the chain needs adjusting’, so I told him to bring it in.” The bike was a 2013 model and in good nick at first sight, but the chain was doing a good impression of a hammock! Simon specialises in restoring classic two-strokes, with a row of pristine Yamaha RD350LCs that would make anyone who was a teenager in early 1980s start reaching for their credit card, but he still…

Emilio Alzamora, an instrumental part of Marc Marquez’s career, will be a regular face in World Superbikes for the rest of 2023. The Spaniard, famous for running the Monlau squad behind the Estrella Galicia setup, also memorably clinched the 125cc Grand Prix title in 1999 despite not winning a single race all season. Spaniard Alzamora has joined forces with Lorenzo Baldassarri and GMT94, who didn’t test in Barcelona but did ride a stock bike at Misano on Thursday and Friday. “The Misano races will be our true start to the season as Lorenzo will have more experience of riding a 1000cc bike,” Team Principal Christophe Guyot told MCN. “We’re also thrilled to welcome Emilio Alzamora as Balda’s manager and coach. He’s a very nice guy and we have a great…

SPORT It was a moment of MotoGP madness. Brad Binder surged from fifteenth to first in just three laps and then hung on tenaciously for the Sprint race win on a sunny Saturday. It was the South African’s first MotoGP win since Austria in 2021 and evidence that the Sprints deliver on the promise of a bewildering combination of the bold and the bizarre. That said they count for just half points and no grand prix win credit. Was this deserving of more? Binder, with a superaggressive but clever inside line at turn one, gained 12 places on the first lap that was the catalyst for him to beat Italian starlet Marco Bezzecchi to the flag. The Sprint again showed the potential of the new KTM RC16 and Binder’s unique…

Freddie Spencer’s stewards panel has been busy this season, flinging out sanctions like a sinking ship's captain jettisoning unpopular passengers. All in the name of improving safety, for sundry offences, including being “overly ambitious” (which some might consider normal, in this context). More safety is of course a noble aim. Given the slew of injuries so far (Bastianini, Pol Espargaro, Marc Marquez, Oliveira and now Mir) it is chilling to think how much worse it might have been without the stewards’ influence. Particularly in the thrillingly lunatic new sprint races. It's less the penalties and more the inconsistencies that upset teams and riders. For starters, the cost of a long-lap penalty varies from one circuit to another. Then there is the arbitrary nature of decisions. In Portugal, Marini knocked Bastianini…

2 Sunday’s race was only the second time in history that Ducati has taken all three podium places 8 Bezzecchi is the eighth different rider to have won in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP 12 Bezzecchi becomes the 12th different Ducati rider to win in MotoGP 28 Ducati has now had at least one bike on the podium in the last 28 GP races 42 Ducati has had at least one bike starting from the front row in the last 42 GPs 133 Bezzecchi is the 133rd premier class winner in history and 34th in MotoGP…

Hello and welcome to MCN's 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Season Preview. There's a sense of freshness heading into the new season, a feeling that BSB has been given a much-needed reboot and a big shake-up. The grid has undergone its biggest change in recent memory. The last two champions, Tarran Mackenzie and Bradley Ray are now in the WorLd Superbike Championship paddock, whilst nine members of the 2022 grid have swapped teams. Not only that, but we have SIX rookies joining the premier class of British motorcycle racing, three of whom enter the Superbike class as reigning support class champions. That number is bumped up to four thanks to Jack Kennedy's return. But that's not all. The Showdown, as we know it, has gone. In its place is a…

#5 Dean Harrison DAO Racing Kawasaki No change for Harrison as he continues with the DAO Racing squad, getting in all-important track time ahead of this year’s Isle of Man TT races. #8 Hector Barbera TAG Racing Honda The former MotoGP rider returns having previously raced with OMG Racing in 2020, securing a best result of 10th. #21 Luke Mossey L1 Racing BMW The former British Superbike race winner remains with the revamped L1 Racing squad onboard the BMW M1000RR and will be looking to add to his victory tally. #34 Liam Delves Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki Liam Delves enters his sophomore campaign hoping to break into the points after a season best of 16th during 2022. #79 Storm Stacey GR Motorsport The 19-year-old from Shropshire enters his fourth BSB…

Squire, in collaboration with Image4Security, have released the Squire Guardsman barrier for sheds and garages. When not in use, the arm can be retracted and lifted out of the way, while the device itself features anti-tamper fixings. The garage Guardsman retails from £799 and the shed version starts at £599. For more details, seewww.squirelocks.co.uk. Life-saving rideout The Bike4Life charity ride takes place on April 23 and will see thousands take to a 23-mile route for the Midlands Air Ambulance. It begins at 11am at Meole Brace park and ride near Shrewsbury and ends at RAF Cosford with a festival featuring live music, food and helicopter tours. Former special forces soldier Ollie Ollerton will lead the ride while Carl Fogarty and Steve Parrish will be there too. www.bike4lifefest.com Bologna's billion Euro…

Suzuki have launched a new Service Activated Warranty which, following a service, automatically extends a motorcycle's care period after the initial three years are up. To activate the warranty, Suzuki riders need to book in with a dealer within the Suzuki network for the next scheduled service after the initial warranty service expires. The add-on warranty then stays in place until the next qualifying service, and is then renewed, up to a maximum vehicle age of seven years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first. The extended warranty is free of charge and can aLso be enjoyed by owners of second-hand machines, even if any original warranty has expired and if there's been a gap in the service history. Providing the new owner has their motorcycle serviced at an official Suzuki…

THIS WEEK Derbyshire police have taken delivery of a new weapon in the fight against motorcycle crime, anti-social behaviour and illegal riding in their county – a fleet of Honda CRF300L enduro bikes. Equipped with blue lights and sirens, the bikes will be ridden by trained officers in known crime hotspots. “My budget for 2022-23 made our Roads Policing Unit more resilient with investment in new vehicles and resources,” said Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster. “In the coming year there will be further investment. These off-road bikes will help Derbyshire Constabulary’s police officers tackle a raft of crimes which blight our neighbourhoods. They will play an important role in the work to tackle the anti-social and criminal use of motorcycles, as well as a range of rural problems…

A stars and stripes cavalcade of intrepid fundraisers dressed as Evel Knievel will attempt to raise thousands for the NSPCC in late May by covering more than 1000 miles across Wales on motorcycles. Now in its twelfth year, the Ride Cymru Knievels charity challenge will see a maximum of 50 riders set off from Wrexham on Thursday, May 25 before visiting a number of checkpoints including Anglesey and Pembrey race circuits, as well as Swansea’s transport museum. The special event will see most riders coming from across the UK, while Jee Pender from Tel Aviv in Israel will be travelling more than 2300 miles to make the start line. Anyone else wanting to join in the fun must source sponsorship as a condition of entry, as well as sorting their…

Furygan Overtake One Piece Race Suit £999.99 With three years of research into ergonomics driving its development, not to mention input from Furygan’s WSB and MotoGP riders, the Overtake assumes top spot in Furygan’s range of track-ready suits. Morpho stretch panels ensure plenty of mobility, with perforated areas for ventilation and neoprene inserts providing comfort at the collar and cuff. www.furygan.com Spada Hairpin 2.0 ladies' jacket £79.99 Designed specifically for the female rider, the updated Hairpin has AA approval and comes with a five-piece set of CE Level 2 armour. The double stitched soft-shell construction includes a waterproof membrane, soft microfleece collar and a removable hood. It has adjustable ergonomics and is available in grey, black or red. www.spadaclothing.co.uk ByCity Roadster II helmet from £165 This retro styled lid is…

Q ‘Can I ride over pavement?’ My neighbours have complained about me parking my bike on the sLabbed area at the front of my house and crossing the pavement to get it there. They think that I need permission to keep my bike there and that I need to apply for a dropped kerb directly outside my property, instead of using the one at the end of the pavement. I have parked motorcycles this way for over 10 years, but they have now threatened to contact the council about it. I have checked with the police and am satisfied that I'm allowed to keep my bike on my property without committing an offence, but I've 'You are OK to go for a short distance’ had difficulty finding a definitive answer…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Chris Wall (plus wife, Jill, as pillion) The ride South Turkey Tour booked with Turkey Motorbike Tours (turkeymotorbiketours.com) When to do it Mid-October to midNovember. Autumn on the route is mild and generally dry How many miles 1633 Don't miss this… There were so many highlights: Lake Salda, known as the 'Maldives of Turkey' due to the contrasting white salt beach and blue waters, ascended to twice the height of Ben Nevis, stayed in a pension at 3500ft, overlooking the stunning 482 sq km Lake Eğirdir. In Cappadocia, we enjoyed two nights in a luxury (en-suite!) cave-hotel and then on to Konya, with a visit to a thousand-seater auditorium, to see a mystical Whirling Dervish ceremony. Pamukkale (cotton castles) is an area of geological…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday April 5 BIKE MEETS ■ Outkast Co, Matlock, Derbyshire 6-9pm ■ MFN, Stanton By Dale, Derbyshire Facebook: MFN Bike nights ■ King Billy Rock Bar, Northampton Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northants 4pm ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks 01977-684618 ■ The Old Stores, Mold, Flints 6pm9pm 07548-224866 ■ Loomies, West Meon, Hants. www.Loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm SPEEDWAY ■ Oxford Cheetahs, Cowley www.oxfordspeedway.club TRIAL ■ Scottish Six Day Trial, Fort William, Highlands wwwssdt.org Thursday April 6 BIKE MEETS ■ Iron Horse, Market Deeping, Lincs 5pm-9pm 01778-346952 ■ Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Ashfield Bike Meet, Bull & Butcher Selston, Notts…

‘Time to sell the car…’ Having Lived with these three maxi-scoots and used them for far more than just commuting, could ALison see herself swapping the second car for one? It's a genuine possibility. “The small capacity petrol and electric commuters we previously tested felt like disposable products, a criticism that most certainly can’t be levelled at a maxi-scooter. They are a serious financial commitment, but you are getting a ‘proper’ motorcycle for your investment – just one that happens to be a scooter in style,” she concludes. “I enjoyed riding all three, but the clear winner is the TMAX. It’s the most expensive but also the best and I would consider owning one instead of a second car. I’d be more than happy to have one to replace my…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 3000 miles ON TEST Rukka Virium £180 Tested by Steve Herbert-Mattick for 18 months The CE Level 1 Virium aren’t new and are well known amongst vegan bikers. Fully waterproof, windproof and breathable Gore-Tex X-TRAFIT fabric means you can control touchscreen devices without having to take your gloves off (although cheaper phone cases with flexible plastic windows can interfere with it). The construction is stiff to begin with, making them feel awkward and the toughness of the extra grip palms and Gore-Tex fabric doesn’t flex well. Stick with them though, and once broken in they’re supple and soft after a few dozen miles with no loss in performance. The price is eye-watering for a three-season glove but they feel genuinely built to last.…

Resurgence Sherpa Pekev jacket £315 Tested by Simon Relph for 18 months I was attracted to the Sherpa jacket as I ride a lot of classics and wanted something that looked old-school but offered 21st century protection. It gives the impression it is an ordinary 12oz denim jacket, but with its Sherpa fleece non-removable lining it is toasty warm and can be worn on all but the hottest of days. Because of its flexible build and design, it’s a great riding jacket and is non-restrictive. It fits really well and the jacket has strong, metal YKK zips. Once zipped up, it can be opened both top and bottom. Cuffs have both zips and adjustable poppers with two settings on the poppers to tighten or loosen the cuff to help the…

Replacing a connector or making an inline repair is a satisfyingly simple operation, especially when you’re replacing a connector that’s common and easy to source. However, things can get a little more tricky when you’re not able to track down the original type of connector. Fortunately, I’ve found CycleTerminal.com, and these guys have the biggest range of connectors, particularly Japanese OEM stuff. And although you may baulk at the prices, repairing with original spec bits will be way cheaper than replacing a standard loom. I recently got asked about sorting out some wiring on a Yamaha MT-07 because the price of a new loom was £906! I don’t bother getting involved with in-depth re-wiring and constructing of looms, as this is the domain of a specialist like Rupert Paul (Rupesrewires.com).…

SPORT BARCELONA TEST | WSB / ROADS There was a sense of worry around the World Superbike paddock at last week’s Barcelona test. Worry that Alvaro Bautista really is on a different planet. And rubbing salt into the wounds for Yamaha and Kawasaki, Honda appear to have also made huge strides. The two-day test came in dry but gusty conditions at the Catalan venue. Annoyingly for riders, the track is a real tyre-eater, meaning that with a limited supply, it was difficult to assess bike changes. The first challenge was getting safely out of the garages over a layer of dust from the new VIP building being constructed. Barcelona’s timing tower is also receiving a makeover for 2023. It was business as usual as Bautista registered a 1:40.459 time, just 0.051…

You just can’t call MotoGP this year. Binder coming from the sixth row to win the Sprint race? How do you predict that? Plus we had Morbidelli up there and it's hard to get your head around that one too. It's just so hard to call. Take last week, in my column I said Morbidelli was riding around wasting fuel and seven days later I’ve got egg on my face! It just proves that even though we've all done a bit, you just can't call it. The way they were riding was insane - they made it look like it was dry. I mean, elbows down in the wet! They were running over kerbs, doing over 200mph down the back straight and then they're getting the rear wheel off the…

Pecco Bagnaia's appetite for self-destruction came back to haunt the reigning World Champion in Argentina at the weekend. Only the greatest comeback in history sparred his blushes after five DNFs threatened to derail his title challenge last season. Old habits die hard it seems as Bagnaia botched his Lines in Sunday's rain-soaked Grand Prix. A safe second had seemed certain to cement his early series lead before he slid out at turn 13 with nine laps of the main event remaining. The blunder quickly drained away all the early momentum gained from his spectacular Sprint and Grand Prix double in Portimao just a week ago. “I'm very upset," bemoaned Bagnaia afterwards. He added: “I was wondering this year if I was a better rider, more precise, without mistakes, but the…

“I just spoke with Vale and told him today's obviously different but I have the same feeling. I have a big emotion because this project started in 2014 with our Moto3 team. Then we entered Moto2 with the same guys. I gave all my experience. We have a lot of passion. We have great riders, we brought them through the Academy. This makes it even more special. To see Marini on the podium yesterday, and Bezzecchi winning today and first in the championship, first in the Team’s Championship, and it’s in our second year! Woah, it’s like a dream. Bezz is a dark horse! He’s a fantastic guy.”…

It was heartbreak again in 2022 for Jason O'Halloran. He'd done everything right, and peaked at the right time, only to be taken out twice at Oulton Park. It was thesame venue which ended his 2021 title hopes. O'Halloran's body was battered and bruised, a problem made worse after running into Tom Sykes at Donington and then being taken out by Andrew Irwin at the finale. “I lost faith in the job," the Aussie admitted to MCN in the off-season as he seriously considered his BSB future, but ultimately put pen to paper for a fifth consecutive title bid with McAMS Yamaha. And with the Showdown now history that's one less thing for O'Halloran to worry about - especially since he would have won the 2021 title had the format…

#54 Tim Neave Team McAMS Yamaha Age 27 Hometown Saxby, Lincolnshire Favourite circuit? Silverstone, because that’s where I’ve had my strongest results. Donington and Cadwell from a riding point of view, they’re more rewarding. Career highlights? My Superstock victory at Donington Park last year. That’s the best race I’ve done for sure! Approach to rookie season? just want to get used to the bike. There’s no pressure from the team or my crew chief Mike [Norton]. It’s just about finding our feet, learning how we need to ride and then adapt accordingly. I need to enjoy it without any expectations, see how we’re getting on and then assess things later with regards to targets. I haven’t left any stone left unturned in order to give myself the best chance because…