Table of contents for 7 February 2024 in MCN

TOP STORY Fresh hopes for a new threecylinder Yamaha R9 sportsbike have been ignited within the World Supersport paddock, following claims that the brand will be switching from the four-cylinder R6 to a new MT-09 derived racer for the 2025 season. Kervin Bos, who is the Team Manager at Yamaha Ten Kate Racing – winners of the 2021 and 2022 WSS titles with Dominique Aegerter – spoke to MCN and confirmed the switch, also stating that little to no official detail on the finished machine is currently available. “Everything is really unclear. The only information that we have is basically on the racing model,” he said. “The racing model is already in heavy development. “The only thing I can tell you for sure is next year in World Supersport the…

Save the date sidecar fans, a group of three-wheeled racing machines are set to take to the Goodwood Motor Circuit for the first time ever at the club's 81st Members’ Meeting. The weekend promises an access-all-areas event for members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club, established in 1998 by the Duke of Richmond, and is scheduled to go ahead on April 13-14. Spectators are given the chance to enjoy a variety of sessions, from Saturday's qualifying to Sunday's Sidecar Shoot-Out – the first modern vehicle head-to-head to take to the circuit since 1966. The competition promises to showcase a mixture of high speeds and tight turns, all making for a close and exciting weekend of racing. Pre-1984 250cc and 350cc Grand Prix motorcycles, as well as pre-1973 Formula 750s will…

‘More likely that reckless drivers will be caught’ Devon & Cornwall Police received more than 6000 videos from disgruntled motorists in 2023, making it a record breaking year for the force's Operation Snap campaign. Set up in 2019 in a bid to reduce traffic offences, the system allows members of the public to submit snippets of recorded evidence via an online portal. Since its introduction, almost 10,000 motorists have been reprimanded – with officers receiving footage from sources including dashcams, motorcycle helmet cameras, video doorbells, and more. “More people are using dashcams and helmet cameras than ever before – but also more members of the public are now aware of Op Snap and understand that they have the power to do something about poor driving,” the force's Head of Road…

Rachel Leply has completed the feat of becoming the first women to travel by motorcycle through all 48 contiguous states of the United States of America in just 48 days. The journey saw the adventurer meet incredible characters along the way, as well as enduring every weather type imaginable, from freezing cold, to storms and scorching sunshine. Despite the 21,000-mile journey before her, Rachel chose an unconventional bike, shunning boxer twins clad with aluminium panniers in favour of a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 that she named Stella, which had been provided by Enfield to support the record attempt. Like all great adventures, the journey was packed with highs and lows. Rachel was witness to a serious crash in Arizona, but balanced the challenges faced with a positive attitude throughout. “I…

THIS WEEK Guy Martin has been confirmed as starring at this April's Classic Motorcycle Show. Martin will appear on the Sunday of the weekend event, which takes place on April 20-21 at the Stafford County Showground, with adult day tickets costing £20. “Guy Martin has become a beloved figure in the world of motorcycles, with his charismatic personality and impressive career,” exhibition manager, Nick Mowbray said. “I am sure this really will be a date for the diary!” Visitors can expect to see thousands of bikes, plus trade and club stands. Plus there is an autojumble on site, so you can go rummaging to find the missing piece of your latest project. Guy will be entertaining crowds with stories of his Isle of Man TT successes, as well as the…

Honda have revised their Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) system for 2024, installing a new version within the Africa Twin adventure series promising greater slow-speed feel and improved cornering detection for a better shifting experience. The factory have been offering a DCT system on their bikes since the 2009 VFR1200F sports-tourer and have since shifted more than 240,000 machines equipped with it in Europe alone. Alongside the standard and Adventure Sports Africa Twin models, DCT is also available on bikes including the NT1100 tourer, GL1800 Gold Wing family, CMX1100 Rebel cruiser, plus the X-ADV maxi scooter crossover. Unlike a conventional manual motorcycle gearbox, a DCT system acts like a semi-automatic. It can shift gears for you, with the option to manually change via up and down triggers on the left handlebar…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Johnny Winfield The ride The Long Way Round (apologies to Ewan & Charley) How many miles 3039 How long do you need? Eight days at +/- 380 miles/day Tell us about the trip… Departing from my home in Knysna, a seaside village on the Garden Route in the Western Cape, I proceeded east on a counterclockwise journey of South Africa. It was a nostalgic trip, visiting the nine towns and cities that I have lived in, and educational establishments I have attended. From Knysna, I left on an unusually cool and damp day, with a light drizzle that was to follow me on and off for four of the eight days I spent riding. My first stop was Makhanda (previously Grahamstown), where I attended…

‘He made sure everything kept operating’ Kevin Schwantz, 1987-1995 “My take is: you're not managing the team at the races. Everything is set by the beginning of the season. Garry was just there at the back of the garage, in case an issue came up. He would stand back and watch. He made sure everything kept operating. He could see I was pretty unhappy as the season went on in 1991, and it was Garry's doing to get Stu Shenton in for 1992. With the experience he brought, that was the biggest step, and 1993 was our year.” ‘There wasn't a lot of money, but it was the best time of my life’ Rob McElnea, 1984-5 & 1988 “After Suzuki pulled out they left a full factory team to match…

2000 MILES ON TEST Alpinestars Bionic Tech V2 £264.99 I'm a big fan of going off-road, but unfortunately, off-roading isn't a big fan of me. I'm not shy of falling off and even though this jacket has seen crashes in the double digits (it's amazing what MX and enduro does) not only has it always kept me safe and intact, but it has held up impressively well too. There's a shed-load of armour that covers everything important, from the hard back and chest protection to the kidney belt and the abrasion-resistant material that it's constructed from. It fits perfectly snug to the skin too and is not only comfortable enough to wear all day without any issues at all, but is also well ventilated for when things get a bit…

Prefers performance to plodders, rides all year in all weathers You would usually find Steve's happy face peeking out at you for an update on the Tracer's latest movements, but having tried to get his leg to bend at a designated point which nature deemed better served by a nice straight bone in its original design, he's not been able to ride this month. Steve's misfortune coincided with Ducati asserting that they really did own the Multistrada V4 Rally and wanted it back – so I've stolen the GT+ with no small amount of excitement and interest. Sorry Steve. The big climb-down The GT+ and Ducati's V4 Rally aren't trying to play the same game, but they do deliver a huge range of similar rider benefits – so while we…

Who misses the tax disc? Sure, I don't miss queuing up in the Post Office to buy one, but I do miss the visual reference they gave you. These days, with everything being paperless, it can be quite an administrative challenge to keep on top of when your MoT runs out or what's SORN'd or not, and it's a proper headache if you have multiple bikes. But there's no excuse for not having everything in place before you head out on the road, especially with the DVLA's online checking service; enter your reg into vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk and the status of your bike's road fund licence and MoT are displayed in an instant, along with the exact date that each one expires. That just leaves you to check that your insurance is…

Leading road racing photographer and journalist After a summer of sickness and a winter of soul searching, Conor Cummins is set to return to the start lines of the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 in Milenco Padgett's Honda colours for 2024. The 37-year-old suffered one of his toughest TTs last season when he was hospitalised mid-event by a debilitating virus that left him ill and exhausted. The man from Ramsey had already been forced to pull out of the North West 200 a fortnight earlier when he injured his knee after clouting a kerb during the opening night of racing. Drawing upon the remarkable tenacity he displayed in overcoming the serious injuries he suffered in a massive 2010 Senior TT crash, Cummins battled back after missing qualifying…

“Better but still some way to go.” That was the assessment of Honda's riders, who utilised the factory's new concessions in the three-day session to assess progress made from last November. Repsol riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini talked-up Honda's efforts over the winter months, and the variety of parts available to test – all a far cry from its disastrous Sepang test a year ago. Both had two bikes apiece (one machine they previously tried at Valencia, and an evolution on that). The evolution, according to Marini, was a strong step forward. Last year's uncompetitive machine was nowhere to be seen. Mir was sixth fastest, 0.3s off Acosta's fastest time, Marini eighth, 0.7s back. Both trailed LCR Honda's new signing Johann Zarco (third, +0.2s). “It's clear there is progress,”…

WELCOME On a crisp Autumn day back in 2002 I found myself in a strange motorcycling heaven just a couple of miles from my front door. I was piloting a new Honda FireBlade and enjoying one of my favourite Kent roads – the B2042 that swoops from Riverhead to Four Elms. The reason for the ride was the opportunity to visit the Suzuki grand prix headquarters, which was nestled away on an anonymous industrial estate in Edenbridge. And the man in charge of the whole outfit back then was Garry Taylor (page 48). On arrival at the externally unimpressive looking facility, we were ushered inside, and it revealed itself to be nothing less than an Aladdin's cave of hero bikes stacked like toys on a shop shelf. Garry gave us…

Places are now on sale for the twelfth Bike4Life Ride Out & Festival, with more than 3500 bikers expected to attend in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. The airborne lifesavers have completed some 74,623 missions since they began in 1991, receiving no funding from central Government. This is despite it costing between £13-£14million a year to maintain their three helicopters and fleet of critical care cars. “Each year, the motorbiking community comes out in full support of our charity by taking part in our Bike4Life Ride Out,” head of fundraising and engagement, Emma Wood, said. “Their presence on the roads on the day not only helps to raise awareness of our service and biker safety, the riders taking part are also raising vital funds to help save lives…

KTM's 2024 Europe Adventure Rally is gearing up for its seventh incarnation from October 7-10. Covering 800km of on- and off-road riding, the event will send 250 orange-blooded enthusiasts through Portugal's Algarve. The rally begins in the coastal city of Lagos, from where riders can tackle the event in guided groups or opt to go it alone, following ‘Rally style’ GPS instructions. All skill levels are welcome; however, a series of special stages will be in place for veteran adventures to test their mettle and machines. KTM adventure ambassadors, including Chris Birch will be in attendance and a host of expert KTM techs will be on hand. If you're feeling the itch for an adventure abroad head to ktm.com to register. Prices are €1390 (around £1189, excluding flights).…

Old-school bike aficionados Elk Promotions will kick-start their season with the Ardingly Classic Bike Show & Jumble on March 24 at the South of England Showground. Tickets for the Sunday event cost £7 with kids under 16 going free. Early-bird tickets granting early entry can be purchased on the door or in advance for £10. ‘Show bikes, trade stalls and more besides’ Now entering its 18th year, the show promises its usual array of attractions for classic enthusiasts with almost two acres of space to play with. This includes various show bikes, trade stalls and a bike-only jumble for those eager to grab a bargain or elusive part. To enter your own bike, sign up for a Workshop Clear-Out plot or buy visitor tickets, head over to elkpromotions.co.uk now.…

Take a trip down memory lane at this month's Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show with a 60-bike display celebrating the 40th anniversary of the National Motorcycle Museum. Titled a Celebration of Innovation, the collection will feature machines from the pioneer era, through the world-beating Brits of the 1960s and beyond – showcasing the evolution of the bikes and riders that have shaped our world. Celebration of British motorcycling history The pop-up museum is a treasure trove for enthusiasts of all ages. You can marvel at a 1902 210cc Singer ‘Wonder wheel’, one of the earliest production motorcycles. You'll also see a 1913 Matchless v-twin works racer, only half a dozen of these works racers were ever made and this is the only surviving example. And for those with a…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Nigel Simms’ first bike. He was 18 in this photo, is 78 now and looking forward to biking for many more years. Ruth Fordham I completed my training, passed my Mod 2 and am now the proud owner of a Ducati Monster 796. Claire Sutton I got it from A &A Cox Grantham and rode home but ended up wrecking it riding round Dogsthorpe Star pit. Mark Gorman 18 years old cleaning my RD400E. If anyone is the keeper of GEH 110T. I would be interested in seeing it again. Paul Hardy My first bike back in 1981, a Honda 250 Superdream. At 60 I'm now riding a Royal Enfield 650 Super Meteor. Andy Fry My 1977 CZ bought new from a dealer…

February 10-11 Classic Dirt Bike Show The Classic Dirt Bike Show is back at the Telford International Centre (TF3 4JH) this weekend. This annual event brings the biggest and brightest names in the dirt scene and will allow you to get up close to stunning off-road metal. You can grab a ticket now for £20 in advance or you can buy on the gate, too. classicdirtbikeshow.co.uk February 11 Fred Hill Run To honour Fred Hill - an avid campaigner against the helmet law when it was introduced, serving 31 prison sentences between 1976 and 1984 - the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is coming together across the country for a rideout. There are meeting points across the country including the Ace Café in London at 11am. mag-uk.org February 11 Amici Biker…

FIRST RIDE Once bursting with savage, 600cc supersport screamers, the middleweight sports bike class has transformed itself over the past 15 years. For better or for worse, the sector is now populated by an array of machinery with double-digit horsepower figures that are designed to be more affordable, with a calmer, more relaxed riding position and a style that is better suited for the road. Honda's CBR650R, Kawasaki's Ninja 650, Yamaha's R7 and Aprilia's RS 660 all fit the bill, alongside Triumph's new Daytona 660. So, with only a few tweaks from their naked GSX-8S in the form of suspension, fairings and riding position, have Suzuki done enough with their new GSX-8R to make it a serious contender? Sensible sport Looking at those monstrously high clip-ons from afar, it doesn't…

FIRST RIDE The original Eliminator was one of the more bonkers bikes in Kawasaki's mid 1980s line-up, a drag strip- inspired straight-liner powered by the firm's flagship Ninja 900 mill that could nail 60mph in under three seconds. Fast forward 40 years and the name is back, only this time on an A2-friendly, half-litre machine aimed squarely at new riders and those moving up to a first big bike. First impressions of the new Eliminator 500 centre around the long, low and lean profile, with all components blacked out save for the light lenses, downpipes and brake discs. The shallow fuel tank and bobbed rear bodywork flow with the horizontal lines to echo that quarter-miler heritage, while the stripped-back style leaves nothing to the imagination. The SE model on test…

AUGUST 23, 1949 – JANUARY 30, 2024 Garry Taylor 1949-2024 When Garry Taylor, former manager of the Suzuki Grand Prix team, died on January 30 at the age of 74, it marked the end of an era. Taylor was the last British team manager in motorcycle GPs, at the head of the last England-based factory team. He was also a noted paddock character, a gifted raconteur, an important talent-spotter, and the instantly recognisable figure who not only worked with Barry Sheene at the height of his fame, but also with Kevin Schwantz throughout the Texan's glittering grand prix career. Finally, he took on Kenny Roberts Junior, giving Suzuki an unexpected last two-stroke title. To many inside racing, the affable and unflappable Englishman's most notable success, showing a core of steely…

FIRST RIDE BMW's CE 02 was first seen as a concept in 2021, before being announced as a production model last year. Looking remarkably similar to its original design brief, it's the firm's only bike that can be ridden on an A1 licence, or L-plates. Tested in its highest capacity (14.8bhp) guise, the electric £8450 CE 02 (as standard) is capable of 60mph and 56 miles of range. With a thin, 750mm bench seat, 14in rims with oversized balloon tyres, a single-sided swingarm, and comfortable flat bars, it's a styling departure from the BMW norm - a deliberate move in an attempt to snag a new segment of the market, uninterested in combustion. It's aimed at the next generation, who were working iPads by the time they started nursery. Pulling…

Tours for fun and has garage full of eclectic motorcycles I've covered more than 3000 solo miles on the Zero DSR X, so thought it was time to take a back seat, literally, and spent the day at the mercy of Chief Road Tester, Michael Neeves, with him at the helm and me perched on the pillion. I was curious to find out how comfortable the Zero is two-up and if the extra load would make the battery run down faster. With that in mind I devised a 30-mile loop which mixed motorway, A-roads and country lanes. The idea was for us to do a two-up lap first, then for Neevesy to ride the same route solo. The bike was in Eco mode at all times and we stuck to…

‘The right mindset will boost your ride’ What better way to prep for an action-packed year of motorcycling than spending a bit of time with MCN's Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves as he shares some wise words in a whole new special series of Bootcamp videos? Whether you've been battling through Britain's wet and windy winter or tucked up indoors awaiting warmer weather, you are guaranteed to find plenty of essential riding tips in this new video series to help make your Spring rides the best ever. A total of six videos will be released via MCN's YouTube channel from Wednesday, February 21, with the first episode covering speed management. Neevesy is joined by MCN reader Gavin Freeman as they ride the challenging roads that often feature in MCN road…

Conor Cummins’ decision to continue racing in the Milenco Padgett's livery was music to the ears of Clive Padgett, the veteran boss of the Yorkshire-based Honda squad. “Conor has been with us since 2016 and I am really chuffed he is going racing with us again in 2024,” Padgett said. “We sold Conor his first race bike, a RS125cc Honda, when he was just 16 and that shows how long we have been friends. “I don't have a written contract with any rider, I just tell them what I will do and I do it.” Ian Hutchinson, who won five TT races on Padgett's Hondas in 2010, enjoyed his first full test in Estoril earlier this month after rejoining the squad for 2024. “It is great to be working with…

Inspired by their brawnier brothers, KTM's small-but-mighty £5099 RC125 and RC390 (price TBC) have a fresh lick of paint for 2024. The single-cylinder racers remain mechanically unchanged, but now carry a look more closely resembling that of the track-only RC 8C and incoming 1390 Super Duke R naked. The aesthetic changes are hardly revolutionary, and both models retain the same in-your-face attitude as before, now coming in either orange and blue, or orange and black. Triumph's debut Triumph competed in their first AMA Supercross event in Detroit on Saturday, February 3 – bagging an impressive sixth place on the £9795 TF 250-X at the hands of Jalek Swoll. The Florida rider netted 16 points for the British firm during the Main Event race, finishing ahead of established competition from Honda,…

HIGHLIGHTS ● Indian's flagship luxury tourer ● Based on existing Roadmaster series ● Three coming to the UK ● £38,695 ticket price ‘Elite models raise the bar even higher’ Indian have launched a new £38,695 Roadmaster Elite limited-edition tourer which builds on the standard Roadmaster series as the ultimate in all-American luxury. Sharing the closest resemblance with the £28,795 Roadmaster Limited and £28,995 Roadmaster Dark Horse, the new Elite model will be produced in limited numbers, with just three arriving in UK dealers during spring 2024. “Our Elite models take the incredibly high bar we set for all of our products, and raise it even higher, offering something more exclusive for the rider who wants to make sure their bike is a cut above anything else on the road,” Indian Vice President, Aaron…

Northumbria Police are continuing to come down hard on anti-social riding, deploying a cameraequipped drone to track down a 14-year-old using a stolen bike in North Tyneside. The Honda PCX125 was recovered at 9.30pm on January 24 after it was believed to have been stolen on the previous week from the Meadow Well area of North Shields. “This is a fantastic example of old-fashioned policing from our frontline officers where we've managed to chase down a suspect and recover a bike believed to have been stolen,” Northumbria Police told MCN. “We will continue to do all we can identify those causing harm in the community, and to seize and return any stolen motorcycles.” In the time between theft and recovery, the bike was spotted a number of times, including by…

Oxford DarkTurner indicators £99.99 These low-profile CNC machined aluminium indicators are designed to mount on fork legs. They have an adjustable fit to accommodate stanchions from 45-60mm, and LED light units that flash in a sequential pattern to designate direction. Oxford also offer a basic mount that allows you to fit the indicator unit of your choice (£49.99). oxfordproducts.com Touratech ‘Travel’ soft luggage from £77.37 With a welded seam, waterproof Cordura construction and hard shell lid, this new range of luggage from travel specialists Touratech has been designed to save weight without sacrificing functionality. Options range from a handlebar bag (£77.37) to tank bags (£155.08) and a pair of roll-closure 40 litre panniers (£603.21). touratech-uk.co.uk MT Atom 2 modular helmet £149.99 This wallet friendly flip-up lid might be light on…

Bikes produced in China have, in the past, been associated with questionable quality and indeed some still are. Chongqing-based brand Kove are hoping to buck this trend, however, by releasing a new 800X Rally parallel-twin adventure bike with a spec sheet that puts it in direct contention with the established competition in the segment. Having been in the business for just six years, the firm were a zero-to-hero breakout in the 2022 Dakar Rally, with their all-Chinese team making huge waves in the sport by successfully finishing the gruelling event without a single mechanical failure on all three machines entered. With a former semiprofessional motocrosser running the company, this dirt capability is hardly surprising, with the latest Rally offering first appearing at the back end of 2023 at the EICMA…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS • Thurs-Tue 9am-4pm, Weds 9am-8pm for bike night •The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold CH7 4HR Fresh from a temporary closure to get everything ship-shape for the coming season, the Old Stores Motorbike Cafe on the ‘Gateway to Wales’ near Mold, opened its door once again on February 1, reasserting itself as a must-stop destination for those enjoying a North Wales rideout. Due to the cafe's popularity, the already spacious car park has ballooned in size, but inside you still get all the cosy feel of family, nostalgia - and the whiff of a bacon butty or two. “We've got Barry Sheene's helmet, Kenny Roberts’ helmet, some vintage petrol pumps, and hundreds of helmets all on display from the…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday February 7 BIKE MEETS ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Girtford Bridge, Sandy, Bedfordshirewww.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Bike & Burger Night, Northampton, Northamptonshire 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548 224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977 684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe Thursday February 8 BIKE MEETS ■ Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics…

HONDA VFR800FI TRIUMPH SPRINT ST 1050 SUZUKI GSX1250FA…

Raising the bar Comfort was a priority for the new 8R, which is why the new forged aluminium handlebars offer a softer, sports-tourer-esque style of riding, rather than low and aggressive clip-ons. Supporting role Equipped with Showa SFF-BP forks and a Showa shock, the new set-up offers a firm ride. However, the forks are still non-adjustable, with the shock only offering preload adjustment. Down a peg Although the suspension has been changed, ground clearance still remains at 145mm. With the same, low footpeg positioning as the naked 8S, the GSX-8R doesn't take long to drag a peg.…

Keeping it minimal In keeping with the minimalist design, the compact LCD binnacle gives a clear and concise readout. It is compatible with Kawasaki's Rideology amrtphone app via Bluetooth. Drag-strip bling The bob-tailed back end and letterbox brake light hark back to the original Eliminator. Fork gaiters, a twin textured seat and bar mounted USB-C socket also adorn the premium SE. Torque up performance The Ninja 400-derived parallel twin boasts a hike in capacity and torque. Tuned intake funnels provide a smoother throttle response and a rigid airbox design gives voice to the motor's bark.…

‘That would've been a strong team!’ A rider pairing that would have changed racing history was thwarted in 1989 – in an intervention by Barry Sheene. An untold story was confirmed at Goodwood last year, when Mick Doohan revealed to Kevin Schwantz that they were almost teammates. Doohan had a verbal agreement with Garry Taylor to join Suzuki, but the deal was gazumped by Honda. Sheene, living in Australia, told Mick that Honda was a better bet, and promised to fix the situation. Taylor told me recently: “Barry called me, said that Mick was very superstitious, and had dreamed that joining Suzuki would be very dangerous.” Taylor knew it was nonsense, but – always pragmatic – had no option. “A contract is worthless if either party doesn't want to keep…

From 2025 the ACU (UK's governing body) and TT organisers are set to introduce assessments for competitors in an effort to understand and improve physical and mental health in an ongoing bid to mitigate avoidable risk. Currently riders must file a report from their doctor to the ACU as part of their Mountain Course licence, but from next year each competitor will also be subject to a thorough on-event medical assessment by the TT Medical Officers. This will take place prior to first qualifying, whilst the MRMS (Manx Road Racingracing Medical Services) will also provide competitors with pre-event guidance to aid their physical and mental preparation. Data will be monitored for a range of factors such as lactate levels, blood glucose, heart rate, and grip strength, with assessments taking place…

The noises coming out of the Yamaha camp after the Shakedown were largely positive with Managing Director Lin Jarvis talking up a change in the factory's approach: “Our target is to be faster, more adventurous, more aggressive and get rid of that conservative reputation.” And the signing of the influential Max Bartolini from Ducati as its new Technical Director was another boon for the factory. Yet Fabio Quartararo believes the factory is still “a little far away” from where it needs to be after testing for two rain-interrupted days. An overly aggressive engine was a main weak point in the M1's make-up in 2023, as well as an inability to qualify well. The former issue was still present in the early days at Sepang. “I'm sure the new engine is…