Table of contents for 2 November 2022 in MCN

THE BIG READ At home with the new king of BSB It all came so close to not happening for Bradley Ray. The financial and emotional exhaustion of trying to crack into the big leagues and take a major championship title nearly broke his will, and his parents’ bank account. But just look at him now. 2022 was a pivotal year for the Kent rider, and could well be the springboard that now propels him onto the world stage. INSIDE STORY PAGE 38 ‘I put everything into it. I had to fry people’s heads’ BRAD RAY TALKS SHOWDOWN TACTICS TOP STORY Diavel gets even more devilish It’s always been a slightly confusing proposition - while also managing to be shockingly brilliant - and now Ducati have given their devilish Diavel even…

We’ve teamed up with Shoei to give away a brand-new X-SPR Pro helmet worth £719.99. One of the most advanced helmets on the market, the X-SPR Pro offers enhanced aerodynamic performance compared to the previous XS3 thanks to Shoei’s uncompromising attention to detail, with more than 150 individual shape changes made during the company’s wind tunnel testing process. Shoei’s advanced helmet shell moulding technology has enabled the bottom part of the helmet to be narrowed from the chin bar to the rear and, together with the updated shape of the rear stabiliser and rear spoiler, it means riders can enjoy brilliant high-speed stability. The innovation behind the X-SPR Pro is not limited to its aerodynamic performance, and revised dimensions around the eye aperture provide a wider upper field of vision,…

You may think a tracking device is only of use when you’re at home or out and about, but the reality is that often the system can protect your pride and joy regardless of where you or your motorcycle are - as this example proves. In June this year Bike Trac were proud to recover a UK-registered R1250GS in Sicily, Italy. Their customer was on a riding holiday when his BMW was stolen but the Bike Trac tech led Polizia to the location, search warrants in hand, and the holiday was able to continue.…

Harry Bott, 23, rode into Southend-onSea late last month to visit the 238th and final lifeboat station in a challenge that has seen him cover roughly 8000 miles on a 96-year-old Sunbeam Model 1 in a bid to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Harry was inspired to embark on the epic after he and his dad restored the bike, which was bought in the 1930s by his great-grandad as a commuter. The Sunbeam was put away for storage in the 1950s, where it remained for the nearly 70 years. Harry said: “Thank you to everyone who has been following along with me and everyone who has supported me in some way, whether that be all the amazing people who have donated to the RNLI or anyone who…

Q ‘Deer leapt out of long verge’ I had an accident last summer on the A34 near Newbury where I hit a deer that came out of a filed to the right of the road. I had a few fractures but fortunately nothing life-threatening. Since the accident the Highways Authority have been cutting this verge down very low to the grass. Could this be seen as an admission of blame -do you think I have a claim? Claudia S, email AI think you will have real difficulty establishing liability against the council / highways for the accident. If it could be shown it was a deer that belonged to a deer farm, as opposed to a wild deer, then there may be something in it (because then you could go…

Readers Shaun Napier The trip Exploring the fantastic Lake District and more How many miles? 800 How long do you need? Three days Best time to go This was an autumn trip Don’t miss… During my trip I visited Lake Windermere, Kirkstone Pass, Wrynose Pass, Hartside Pass and of course the unforgettable Hardknott Pass. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. It took three days to explore the region, covering nearly 800 miles. The view from the top of the 1903 feet high Hartside Pass is something special, and a must for anyone that has never been. The weather was fantastic, and I met some amazing people along the way. The BMW R18 B was the perfect companion and negotiated the tightest bends on the Hardknott with ease. Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com…

WEDNESDAY November 2 9pm, EUR2, Bennetts BSB, Brands Hatch Weekend Highlights FRIDAY November 4 8am, Live MotoGP from Valencia, Spain: Free Practice 1&2 SATURDAY November 5 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Valencia: FP 3. Qualifying at 11am 3pm, BTS2, MotoGP Classics: Valencia 2010 SUNDAY November 6 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Valencia: Warm Ups. Moto3 at 9.15am, Moto2 at 11am, MotoGP at 12.30pm MONDAY November 7 10pm, ITV4, MotoGP Highlights from the Valencia MotoGP season finale 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…

Even in winter, there are plenty of great riding days on offer, so long as you’re dressed to keep warm. Not only can the cold reduce the pleasure of motorcycling, it can also be distracting and impact on your ability to operate your bike’s controls safely and effectively. When the temperature drops, your body reduces circulation to the extremities and concentrates blood flow towards vital organs. That’s why hands and feet often feel cold first - while they’re also particularly exposed when riding. Once the chill sets in, it takes a long time to warm up again. Traditionally, riders have used layering to trap air and keep the heat in. However, wearing layers under your gloves makes it almost impossible to operate hand controls and you will still be exposed…

Yamaha TMax Tech Max 560 The Rolls Royce of maxi scoots in its most luxurious and high-end (from £12,700) Tech Max level is still cheaper than a base BMW CE 04. It’s also faster, more practical and better-looking. That makes the BMW a pretty hard sell before you even get to the inconvenience of charging. Yamaha XSR125 Baby XSR (from £4550) is fairly similar in style to the Super Soco and can also be ridden on a CBT. The Yam handles more like a proper motorbike but it’s more expensive to buy and run. The Soco also feels quicker in built-up city traffic. The XSR would edge it for long distance rides. Honda PCX 125 The £3599 Honda is cheaper to buy than the Yadea but running costs will be…

15 MONTHS This Furygan airbag is comfortable, form fitting and comes equipped with stretchy side panels to keep you hugged and supported on the move. As the gilet ‘shell’ is universal, I have used it with a range of jackets which is great to get your money’s worth throughout the whole year. But, bear in mind that your skinny summer jacket might need to be the next size up as this vest sits under your jacket, therefore, you need to account for the extra bulk and the room needed for inflation. Where the gas canister is installed on the back of the vest, there is D30 back protection and the gas canister can be replaced by the user, which is more convenient than with some brands which require you to…

BUYING USED EXPERT GUIDE TO Late… but great The Sprint ST could have been a dramatic failure. It arrived in 2005, precisely at the point when adventure ’ bikes like BMW’s R1150GS were booming. But although failing to set the world alight, the ST was fast, comfy and practical with it. What about the GT version? The 2011 GT was significant updated over the ST it replaced. To be more touring and pillion friendly it gained a longer swingarm and stronger steel rear subframe. The seat was lower and wider for the pillion, and it featured built-in grab rails. It’s a problem mirrored in the car world. Who wants a sensible. all-rounder when you could have a funky, rugged SUV? For bikes substitute sports-tourers and adventure bikes. From the mid-Noughties,…

How special is ‘special’? We all like something a bit different, more ‘deluxe’. The allure of added luxury along with the exclusivity and rarity a special or limited-edition model brings can be hard to resist. But when it comes to buying used, ‘special’ can mean something altogether different. I found myself perusing Honda VFR750s on a wellknown auction site recently, I had one back in the day and the hope of finding a low-mileage, R-plater in red (it has to be red) for, say, £3K, won’t go away. Instead, I came across a ‘special’ version in RVF/RC45 colours, all-the-more unique for having a ‘private’ VFR plate (N*** VFR, if you must know), a few bits of bling (oooh, shiny!) and even an aftermarket YSS shock, for a bargain £1999 and…

When Sam O’Brien at Junction Motorcycles in Tamworth, Staffs, took in a clean, 33,000-mile GSX-R1000K8 to sell with ‘running problems’ that the owner had given up on, he was confident he could sort it quickly. Sam said: “I changed the eight injectors, screwed in new plugs and stick coils and fitted a new fuel pump motor before taking it to Steve Jordan Motorcycles in Great Bookham, Surrey. They flashed the ECU to develop a custom fuel map on their dyno and got it pumping out a very decent 165bhp at the rear wheel, so I soon sold it.” But three weeks later he took a call from the buyer to say it had a flat spot at 6000rpm. They took it back in and tried to sort it with new…

SPORT The ongoing debate surrounding a minimum rider weight limit in World Superbikes escalated last week with a post on Scott Redding’s Instagram featuring a picture of him and Alvaro Bautista, as well as several videos and sector timesheets to support his contention that lighter riders have a clear advantage. “You will see the clear advantage that an extremely smaller rider will gain on the straight, typically 0.3-0.4 of a second,” Redding said. “This may not seem a lot to many of you, but when 10 riders are covered by one second, this 0.2 on one straight is a beautiful safety net. “Besides the speed gain, a lighter rider will not consume as much rubber from the tyre as a heavier rider. Therefore, at the end of the race, where…

A cliff-hanger. The MotoGP championship goes to the wire on Sunday. Pecco Bagnaia has the advantage; Fabio Quartararo is the underdog; early challenger Aleix Espargaro is finally out of it. Yet it’s been decided more by mistakes than doggedly racking up solid points. Bagnaia has crashed out four times so far -100 potential points gone. Espargaro blundered from second to fifth in Catalunya by celebrating too early, was pushed off track by Fabio at Assen, and his team fouled his electronics at Motegi 40-plus points sacrificed. Fabio has fallen off thrice - 75 away. One more race crash for Bagnaia and a fourth win for Quartararo, and that 23-point lead will become a two-point deficit. There have been 19 brilliant cliff-hangers in 74 years of GPs. Like Freddie Spencer’s twopointer…

Record-breaking sidecar rider Norman Hyde has been celebrated by the Triumph Owners’ Club at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull. Hyde, now 77, set a World Sidecar Land Speed Record of 168.1mph at RAF Fairford in 1972 and remained unbeaten for over 35 years. He attended the museum Last month for the 50th anniversary of his record, which was achieved aboard his Triumph-powered, home-built Roadrunner III outfit. Ray to shine at NEC British Superbike racing fans can meet 2022 champion Bradley Ray at Motorcycle Live later this month. The Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider will be at the National Exhibition Centre event on Sunday, November 20 as part of the BSB Day. Tickets for the nine-day show are available now, with a range of other racing stars also attending.…

THIS WEEK LOOKING FOR GREAT BIKE KIT DEALS? SAVE 53% Bell Star MIPS Gloss White £199.99 Bell’s five-star deal When it comes to choosing a new helmet, the general rule is to plump for the very best that you can afford. Search out the sales, however, and you may actually be able to bag a bit more than you were budgeting for - especially as the biking season draws to a close. This week we’ve trawled the net to see what helmets can be had with a £200 spending limit. First up is this sports-styled road lid from renowned US manufacturer Bell, which not only looks the part but scores an impressive maximum five stars under the UK Government’s SHARP testing programme. The composite shell is a blend of aramid, carbon…

‘I ride it every week’ 1. Honda C90 Dad bought one as a barn find for a magazine feature and when he finished with it, it was the bike that me and Taylor ragged all over the garden as kids. We pretty much destroyed it in the end. Then dad took the whole bike to bits and restored it. 2. Yamaha FS1-E I rode an FS1-E at a Donington classic event a few years ago, it was dad’s own one. I’d love a house abroad where I could just go for a coffee on one. 3. Yamaha XSR900 This is the bike I’d ride on the road. I’ve ridden one a few times on a trackday and it’s just good fun. If I passed my test tomorrow - this is…

‘I’m growing old, not growing up!’ The days of me buying and charging around on a modern sportsbike (for me anything built in the 2000s is classed as modern…) are long gone - but that doesn’t mean I have grown up. Oh no, not at all. And I’ve not lost my love for a good old-fashioned sportsbike’s inline four I just don’t want one that comes with a 90mph first gear or clip-ons! So where does that leave me? Considering a super-naked… I was out testing a bunch of super-nakeds the other week and one genuinely surprised me - the Suzuki GSX-S1000. What's its big selling point? The fact its inline four engine is ‘derived’ from the GSX-R1000 K5, making it a (OK, modern…) sportsbike with flat bars. There is…

OUT AND ABOUT THE ROUTE • 15-mile blast • Louth to the seaside! ‘Short but sweet’ Dan Sutherland zig-zags through Lincolnshire to the seaside We start in the Lincolnshire Wolds, in the pretty town of Louth, head along the B1200 out of the town towards Mablethorpe - stopping at the Esso garage for fuel before reaching a roundabout that bisects the A157. Here, you simply head across towards Mablethorpe on the A157 and follow the road until you reach Maltby le Marsh. At the junction, do a left on the A1104, following for a further four miles as the sea breeze builds in your lungs. Look out for slow-moving holiday traffic along here. Once you’ve filled up with food and stretched your legs along the sea wall, jump on the…

UK’S TOUGHEST TEST THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £3799.99 Yadea G5S •Power 5.5bhp • Weight 81kg • Range 72 miles £4499* Super Soco TC Max • Power 7bhp • Weight 100kg • Range 60 miles £14,199* BMW CE 04 • Power 42bhp • Weight 231kg • Range 80 miles It’s getting hard to ignore the number of electric vehicles you see on the roads these days. What used to be a novel rarity is now commonplace with models from most major manufacturers and electric specialists like Tesla swooshing almost silently around the road network and filling motorway charge points. And while many bikers still regard EVs as a threat to their way of life, one type of rider seems quite happy to adopt battery power:…

‘It’ll cost you 1.6p per mile’ The BMW CE 04 is an impressive bit of kit and gives me hope for an electrified biking future but I cannot justify the price. The version we tested had a few extras that took the price to £14,120, which isn’t a problem if you are the aforementioned architect but as an option for a normal person to get to a normal job, it’s flippin’ ridiculous. So, with the BMW ruled out, it’s a straight fight between the Yadea and the Super Soco and my money would go with the latter. Sadly, because the Yadea’s volume is largely filled with batteries there’s no practical advantage to its scootery shape. It’s also let down by a pitiful ground clearance. Meanwhile, the Super Soco is just…

FIRST RIDE I find myself in Rome, atop a new Vespa GTS - the biggest, best-equipped scooter in the storied brand’s line-up - and am absolutely enchanted. Vespa have been building scoots since 1946 but introduced the Vespone (fans’ affectionate name for the largest, steel-bodied model) in 2003. Since then it’s been through a number of engine variants and additional features in its almost two decades on the road, culminating in this GTS 300 SuperTech, which is their most advanced version yet. Tweaks for 2022 Styling has been updated sensitively to retain traditional cues while adding a modicum of modernity, and I reckon they’ve pulled that off brilliantly. We’re riding it in the city where its handling was honed, and it’s clear Piaggio are pleased as punch with their product…

Ray now has his heart set on World Superbikes. He and manager Shane Byrne flew out to the Portimao round for talks with Yamaha, with a move to the MotoX Racing squad a possibility. “I’m young enough (25) to make the step into WSB and I feel if I don’t do it soon, I could find myself getting stuck in BSB,” Ray admits. “That isn’t a bad thing, BSB is a great championship with great racing, but my goal is to become World Champion.” The switch to WSB is a tricky one. Riders dream of the move, but must be careful when choosing teams. 2021 BSB Champion Tarran Mackenzie opted to defend his crown when no top rides were available. It’s easy to end up outside the top 10 if…

Triumph’s original sports-tourer, the 1998, 955cc Sprint ST, born out of the Daytona 955 sportster, almost got the better of Honda’s long-running VFR as king of the sports-touring class - but not quite. Second time round, now based on the larger Speed Triple 1050, the Hinckley factory got it right, taking over from the VFR at the top of the Sports Touring (ST… see?) tree by being fast, comfy, practical, reliable and above all stonking value for money. Succeeded by the GT in 2010 it remains a decent used buy with bags of character from its threecylinder engine and packs a decent level of praticality too. BUYER BEWARE • The bike is a little short on toys, Triumph’s Garmin satnav is pricey as are major services. • Look out for quality…

This week’s guide is aimed at bikes without ABS. Generally speaking, this applies to bikes made before 2016 which didn’t have ABS fitted as an option. So know your bike before you start. If it has ABS (as most bikes do after it was made compulsory on all machines larger than 125cc back in 2017) make sure you know what you are doing and check the procedure with a workshop manual. Often the steps involved when bleeding ABS brakes are fundamentally the same, but in practical terms the task is often more complex and can require access to the ABS control unit. The best advice concerning anything to do with ABS systems will come from either a qualified technician or an expert dealer. Regardless of whether you have ABS or…

Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 TOP STORY Eight months, 246 days, 19 races and 461 laps after the 2022 MotoGP World Championship kicked off, it all comes down to two men and two factories fighting for one big prize in Valencia on Sunday. MotoGP’s first final-round title decider since 2017 will see either Ducati man Pecco Bagnaia or Yamaha’s star rider Fabio Quartararo triumphant. A commanding 23-point lead over reigning champion Quartararo leaves Bagnaia as the favourite to become Ducati’s first premier class king since Aussie legend Casey Stoner won their one and only title back in 2007. Bagnaia is also on the brink of becoming the first Italian to win the MotoGP crown since Valentino Rossi won the last of his seven premier class…

“He’s probably one of the riders who can match my determination. I get on well with him, he’s quite open and that’s going to help team development. We’ll work together and what happens on track, happens on track. We all fight hard, but I think this can be a really great paring. “I’ll be expecting fireworks in the garage now and then, we’re both quite loud, but that’s passion. He has what I have, and I see that in him - he praised me before Brands, and it was returned. He is such a passionate fella, and he wants it. And that’s how I am.”…

2022 BESPOKE RALLIES 2022 DAKAR ENDURO Bespoke Rallies are offering a London to Dakar Enduro rally experience-and there are still a few places left. But don’t hang about because the 22-day epic starts from the Brooklands Museum, Surrey on November 6. After heading down through France, the rally proper will begin in Jerez, Spain on November 11. Riders then leave the comforts of Europe behind as they enter Morocco before progressing into Western Sahara and Mauritania, arriving in Dakar, Senegal. There are three categories - under 600cc, over 600cc and Pioneer Dakar motorcycles up to 1999. The 2110-mile (3500 if you include the Brooklands to Jerez unofficial leg) rally is open to all riders including those with no previous experience, but a familiarity with riding on sand and rocky surfaces…

THIS WEEK EXCLUSIVE INSIGHT Suzuki boss Paul de Lusignan has confirmed to MCN that the GSX-R1000 will be discontinued in Europe, with only a limited number of Phantom models left in dealerships. “In the UK, the GSX-R1000R on sale is the special edition Phantom,” Suzuki GB’s Director of Motorcycles confirmed. “There are a very limited number of these left. As the current GSX-R1000R does not meet Euro5 emissions regulations these will be the last models on sale in the UK of this generation GSX-R1000.” As a result of not meeting the latest regs, the remaining UK Gixers are now being sold using a process known as derogation, which allows manufacturers to register limited numbers of nonconforming models. De Lusignan continued: “At this current point in time, our focus is on…

SAVE £1000 £17,950 Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR You’ve got a choice of two deals at Lings Triumph on a 1200RR, worth £1000 and £1050 respectively. There’s a straight forward £1000 deposit contribution, or you can opt for three years’ free servicing, priced at £795, with an extended Triumph warranty worth £250 to save you £1050. www.lings.com SAVE £995 £8995 Yamaha Tenere 700 Tech Black An fun and engaging ride with an impressive spread of power that works well both on and off-road. www.motorcycle-world.co.uk • Engine 689cc • Power 72bhp • Weight 205kg • Seat height 880mm SAVE £870 £3499 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 A charming retro with genuine heritage. Economical, with great handling for its class and price. www.kdmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 349cc • Power 20bhp • Weight 191kg • Seat…

OptiMate Portable Battery Monitor £21.22 This pocket-size device provides a simple solution for checking both battery voltage and charging system on the go. Available as either a direct plug in to SAE (OptiMate style) leads or with a dual plug for 12mm DIN and 21mm AUTO sockets. www.optimatel.com HJC RPHA 11 Ghost £519.99 One for all the Call of Duty gamers out there is this new design for HJC’s flagship sports helmet, the RPHA 11. Unique livery aside, the aerodynamic shell is packed with top end features for track or touring, such as a fully removable, moisture wicking liner and quick-release visor system. www.oxfordproducts.com Weise Splash Vision jacket £59.99 This light weight overjacket from Weise is both tear-resistant and waterproof. It has a mesh lining to help it slide over…

THIS WEEK Last week MCN’s Michael Guy vowed he’d buy whichever machine won our adventure bike test… and he’s put his money where his mouth is with this KTM 690 Enduro R. But buying the bike is just part of the process, here he starts the task of getting it set up to suit his on/offroad touring needs - and you can see the step-by-step process on MCN’s YouTube channel. Wind protection With no fairing or wind protection as standard, the 690 is hard work on the road at anything over 50mph. Working with bike build experts Wrenchride (www.wrenchride.co.uk) we fitted a Rade Garage rally tower. The carbon fibre tower has a lifetime guarantee and gives the benefit of drastically improved wind protection whilst also giving a place to fit…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews McPhee was better than any F1 star On Sunday October 23 Britain's John McPhee came from 22nd on the start grid to win the Malaysian Moto3 race, overtaking four riders into the penultimate bend. Moto3 is the most competitive of motorcycle classes with sometimes 10 riders going into a corner at the same time. And what did the BBC breakfast sport news report the next day? Ziltch, nada, not a mention. They would rather feature Lewis Hamilton fourth in (boring) F1 practice than an actual British GP winner. Paul Whitfield, Els Poblets, Spain STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Each week one lucky reader will receive an MCN T-shirt in a variety of different…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST WEDNESDAY November 2 BIKE MEETS OutKast Co George Centre North Parade, Matlock, Derbys 6-9pm www.facebook.com/outkastcompany Squires Cafe Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike café Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk TRACKDAY No Limits Oulton Park, Cheshire £79 01525-877087 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com THURSDAY November 3 BIKE MEETS Vic Bikers Pub Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Iron Horse Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping, Lincs 5pm-9pm 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk Whistlestop Cafe Whitby, North Yorks 4.30pm-8.30pm Facebook: Whistlestop Cafe Down and Out Motorcycles The Boiler House, Rotherham, S Yorks 5.30pm onwards www.facebook.com/downandoutmotorcycles or www.downandoutcustoms.co.uk The Flotterstone Inn Penicuik,…

‘Strapping on the quiche’ R5K MEMBER CLAIRE MORRIS I bought a brand-new Royal Enfield Meteor last October. This was taken just before I hit 10,000 miles in under a year. Went shopping at farmer’s market and realised I couldn’t put four freshly baked quiches in my panniers! ‘Green lanes go orange’ R5K MEMBER JIM HEY NDERICKX Enjoying the fall colours of the green lanes near Potters Bar on my 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R. The fallen leaves make it all look pretty spectacular. ‘Seeking shelter from the rain’ R5K MEMBERS STEVE AND GEORGE STAINES Me and my boy, George taking shelter in a phone box at St Mary’s Loch, in the Scottish Borders. We were wild campin and got caught in a thunderstorm. ‘Before the clocks change’ R5K MEMBER JON…

‘It makes you feel great…’ A scooter like this GTS 300 might not be the cheapest option in the world, but it’s among the most accessible, desirabLe and fun. Furthermore, its styling strikes a brilliant balance between traditionl cues and modern touches, meaning whether you’re new to the brand or a seriousLy smitten stalwart, you’ll find touches that are bound to appeal. Factor in additional, technology, the improved ergonomics, peppy performance and the agreeable running costs, and there isn’t a huge amount here not to like. But most importantly, this is a machine that simpLy makes you feeL great. I’ll have a 300 SuperSport in matt grey, please. THE FACTS £6400 Vespa GTS 300 SuperTech…

ESSENTIAL KIT 3 MONTHS TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT I’ll never forget the crunch of bike hitting driveway, having gracelessly toppled onto its side as the paddock stand it was residing on folded like wet cardboard. That was nearly 20 years ago, so what went wrong? A cheap, shoddy stand is what went wrong, and when faced with the lardy imposition of trying to hold a B-King (remember those?) aloft, it chucked in the towel and collapsed. The remedy to this shock and horror is simple-don’t buy cheap stands. That said, these Oxford Zero-G items are far from expensive, and they’re fabulous value for money. Let’s start at the back. I have two bikes with double-sided swingarms (1986 GSX-R750 and a 2007 VTR1000 SP-2), and the…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Bleeding brilliant! Flush out old fluid and give your brakes back their bite 1 The tools for the job It’s a messy, fiddly job so it can be all too easy to put off, but changing your brake fluid is something that you must keep on top of; every two years for normal, use, or more frequently for higher-mileage riders, Although, these days, it needn’t be so messy or fiddly, as there are kits with one-way valves fitted. One of the simplest to use is the Oxford Products Solo kit. BRUCE’S TIPS I usually change my pads when they’re down to 2mm of pad material 2 Are they worn? Before you change the fluid, first check the brake pad material. Low fluid levels can indicate that the…

WIN OR BUST That’s the scenario facing reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo. Anything less than a victory for Quartararo in Sunday’s 27-lap race will see Pecco Bagnaia clinch the title, even if the former Moto2 World Champion fails to score a point. It seems the longest of long shots for Quartararo who, even if he does win, still has to hope that Bagnaia finishes 15th or lower. TRACK STATS Length 2.49 miles Corners 14 (9 left, 5 right) Longest straight 876m Lap record 1:29.401 (Lorenzo, 2016) 2021 RESULT 1. Bagnaia 41’15.481 2. Martin +0.489s 3. Miller+0.823S 4. Mir +5.214s 5. Quartararo +5.439s STANDINGS 1. Bagnaia 258 2. Quartararo 235 3. A Espargaro 212 4. Bastianini 211 5. Miller 189…

Glenn leaving Honda and going back to Ducati… I didn’t see that coming! Looking at BSB this year he won races and finished second in the championship, but he was second to a Yamaha - not a Ducati. Good luck to him, I’ve certainly enjoyed working with him. I thought we were going to be two peas in a pod going through our respective TT careers - his starting and mine ending. He didn’t speak to me about it and none of the Honda team seemed to know anything about it. But hey, it could be a masterstroke from Birdy to sign both Tommy Bridewell and Glenn. They’re certainly a couple of strong contenders. Birdy’s not asleep is he? Things didn’t work out as planned with Tom Sykes this year.…