Table of contents for 29 March 2023 in MCN

‘This was the best way to start the season’ PECCO BAGNAIA IN SPORT MotoGP mayhem as new-format series goes large! There were always going to be fireworks in Portimao as the 2023 season made its racing debutcomplete with a whole new format. The Sprint race delivered exactly the sort of edge-of-seat action that we were expecting, even if there were some podium surprises in store. The fallout as teams seek rein their riders in is an interesting conundrum -compounded by the main Grand Prix delivering utter carnage as Marquez tried to bring his Sprint skills to the big race… PAGE 70 THIS WEEK Riding schools’ insurance hell Getting a bike Licence already faces dramatically more hurdles than getting a car Licence in the UK, but for learners and riding schools…

THIS WEEK The cost of repairing the damage in England and Wales’ pockmarked local authority road network has now risen to more than £14 billion, an industry report has found. The figure comes from the 2023 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) Survey Report, which was published on March 21 - just six days after Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said £200m would be set aside to tackle potholes. “The findings make for bleak, if not unsurprising, reading,” Asphalt Industry Alliance Chair, Rick Green said. “Local roads underpin all other local services, but findings show a worsening picture in their overall condition and the means to improve them. “Resurfacing now takes place, on average, less than once every 100 years; local authority highway budget shortfalls in 2022/23 were up…

‘New category of 800cc bikes’ Tony Scott believes that this recipe for development around the existing chassis and engine could bring more bikes into contention. He told MCN: “We’ve got manufacturers producing adventure bikes and nakeds, but they’re not really making race bikes anymore. If you wanted to drive the Evo concept towards the new category of 800s, you could be looking at Yamaha MT-09s, or Kawasaki Z9Q0s, and I’m sure there are other bikes that might fit into that remit.” He continued: “I’m only doing the Triumphs, and I’m going to leave the rest of the stuff to somebody else, but what I’m hoping is that the concept opens up new industries for companies to look at the concept for other models.”…

JON URRY ‘Buy now, don’t be an April Fool…’ I’ve been churning the numbers quite a bit of late while doing a few guides to the latest PCP deals and one thing strikes me: new bikes are getting noticeably more expensive. Considering the global economic outlook this should come as no surprise, but it is a factor that is worth considering if you are in the market for a new 2023 bike. PCP and HP finance deals are generally re-evaluated by manufacturers every quarter with the first quarter running from January until the end of March and the second quarter kicking off on April 1, which is actually a month after the March 1 ‘new registration number' day where plenty of 73-plate vehicles take to the roads. Why does this…

Q ‘Can I a claim on an e-scoot?’ Can I still claim compensation if I was riding an e-scooter on the road? For example, if I hit a pothole in the road? Or if a pedestrian stepped out? Can I claim for head injuries even if I was not wearing a helmet? Sudhir, email A You can claim compensation if someone else’s negligence causes you injuries and financial loss. This applies to potholes should certain criteria be met, for example if the local authority failed to deal with an actionable pothole within a reasonable time frame. Accidents caused by negligent pedestrians, for example stepping into your path, can also lead to compensation claims but you should look into whether the pedestrian has the means to meet a claim or insurance…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Ashley Warnes, AKA The Mad Motorcyclist madmotorcylist.wordpress.com The ride Tour of Scotland When to do it Summer How many miles 1800 How long do you need 18 days Tellus about the trip… Over the years I have had many a trip to Scotland, a few on Dof E expeditions, some camping trips and other more relaxed holidays up on the Moray Firth coastline. But never have I ventured further north than Inverness and never further west than Loch Lomond. More than either of that, I had never ridden a motorcycle in Scotland. Until now. I should say at this point, it wasn’t just myself and Mrs Mad, we were joined by four other family members in a motorhome and a car so extra planning was…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday March 29 BIKE MEETS ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe SPEEDWAY Poole Pirates Steve Worral Testimonial, Dorset 7.30pm www.poole-speedway.com TRACKDAY No Limits, Oulton Park, Cheshire £159 01525-877087 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com Thursday March 30 BIKE MEETS ■ Ashfield Bike Meet, Bull & Butcher, Selston, Nottinghamshire From 5pm 01773-812657 ■ Iron Horse, Iron Florse Ranch Flouse, Market Deeping, Lines 5pm-9pm 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk ■ Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ The Flotterstone Inn, Penicuik A702 nr Edinburgh City Bypass 7pm…

THURSDAY March 30 4pm, EUR2 Bennetts British Superbikes: Snetterton Extra 8pm, EUR2 Bennetts British Superbikes: Cadwell Park Weekend Highlights FRIDAY March 31 1p.m, BTS2 Live MotoGP from Argentina: Free Practice 1.5.15pm Free Practice 2 SATURDAY April 1 2pm Live MotoGP from Argentina: Qualifying. 3.45pm Moto2/3 Qualifying. 6.45pm Sprint Race SUNDAY April 2 1.30pm EUR2, Live MotoGP from Argentina. 2.15pn Moto3.4pm Moto2.5.30pm MotoGP. 7.15pm Chequered Flag 8pm, EUR2 Bennetts British Superbikes: 2022 Season Review MONDAY April 3 1.30pm BTS2, FIM X-Trial World Championship Hiqhliqhts 8pm, ITV4 MotoGP Highlights from Argentina TUESDAY April 4 3pm, BTS2 MotoGP Films: Science of Survival: Marc Marquez KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT-DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC-DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD-DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS-EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD)-EUROS PORT1 (2, HD )MOT-MOTORSPORT.TV CH4-CHANNEL 4 CH5-CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI-BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN-ESP NCL…

You can get a lot for your money… The sports-touring market is quite crowded at the moment. Starting with the two bikes tested here, you can have the GSX-S1000GT in stock form for £12,655 or the GT+ version, which adds panniers, is £13,755. The Tracer 9, which is identical in terms of engine, chassis and electronic spec to the GT but lacks semi-active suspension, cornering lights, heated grips, up/down shifter and panniers, is £11,000. There is also the new-for-2023 Tracer 9 GT+, which has radar-assisted cruise control and active braking as well as a TFT dash for £14,900. Honda’s NT1100 costs £12,499 (£13,499 with DCT), and comes with panniers as standard but like the Suzuki it lacks an IMU so its electronics aren’t angle-responsive. Kawasaki have sports-tourers in two price…

‘Not quite premium’ In the maxi-scooter world the Premium is good value when you consider its spec and certainly justifies the £500 extra invested over the standard AK550. But to ride it feels a bit cheap in certain small but important areas and as a result Lacks that overall impression of quality you get on a TMAX and would rightly expect on a bike costing over £10,000. There again, it is nearly £4000 cheaper than the Yamaha, so some corners have needed to be cut. Comfortable and loaded with features, the AK550 Premium would make a good commuting tool but it lacks the X-factor due to its slightly budget-feel. THE FACTS £10,527 2023 Kymco AK550 Premium…

10 months ON TEST RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor Tested by Michael Guy Anti-corrosion sprays have become big business with riders keen to keep their bikes in prime condition for the long term. I’ve been using Muc-Off’s Latest anti-corrosion spray since May when I boughta KTM 690 Enduro R, knowing that it would be used on and off road regardless of the weather. It’s easy to apply with a fine mist from the aerosol and you don’t need much as the fluid is designed to ‘creep’ to expel moisture while forming a protective coating once dry. The spray also has a dye in it meaning with a cheap UV torch I got from Amazon you can see exactly where the spray has been applied or more importantly hasn’t.…

Tested by Emma Franklin for five months This is Alpinestars’ first airbag vest aimed at commuters and everyday road riders, designed to be worn over the top of a jacket I’ve spent significant time in all the major electronic airbag vests and have to say, the Tech-Air 3 is the most comfortable and best fitting. The vest itself is tailored, and features accordion stretch panels at the sides so that it easily fits over the top of a regular jacket without being too tight or too baggy. The electronic brain element, alongside the inflation canister, sits low down to the rear of the vest, positioned just above the left hip. The hard plastic that retains all this electronic wizardry is shaped so that it contours neatly against the body. 4000…

Motorcycle clothing gets exposed to the very worst of conditions. Even if you’re not a year-round, all-weather type of rider, your clothing is still getting irradiated by UV on those sunny summer days. So regardless of the type and frequency of riding that you do, clothing needs regular care to keep it performing as it should. But let’s not forget your helmet. The visor often gets cleaned to maintain optimum visual clarity, and I am always cleaning the bugs off the outer shell. But have to admit, the helmet liner and inner sections seem to get neglected by comparison, and there’s really no excuse for it. Most of the sections inside are removable and can be washed with specific cleaner, or kids’ shampoo. Or if the padding is really past…

SPORT PRE-SEASON TESTS | WORLD SUPERBIKES GREG HAINES INSIGHT The stories that matter from inside the WSB paddock There is no question that the bar has been raised when it comes to what’s needed to win in WSB since Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki claimed their first title together in 2015. “One day our winning will end,” the realistic Northern Irishman once said… and those glory days must feel like a very distant memory right now. Kawasaki hosted a two-day test in Aragon, Spain last week and were joined by Honda. Despite the best efforts of Rea and teammate Alex Lowes to focus on the positives, there is plenty of worry and frustration in the camp. It’s obvious both sides of the garage aren’t working in perfect harmony, and niggling doubts that…

SPORT DONINGTON TEST | BSB JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Bringing you the news from the heart of the paddock Leon Haslam will line-up on the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship grid as a BMW rider following a new collaboration with ROKiT. Discussions between Haslam and the official title sponsors of the factory World Superbike team have been ongoing for several weeks, but the deal is now over the line. MCN caught up with Haslam at Donington to learn more. The next stage Haslam’s decision to run his own team is the next stage of his Affinity Sports Academy. It continues as the official Kawasaki entry in Junior Supersport and Junior Superstock this year, whilst Supersport riders Eugene and James McManus have been out testing Triumphs, although this switch is yet to be…

SPORT ROUND 1 PORTIMAO | MOTOGP MICHAEL SCOTT INSIGHT MCN’s man at the heart of the MotoGP championship One swallow does not make a summer. But one podium in Portimao made a world of difference to the rollercoaster career of Maverick Vinales. A strong fighting second on Sunday was close to a perfect start to his second full season with Aprilia, after an up and down 2022. Last year, the former Moto3 champ struggled to get the measure of the V4, after almost seven years on inline fours. Vinales won races for Suzuki and Yamaha, before his infamous meltdown in 2021, after wellpublicised struggles with the M1. Yamaha sacked him mid-season, after a much-replayed on-track tantrum in Austria. It looked like the nine-times MotoGP race winner’s career might be over, had…

Marc Marquez was heroic at Portimao… until he smashed local. legend Oliveira into the gravel and triggered a chorus of hostile howls from the packed grandstand. The switch from hero to villain took only an instant. The weekend started on the back foot, his Repsol Honda off the pace. Unable to make the top ten in practice, he had to go through Q1 with the slow-coaches. On Saturday, the depth of his genius and determination turned the tables. He topped Ql. Now the master-stroke. Down on speed, acceleration and corner grip, he latched on to Bastianini’s factory Ducati-and, amazingly, put the orange bike on pole! Then the Sprint race. He led off the line, was swamped on the straight, but bullied his way back onto the podium. A masterclass of…

Four crashes and a collision that put a Ducati title favourite on a hospital operating table wasn’t how luca Marini envisaged starting 2023. Fastest in two of three pre-season tests, Marini rocked up in Portimao aiming to show he’s ready to propel himself into regular podium contention this season. The normally ultra-reliable Italian, though, heads to Argentina this weekend with nothing but confidence that’s as dented as his bodywork. Marini was guilty of friendly fire in the inaugural sprint race when he crashed on lap two. His sliding GP22 skittled out Enea Bastianini - one of the big pre-season title favourites -who suffered a broken right shouLder blade that could rule him out until the fourth round in Jerez at the end of next month. That was his third spill…

UK rockers The Darkness will be strutting their catsuited stuff at the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Festival, in Budapest. More than 50 bands will play across six stages at the four-night event, which runs from June 22 to 25, with tickets starting at a reasonable €52 to see all of the music acts. Tickets are on sale now at hd120budapest.hu Add this stop to your Euro tour Classic superbikes are being celebrated in Europe with the opening of a new museum in Germany. The aptly named Classic Superbikes Motorcycle Museum can be found in the Glockenpalast building in Gifhorn. The venue is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. To add a visit to your European tour this summer, visit classic-superbikes.com Art for TT’s sake at top London venue A new photography exhibition will go…

Touratech comfort seat for H-D Pan American £427.34 The two-part design allows for three different seat heights and is narrower to make it easier to reach the ground. A re-contoured rear seat prevents the pillion from sliding forwards. www.touratech-uk.co.uk Ventura Evo Luggage for Yamaha MT-10 £450 Ventura’s updated luggage system provides a versatile solution for touring or commuting. A choice of water resistant, laminated packs from 12 to 60 litres can be easily attached thanks to a simple sleeve system, which when not fitted leaves low profile brackets for a clean look. www.ventura-bike.co.uk Spada Ascent V3 Jacket from £399.99 This AA CE rated jacket is constructed from double stitched abrasion resistant fabric, with ballistic material, at impact points and a full five-piece set of armour. It has a fixed waterproof…

Devitt MCN devittinsurance.com Jestival OF MOTORCYCLING May 13th-14th 2023 EAST of ENGLAND ARENA The Devitt Insurance MCN Festival of Motorcycling is just a couple of months away and the countdown is on to the May 13 start! The UK’s best loved outdoor bike show not only boasts Europe’s biggest and most comprehensive multimanufacturer test fleet with dozens of machines waiting to be ridden, hundreds of retailers, clubs, classic displays, an autojumble, DTRA dirt track racing, Moped Mayhem AND and a huge bike auction, it also features jaw-dropping stunt shows you’d be mad to miss. Bolddog FMX The Bolddog FMX team are second to none. This world class crew of Freestyle MX riders are ready to unleash their incredible high -flying whips, tricks and crazy antics to impress visitors at the…

This ride starts and finishes at the quaint Lincolnshire market town of Horncastle, can be ridden in either direction, takes in some great, picturesque Lincolnshire Wolds biking roads-plus one of the UK’s best biker meeting spots-and even skirts Cadwell Park-all in just an hour or so. Going anti-clockwise you take 14 miles of the famous, fabulous, swooping A153 into the Lincolnshire Wolds to Louth passing the Cadwell Park race circuit on the right. After skirting Louth by heading north on the A16 you then take the A631 west, still in the glorious Wolds, towards Market Rasen. After about 10 miles you pass the famous and very picturesque Willingham Woods biker meeting place on the right which has gatherings every Wednesday evening and whose kiosk serves a variety of snacks and…

Say ‘biker jacket’ and most people will imagine the classic Brandostyle leather jacket from The Wild One. In spite of the fact the film was made 70 years ago, it firmly established leather as the cool choice for motorcyclists. And with good reason. Leather is tough, durable and resistant to abrasion. However, there are significant differences between a fashion leather jacket and something suitable for riding. The ACU insists on leather at least 1.2mm thick for UK race suits, so that's a useful starting point. Most leather bike wear, including boots and gloves, is made from cowhide. This can have different finishes, including wax, to give it a glossy water-resistant finish, or nubuck, which is rubbed on the outer side to make it feel like suede. Leather can come from…

‘Exploring rickety bridges’ ANDREW HARRISON Nothing like a rickety bridge on our late winter ride out west of Oswestry and into Wales. ‘Making an entrance’ DAMIAN MCAFEE A winter ride out to the Mourne Mountains, stopping off at the magnificent entrance to Tollymore Forest Park which makes for a great picture opportunity. ‘NC500 to myself’ GARETH MAYFIELD A three-day, 1500 mile jaunt around the North Coast 500 in Scotland. I had it to myself. Biking bliss! ‘First ride of the year’ JOHN HARDESTY My first ride of the year and my first as a 70-year-old, Just a quick blast along quiet B roads to just south of Alnwick from Lynemouth and then cross country to Warkworth Castle. ‘Breaking out of the Peaks’ JUSTINE WASLEY Breaking out of the Peak District…

‘Voyage of discovery’ Having completed our voyage of self-discovery (and unearthed a fair few McDonalds along the way), both of these bikes have delivered. I rate the Tracer but it is a bit cute and feels like a roadster made into a tourer. It’s a platform bike with lots of trinkets attached. Good trinkets but not necessarily all working cohesively together. It is a very different prospect to the Suzuki. I can’t help but feel the Suzuki is a bit old-school, almost a flat-bar older GSX-R1000 with a bigger fairing. Is that a bad thing? Not really, it all works together as it has been refined and integrated as a package. It’s not flash but it is functional, which is what I would expect from a Suzuki, although I’d welcome…

FIRST RIDE Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 has established itself as one the most extreme and track-focused of all the super-nakeds. That’s no surprise since it’s basically a strippeddown, straight-barred Panigale V4 superbike with its accoutrements still attached. It was launched in 2020 and Ducati added a bit more midrange punch a year later when they Euro 5’d it. The focus for 2023 is to make it easier to ride with a sack-full of electronic upgrades and a few nips and tucks elsewhere. We’re testing the £22,895 ‘S’ version on track at the Andalucia circuit in southern Spain to see if Ducati have tamed the beast. 1 Iron fist in a velvet glove Ducati’s 205bhp Desmosedici Stradale V4 motor is a force of nature and Left untouched for 2023, but new engine…

MR VELCRO I sometimes hear people being ‘sniffy’ about popular bikes, being put off a particular model because ‘you see them everywhere’ or you ‘won’t stand out in a crowd’. ‘Rubbish,’ I say. They’re popular for a reason. First, and most obviously, they satisfy the requirements of their owners quite literally more than any rival. That can be performance, value, accessory options, dealer quality and proximityanything, in fact. It doesn’t really matter. What does is that, whichever factor is important, the most popular bike has more of them. Second, popularity usually doesn’t only mean ‘good’ - it means ‘trustworthy’, too. The elephant in the room, here, is BMW’s perennially-popular R1250GS, Britain’s bestselling Adventure bike for the best part now of a decade and, often, outright best-selling bike of all. Too…

Tested by Joseph Wright for three months / 1600 miles The Richa All-Season base layer is made up of a durable textile fabric construction, but at £130 for the set, is pretty pricy. I’ve worn it with different top layers in various weather conditions, finding it comfortable with excellent flexibility for sporty riding. Despite not being concerned about appearance for a base layer, the sporty design adds to the experience, along with the smart zip collar. The fabric is sturdy, but the Bacteriostatic fabric’s clinical odour can be unpleasant. The base layer isn’t ideal for warmth, as it’s too porous to hold body heat effectively, unlike cheaper alternatives. Its lightweight design makes it perfect for hot summer days of riding in leathers, but you may need to layer up for…

Spruce up your kit Clean your clobber to ensure it stays both smart and protective BRUCE’S TIPS Whip out the thermal linings and put them in the machine on delicate cycle 1 Protect and serve Bike kit’s always been critical, but the fact it’s now certified as personal protective equipment serves as a reminder that you need to take care of it. Kit has a hard life as it is exposed to the elements and road crud, so don’t neglect it. First off, read the care instructions on the garment’s label and equip yourself with the recommended cleaning products. 2 Rehydrate the ming Surface dirt, such as flies or mud, will need removing first. First extract all the armour from the kit then hang the garment outside on a washing line or…

Tickets for the Day of Champions at the Silverstone MotoGP are on sale now, with thousands expected on Thursday, August 3. The event includes music, rider interviews, pitlane access, and the charity auction – which sees stars selling off memorabilia for the Two Wheels for Life charity. Tickets start at £25 online, or £30 on the day. Paddock access is £65. Visit: silverstone.co.uk/events/day-of-champions to book. Summer sizzlers Trackday company No Limits have revealed their dates for June and July, with events available at a number of circuits across the UK. Ranging from small venues such as Mallory Park and Lydden Hill, to major tracks including Anglesey and Brands Hatch GP, customers can pick between either evening rides, or full days on track. Prices start at £59. Visit: nolimitstrackdays.com CBTs with…

SAFFER RIDING Scottish Police are attempting to eliminate deaths on the country’s roads, by urging motorcyclists to ride legally and sensibly or risk facing enforcement action this summer. “We genuinely hope that we don’t have to charge anyone for motoring offences, and we hope that people will enjoy the roads responsibly,” Scotland’s Deputy Head of Road Policing Stewart Mackie told MCN. “Where people are being irresponsible and breaking the law - particularly within high collision areas - there will be enforcement.” The move comes as part of an annual safety campaign running from April to September. “Quite a number of our road policing officers are motorcyclists themselves,” Mackie continued. “They enjoy using bikes and they enjoy riding, so they enjoy engaging with other motorcyclists.” Police data shows that 455 motorcyclists…

SAVE £3955 £14,295 Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR It might appear to be just a Speed Triple 1200RS roadster in a frock, but the RR is much more than that. Think of it more as a big-cube, three-cylinder superbike, created in Triumph’s own inimitable style. Build quality and detailing are superb and it has the latest rider aids. And with this massive saving, it’d be rude not to! www.lind.co.uk SAVE £2732 £28,995 Harley-Davidson Freewheeler This Harley is a lot of fun, hugely stylish and actually pretty cool too with mini-Apehangers, and 19-inch front wheel. southamptonharley-davidson.co.uk • Engine 1868cc • Power 93bhp • Weight 507kg • Seat height 700mm SAVE £756 £8494 Yamaha Tracer 7 GT The Tracer GT is a great all-round sports tourer that’s comfy, composed in the corners and…

THIS WEEK A woman has been jailed for 14 years after killing a man she suspected of stealing her daughter’s boyfriend’s motorbike in Birmingham last year. Kerry Fair, 39, from the Kingstanding area, chased Thomas Maguire in her car after hearing that he had taken the bike. Fair was recorded driving at speeds of 76 and 86mph in 30mph zones in her Ford Focus, moments before driving into him and fleeing the scene. Police discovered the car on the side of the road with the engine still running and found Fair’s wallet in a front door pocket. Maguire, 30, was taken to hospital by his friends where he remained in a critical condition for three weeks. He died from his injuries on June 9. “At the speed she was travelling,…

Double World Superbike champion James Toseland has helped raise more than £10,000 for Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust by abseiling 160ft down the side of a building wearing his orange, white, and blue GSE Racing Ducati leathers. Toesland tackled the side of Sheffield Hallam University’s Owen Building on Sunday, March 19 and was joined in the descent by four-wheeled rising star, Rowan Campbell-Pilling. “That was absolutely brilliant, and the Owen Building is much tallerthan you think," Toseland said afterwards. “It was incredible to experience the abseil alongside ambassadors and fundraisers for the charity.” ‘That building is much taller than you think’ He continued: “Thank you to everyone who supported us all. It was a fun and exhilarating day!” The money raised will go towards specialist treatment for children across the…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ’Give us more WSB racing action’ Good to see the MotoGP boys getting back in the saddle and I can’t wait for the season ahead; hope the Japanese and the Austrian teams can step up and give those Ducatis a bloody nose! But why does MotoGP have 21 rounds (and now with the two races) while WSB only manage 12 or 13 rounds (albeit with three races)? Surely WSB could manage a few more to keep us on the edge of our seats. Vincent Crainie, email STAR LETTER Bus didn’t get a ticket Couldn’t agree more with Rob Chesman about the muddled thinking of the boys in blue (MCN Letters, March 22). I just received a notice of ‘intent to prosecute’ after I strayed to 50mph…

1 March 31 Steph Jeavons hits the Beaulieu stage Explorer Steph Jeavons is taking to the stage at Beaulieu on March 31 to tell tales of Lapping the globe on her Honda CRF250L, and her adventures ever since. Starts at 7.30pm, tickets are £10 for non-members. nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/steph-jeavons-returns 2 April 1 Rufforth Autojumble Hosted at Rufforth Park in York and just £2 admission per person, there’s plenty to goad you into potentially finding that star buy from 8am on Saturday. www.rufforthautojumble.com 3 April 1 Fowlers' Easter Bunny Ride Fowlers are hosting a fundraising Easter Bunny Ride this Saturday. Starting from the showroom, then riding to Charlton Farm Hospice, riders are invited to dress up and bring a fiver for a donation. Ride starts at 10am. www.facebook.com/FowlersMotorcycles…

THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £13,100 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT • 890cc triple DOHC 12v • 117.3bhp @10,000rpm • 220kg kerb weight £12,655 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT • 999cc inline four • 149.9bhp @11,000rpm • 226kg kerb weight In the distant past Grand Tours were undertaken by upper-class toffs. Nowadays, however, the term is more closely associated with three old men attempting to rekindle their youth on telly or vehicles carrying the GT logo to highlight their sporty potential, with bikes such as the two we are testing today perfect examples. Kicking off is the GSX-S1000GT, a bike that was developed as the GSX-S1000F but last year Suzuki saw sense and after a redesign the F (Fugly…) became the GT (Grand Tourer) - and is much better…

Massimo Laverda has certainly left a legacy. The man who helped create the 1970s’ most lusted-after superbike, produced the legendary 750 SFC twin, Jota 1000 triple and 500 Montjuic, was behind the revolutionary 750cc V6 racer and even played a part in BMW’s game-changing R80G/S. Born 1938 in Breganze, a rural hamlet near Vicenza, north-east Italy, Massimo - along with brother Piero - were always destined to play a role in the family firm. Originally set up by great-grandfather Pietro in 1873 to produce agricultural machinery, Moto Laverda was spun off in 1949 by Massimo’s father, Francesco, to build small bikes. They were a success, too, until, following the completion of his engineering degree at the University of Modena in 1964, Massimo joined the company with a bold new vision.…

‘It’ll make you fizz…’ Yes, Ducati have tamed the Streetfighter V4 with the latest upgrades, but a 205bhp super-naked with a stiff superbike chassis is still a physical and mental challenge to ride quickly on track, especially one as nadgery as Andalucia. Once you’ve acclimatised to the Ducati’s brutality you can lean on its new rider aids and trust them to help you go faster with a bigger safety margin. We still reckon 170-ish bhp is the super-naked sweet spot, but the Ducati remains endlessly impressive and won’t fail to make you fizz every time you open the garage door THE FACTS £22,895 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S…

Yamaha’s MT-07 proved that you don’t need big power, expensive suspension or fussy electronics to have fun. Introduced in 2014, the MT-07’s a simple, inspired design that has been a huge hit. It’s one of a rare breed of machines that mixes lightness with an easyto-manage engine. The result is friendly, punchy, fast, frugal and more fun than it has any right to be. This original version was replaced in 2018. And because so many have been sold, there are plenty of used machines on the market. Find a decent one and you will be laughing. BUYER BEWARE • Check it has ABS (assuming you want that extra safety net) as it only became standard on the MT-07 after the law change in 2016, which made it compulsory for all…

‘The piston gouged chunks out of the barrel in seconds…’ The owner of a 2006 Kawasaki Versys 650 knew the news wasn’t going to be good as he pressed play on his phone in Zenith’s North London workshop. He’d filmed himself outside his house hitting the starter button while his bike tried to fire up. Although it was only a few seconds long, it was a horror show with the ‘clackety clack’ of an engine death rattle as a dubious highlight. That noisy soundtrack meant that when the bike did come in, the first thing technician Bernie Roe did was whip off the ignition cover to get a spanner on the crankshaft, using the ignition pick-up as a datum to see how far the engine turned over, and then he…

SPORT ROUND 1 PORTIMAO | MOTOGP COLIN YOUNG INSIGHT Behind the garage doors of the MotoGP paddock TOP STORY Forty eight hours after he contemplated pulling the plug on Portimao there was every reason for Brad Binder to ponder what might have been. The South African hard man led an impressive KTM resurgence with sixth in Sunday’s Portuguese GP. On the penultimate lap he was fourth having started fourteenth. “I thought I had fourth place in the bag but I’m not complaining, because after FP1 I still doubted whether I would be able to ride,” Binder said. He required intense physio treatment to treat a painful neck injury suffered in testing. In his slipstream for seventh was new teammate Jack Miller who made a sparkling KTM debut as the Austrian squad…

MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 BAGNAIA37 2 VIÑALES 25 3 BEZZECCH116 16 Oliveria 3 17 Morhidelli 2 18 Fernandez R 0 19 Marini 0 20 Di Giannantonio 0 21 Bastianini 0 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP 11 Mir +16.992 12 Nakagami +17.448 13 Fernandez A +21.723 14 Morbidelli +27.05 DNF Fernandez R 23 laps, Marini 21 laps, Martin 19 laps, Di Giannantonio 10 laps, Oliveria 2 laps, Marquez M 2 laps FINAL POSITIONS SP RACE 11 Fernandez R +8.16 12 Binder +8.384 13 Rins +11.288 14 Morbidelli +17.138 15 Nakagami +18.128 16 Di Giannantonio +21.235 DNF Bezzecchi 2 laps, Bastianini 3 laps, Marini 3 laps, Mir 0 laps, Fernandez AO laps FINAL POSITIONS MOTO2 11 Vietti +14.086, 12 Baltus +14.515 13 Aldeguer +15.445 14 Roberts +25.444, 15 Garcia +26.876, 16 Binder +40.233, 17…

Aleix Espargaro brought Aprilia to prominence in 2022. His title challenge only foundered later in the year. By then, the longest serving rider on the grid had already said: “This might be my only chance.” Will his teammate Vinales prove that to be true? One race might not reverse Aprilia’s pecking order, but the omens were not encouraging for the 33-year-old Espargaro, already struggling after arm surgery less than a fortnight before following a bout of cramp at the tests. Viñales passed him on the last lap of the Sprint race and left him almost ten seconds behind in ninth on Sunday.…

SPORT ROUND 1 PORTIMAO | MOTOGP MATT BIRT INSIGHT The voice of authority at the heart of MotoGP TOP STORY Best of luck to anyone trying to prise the number one plate out of Pecco Bagnaia’s hands in 2023. Pretenders to his crown in Portimao were given a blunt reminder that dethroning the Italian this season is undoubtedly MotoGP’s toughest task. The reigning world champion made the dream start to the defence of his title at the Algarve International Circuit by doubling up for Ducati in the historic first Sprint race and then Sunday’s full-length Grand Prix. A mammoth 777 points are up for grabs in MotoGP’s longest ever season this year. And the first 37 went back to Bologna during a weekend in which Bagnaia oozed class and Ducati look…