Table of contents for 12 April 2023 in MCN

ON TEST Suzuki strike the perfect balance Suzuki fans have been waiting a very long time for some brand-spankingnew models to emerge from the factory gates. Then, just like buses, we’ve had two already this year. But is the new GSX-8S easier to ride than it is to say? Thankfully, the answer to that is a resounding yes and much to the Suzuki engineers’ relief, the lack of spec-sheet bingo wins over Honda’s new CB750 Hornet isn’t a reflection of their relative merits once you swing a leg over and head out onto the road. We travel to the south of France to see just how good the new 8S really is. PAGE 40 ‘Far from an alsoran, it could be the best in class…’SUZUKI’S NEW GSX-8S HITS THE SPOT…

Chester KTM are hosting an adventure riding weekend, featuring on- and off-road guided routes, Live music and workshops discussing riding skills, maintenance and navigation tips. The Filthy 48 Adventure event will take place over the weekend of Saturday, May 27 and Sunday 28 at a purpose-built 12-acre site located on private land just 15 minutes ride from the dealership. It will run in conjunction with the dealership’s open day on the Saturday and will take things “to the next Level,“ says Fraser Barsby, Head of Marketing at the firm’s Little Stanney showroom. “Essentially the weekend is aimed at adventure bike riders who haven’t yet had the opportunity to ride trails and venture off-piste on their adventure bike. “In fact, it’ll be a great way for riders to ‘pop their cherry’…

The winner of MCN’s Rapid Training competition to bag an eight-day Bikemaster course worth £3477 has been announced. Oliver Newall, 61, from Reading bagged the prize, which will be a combination of six days of road coaching from police Class Onequalified riders and two days of track training. “I’ve been looking at doing a Rapid course so I’m very pleased” Oliver said. Visit rapidtraining.co.uk Be a wizard of OZ MCN readers can enjoy up to £149 off a set of OZ lightweight wheels with accessory retailer Reactive Parts. The rims are CNC machined before being treated for additional strength. They are claimed up to 40% lighter than standards wheels, which should help reduce gyroscopic/rotational inertia and boost handling. The offer is open until May 12. Just key in code MCN-OZTUV…

THIS WEEK Police in West Yorkshire have come under fire after a viral video apparently showed officers ignoring a helmet-less hooligan taunting them with wheelies on a major A-road. The video, shared far and wide on social media, shows the rider of a potentially stolen Honda CRF100 performing stunts and wheelies alongside a marked patrol car. This continues for around a minute and a half on the A58 before the officers exit the carriageway. The clip has sparked outrage from viewers who are baffled by what looks like police inaction, prompting the force to release a statement on their actions. A representative for the force didn’t deny the authenticity of the footage but explained that pursuits are only permitted by specially trained officers in suitable vehicles. They added that any…

JON URRY ‘I very nearly hit the ‘buy’ button…’ Every now and then I hit eBay to see what the prices are doing for a bike I am always on the look-out for - the original Triumph Street Triple 675. The underseat pipe one, not the side-mounted exhaust updated model. The other day I had a quiet moment so I took a sneaky peak and to be honest, I nearly broke and hit the ‘Best Offer’ button! Well, what else are overdrafts for? In my head Street Triples, even early 2007 models, go for in the region of £4000 but on eBay quite a few have shifted for closer to £2500. That can’t possibly be right… So I looked again and sure enough, quite a few with 25,000 miles area…

Book your discounted tickets online! Order your tickets and save by heading over to… WWW.MCNFESTIVAL.COM Devitt MCN devittinsurance.com festival OF MOTORCYCLING may 13th-14th 2023 EAST OF ENGLAND ARENA There are only four weeks to go until the Devitt Insurance MCN Festival of Motorcycling kicks off at the Peterborough Showground on May 13-14 - and BMW have confirmed that they will be bringing along some umissable new models to try out around the local Cambridgeshire roads. With bikes to suit every rider of all abilities and experience, from the mammoth 1800cc R18 Transcontinental cruiser, to the low seat version of the F750GS adventure bike, BMW have selected an impressive 15 machines for their festival fleet. That BMW test fleet in full… R18, R18 (100th anniversary model), R18 Classic, R18 B, R18 Transcontinental, R nineT (100…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Mike Lee The ride Sheffield to Stirling When to do it Spring to Autumn How many miles? 671 How long? Three days Tell us about the trip… Day one highlights included heading up to Windermere and on to the Lovely ferry at Bowness across to Hawkshead. Then north along the A593 to turn left towards Little Longdale and onto my first pass - Wrynose Pass! Amazing views. Then the superb Wrynose Pass becomes the Hardknott Pass, this is the one people worry about as it has some very tight and steep turns, but it was no problem for the Himmy and me! Day two had rain but I left the M74 at Moffat to take the scenic over-the-mountains route to Edinburgh on the A701,…

‘Ice cream at Thornton Dale’ CHRIS HOOD I covered 148 miles from Beverley to Seaways at Fridaythorpe. We took the back roads to Dalby Forest, Silpho and Sleights, before ice cream at Thornton Dale. We then took the back roads again and back home. ‘It would be rude not to’ TOM MENEY Spring has sprung, so it’d be rude not to! A ride out on my Multistrada to Kilmacolm Road viewing point, on the B788. ‘A stop off at Dover Castle’ GARY HOLMES I took my GS to Dover Castle during a 390-mile round trip back to my hometown and to visit my 90-year-old parents. ‘Full day out on my new CB’ JEFF TERRY First day out on the CB1000R. Still getting to grips as it’s my first inline four…

Without Francesc Xavier Bultó Marquès, Spanish bike brand Bultaco, whose lightweight two-strokes were not only successful on road and track but revolutionised then dominated world trials in the 60s and 70s, would never have existed. Born into Catalan high society in 1912, Paco, as he became known, saw an opportunity for two-wheeled transport post-WW2 and teamed up with Pere Permanyer in 1944 to produce lightweight motorcycles under the Montesa brand. Although the first bike was based on a French Motobecane, Paco later designed the firm’s own 125cc two-stroke which, under his direction, became increasingly competitive in road racing. In May 1958, however, due to an economic slump, Permanyer wanted to pull out of racing and, when Montesa’s other directors agreed, Paco resigned. On hearing the news, members of the racing…

Producing 80bhp from a 776cc twin is conservative, even if it’s backed with a claimed 57lb.ft. Far from being a case of ‘should’ve tried harder’, it’s a wilful sacrifice of peak bhp in favour of torque and usability. To achieve the power curve they wanted (which is the same shape as an SV650, but around 10bhp meatier) they’ve built an engine for this specific purpose, rather than copying superbike architecture. The inlet ports are a key detail – they are not only smaller diameter than the Honda, despite feeding a higher capacity engine, but are ‘side draft’, so they feed into the cylinder head horizontally and the charge has to turn a corner. ‘Down draft’ has been the favoured design since the 1985 Yamaha FZ750, as the straight shot into…

TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT Tested by Richard Newland for 18 months The Quantic is a typical Arai evolution, blending only the tech and features they’re happy to introduce with their trademark ‘R75’ shell design ethos. This means no internal sun visor, no sharp angular edges or rigid vents and spoilers (the large rear exhaust/spoiler is designed to crumple or detach in an accident). Despite all the vents, once closed I’ve suffered no water ingress during persistent rain, and you can exclude almost all unwanted draughts on cold days, meaning it’s been a firm favourite through winter, acting like a cosseting protective duvet for your head. The MaxVision visor mechanism uses two recessed levers to release the side pods and detach the visor. The pods do…

Tested by Emma Franklin for three months As a windproof, thermal, mid layer, the Expedition provides warmth without bulk, thanks to strategic use of different materials. Chief amongst which is a soft inner fleece across the entirety of the chest, upper back and front of the arms that retains warmth but lies flat beneath outerwear. Other features include a rubberised hem that keeps the jacket in place and thumb loops on the cuffswhich work but are uncomfortable under gloves. 1000 miles ON TEST Although it’s priced about the same as the competition, I think layering is a fairly expensive game and I can’t help but feel you’d be better off just investing in a heated waistcoat instead. Quality Value www.oxfordproducts.com…

Fitting a chain and sprocket kit is relatively straightforward and a very satisfying task to complete, especially if you've maximised the mileage out of the old sprockets and chain. The fresh components will make your bike feel like new again, with that perfectly damped creamy smooth feel from the new drivetrain. So, to make sure it lasts, and don’t buy cheap stuff! In this guide we’ve used a quality kit from Japanese specialists Jtsprockets.com. Remember, it’s always more cost effective to buy a complete kit rather than the items separately – and quite often, the kits will include a choice of chain too, so always ask for advice if you’re not sure what you need. One word of caution about fitting chains: make sure you have the correct tools for…

Back in 2017, Met Police officer Edwin Sutton was cleared of wrongdoing after he “manoeuvred his vehicle into the path of a moped being driven by a 17-year-old suspect.” Despite this, it took a further two years before the Independent Office for Police Conduct updated its guidance for officers. “It’s critical that police officers using their powers to detain suspected offenders have clear, unambiguous guidance,” said IOPC interim Deputy Director General Jonathan Green.…

Despite fierce opposition from biking rights groups and a huge petition, Hackney Council, have passed a motion to charge motorcyclists to park in the London borough. A full council, meeting on March 27 was attended by members of the Motorcycle Action Group who, along with Save London Motorcycling (SLM) and the National. Motorcyclists Council, have spearheaded the campaign against the new fees. In October 2022, before a meeting of the council, MAG and SLM handed in a petition bearing more than 7000 signatures to Hackney Town Hall. The new rules will see riders being charged £10 per day. That is down from the original £60, but it could still cost a commuter up to around £2300 a year to park in the borough. The charges will be introduced this autumn…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Fight the pothole menace’ Following on from your recent article, I am shocked to see the number of deep potholes in the middle of roads designated for fast traffic (motorways and A-roads). Whenever possible I have used the FixMyStreet app to report them (others should, too). However, the response is always the same: “Priority 4 - we will endeavour to fix within 6 months”. This is unacceptable. Every day I see holes that are potentially lethal to motorcyclists. The Government really need to up their game. I urge everyone to write to their local MP, as I shall be doing. Peter Thompson, Northampton STAR LETTER Barking mad Loved the article on Moxie and Jess - the perfect bond: rider, bike ’n’ dog (MCN, April 5)! And…

FRIDAY April 14 3pm, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Texas USA-The Americas: Free Practice 1. 7.15pm Free Practice 2 4pm, EUR2, Motocross World Championship from Argentina: MXGP Race 1.5pm Race 2. SATURDAY April 15 1.45pm, EUR1, Live Endurance Moto Racing World Championship: 24 hours of Le Mans. Also at 7pm SUNDAY April 16 5am, EUR2, Live Endurance Moto Racing World Championship: 24 hours of Le Mans. Also at 1pm MONDAY April 17 5.45pm, EUR2, BSB Vault: Silverstone 8pm, ITV4, MotoGP Highlights from Texas USA KEYTO 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 ITVDST -…

Some riders tuck their sleeves into their gloves, while others prefer to have their jacket sleeves over the top of their gloves - which is often easier with a shorter style glove. Deciding which suits you best will depend on several factors… Most trackday organisers insist on a long-cuff leather glove, so there is less danger of a gap between the sleeve and glove, which could expose skin in the event of an accident. While that makes sense for motorcycle sport, these days many gloves for road use are designed with a shorter cuff that sits snugly under your jacket sleeve, without any gapping. Shorter gloves tend to be more comfortable in hot conditions, but if a jacket cuff is tight or without much adjustment, it can be tricky to fit…

All three share the common appeal of arm-stretching, tyre-torturing grunt. But which is the quickest? MCN’s resident speed tester Bruce Dunn was tasked with finding the truth. The Diavel gains an initial advantage off the line, thanks to a combination of power delivery, and low-slung, forward-biased weight which make it perfect for a hard, flat launch, reaching 60mph in 2.98s. The Z H2’s shorter/taller stance makes it more wheelie prone, taking 3.31s, and the Rocket’s mass and tendency to spin the rear means it takes a still-credible 3.5s. The Ducati maintains its advantage over the Kawasaki up to 100mph, taking 5.66s compared to 6.02. The heavier, less powerful Rocket is falling behind, taking 8.09s. The big Triumph then goes on to 138.83mph, taking 18.12s to reach it. The Ducati’s 1/4-mile…

We’re conditioned to desire more power, less weight as motorcyclists – particularly in the UK where the sportsbike scene has been formative for many. But Suzuki’s considered approach has resulted in a machine where the numbers on the spec sheet don’t matter. The GSX-8S is friendly from the get-go, torquey and engaging at realistic road speeds, with a chassis that inspires confidence no matter what you ask of it. It’s proven a pleasant surprise – far from a misjudged also-ran, it could well be the best in class against impressive competition. THE FACTS £7999 Suzuki GSX-8S…

Tested by Dan Sutherland for seven months Once you’ve got through the early breaking in period where they can be stiff, you’re treated to a grown-up understated design that’s produced using a beautifully soft kangaroo skin leather exterior and lined with a thin layer of shock absorbing foam. With brushed titanium knuckle protection, fused outer fingers, and abrasion resistant stingray leather on the palms, the CE certified kit offers decent levels of protection without feeling bulky – especially important on track. There’s also hard aramid protection on the two outer fingers and across the rear of the wrist area. There are also decent levels of ventilation for those scorching summertime sessions and, despite being black, you don’t get much dye run off onto your hands when you’re sweating or caught…

Sprocket to 'em Get smoother shifts and drive with a new chain and sprocket set BRUCE’S TIPS Usually, the number of teeth is stamped onto the face of the sprocket 1 Check the teeth When ordering sprockets, it’s really important to find the right ones. Each bike will have a sprocket with a specific number of teeth, and deviating from this spec will change the final drive ratio and could cause the machine to sacrifice fuel efficiency or performance. So check your current sprockets for the number of teeth to make sure the new ones are the same. 2 Make your mark The gear lever needs to be removed from the splined shaft. Before you do this, mark where lever boss is located on the shaft. This will make assembly easier and…

As TT 2023 edges ever closer, the top 20 start list for the two Supertwin races has been revealed. Following new technical regs for the class in 2022, further tweaks have been made to get more manufacturers involved… and it’s worked. Paton have won the last four races but their domination of the class could be under threat with former winners Michael Rutter and Peter Hickman set to run the Yamaha R7 in 2023. Another favourite will be Aprilia mounted Lee Johnston who claimed a podium last year on a far from fully developed RS660. Two time Supertwin winner Michael Dunlop remains on the Paton. The complete top 20 for the Carole Nash Supertwin TT Races is: • Dominic Herbertson John M Paterson/CC Engineering Kawasaki • Michael Rutter Bathams Racing…

Well that’s the opening round of BSB done and dusted - and what a great weekend it was. I was in the Superstock races and the mid-pack was full of TT noshers! There was me, Michael Dunlop, James Hillier, Nathan Harrison, Craig Neve and Conor Cummins all battling away. And then you had Hicky, Harrison, Todd and Brookes doing the business in Superbikes. I think there was actually a bit of mutual respect between us in Superstock; a bit of a gentlemen’s agreement not to turbo each other! From the outside looking in the results are a bit ‘whatever’ but there’s 50 riders trying to qualify, 36 get through and I finished 20th in the second race so I’m happy with that. Plus, I set my fastest sector on the…

A book detailing the recreation of the 297cc RC174 Honda Six will be Launched at the Stafford Classic Bike Show on April 22-23. George Beale was authorised by Honda to recreate the bike using an original machine from Japan to draw and re-cast the complex power unit and chassis. Twenty-five years later, ten have been completed. The 236-page book, Honda Six - Recreating a Masterpiece -features almost 300 photographs. Visit: charterhouse-bikes.com/book Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it… Riders curious about the electric revolution can experience the thrill of torque-on-tap as Zero take their electric models on the road, including two days at next month’s Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling in Peterborough, The Experience Electric tour will take place at 15 events, dealerships and festivals between May and September Simply…

SAVE £944 £22,851 Ducati XDiavel 1260 S If you’ve always liked the idea of a cruiser but were never prepared to put up with the performance, handling, and braking compromises most entailed, then the X Diavel could be perfect for you. It has a powerful variable-valve V-twin engine and despite the geometry it handles like a super-naked. www.blademotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1645 £10,995 Honda CB1000R Go for finance and you get two years European Assistance, extended warranty and a Datatool Tracker sub. www.craigshonda.com • Engine 998cc • Power 144bhp • Weight 213kg • Seat height 830mm SAVE £1270 £14,299 Kawasaki Versys 1000SE We had an SE on long term test and thought it was “agile, smooth and sublimely comfortable.” Better still, it is now on offer with atempting saving. www.daytonamc.co.uk • Engine…

Ewan McGregor has teamed up with Moto Guzzi to appear in, and supply the voiceover for, the latest video promoting the V100 Mandello. The short flick, entitled On to the Next Journey was shot in various locations in California and also features several of the actor’s own Moto Guzzis. The promo can be seen on the Moto Guzzi YouTube channel now. Added performance BMW’s Performance Academy have extended their offerings for on-track training to five circuits across the UK. In addition to Anglesey, Donington Park, Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park and Snetterton are now included in the 2023 line-up. The courses are available to beginner riders (level one) to the M Performance training (level four) which is open to riders who have completed levels one to three. Prices start at £699.…

Oxford Original Approved jeans £79.99 Cool kit that’ll keep you protected If you’re buzzing about town, getting trussed-up in touring textiles may feel a bit much as does pouring yourself into a one-piece leather race suit for a trip to the shops. Thankfully, there’s plenty of casual gear that doesn’t scrimp on safety and offers a decent level of protection against the weather, while giving you the flexibility to feel comfortable off the bike. This week we’ve been looking at just that class of kit, kicking off with an item that always scores well in our essential kit reviews, Oxford’s Original Approved jeans. Constructed from Armourlite denim with triple-stitched seams, these slim-fit vintage style strides have earned an AA rating for abrasion. The fabric has a two-way stretch, as well as…

‘In trouble for being nice…’ I saw a police car lurking in a layby, so I flashed my lights at oncoming bikers to warn them. I don’t think they were speeding but I was then followed by a police motorcyclist. He stopped me and gave me a fixed penalty notice saying I had broken the law. I have looked into it, but cannot find anything about using headlights to warn other drivers as being wrong. Can you confirm if he was right to fine me? Ian Dawes, Bagshot A There is an offence relating to this. Warning the driver of a motor vehicle who is driving in excess of the speed limit that there is a speed trap amounts to obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty contrary…

1 April 14 Speedway Scunthorpe Scorpions are racing at home against the Oxford Cheetahs. Tickets cost £20. oxfordspeedway.club 2 April 14 Run What Ya Brung Head to Santa Pod this weekend, and see what your bike is realty capable of down the quartermile strip. santapod.co.uk 3 April 15 Bike Stop To celebrate Ruroc’s launch at Bike Stop in Stevenage, Saturday from 10am-4pm the UK helmet brand are taking over the shop. www.bikestop.co.uk 4 April 17 Scrambler tour Completely Motorbikes in Abergele are hosting the Ducati Scrambler Tour from 6pm. Book your slot now. completely motorbikes.co.uk…

THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £21,995 Triumph Rocket 3 R ● 2458cc 12v dohc inline triple ● 144.1bhp/148.35lb.ft ● £227.90 per month PCP £20,899 Kawasaki Z H2 SE Performance ● 998cc 16v supercharged inline-four ● 184.99bhp/96.82lb.ft ● £162.52 per month PCP £23,585 Ducati Diavel V4 ● 1158cc 16v dohc 90° V4 ● 155.17bhp/86.83lb.ft ● £279 per month PCP The world is gradually embracing non-conformity. Fitting in, doing as you’re told, behaving as expected by ‘beige’ people… who wants that? Not us. Freedom is allowing people to live the lives they want, and ride the bikes that suit them. The Diavel has cut its own groove since 2011: a superbike-derived motor, chassis specced like a supernaked, but with the fat-tyred, feet-forward style of a cruiser. It…

‘The appeal is personal’ Motorcycling for pleasure is about entertainment value and rider satisfaction. All three deliver plenty of both by different means, and their appeal is very personal. I expected Rocket III owner Keith to appreciate the modernised version of his bike and pick it as his favourite. But it was the Kawasaki that most appealed to his eclectic tastes. Its mix of refinement with the addictive, urgent supercharged power won him over, as well neat detailing and high-class components. He even liked the styling. Each to their own. Bruce on the other hand didn’t trust himself to behave on the rude Kawasaki, and felt the Diavel was better for having fun without going daft. It has the best electronics of the three. The Rocket is my favourite. I…

In February this year, British engineering firm Ricardo was announced as a partner of Ducati Motor Holding, heralding a new chapter in their long-standing, but otherwise under-wraps, collaboration. Yet their relationship isn’t mutually exclusive. Throughout history, prestigious bike manufacturers have publicly declared partnerships with Ricardo. From Triumph’s Ricardo of the early 1920s to BMW’s K1600, C650 and C400s of the present day, the firm has provided the world’s motorcycle manufacturers with innovations, technical solutions and entire new models, usually under the strictest secrecy, for over 100 years, and whose work today will shape the two-wheelers of tomorrow. MCN got an exclusive tour of Ricardo’s Shoreham Technical Centre to find out more about the company that provides the power behind propulsion. Where it all began Guiding us around the Shoreham facility…

‘Classy and refined’ CFMoto have moved to the next Level with the 450SR, The Chinese brand’s second attempt at an A2 sportsbike has pretty much blown the competition out of the water, by being classy, stylish and extremely refined. At £6199 the SR is up for going toe-to-toe with the market-leading Kawasaki Ninja 400 (£6099), which it matches pretty cLosely in terms of mechanical spec, but eclipses slightly with its 5in TFT screen. Although the SR in many ways feels more premium than its rivals, many potential, owners won’t be able to reconcile paying top dollar for a lesser brand. Plus, depreciation is likely to be horrible - at least for now. THE FACTS £6199 CFMoto 450SR…

1300 miles ON TEST Tested by Justin Hayzelden for two months The K1 S is AGV’s entry-level full-face lid, but with its race inspired shape, integrated spoiler and panoramic visor, it could easily be mistaken for a model, higher up the range. Approved to the new and more stringent ECE22.06 standard, the poLycarbonate shell features a fully removable and washable spectacle-friendly interior, with a plush, high-end feel to it. In use it is reassuringly snug, enhanced by a close-fitting neck roll and additional chin curtain, the latter proving its worth over winter by blocking out icy draughts. Where the K1 S does show its price point is in the lack of a drop-down sunshade, and although it comes Pinlock prepared, the insert is extra. Switching visors is a doddle though…

‘I thought I’d seen it all in 42 years of working on bikes’ Suspension expert Darren Wnukoski thought he’d seen it all, having worked with bikes for 42 years, but a set of Yamaha forks had him choking on his early morning cuppa! “Those forks were the most dilapidated I’ve ever seen come in,” he spluttered. What was weird was that the bottoms were looking lovely, all blasted and lacquered, but the bloke who bought it, thought that the head races were gone because it knocked so badly, but that was not the issue. Darren continued: “These forks have a guide bush at the top next to the fork seals, and a slide bush on the bottom of the chrome tube. They are both Teflon-coated, but that had worn away,…

Danny Buchan ended his weekend in hospital, after a crash on the exit of Woodcote. The SYNETIQ BMW rider suffered a 139mph highside and was left battered and bruised. Buchan went to hospital for X-rays and further checks, with initial reports that he may have broken bones in his foot. He said: “Gutted for my team, I was comfortable in eighth and had an issue that was neither of our faults. This is being investigated further.” Jackson struggles Lee Jackson was off the pace at Silverstone as he worked hard to get to grips with a new factory swingarm onboard his Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki. The team had hoped to test the new part during pre-season, but delays and wet weather cost them that opportunity. With the bike a work in…

What do you like most about racing? Courage and danger? The TT’s your natural home. Intensity? Look no further than four-lap speedway dashes. Camaraderie? Your local club meeting. Or perhaps it’s the long haul. Nothing like a 24-hour race. For me, after years of loving all of it, what took over was importance. That meant World Championship. 500cc back then, and nobody complained louder when commercial interests killed of those delicious little twostrokes and brought in clumsy great MotoGP bikes. MotoGP has come good, though. Huge power, whizzy rev ceilings, big-spend sponsors, ground-hugging aero, great TV. Like capitalism, however, fora commercial enterprise… nothing is ever enough. Hence this year’s upgrade: Saturday afternoon sprints. “A half-points race seemed half-baked’ Some loved the idea, but not everyone approved. Me for one. A…

JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Reporting direct from BSB 2023’ s season opener TOP STORY Josh Brookes is back! After two difficult years, the two-time Bennetts British Superbike Champion finds himself sitting pretty at the top of the table. Given a much-needed fresh start with FHO Racing, Brookes stunned the paddock with a pair of podiums each side of a spectacular victory at the Silverstone series opener onboard the M1000RR. A shock simply because of the lack of testing that he’s had with the new BMW, and the fact he’d never raced this bike previously. This was the Brookes of old, battling hard with the front runners, performing well thought-out, and fair, overtaking manoeuvres, and not allowing for any mistakes to ruin his race. His 55th win is an important one, coming…

RACE RESULTS 16 Neave Tim 3 17 Mossey 2 18 Harrison 1 19 Owens 1 BSB POSITIONS RACE 1 16 Neave Tim 16.422, 17 Delves 19.662, 18 Stacey 19.815 19 Perie 20.03 20 Cook 20.651 21 Mossey 22.11 22 Todd 22.951, 23 Scott 23.053 24 Owens, 23.201 25 Iddon 32.604 BSB POSITIONS RACE 2 16 Todd +22.009, 17 Perie+22.286, 18 Barbera +22.398, 19 Stacey+22.673, 20 Harri son +1 lap, 21 Cook+1 lap BSB POSITIONS RACE 3 16 Owens+16.541, 17 Nesbitt +17.844, 18 Perie +17.976, 19 Harrison +21.947, 20 Cook +24.614, 21 Stacy +26.577, 22 Todd+29.734…