Table of contents for 23 March 2022 in MCN

Electric city bike firm Sunra are partnering with training schools across the UK to help riders learn on battery-powered motorcycles. The initiative comes after a 146% increase in plug-in motorcycle registrations in 2021, with the firm hoping the move will attract more novices to electric. Centres already using the bikes include Saltire Motorcycles in Edinburgh, with Sunra now encouraging others to get involved. Spruced up Duke Quality British accessory specialists Evotech Performance have come up with a new range of CNC-machined and black powder-coated goodies for Ducati’s Supersport 950 and 950S. These range from brake and clutch lever protector kits (£150) and bar end weights (£44.99), to rad guards, crash protectors, tail tidies, front and rear wheels spindle bobbins, satnav mounts and many more, all to Evotech’s usual high standard.…

Tucano Urbano Stanley Park jacket £249 Looks like a classic parka, but is actually Class A CE-approved. It has decent insulation thanks to the removeable inner jacket and the outer is made from a polyester cotton twill fabric, along with a polyester mesh lining and taped seams. There is elbow and shoulder protection. www.tucanourbano.com/en/ Bodystyle hugger for Kawasaki Ninja 650 £121.99 This new Bodystyle rear hugger for Kawasaki’s Ninja 650 tidies up the sporty middleweight’s looks and keeps crud off the chain and shock. It’s made from high-strength ABS plastic and is colour-matched to the standard machine for that factory look. www.fechter.de/gb Laser Tools 8-size ratchet ring spanner £46.70 Provides eight different bi-hex sizes in one spanner, from 8mm to 19mm. It’s a reversible ring spanner which features a smooth…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews High-price of servicing With so much focus currently on the horrendous rise in the cost of electricity, gas and petrol it was great news to find my insurance premium has actually dropped this year. Any joy from that little win has been erased when investigating the servicing cost for my Kawasaki Versys 1000. The first inspection at 600 miles cost an eye-watering £215. The most I have ever paid for an oil change and once-over, and the most anyone I speak to has ever paid. Looking at Kawasaki dealers’ fixed price “bargain” servicing, I am expecting to pay over £400 for the first real service. £300 of this being labour! More than either of my cars at the associated main dealer. Is it just me or…

MCN staff and readers share their favourite routes This is a beautiful route that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow, to explore the stunning scenery through The Trossachs and along the glimmering shores of Loch Lomond. You need to head north out of Glasgow on the A81 on a delightful smooth flowing A-road. Consider a stop at Glengoyne, one of Scotland’s finest distilleries at the foot of Dumgoyne. Follow the A81 until you see the signs for Aberfoyle (A821), then follow the A821 up the hill out of Aberfoyle over the Duke’s Pass. What follows is quite simply some of the best riding in the UK with an Alpine style pass, complete with peg dragging hairpin turns and stunning views over Loch Achray. Follow the A821…

FRIDAY March 25 9pm, BTS2, FIM X-Trial World Championship Highlights SUNDAY 27 March 6.55am, ITV4, MotoGP highlights from Indonesia 3pm, EUR2, Bennetts British Superbikes – 2021 Race of the Season TUESDAY 29 March 8pm, EUR2, World Superbikes – 2021 Donington weekend highlights KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 TVL –…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fastflowing A- and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A- and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A- roads and motorway…

The Honda never really stood a chance in this company. It was always the wildcard and couldn’t compete with the more powerful, refined and enjoyable Tiger and Tracer. It certainly has a place, but it’s better suited to a daily commute. Between the Tiger and Tracer it was a much closer call. Both boast powerful, engaging powertrains, comfortable ergonomics and an engaging ride (although both would benefit from quickshifters). You wouldn’t be disappointed by either in isolation, but the Tiger was a little bit better in every respect, making for an altogether better and more appealing package. While the Tracer is sporty and firm, the Tiger is much more adaptable, and suited to a greater breadth of riding. As with the Trident, the triple feels far more powerful than its…

SENIOR WRITER On the road, the standard ‘comfort’ and ‘street’ settings on the semi-active WP suspension provide a firm but fair set-up that satisfies on even the twistiest of lanes, but the optional ‘Auto’ mode really allows the bike to shine (when it’s working properly). The Evo’s other main update – a quicker throttle action – goes unnoticed on the road, and the optional quickshifter fitted to our test bike would occasionally miss shifts between second and third, and fifth and sixth. For many then, the standard R (£16,349) will be all the bike they ever need, but for the ultimate in spring adjustment, the Evo is the one to have. THE FACTS £17,899 OTR* KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo *£19,192 as tested…

The MoT test is a requirement for motorcycles that are three years or older, and the date of its first MoT has to be on the anniversary of (or just before) the date of its first registration. That means if you collected your shiny 22-plate bike on March 1, then it’ll need its first MoT on March 1, 2025 and every year thereafter… Until 2064… Because, as crazy as it sounds, if you own a bike or car approaching its 40th year of registration, it ceases to require an MoT. So all you owners of early GPz750s stand by… after 40 years your bike is classed as an historic vehicle (feel old yet?) As an added bonus, there is also an exemption from paying road tax, although you will still…

Alvaro Bautista is looking like a force to be reckoned with for 2022. Having rekindled his love affair with Ducati, the Spaniard seems able to turn it on with real ease. Standing trackside with MCN last Thursday, even newly-appointed Aruba Ducati advisor Chaz Davies (with an impressive 32 wins and 99 podiums to his name) was in awe of his former teammate. One vantage point was the exit of the Carro Hairpin: on the exit, Bautista’s laps appeared carbon copies of one another as the Spaniard smoothly picked up the bike, gently pawed the air with his front wheel and impressively changed direction for the left-handed Turn 15. He’s a motorcycle rider in total control, ignoring a Turn 6 crash on Day 1. Having now decided on his new swingarm,…

MATTHEW BIRT INSIGHT Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 Nine points from his previous 10 races didn’t exactly make Miguel Oliveira a standout candidate to win a first Mandalika MotoGP showdown. A shocking slump in form initiated by a wrist injury in Austria last August included three DNFs in his last four appearances. If Oliveira was low on confidence and under mounting pressure to halt such an alarming decline, you’d have never known after his wet weather domination in Mandalika. In a race delayed by tropical thunderstorms for 75 minutes, a lightning start from seventh was the catalyst for Oliveira’s fourth MotoGP win. Never lower than second, Oliveira was less hindered by spray-induced visibility issues and he made taming testing conditions look as easy as shelling…

When we launched eMCN four years ago, it felt like a brave leap into the unknown. The bikes were in their relative infancy, acceptance amongst bikers was low, and if you wanted to elicit a tirade of negativity about the future of biking, all you had to do was drop electric bikes into a chat. But it’s incredible how far, and fast, the market has evolved and is continuing to accelerate. Seemingly overnight we have bikes that are so powerful, dripping in tech and high-end components, and attractive to stare at – that most of us would now be happy to be seen on one. And at the other end of the spectrum, the raft of urban EVs being bought to replace the bus, tube or train for the daily…

Type 2 Also known as the ‘Mennekes connector’, after the company that designed it, this is the most common connector in Europe. It is similar to the Type 1 used in the US and Japan but has a different pin layout and two extra pins, which allow it to work with 3-phase AC. It can also be used with low-current DC chargers. CCS Combo 2 The Combined Charging System ‘Combo 2’ is based on the ‘Type 2’ but adds two massive pins underneath the existing socket, allowing high-power DC fast-charging when plugged into a suitable charger but remaining compatible with ‘Type 2’ connectors. CHAdeMO Another DC fast-charging standard, CHAdeMO sockets have been fitted on Energicas since 2021, but are otherwise rare on motorcycles. CHAdeMO is currently the only system used…

When Max Biaggi set the land speed record for electric bikes in the semi-streamlined class on Voxan’s Wattman he used brute power to achieve it – with 367hp on tap to average 228mph. And British firm White Motorcycle Concepts have every intention of using their radical aeros and two-wheel drive to strip Max of his records. The brainchild of company founder Robert White, the WMC250EV is 70% more aerodynamic than a Suzuki Hayabusa thanks to the tunnel that runs through its core, lowering the centre of pressure at the front of the bike. The design means there’s more load over the front tyre at speed, helping White’s second innovation – 2WD – via two hubmounted motors. Another two drive the rear wheel, mounted at the front of the swingarm and…

Edward Bass, 45, bought his used 2019 Zero S last October ‘Sign up to a few charge services’ “It’s my second electric bike. I briefly had a Super Soco TC Max but needed something with more power, range and the option to use EV charge points. I also wanted something fairly light as I’m still new to riding. I was looking around and saw this in decent nick and it was a little cheaper than new. The mileage was fairly low still, too, so there was little risk the battery had lost charge so I didn’t really have any concerns and Alec and the guys at EEMC were very open about the work they were doing to the bike presale. I also had a ‘charge tank’ installed so I can…

It seems almost impossible to imagine how anyone could credit Covid with any positive impacts – but, incredibly, there has been one side-effect that could well be attributed to it. And even more surprisingly, it’s a good thing for the biking world. No, it’s not quieter roads (they seem busier than ever again to me), or the simple joy of getting out on two wheels while ‘self-isolating’ in a way that we always have, and actually enjoy. No – it’s the rapidly accelerating adoption of biking, especially in urban areas, and by new riders who may never have made the jump to two wheels if they hadn’t exiled themselves from public transport in an attempt to dodge the pandemic. And once someone becomes a rider, the world is their lobster…

SAVE £2000 £14,999 Suzuki GSX-R1000R A superlative sportsbike, the GSX-R1000R is fast, fun and refined. Here’s your chance to pick up one of the last anniversary GSX-R1000Rs in the UK with its a retro paintjob just like the 2020 GSX-RR MotoGP machine, which is a blue and silver homage to Suzuki’s early race bikes from the 1960s. • www.prestonmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £811 £11,489 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT A brilliant sports tourer with excellent suspension and a host of touring extras. • Engine 847cc • Power 113bhp • Weight 227kg • Seat height 850mm SAVE £542 £5581 BMW G310GS BMW are offering a 0% PCP deal on the entry-level GS which looks the part and is an impressive commuter. • Engine 313cc • Power 34bhp • Weight 169kg • Seat height 835mm…

Essex Police have released a short video showing the work being done by officers to combat motorcycle theft. The footage shows some of the activity undertaken by an operation involving 16 special constables and four regular officers – including two on motorcycles – in and around Thurrock. The team set out to specifically target areas where bike thefts and anti-social behaviour had been reported. In part of the video, officers pursue a man with no helmet who is riding a stolen motorbike with no number plate. He is then boxed in by two unmarked police cars, and dumps the machine on a pavement before making off on foot. He then runs across a playing field, through a football match, before officers make an arrest. The man was found to be…

Qbag Tail Bag £49.99 Pack up your troubles With Spring in the air and daylight starting to stretch out, now’s the perfect time to start planning a big trip away. So this week we’ve been on the hunt for all things luggage based in order that you can bag yourself a bargain. Take this range of luggage from Qbag, which is imported and distributed by SportsBikeShop. There’s a full selection of luggage available including this expandable, 20-litre tail bag which is made from polyester and has strap attachments. There’s a waterproof rain cover included and sturdy carry handle for use when you park the bike for the night. The range also includes a backpack which, at £17.99, is reduced by over 55%. It has a hard shell outer, will hold…

1 Huddersfield Auto Retro Jumble March 27 Taking place in the Grade Two listed Victorian market building slap bang in the middle of Huddersfield, this autojumble is probably one of the nicest venues you can go to. Stalls can set up from 7am with customers starting shopping at 10am. phoenixfairs.jimdofree.com 2 Dumfries Easter Egg Run March 28 This charity run donates Easter eggs to social services across the region. The ride kicks off on Saturday at 12.30pm and there are four pre-run meeting points to choose from. At 1.30pm, the whole calvary comes together and arrives in Dumfries town centre at around 2pm. Search Facebook for the: ‘Dumfries Easter Egg Run’ 3 Run What Ya Brung! March 26 The legendary Santa Pod drag strip will be open to all this…

Ashley Marshall Age 26Height 6ftOccupation Motorcycle instructorCurrent bike Yamaha Tracer 700Been riding 10 YearsFirst bikeYamaha Diversion 600Dream bike Honda CBX1000 “I have been riding since the age of 16, and have always had a bike in the garage. I passed my A1 test at 17 and then subsequently went through the licence categories. In more recent years I began my career as a motorcycle instructor. “I love using the bike to get out and about, for trips away with friends, a run to the shops, and lessons with students. “I’ve owned this one for about three months and covered just under 2000 miles so far. I bought the Tracer because I wanted something light enough for work duties but that could also handle the odd trip away camping, and weather…

★★★★★ Arai Quantic ‘Face’ helmet £599.99 ‘The lid that fits like a glove’ Tested by Richard Newland for five months/5000 miles Helmets currently fall into two main safety categories – those that are ECE22.06 (the latest safety standard), and those that aren’t. The Quantic one of a handful of helmets currently on the market that conform to the new protection baseline (which sees helmet impact testing at higher and lower speeds than 22.05, and crucially introduces an angled impact test to simulate rotational forces). 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 styling angles or rigid vents and spoilers. The large rear exhaust/spoiler on the Quantic…

MECHANIC Lukas Tetich, T-Tech Suspension The puddle of suspension fluid on the garage floor meant there was no doubt that the owner of this 2012 BMW R1200RT needed to get his £1200 rear ESA shock looked at. Lukas Tetich, 37, has been running T-Tech suspension in south London for five years and has seen plenty of units with the same problems, so he was sure what needed to be done. He said: “Seals are usually the last thing to go. What brings that on is when the rebound adjuster needle buried inside the shock seizes in the closed position. The stepper motors can get water damage. You can press any button on the control unit, but it won’t make any difference. The bike has got a ton of rebound damping…

There was Indonesian delight for rookie Scott Ogden, who scored points for the first time in just his second Moto3 race. The Brit was hampered by a crash early into qualifying. That had a knock-on effect, as he got cut up in the early laps from his starting position of 18th. Ogden’s speed in the final ten laps was impressive, as he fought for 15th, and carried him toward the group ahead. Crashes for four riders on the final lap meant he finished 13th overall bagging two points in what was another positive weekend. “There were a few crashes in the end so I was a little disappointed to get it that way,” Ogden said. “But I was in the battle for 15th. The first ten laps were really bad.…

Honda’s all-new 2022 RC213V was hailed as a breakthrough, with a firstrace podium for Pol Espargaro, who was also fastest at Mandalika tests. Come the Indonesian GP, and all four Honda riders struggled. Marc Marquez crashed four times and missed the race; Pol and satellite rider Alex Marquez just scraped the points, the latter’s teammate Nakagami was third from last, down among the rookies. Had there been a false dawn? Probably not. Pit-lane wisdom blamed Michelin’s unexpected decision to bring harder more heatresistant rear tyres, last used in 2018 when Honda’s development step was entirely focused on the brand’s newer, softer tyres. They were wrong-footed. The anomaly did prove that the Honda RC213V remains very narrowly focused… the opposite of the rider-friendly Yamaha, which has been criticised this year for…

A first podium in nine months gave Johann Zarco’s 2023 job prospects a much-needed early boost. Pramac teammate Jorge Martin’s excellent rookie campaign last year and Enea Bastianini’s winning start to 2022 in Qatar had bumped the Frenchman down the pecking order in Ducati’s star-studded eight-strong rider line-up. But after escaping unhurt from a high speed crash on oil dumped by the Suzuki of Alex Rins in FP4, Zarco bounced back brilliantly to claim a front row start and third place finish in the tough Mandalika conditions. His first podium since Catalunya last June could have been an elusive first win but he admitted taking too long to build speed in treacherously wet conditions. “I expected more. But I took too much time to find confidence at the beginning. I…

Electric bikes make a huge amount of sense if you need to get around in towns and cities. They’re quiet, cost pennies to run and are effortlessly easy to use. Piaggio’s ‘Active’ is their rangetopper in the ‘1’ family, and its 4bhp motor will propel you a 37mph top speed with ease - plenty in terms of top-end speed in town, and it gets there swiftly. Around town there’s more than enough zip to pass cars, and the 2.3kWh battery, Piaggio claim, will cart you 41 miles in Sport mode and 52 miles in Eco (limited to 18mph) before needing to be plugged into its live juice. Ride like a normal human and you’ll get around 32 miles per recharge. Once you do need to juice-up, the battery can be…

SENIOR WRITER With sales of electric motorcycles increasing at an incredible pace they’re no longer such an oddity on our streets or at the local bike meet. But despite their growing popularity, some prospective owners claim that getting their high-voltage two wheelers insured can still be a little tricky. We ask insurance industry insiders why that is, and how you can go about getting yourself the best deal possible. Q1 Are electric bikes still difficult to insure, or have things improved now that they’re more popular? A: It has definitely improved in line with bike sales,” says Rob Balls, Bikesure General Manager. “Lack of data, the cost of repairs, bikes being written off rather than repaired and the power delivery, all led to the industry taking a cautious approach. Some…

KTM have announced that a 94bhp, A2-compliant version of the 790 Duke will be available in Europe for 2022. Filling the gap in performance between the 390 Duke and the more powerful 890 Duke and Duke R, the new 790 will be restrictable for A2 riders – something the 113bhp 890 cannot do. The reintroduced version gets two paint options, a traditional KTM orange and a more subtle black and grey alternative. The bikes are due to hit dealers in June. Go full Yamaha Yamaha have unveiled more new clothing for 2022, including more clobber for women, children and babies than before. Along with the usual Yamaha blue kit there’s a 60th Anniversary gear in white with instantly recognisable red speed block designs. There’s also ranges of cycling gear, laptop…

Triumph have announced a test ride tour for their new Tiger Sport 660, running between March and June of this year. Bikes will be available for both A and A2 licence-holders and will visit 15 Triumph dealerships, across England, Wales, and Scotland. The first of these occurred last week on Saturday, March 19 at Triumph Birmingham West, with the next one set to take place at Staffordshire Triumph this Saturday, (March 26). Slots for each event can be booked online (tinyurl.com/ek7atdsn)on a first-come-first-served basis. Each outing will be led by a Triumph rider, with every participant receiving a goody bag to take home. Test rides at Triumph dealerships outside the tour can still be booked in the normal way. Anyone looking to learn to ride can tag along and take…

The other day I was grabbing a bit of quiet time with Classic Car Weekly, which is like MCN but focused on old four-wheeled bangers that like to leak oil. The headline story caught my eye – ‘Prices for 1990s classics up by 40% since 2017’ it screamed. So I read on. The article told how the values for cars such as the Honda NSX, Toyota Supra, Renault Clio V6 and others have risen at an incredible rate. I’m not into 1990s cars and my main memories of that era involve a terrible ‘curtain’ haircut and dancing with glowsticks, but when you see the prices of a Nissan 300ZX have gone up 524% and the Supra 312% in five years I can’t help but wonder if this will also happen…

Q ‘Have I left it too late to claim?’ I had quite a bad accident in May 2018 caused by a hit-and-run driver. I was in hospital for a few weeks and have not fully recovered. I have been experiencing psychological symptoms, which is not like me at all. I recently found out that I could have claimed compensation for my accident but when I tried to do so I was told that I have missed the deadline for claiming. This seems unfair as I had no idea I could claim. Could you give me some guidance? James Clarke, email A In England and Wales the usual time limit to bring a claim for injuries and financial losses is three years (Limitation Act 1980). There are some exceptions e.g. cases…

What’s happening? This all-motorcycle autojumble will be packed full of stalls, bikes, spares and parts… pretty much anything that will give your project the boost it needs. With a mix of club stands and private exhibitors you’ve the best of both worlds in a venue with food, loos and free parking. The show features classic motorcycles from all through the ages and there’s even prizes for the winners of each category, which include best heavyweight and best pre-1950. The essentials Taking place this Sunday (March 27) in Ardingly, near Gatwick (RH17 6TL). You can buy a general admission ticket for £7 which will get you in from when the gates open at 10am. Or, if you fancy getting first choice of all the bargains, bag yourself an early bird for…

£845Triumph Tiger Sport 660• 660cc inline-triple• 79.9bhp @ 10,250rpm,• 47.2lb.ft @ 6250rpm• £88.60 x 36 on PCP £837Honda NC750X• 745cc parallel twin• 57.8bhp @ 6750rpm,• 50.9lb.ft @ 4750rpm• £109 x 36 on PCP £8250Yamaha Tracer 7• 689cc parallel twin• 72.4bhp @ 8750rpm,• 50.1lb.ft @ 6500rpm• £104.60 x 36 on PCP MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK If I were to buy a new bike, it wouldn’t be red. And certainly not the odd shade of maroon that Triumph’s new Tiger 660 Sport features. However, everything else about the sprightly new Tiger is incredibly attractive. The Tiger is the newest of our three-bike MCN250, and on an overcast day in early March, found itself joined by the capable middleweight Yamaha Tracer 7 and trusty Honda…

This is a great bike, that beats the old Tiger 1200 hands down in almost every area. On paper it’s better than the class dominating GS too, but off-road you’ll only really notice that benefit if you ride your £18,000 motorcycle hard. For low speed balance and control the GS is still better. As a road bike the Rally is amazing, with masses of power, easy torque and a great dynamic that allows you to ride twisty roads at real pace. The choice between this and the GT as a road bike is about personal preference. The only place it doesn’t beat the old bike is on engine smoothness. THE FACTS £18,100 Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Get problems off your plate Although not a safety-related part of the MoT test, the size and type of numberplate lettering needs to meet the standards laid out by the DVSA. The original plate fitted from new will comply with these, but if your bike has been fitted with a modified ‘show’ plate it’ll need to be removed. A red rear reflector, fitted either above or below the number plate, is also required. 2 Are the lights right? All of your bike’s lights need to function correctly. If fitted, indicators must work and flash at the correct frequency (sometimes, fitting aftermarket LED type bulbs will cause them to flash too quickly). Check front and rear brake light…

Tom Sykes got his first taste of the Ducati Panigale V4R when he rode a ‘World Superbike-spec’ model at Misano. With the British Superbike testing ban currently in place it would have been against series rules for him to run with the controlled Motec ECU that he will use in BSB. Sykes will make his debut on his BSB spec PBM Ducati at the first official test at Snetterton this weekend. Bayliss happy Can Oncu topped the World Supersport times as his Kawasaki, Niki Tuuli’s MV Agusta and Nicolo Bulega’s Ducati all dipped underneath the lap record. Oli Bayliss (Barni Ducati) was all smiles having relocated with former WSB Champion father Troy to Ravenna, living alongside Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi. PTR’s Triumph Street Triple RS 765 has also tested, Hannes Soomer…

For the second round running, it was a case of what could have been for Jake Dixon. The Englishman was left to rue a missed opportunity as a crash five laps into the race ended hopes of a debut podium, if not more. “It’s a kick in the teeth,” he said. Dixon was the star of Moto2 on Friday and Saturday, topping FP2 before claiming a maiden GP pole position 24 hours later. Prior to the race, figures from Dunlop and Kalex confided the 24-year old had the speed to pull clear at the front. Aside from the surprise speed of eventual winner Chantra, all was going to plan on the early laps. “I got a good start but got passed up the inside by Sam and Chantra. I thought…

16 Vinales 4 17 Marquez A 3 18 Dovizioso 2 19 Gardner 1 20 Bagnaia 20 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 2 11 Roberts +18.327 12 Beaubier +18.566 13 Navarro +19.711 14 Alcoba +19.960 15 Bensneyder +20.551 16 Schrotter +23.047 17 Ramirez +23.218 18 Gonzalez +24.179 19 Fenati +25.133 0 20 Dalla Porta +26.954 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 3 11 Yamanaka +16.286 12 Toba +16.921 13 Ogden 17.257 14 Aji +24.626 15 Bertelle +24.809 16 Fellon +31.522 17 Rossi +31.628 18 Kelso +32.204 19 Carrasco +41.202 20 Whatley +48.013 21 Riu Male +48.090…

‘Big result, my first podium in a real wet race’FABIO QUARTARARO A defining wet race podium on a drenched Mandalika Circuit was a warning shot from Fabio Quartararo - the man they call El Diablo is the world champion and he has no intention of gifting the title away. Quartararo’s late race surge to second place only reinforced that he remains Yamaha’s prime asset for the future as pressure mounts for the company to clinch a contract renewal. His Indonesian rain dance crushed critics of a perceived wet race weakness and enhanced his market value at the same time. No surprise then that his buoyant post-race mood could have been mistaken for a race win. Already a supreme qualifier and racer in the dry, this podium was confirmation of Quartararo’s…

You can’t take away what he’s achieved, the man has won so many world titles, but somebody needs to have a duty of care for Marc Marquez because something is not quite right. It’s like a wire has come loose somewhere - whether that’s because of previous crashes - his eyesight? His concentration? But five crashes already is not acceptable, he’s better than that. Personally, I find it hard to watch and there has to come a point where his body can’t take it. After that warm-up crash he looked like a kid that’d had enough. I just don’t want to see him have to leave the sport having had constant knocks to the head - someone, somewhere needs to have a word with him. It’s like he needs reining…

Rain is always seen as a leveller, however modern tyres on freshly laid asphalt equate to grip that allows lap times only seven seconds slower than those in the dry. That level of performance almost negates the advantage of the wet weather specialist. The current rain master is Jack Miller. He provided the early running and as the rider most comfortable in those conditions he can figure out the grip levels quicker than his rivals. It was quite clear when Miquel Oliveira was following Jack that he had superior roll speed through the corners. Try as he might, Jack’s skill in wet conditions was not going to be enough to keep in contact with Miguel on a machine with superior turning. KTM have taken two podiums from the opening two…

1 Sidestand charging Inductive charging is an idea that’s starting to make its way to EVs. Several prototype inductive roads have been built around the world – allowing vehicles to recharge as they drive along them – and for bikes, BMW have filed patents for an inductive charging sidestand, allowing you to top up your battery by parking on a special charging mat. 2 Smart charging From June 30 this year the Government will mandate that new private chargepoints are ‘smart’ – meaning they can be controlled remotely and change the time when they charge the vehicle. The idea is that the chargepoint can turn on when energy demands on the grid are low, for instance in the dead of night. 3 Bi-directional charging A step forward from smart charging…

With the maximum range of the best electric bikes still less than 150 miles, if you ride petrol-free you’re reliant on getting regularly and reliably plugged in. The good news is that the charging network is expanding rapidly. In the last month alone Britain’s plug-in grid has swelled by 1000 new charge points, and data from Zap-Map (zap-map.com) shows there are just over 50,000 public EV charging connectors in 18,000 locations. To put this into perspective, in 2020 there were only around 20,000, and in 2018 there were just 10,000. In 2021 we also witnessed the arrival of charging hubs (locations with six or more devices) at traditional forecourts, with Shell converting a petrol station in Fulham into the firm’s first 100% EV forecourt. We’ve also seen the arrival of…

‘Never be stuck for a rideout destination…’ With the weather starting to turn for the better, it’s time to wash off the winter crud or pull back the dust cover, slap on an MoT and get yourself on a rideout. But when you meet up with your mates, taking your partner or even if you’re taking a solo ride, there’s always the inevitable question of ‘where to go?’ Well now you’ll always have the answer, because our Great MCN Biker Cafe Guide rounds-up the best pitstops from all over the UK that will, one: welcome us bikers with open arms, and two: get some good grub into our stomachs to prepare us for the next stint in the saddle. So whether you’re after a 100mile blast or a weekend-long tour,…

‘It’s all about bikes!’ Loomies Moto Café • Essential info: Open 7 days a week; Wed bike night. Alton Road, GU32 1JX It’s had a shaky time over the past decade, so much so that this South Downs biking pilgrimage was nearly a thing of the past until current owner Paul Fullick stepped in. Inside there’s plenty of biker-friendly features such as a space to pop your helmet down safely and a visor-wash station to get rid of the dead flies – plus, when you sit down for a bite you can enjoy the novelty engine-block cutlery holder as well as the delicious food. The sausages come from Loomies’ local butcher, and they always source the best ingredients locally so every meal is the best it can be. Famous for:…