Table of contents for 13 April 2022 in MCN

STAMPING OUT FAKE KIT If you want to ride in shorts and a T-shirt, that’s your call, but if you buy protective kit, you want it to be real, right? INSIDE YOUR 3-IN-1 SPECIAL It’s time to boost your expert knowledge... Fake kit is the scourge of biking. While it might look the part, the fact that it isn’t made to exacting standards – or tested to conform to them – means that unscrupulous sellers are putting your life at risk. Don’t get sucked in – read our guide and buy the real deal in 2022, even it’s not a ‘total bargain’. And while you’re boosting your pub expert bragging rights, why not bone up on all the insider knowledge that will make you an authority on the Bennetts British…

‘It was the most exotic bike MV Agusta built’ One of just two MV Agusta Boxers brought to Britain is to go under the hammer at Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale on April 23-24. The 1977 machine is best known to riders as the Monza, but the model was briefly named Boxer before Ferrari complained one of their cars had a prior claim to the tag. Up to that point just two Boxers made it to the UK. Essentially a bigger version of the 750S America, the 832cc Boxer was among the fastest bikes of the era with a top speed of 144mph and the most exotic MV built with cast alloy wheels and discs brakes all round. This particular example is even more exclusive as it was briefly owned by…

The UK is again stamping its authority on two-wheeled design with this new plug-in delivery scooter designed by Warwick-based Callum Design, which is headed by world leading British automotive designer Ian Callum. Called the Rena Max, the electric workhorse has been created for Barq, a company specialising in mobility solutions and created for emerging markets to tackle the growing consumer demand while also keeping a handle on emissions. As now popular in electric delivery scooters, the Rena Max uses swappable battery technology and is powered by 5.6KwH lithium-ion units that offer a claimed range of up to 93 miles. You also get three riding modes and a reverse gear, with power provided by a 7kW motor. But what truly sets it apart is that Callum have tried to make the…

Here’s a fantastic chance for two lucky people to each win a Moto Culture Heritage Racer Chrono Watch. When motorcyclists reminisce about ‘bike racing, ’ no era dominates more than the late 1980s and early 1990s. Riders like Doohan, Gardner, Lawson, Mamola, Rainey, Schwantz and Spencer battled on NSR Hondas, YZR Yamahas and RGV Suzukis all decked out in some of the most iconic colours we’ve ever seen. Racing was wheel-to-wheel, the bikes were beasts to ride, and no quarter was asked or given. From the 500cc World Championship to the Transatlantic Challenge, the racers were stars – legends in leathers who risked life and limb. This was racing at its finest – the high point where the best battled for two-stroke dominance. To celebrate this era of motorcycle racing,…

Readers Duncan Sutcliffe with Jess Nelson, Hamza Louzai and Roberto Garagaza The trip Long weekend tour to Champagne for four friends, visiting WW1 memorials How many miles? 750 miles Best time to go All year is ok Don’t miss…If you’re a history buff, this is a fantastic trip. I plan by choosing the sites we want to visit, trying to make sure it’s a mix of the famous places and some lesser-known monuments, then using Michelin’s ‘green route’ mapping to plot the most scenic roads between each stop. On this trip we stayed in Châlons-en-Champagne which gave us plenty of quieter monuments to choose from as we did a circular route via the Zone Rouge, Verdun, and back via Montfaucon. We also did some miles through forest where a couple…

People who have shaped our world Whether it’s Agincourt or Trafalgar, the World Cup or the Six Nations, we love getting one over on our cross-Channel cousins, the French. So anyone who beats our friendly rivals at their own game is deserving of legend status – and that’s what Nathan Watson did when he became the only Brit to ever win the Le Touquet beach race and become French sand racing champion in the process. But the all-conquering Englishman is not only a dab hand in the dunes, he’s also got MX speed and Hard Enduro bravery, too. At the age of 27, Watson has proved himself to be one of the most versatile professional off-road riders, not only in the UK but across the globe. The Nottingham lad has…

SIMON RELPH, SENIOR DESIGNER Love to build bikes as much as I love to ride them, old or new. Every time I look out of my living room window at the Kawasaki Z900 RS, it says to me ‘Get your jacket and helmet, we’re going for a ride’. It looks so good if only I could just step out of the front door and go for a ride I think I would! If it wasn’t for reality of daily life getting in the way… But the other Saturday morning I got up ready to get stuck into the weekend jobs while my wife took our son to his football match, and as she left she uttered those immortal words: “It’s a lovely morning, why don’t you go for a ride?”…

For the second year in succession, Yamaha put on a much-improved showing at Aragon. In 2020, no fewer than six races were staged at MotorLand which, as a bogey circuit for Yamaha, seriously affected their season. Last year, a huge improvement saw Toprak Razgatlioglu seize a podium. Last weekend, the World Champion kick-started 2022 with a trio of third places and some spirited squabbles with Alvaro Bautista, Jonathan Rea and Michael Rinaldi. With Bautista and Rea already on race-winning form, it’s only a matter of time before Razgatlioglu follows suit despite this having been the first time in three years that the reigning Champion hasn’t won at Round 1. Tradition was maintained in the sense that, compared to their rivals, the Yamahas struggled in the sweeping corners as well as…

‘Some say you shouldn’t get back with your ex, ” two-time World Champion James Toseland joked on TV as World Superbikes blasted back into action in Spain. Whatever the rules of love, it seems Alvaro Bautista and Ducati have got it right. With two wins and one second place at MotorLand Aragon amid some scintillating racing, the Spaniard scored 57 points from a possible 62 to pick up where he left off with Ducati back in 2019. Following his disastrous couple of seasons with Honda, the former MotoGP rider from Talavera de la Reina has just collected as many podium finishes on a single weekend as he had done from the previous two seasons combined. The paddock knew he was fast upon his return to the Panigale V4 R but…

Ever since the first tests in preseason, the potential was there. Now Jake Dixon has some results to show for it. The Englishman bagged his first grand prix podium in Austin, finishing third before asserting “that win won’t be too far away”. On this form, it’s hard to argue. The 26-year old has been transformed in 2022, showing a level of consistency not seen since he stepped up to the unforgiving Moto2 class in 2019. His secret? An all-round base setting on his Aspar Kalex that has worked at each track the series has visited to date has helped, and the confidence that brings. “I’ve started to feel I have a great team around me, a great package, ” Dixon said on Sunday. “I don’t change anything on the bike.…

Could have won. Would have won. Should have won … Didn’t win. Marc Marquez’s comeback story at the track where he had never been beaten didn’t give the result that he probably deserved. He was magnificent all the same, forging through from last to sixth, after getting left on the line. Three times he set fastest lap, even while picking past slower riders. His CoTA genius was undimmed. After missing two races recuperating with double vision, but for that start-line mess-up, he surely would have won his ninth victory at the long and complex Texan track. Wouldn’t he? Race analysis shows that he lost 4.387 seconds to the leader on the first lap. At the finish, still half-a-second adrift of wresting fifth from Bagnaia’s factory Ducati, that gap was 6.617…

The classic style and speed of Alex Rins has never been in doubt. But consistency? That’s been the weak link for the Spaniard who has been forced to re-state his case for retention by Suzuki for 2023. Rins has made an impressive transformation from the dismal, crash-prone performances that saw him slump to 13th in the MotoGP standings last year. And the timing is perfect. With an inventive late race surge Rins finished second at CoTA, only beaten by the unstoppable Ducati of Enea Bastianini. This came a week after a strong third in Argentina with the consecutive podiums securing second in the points, two spots ahead of Suzuki teammate and 2020 world champion Joan Mir. While CoTA is a Rins favourite - he won his first MotoGP race there…

66 TOM SYKES MCE DUCATI ‘Target on my back’ • 2021 championship position WSB - 11th After 13 seasons in World Superbikes Tom Sykes is coming home. The 2013 world champion has signed with Paul Bird Motorsport for a third stint in his career and will be unleashed on a Ducati for the very first time. It’s an exciting move for the championship, one that has caused plenty of debate: How well will Sykes do after such a long time away from the British series? Sykes is an interesting case. So much has changed since the end of 2008. BSB is arguably the most competitive it has ever been and there’s little room for error. Sykes also has to reconnect with the traditional tight and twisty circuits such as Knockhill,…

18 ANDREW IRWIN SYNETIQ BMW ● 2021 championship position - 14th It took Andrew Irwin longer than teammate Danny Buchan to get to grips with the M1000RR last season, but once things clicked the Northern Irishman was able to find consistency. One podium and 14 further top 10 results cemented this. 2022 is the year for Irwin to take another step and attempt to match his 2020 Honda campaign. Irwin is one of the quickest riders out there on his day, one that’s always exciting to watch with his tough riding style. The BMW is a race-winning bike, and it would not be a surprise to see Irwin back on the top step. The Showdown is a must. 7 RYAN VICKERS FHO RACING BMW ● 2021 championship position - 12th…

The British brand that’s going to town on testing biking kit: Oxford Products ‘Riding kit is safety critical, so that means it’s of critical importance’ A name that’s part of the fabric of British biking, Oxford Products have been kitting us out with luggage, bike covers, heated grips, indicators and more since 1973. More recently, the family-owned firm have expanded into rider wear, with a range of textiles, denims, leather jackets, boots and gloves. But despite their familiarity, many don’t realise that they design and develop every product in house at their Witney HQ, as well as testing each one to destruction in their on-site lab. Oxford’s Henry Rivers-Fletcher invited MCN to their brand-new R&D facility to find out more: “Every single product we make has to be tested for…

• ‘It failed at one fifth of the lower CE level’ It’s easy to spend a fortune on the latest big-name biking clobber, which is why it can be seriously tempting when you spot a bargain from an unknown brand online or at an event. Leather jackets, textile kit, full race suits, there’s a whole world of kit available from brands you’ve never heard of at a fraction of the price of the well-known stuff, which would lead many of us to the conclusion that maybe we’re just forking out extra for the sake of brand identity. But bargain-lovers need to be aware that all might not be as it seems… When MCN bought a £54.99 Xtron textile jacket online that claimed to have CE armour, including a certified back…

A group of charitable volunteers have organised a 62-mile ride this coming September to raise money for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, plus both the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Blood Bikers charities. The Lincs and Notts Ride of Thanks will take place on Sunday, September 4 – setting off from Newark Showground at 10.30am, before following a route through both counties and returning to the same location. “Bikers generally understand the Air Ambulance is a vital service, ” says Roland Johns, 71, who’s been volunteering with the airborne charity for 12 years and helped come up with the original ride. He’s also been a Blood Biker for four years. “None of these charities receive any government funding, ” he continued. “They wouldn’t exist without the good will of the public.…

Vespa have unveiled a special edition Sprint, designed by none other than Justin Bieber. The teen pop idol turned millennial fashion icon (nope, don’t ask us either) has turned his hand to design, reimagining the scooter with a completely white paintjob along monochromatic flames. In case there was any doubt who has designed it, his name also adorns the rear of the bike. Available in 50cc, 125cc and 150cc engine sizes, Vespa will launch the pre-ordering system on Monday, April 18. For now there’s no word on price but expect a significant premium.…

FLM Brooklands boots £99.99 German brand FLM has over 40 years of experience making highperformance motorcycle clothing. The new Brooklands is a sports boot with a microfibre outer construction, double stitching in key areas, flex panels on the front and back, plus replaceable toe sliders. The FLM Brooklands are available in black or black/ white, UK sizes 7-12. www.sportsbikeshop.com By City Men’s London II Waxed Cotton Jacket £255 The London II jacket is made from a waxed cotton fabric and features breast and hip pockets. Its makers claim it’s 100% waterproof and breathable with a Hipora membrane, as well as a removable inner thermal lining. It’s CE certified to level A and has level 2 protection at the elbows and shoulders with a pocket for back armour (not included). www.saltflatsclothing.co.uk…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING Not my first bike but my first long-term test bike at MCN in 1996. Sure made a change from my Kawasaki GT550. Simon Brown YAMAHA YS125 This is Kalem Sullivan on his Yamaha YS125 – loving the feeling of freedom from his first bike. Happy days. Shay Sullivan JAMES A11 My grandfather’s first bike. Shortly after this photo was taken he rode away without realising my grandmother had fallen off! Trevor Smith HONDA SS50 Trowback to 1981. Notice the abandoned Raleigh Chopper lurking somewhere in the background. David ‘Mogs’ Morgan HARLEY-DAVIDSON IRON Here’s my first bike. My biking dream was completed with this Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Willie G edition. Pravin Karavadra MUTT FAT SABBATH Georgina McLean’s first bike, a Mutt Fat…

£14,095 Indian FTR S £11,149 Kawasaki Z900RS…

Watson’s biggest achievement and proudest moment to date, takes a while for him to decide on. “The Motocross of Nations was amazing, ” he beams. “Being part of a team and representing Great Britain and then getting on the podium [with the bronze medal] but personally, winning Le Touquet, because of all the work that went into it, ” states Watson confidently. Enduropale du Touquet, for the unaware, is a famed yet gruelling French beach race, set on the shores of Calais. The track is eight miles long, the race lasts three hours and over 1000 riders compete. It’s utter chaos; racing whilst dodging a minefield of amateurs looks utterly exhausting and makes for nail-biting viewing. It dwarfs the Weston Beach Race. “It’s like chalk and cheese” notes Watson. “You…

Fans have waited a long time to see a Brit in a factory Endurance World Championship team, but the wait is over. Gino Rea will race for F.C.C.TSR Honda France this season, riding alongside Josh Hook and Mike di Meglio. The move follows Rea’s successful BSB campaign, where he secured maiden victories on the Buildbase Suzuki. He looked set to stay in BSB, but HRC came knocking. “You just can’t say no to a factory contract with a manufacturer like HRC, ” Rea admitted to MCN. “I’ve been racing a little while now and this is the first contract I’ve had with a factory and as a racer I’ve always aspired to be a world champion. Honda have given me a really good platform to fulfil that ambition.” During his…

• Fit and capacity rated • Waterproofing tested in all weathers • Luggage used for hundreds of miles RATINGS Exceptional ★★★★★ Very good ★★★★ Good ★★★ Average ★★ Poor ★ Mosko Moto Reckless 80L (V3.0) Revolver €660.33 (£550) before VAT and import fees ‘It’s proof that light is right’ Tested by Laura Thomson for two months, 1000 miles Elspeth Beard rode around the world with a set of hand-fabricated aluminium panniers. But today, light is right, and adventure riders are ditching hard, heavy boxes and opting for soft sling-over systems. US-brand Mosko Moto are a pioneer of the toughest ‘backcountry’ kit and have made a name for themselves among the most hardcore of riders. The Reckless systems – a play on the riders’ own nature and the bags’ frame-less fittings…

Michael Neeves has been an MCN road tester for 20 years, and recently compiled a whole series of riding tips videos to help all bikers get more from their miles. Amongst his riding gems is one subject many bikers won’t expect: “It’s a state of mind, ” he says. “Even before I was a road tester, the world of the professional motorcycle rider had always fascinated me. How do they do all these miles a year and never really get into any trouble?” Neevesy explains how even something as simple as lovingly cleaning your bike can start to build an attachment to it. He says: “The preparation gives you time to connect with the bike. To reflect on what you’re going to do and look forward to the ride ahead.”…

HRC’s plan to compromise qualifying and focus on race settings paid off. Debutants Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge accomplished top ten finishes in all three races with new Nissin brakes and Showa suspension – despite Vierge being still in agony with the rib he broke testing in Barcelona. In Honda’s best weekend yet, the Spanish duo each scored 18 points to tie for fifth place in the Riders’ Championship. Like BMW, due to their lowly finishes last year, the Honda entrants are allowed six more days of testing than other manufacturers’ riders.…

16 Bernardi 4 17 Tamburini 2 18 Redding 1 WSB POSITIONS RACE 1 WSB POSITIONS SP RACE 11 Laverty +13.795 12 Redding +15.408 13 Baz +15.564 14 Mahias +18.529 15 Tamburini +22.786 16 Oettl +22.818 17 Bernardi +24.011 18 Nozane +25.367 19 Ruiu +32.598 20 Mercado +32.661 21 Ponsson +35.858 22 Syharin +36.631 WSB POSITIONS RACE 2 11 Mahias +27.641 12 Laverty +28.867 13 Oettl +29.325 14 Tamburini +29.555 15 Mykhalchyk +31.843 16 Bernardi +43.246 17 Ruiu +45.734 18 Ponsson +46.349 19 Locatelli +55.354 20 Syharin +59.698 21 Mercado +1’01.009 22 Konig +1’07.061…

Seventh may not sound great for a defending World Champion, but Fabio Quartararo’s performance was still outstanding. He and Marquez were the class of the field. How so? Because he rode like a demon. Again left trailing for speed, he had to make it all up in the corners. His best of 337.5kph on the long three-quarter-mile straight was fully 8.6kph slower than Bastianini’s Ducati. But compare his lap times to the other Yamahas, and the difference is as marked: seven tenths of a second. And while he fought tooth and nail for seventh, Morbidelli’s nextbest Yamaha was 20 seconds behind, barely scraping the points. And then demoted to 16th for exceeding track limits. Quartararo’s public comments were measured. “We did a good race. I enjoyed it a lot, even…

Enea Bastianini delivered a sublime masterclass to win in Texas… and a huge headache for Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall’Igna. What to do with the ‘Beast’ in 2023 if the 24-year-old Italian speedster keeps up his near faultless form. Is Bastianini now the man for a factory slot next year, leapfrogging the hot tip Jorge Martin and squeezing out incumbent Jack Miller? Gresini rider Bastianini hammered both Martin (eighth) and Miller (third) with his cleverly calculated CoTA victory. And can Bastianini now dare to dream? CoTA was his second dominant victory in four races after winning Qatar and has justified pre-season predictions that named him as a title contender. The stellar start on the GP21 is a huge boost for Ducati newcomers Gresini Racing. There are still 17 races in…

Motorcycle kit has to cover a lot of bases - fit well, look smart, keep you warm and dry - but the most fundamental is to provide protection. Luckily, these days all motorcycle clothing is now considered Personal Protective Equipment. Since April 2018 it’s been a legal requirement for all rider wear sold in Europe to be tested to a regulated standard by an independent testing facility, certified by an official body and bear CE marking to prove it. If you can decode the marks, symbols and labels, you’ll be able to tell basic kit from clothing offering maximum safety - and also be able to sniff out fake kit that hasn’t been properly approved. After that, the final choice is all yours. So, here’s what you need to know……

MCN reported our findings to Trading Standards for further investigation, and they’ve now started closing the net on retailers and importers who are selling motorcycling kit that does not meet the legal requirements. Newham Trading Standards were the first to act after MCN welcomed them to the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show in February, where they discovered 11 retailers that had potentially unsafe riding kit, which had not been tested and certified, for sale. Some had falsified labels and fake body armour fitted. MCN Editor, Richard Newland, commented: “We were delighted to welcome Trading Standards to the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show - having engaged with the team in advance of the show and reminded traders in advance of their legal obligations. “MCN has a zero-tolerance policy on…

• ‘Easily one of the worst I have seen’ Helmets are compulsory. There is no getting away from it, every motorcyclist on UK roads must wear one that’s been approved as road legal. But the amount that you choose to spend on a lid is completely down to you. On one hand, you’ve got your top-spec lid wearers, who won’t consider wearing anything that isn’t from one of the traditional big-name brands and won’t bat an eyelid at spending £500 or more every five years or so. Then you’ve got the pragmatic bunch in the middle, who’ll set a reasonable budget, do their research then buy the best product for them at that particular price. And of course, we all know a sceptic: a rider who’ll happily wear something cheap…

Sixty-five years after the first Sportster, Harley-Davidson have produced their first water-cooled entry-level model, which also rekindles the Nightster name in the range. Pulling off the same trick as most of the Harley range, the new Nightster works hard to look authentically ‘heritage’, while actually boasting a decent raft of high-end tech, clever packaging solutions and electronic assistance. At its core is the debut of the 975cc Revolution Max engine, first seen in 1250 guise on the Pan America. This new 60° liquid-cooled V-twin is developing a claimed 88.5bhp at 7500rpm and 70lb.ft torque at 5000rpm from its 97mm bore and 66mm stroke. While the 1250T has variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust valves, the new 975T only uses VVT on the inlet cam as, according to Kyle…

The Brazilian arm of electric bike firm Horwin has inked a deal with niobium supplier CBMM to bring ultra-fast charging niobium batteries to the company’s bikes as soon as 2024. Niobium is an element that’s promising big improvements to lithium-ion batteries, offering not only improved capacity but better stability, allowing faster recharging rates that could go a long way to eliminating the biggest hurdle to widespread electric bike adoption: range anxiety. Two ideas are vying to solve that issue. One is battery-swapping, where a network is established to ensure that fully-charged, slot-in battery packs are always at hand, and the other is ultra-fast charging – which is preferable for longer-range machines with bigger, built-in batteries. Niobium itself is a metal, sourced mainly in Brazil. It’s used as an additive to…

More pictures have emerged of two new Royal Enfields being tested, with everything pointing towards a full unveil later this year. The first bike appears to be a 650cc version of the Meteor and if Enfield are still as keen on their classic names as they used to be, then the name Super Meteor is a likely contender. Just like the Meteor the Super Meteor brings the classic laid-back cruiser style, this time with a bit more oopmph inside the chassis. The biggest changes compared to the current 650s, are the fitment of five-spoke alloy wheels – 19in front, 16in rear – and USD forks. Together with the forward controls, swept back bars and tall risers give the bike something of a classic ‘cruiser’ style. Adding to the look is…

I was astonished after reading the summary and outcome of the legal proceedings against Stuart Garner, that has allowed him to walk free with paltry costs of some £20k for depleting the savings and investment funds of people who had faith in Norton and in Garner to deliver on their promises. This is a really bad day for the British motorcycle industry and the legal decision will do nothing to deter another opportunist from doing the same in future. John Faulkner, email Be our Star Letter writer and win these DXR Jordan Boots worth £69.99 available exclusively at www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk…

Full disclosure. I’m less than enthusiastic about electric bikes. There are several reasons, but the biggest is that I tested some of the early ones about ten years ago and thought they were… well, a bit pants. Zero’s latest SR/S Premium has the potential to impress, however. The 2022 version is upgraded with a battery that’s not only lighter but also stores more juice. There’s a new operating system. And there are new ‘Cypher’ upgrades available too, unleashing more power, range and tricks (like reverse). Is the £22,240 SR/S the electric bike to convince doubters? 1 Bigger really is better Previously the SR/S had a 14.4kWh battery and was good for about 80 miles. The base bike still does. But this year’s Premium model gets a 15.6kW battery and in…

Nevermind having a point to prove. It was just a point to his name as Scott Redding commenced his BMW career with the lowest possible score bar zero. ‘“An unrideable recipe of fried brakes, a melted engine and zero grip, ” as it was put to MCN, was neither wanted nor expected from the former Ducati rider, who is 12 times a winner. Following a less-than-spectacular test across Monday and Tuesday, the mood at BMW after Friday practice was despondent. Numerous changes were made to the M1000RR machines for the start of the weekend, whereas the top runners rolled out of the pits with setups they had fine-tuned in testing. In terms of lap times for Redding, the lowest point was Sunday Warm-Up as the Englishman finished 2.3 seconds off…

A week after being touted as world title contenders, Aprilia were humbled in Texas. History making Argentine GP winner Espargaro was 11th just 0.3s behind Maverick Viñales (10th). Putting together a championship season is still the holy grail for the Noale factory and it is a big step that even hardcore racer Espargaro may not be around for. Espargaro was 12.9s behind the winner in CoTA and dropped from points leader to third. While the slab of coming European races will be a safer haven for Aprilia, repeating their Argentine win will be a more realistic benchmark of RS-GP. As usual positivity abounded in Texas with Viñales saying it was important that “I see myself at the top” and that he is on the right path. A win is needed.…

16 Nakagami 12 17 Marini 10 18 Bezzecchi 7 19 Binder D 6 20 Marquez A 4 21 Dovizioso 2 22 Gardner 1 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 2 11 Arenas +33.475 12 Ramirez +34.785 13 Gonzalez +34.988 14 Salac +37.786 15 Fenati +38.408 16 Dalla Porta +1’19.999 17 Kelly +1’24.437 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 3 11 Ortola +10.084 12 Ogden +10.272 13 Nepa +10.424 14 Fernandez +17.967 15 Felton +18.088 16 Furusato +20.563 17 Yamanaka +21.433 18 Kelso +21.959 19 Bartolini +29.099 20 Riu Male +34.336 21 Aji +34.2595 22 Salvador +39.396…

22 JASON O’HALLORAN MCAMS YAMAHA 2021 STATS 10 Wins 22 Podiums 120 Laps led 4 Poles 6 Fastest laps 1 TAZ MACKENZIE MCAMS YAMAHA 2021 STATS 11 Wins 19 Podiums 79 Laps led 1 Pole 6 Fastest laps Last year’s title fight was one of the most exciting in BSB history. Twenty- five years after Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha teammates Niall Mackenzie and James Whitham went head-to-head, Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran proceeded to do the exact same. With 21 victories and 41 podiums between the pair, they could not be separated, both in the standings and, at times, on the circuit. O’Halloran dominated the first half, Mackenzie the second. There were great times and incredibly tense times for the McAMS Yamaha team, but ultimately it was Mackenzie who was crowned…

MCAMS YAMAHA Tarran Mackenzie Jason O’Halloran MCE DUCATI Josh Brookes Tom Sykes FS-3 RACING KAWASAKI Rory Skinner Lee Jackson SYNETIQ BMW Danny Buchan Andrew Irwin BUILDBASE SUZUKI Christian Iddon Danny Kent FHO RACING BMW Peter Hickman Ryan Vickers OXFORD PRODUCTS RACING DUCATI Tommy Bridewell VISIONTRACK KAWASAKI Leon Haslam TAG RACING HONDA Luke Mossey IFORCE BMW Dan Linfoot & Dan Jones TEAM LKQ CAR PARTS KAWASAKI Storm Stacey DAO RACING Dean Harrison RAPID CDH RACING KAWASAKI Josh Owens & Liam Delves POWERSLIDE/CATFOSS SUZUKI Bjorn Estment CROW PERFOMANCE BMW Chrissy Rouse SPECSAVERS SUZUKI Leon Jeacock NP MOTORCYCLES BMW BLACK ONYX SECURITY HONDA Luke Hopkins RICH ENERGY OMG RACING YAMAHA Bradley Ray & Kyle Ryde HONDA RACING UK Glenn Irwin, Tom Neave, Ryo Mizuno & Takumi Takahashi 2022 BSB IN NUMBERS 11 Rounds…

Arai Quantic from £499.99 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 there is no drop-down internal sun visor, no sharp styling angles or rigid vents and spoilers. The large rear exhaust/spoiler on the Quantic is designed to crumple or detach in an accident, while the inlet vents are all minimal in scale and design impact, meaning they’re flush to the shell or will sheer off, rather than gripping or snagging the scenery (heightening rotational risks) during an accident. www.whyarai.co.uk Shark Spartan RS from £299.99 Sporty road helmet that’s proper premium. Everything from the exterior vent closures to the four-point visor mechanism to the luxury Alcantara lining just screams value for money.…

Back in the day, if you wanted accessories for your bike the only place you were going to get them was at your local dealership. These days, there’s a whole world wide web of bikeenhancing bits available for you to buy at the touch of a button – some of it good, other bits not so good – but much of it temptingly cheap. On the face of it, buying online might seem like a cost-effective way of bagging yourself some of those non-safety-critical essentials like tail tidies, crash bungs, lever guards and radiator covers. After all, the cynical side of you suspects that it’s probably all made in the same factory in China anyway… However, the reality of buying knock-off parts online is that you not only risk potentially…

Their hard plastic protectors have graced the bikes of World Superbike champions, Moto2 supremos and BSB’s best, all the way down to the most crash-happy club race regulars - and it all started back in 2007 thanks to Barnet-born engineer Graham Banks’ (the GB in GBRacing) love of trackdays. However, in recent times, the Hertfordshire-based firm has endured its fair share of counterfeiter chaos, as Graham’s son, Tim Banks, explains: “The counterfeiters are literally copying everything we produce - our design with our logo on, even our packaging and instructions! It’s actually very hard for a buyer to be able to tell what’s genuine and what’s not. But the counterfeiters are using cheaper nylon to our patented blend that we’ve developed, and as such the protectors just aren’t tough enough.…