Table of contents for 15th May 2019 in MCN

Norton rocked the British racing scene three decades ago with their peculiar rotary racers. Their unique soundtrack provided the backdrop for a furore of protests and repeated re-reading of the rule book – but pioneering engineer Brian Crighton had seen the potential, and created a world-beater in the back of the caretaker’s shed. Some like to claim that Norton aren’t so different now – looking for the off-chance, the loophole, or the path not yet trodden in search of glory. And maybe that’s true – but the shed is certainly bigger now. While most manufacturers juggle race budgets in the millions, developing their bikes relentlessly, and only rolling onto the grid when they’re sure they’re ready to compete, Norton do it differently. I was at the factory just two months…

Triumph will deliver ‘what riders want’ Electric will sit ‘alongside petrol engines’ Triumph have announced a ground-breaking plan to accelerate the addition of electric motorcycles to their range, in collaboration with key UK innovators – including Williams Advanced Engineering. The project, dubbed TE-1, will target the rapid evolution of powertrain solutions over the next two years, to develop a light, compact battery-powered drive unit that can power a new generation of Triumphs. While TE-1 might sound like a bike model, Triumph say this project is focused on battery technology, motors and the packaging constraints that currently hinder electric motorcycles – not a specific model. The tie-in with F1 legends Williams is key to the project’s success, with the firm providing industry-leading lightweight battery design and integration know-how. Other partners include…

Launched 1992, the FireBlade redefined the sportsbike and started the modern superbike era. It’s had changing fortunes since. The current model has been criticised for the nannying nature of its riding aids but for 2019 Honda has separated some controls, backed off others plus there’s a new 0% finance deal right now. But if your budget won’t stretch that far there are 15 years of 1000cc Fireblades to choose from. 2019 CBR1000RR What is it? Honda’s premier sportsbike is the sharpest its ever been and now allows more rider control from the honed electronics package. MCN says “The Blade family have got a host of electronic tweaks to improve performance.” Want to buy one? £2217 deposit, £99 per month for 36 months on PCP. 2017 SP What is…

Manchester police ‘screened out’ 81% of all bike thefts Where you live can have a dramatic impact on the likelihood of recovering your motorcycle if it’s stolen because of the number of crimes which are not investigated, according to new figures. This is because many police forces ‘screen’ a crime report before an investigation begins to work out the likelihood of securing a conviction, with as many as 81% of crimes going uninvestigated. If there is no available CCTV, witnesses or an obvious source of forensic evidence, for example, the case is often closed within 24 hours, leaving the public confused and frustrated. The Metropolitan Police for instance dropped 32.8% of crimes without investigating them in 2017, meaning nearly 40,000 crimes went completely untackled. Bedfordshire Police screened out 43.8% of…

Wheelie control Helping to control the bike with fewer electronic rider aids makes sense as machines get more powerful Better braking Devices like Ducati’s under swingarm spoiler don’t just cool the rear tyre, they help make bikes more stable on braking Rider cooling As well as cooling the bike, better aeros could help redirect cool air around riders on hot days and warm air on cold days Bike cooling The original purpose of Ducati’s wings, they can be positioned to help direct more air into the radiator Ducati have been pushing the boundaries of technology (and the FIM rulebook) in MotoGP with their use of aerodynamics – most recently with their ‘rear tyre cooling swingarm’ that debuted in Qatar. But now they think the fruits of their labours will be…

“Motorcycles should be banned! They’re noisy, dirty and dangerous!” The rant of a peevish maiden aunt? No, it’s the view of Transport for London. At a recent meeting which I attended, TfL revealed policies for buses, lorries, coaches, cars, taxis, Uber, white vans, blue vans, underground trains, overground trains and trams; but their 'policy' on bikes and scooters is entirely negative. While MAG and other pro-bike bodies do their best, we have no concerted voice making it clear that we pollute less, consume less fuel, and are the answer to the capital's problems. The time has come for a concerted campaign to force TfL to acknowledge that bicycles are not the only two-wheelers to be encouraged? Trevor Lyons, university lecturer in law & logistics Beemer beauty Blimey! What a stunner…

Ducati and KTM deliver their supermoto kicks in deliciously different ways. The Hypermotard 950 SP is the classy one, crammed with technology and a booming great V-twin motor. It’s at its best at medium road speeds and will give you as much pleasure stroking and cleaning it in your garage as it does making your heart hit the limiter when you give it a fistful. But it’s eyewateringly expensive for a single-minded machine. You won’t need pockets quite as deep for the KTM, but it’s still hideously pricey for a such a basic machine. But what it lacks in bells, whistles and outright power, it makes up for in sheer drama. The 690 SMC R is more lithe, direct, keener to please and more frugal. It’s less drafty and has…

If you’ve rebuilt or restored a motorcycle recently, there is a fair chance you’ve used stickers created by The Image Works. This British firm has been supplying near-perfect replicas of long-discontinued logos, fairing stickers, decals and even instruction and warning labels for over 20 years. After working for paint specialists Dream Machine for over 10 years, Graham Talkes and Ted Stevenson decided to set up their own company in 1996 after spotting a gap in the market. One that was, ironically, over-looked by their former employer. “In 1985 Dream Machine bought one of the first generation of vinyl plotters which revolutionised decal-making,” explains Graham. “Without it I was having to hand-cut graphics and Dream Machine were just starting a run of 100 Marlboro RD500s for Yamaha, so going digital made…

‘The bike pulls hard towards the 11,000rpm redline’ I’m finding it hard to contain my excitement as the Norton technicians ready the new Superlight. I keep expecting them to reveal that this is all an elaborate joke, and they’re not going to let me ride it – but as it barks into life and the tyre warmers come off, it’s clear that I’m not about to be pranked. I’ve been waiting for this day since MCN first learned about the new 650. The V4 1200cc road bike may be a dream bike, but the idea of a 650cc lightweight bike – dripping with the same carbon, high-end cycle parts and polished frame as the V4 – feels tantalisingly attainable. And anyone with just shy of £20k and a burning desire…

‘No mean feat for a project born out of a shed’ Three decades ago this month bikesport fans witnessed the beginnings of a golden era of British racing – that of the JPS-liveried Norton rotaries – which, for a few brief years, blew all-comers away. We’ve not seen anything quite like it since. The first sign something big was coming came in late 1988, when Steve Spray blitzed October’s Powerbike International at Brands Hatch on a red, blue and silver prototype. But it was the following year that things really took off. With new JPS livery (a by-product of the Brands wins) and a full-time, two-man team of Spray and Trevor Nation, the black and gold bikes swept all before them. In May, 30 years ago to this month, Spray…

DEVITT MCN FESTIVAL OF MOTORCYCLING, PETERBOROUGH MAY 18-19 ‘All routes head to the Festival’ This weekend all roads lead to the East of England Showground, Peterborough for the annual Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling. There’s racing, kit and accessories stalls and family entertainment to fill your day, and for the hardier amongst you, why not camp for the weekend to enjoy the live bands – and beer! FROM THE NORTH The route Avoid the A1 and take to the back roads. Our route starts at Blyth on the A634, at Barnby Moor switch to the A638, pass through Retford, join the county road to Newton on Trent before the A57 to Lincoln. The cathedral towers over the city and as you drop down to Bracebridge Heath leave the…

Overcast, wet, cold, windy. These are all words I hoped not to need in describing my first trackday, but I rolled into Snetterton wearing full waterproofs in these exact conditions. As a recent sportsbike convert I had never ventured onto track, so the knowledge that everyone else at the MSVT novice only day would be in the same boat was reassuring. And a boat would have been a more appropriate vessel for the morning sessions as a downpour during the rider briefing meant the track surface was soaking wet by the time we headed down pitlane for the first time. The sighting lap was to be led by an instructor with strict instructions not to overtake but it was soon red flagged when a rider managed to crash and that…

• Every one tested for over 1000 miles • In all weathers • For at least one month RATINGS POOR ★ AVERAGE ★★ GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ Hood K7-AA £171.99 Tester Ben Clarke, three months, 1200 miles These are the top-spec model from British brand Hood, and feature thick Level-2 ‘Pro’ D30 armour, and carry a higher ‘AA’ CE rating. While this is reassuring, they are noticeably chunkier than normal jeans. Hood also offer lower spec versions of the K7 featuring Level-1 armour, which both lowers the bulkiness and the price (but also the protection). In terms of quality, the K7s are great. They are really sturdy and I don’t feel vulnerable on the bike like I would if I wore normal jeans, but I don’t feel…

Chaz Davies was back where he expects to be in Italy, qualifying on pole at Imola before overtaking hitherto dominant team-mate Alvaro Bautista en route to second place in Sunday’s Superpole race. A pre-season back injury seriously hampered Davies’ testing schedule which, combined with set-up errors with the new Ducati Panigale V4R, left the 29-time race winner out of the picture as rookie team-mate Alvaro Bautista swept all before him with 11 wins from the opening 11 races. At Imola, following a Ducati test at the venue a week earlier, Davies hit the ground running by storming to Saturday’s pole position. The opening race left him furious after an electrical issue caused the engine to cut out, but fortunes turned on Sunday as the Welshman overtook Bautista to finish second…

Jonathan Rea ended his longest losing streak since joining Kawasaki by winning two races at Imola. The four-time world superbike champion prevented Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista from establishing a new record of 12 consecutive race wins. Rea won the last 11 races of 2018 before Bautista clinched the same amount of victories at the start of the current campaign. A seven-time Imola winner, the pressure was on the Northern Irishman to take points from his Spanish rival who’d never visited the track until a test a week earlier. Had Bautista won, it would have been a big blow to Rea’s title aspirations. Instead Rea was elated after his now expected rocketship starts led to him pass pole-sitter Chaz Davies on the respective opening laps on Saturday, at the Villeneuve Chicane, and…

The Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling boasts Europe’s biggest test fleet with hundreds of test ride slots available including off-road and A1/ A2 licence friendly machines and electric bikes courtesy of Zero Motorcycles. This is the complete jaw dropping line-up of test bikes on offer… BRING YOUR LID AND LICENCE AND BOOK A RIDE. IT’S THAT SIMPLE!…

• What’s the Festival address and hours? Peterborough Arena East of England Showground Peterborough PE2 6XE. Opening: Saturday May 18, 9am-6pm. Sunday, May 19, 9am-5pm. All parking is free of charge at the Festival. • What are the opening/ closing times for the campsite? Campers can access the campsite from 4pm on Friday, May 17 and are required to leave the campsite by 7.30pm on Sunday, May 19. • Test rides We do not charge for test rides and we cannot guarantee a test ride when purchasing your ticket. Visitors are required to book test rides directly with the manufacturer on the day – arrive early as test rides are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Riders are required to bring their own kit, helmet and licence. •…

In a landmark case, a police officer who ended a moped chase with a ‘tactical contact’ has been found not to have breached the standard of professional behaviour. Constable Edwin Sutton of London’s Metropolitan Police was called before a gross misconduct hearing at the Independent Office for Police Conduct regarding an incident on May 21, 2017. It was alleged that Sutton had breached police standards of behaviour for the use of force when he manoeuvred his vehicle into the path of a moped being driven by a 17-year-old male suspect. However the hearing on May 8, chaired by Catherine Elliot, found this was not the case. The panel found that the manoeuvre Sutton executed was for a legitimate policing purpose and that he had few, if any, alternatives for ending…

‘The support we’ve had has been amazing’ XAVIER LOMAS Three British Triumph fans set off tomorrow (Thursday) on The Angelman Rally – a 4000-mile charity ride to Mount Etna in Sicily and back in a bid to raise awareness of and funds for Angelman Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder affecting children. It’s the pet project of Triumph Thruxton R rider Xavier Lomas who’s own son, Henri, was diagnosed with the syndrome at seven months old. He’s joined by friends Daniel Whitley (Street Triple) and Graham Trood (Tiger) with all three preparing by touring the UK testing kit and meeting up with groups that have been raising money on their behalf. With the initial £1000 target already tripled the goal has now been stretched to £20,000 with a fundraiser planned on…

For many, being part of the #R5K group means shared experiences, group ride-outs and new friends. But for three members it’s resulted in rekindling a friendship lost 15 years earlier. Bikes never played a part in of the original friendship between Paul Dearman and Craig and Emma Dowsett, who met when their kids took swimming lessons. Then the kids grew up, the swimming lessons stopped and they lost touch – until a chance reunion at the recent #R5K second birthday celebrations. Craig takes up the story: “We originally met when our children attended the same swimming lessons in Hertford. At the time neither of us were bikers then we both obtained our licences later. “We met again in a queue at the Super Sausage Cafe whilst attending the #R5K Second…

Over 600 bikes converged on the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln on Sunday for the second annual ‘InSpire Ride’, a day dedicated to the commemoration and remembrance of those who gave their lives as aircrew during the bombing campaign of the Second World War. Two mass ride-ins were organised: a northern group from the Humber Bridge and a southern one starting at Woody’s Bar in Ancaster, both arriving at the IBCC in glorious sunshine after a short tour of the Lincolnshire lanes. ‘To get a group of bikers together like this is fantastic’ “I love things like this,” said Mandy Mansfield from Scunthorpe. “The camaraderie’s great in a big group and you learn a lot, too. More people should do it!” “It’s also very moving,” added pal Janie Medhurst.…

Reader Chris Wakeley The Ride Ontinyent, Valencia, Spain When to do it Anytime Miles As many or as few you want to do out there Time required Seven days Don’t miss this “All the twisties you could ever want, and they are traffic free.” THE RIDE We booked with Destination Yamaha Motor and got a guide who was second to none for the tour. THE BIKES We hired clean and wellmaintaned MT-07 and MT-09s from destinationyamaha-motor.com THE VIEWS On our tour in the Valencia region we were treated to the best mountain views Spain can offer. THE ROADS Our friendly hosts Cliff and Carol introduced us to an abundance of twisty roads with perfect tarmac and hardly any traffic. It made for a really enjoyable tour. THE TRIP SEND US…

AJS MODEL 14 Here I am back in 1971 on my ‘slightly customised’ first bike. As you can see it is a bit of a period piece. Noel Patterson YAMAHA PW50 This is my two year old grandson Cailean on his PW50. He still needs a bit of help but he is a total headcase on it, always wanting to go faster. Barry Hughes BSA BANTAM My first bike in 1964: BSA Bantam 175cc. Crashed, rebuilt and customised with a Douglas Dragonfly tank. My Hayabusa is a bit faster though. Gordon Watson This is my first bike at the age of 36 and these are my two boys Jack and Alfred wanting their own bikes too. Sam Finch YAMAHA MT-125 HONDA ST70 My commuter bike when I was an apprentice.…

Ducati’s colour TFT dash is a scaled down version of the Multistrada and Panigale V4 displays. Bright, clear and classy, its crammed with info, including menu after sub-menu of set-up pages to adjust power maps, ABS, traction/wheelie control and more. Things couldn’t be more different on the KTM, which has the kind of basic dash and haphazardly placed warning lights you’d expect to see on a cheap enduro. A tacho, gear position indicator and fuel gauge are just some of the things you don’t get with the 690. DUCATI DUCATI SWITCHGEAR The left cluster operates functions on the dash and indicator doubles up as mode/select, but can accidently wipe the trip if you’re not careful. FUNCTIONALITY Ducati clocks KTM clocks Ducati switches KTM switches Ducati mirrors KTM mirrors KTM KTM…

Think of the Superlight race bike as a V4 SS with half the engine capacity. The wheels are identical to the V4, even running a wide 200-section rear Dunlop tyre; the suite of electronics comes straight from the road bikes with traction control, launch control and wheelie control all being interpreted and enforced by a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit. The fully-adjustable Öhlins fork and TTX rear shock are also shared with the V4, but with different springs and damping settings. Three-quarters of the carbon bodywork is straight from last year’s TT bike, and frame components are very close to the V4’s, while it uses a single-sided swingarm with extra bracing for the TT and an adjustable pivot. What appears to be a carbon tank is largely a dummy cover, concealing…

With a mix of fast straight roads and technical twisties, Robin loves to explore the rolling, green hills of Oxfordshire on his Honda CBR650F and it’s easy to see why. “Out of Henley there’s a lovely road to Berinsfield and I stop for food at H Café before riding to Abingdon,” says Robin. “Lovely scenery, lots of rolling green countryside to look at, but be careful of horses on the road through Lambourn and there’s a rest stop on the Ridgeway,” he says. “Going through Shrivenham, Ashbury, and Lambourn, you get twisty technical roads with tight turns and hill climbs and descents.” TAKE OUR ONE-GALLON CHALLENGE We want to hear about your brilliant One-Gallon Challenge riding routes. Email alison.silcox@ motorcyclenews.com KEY Look out for these when riding a route shown…

THE STUDENT Justin Sargeant, 49, Yorkshire BMWR1200GSAdventureownerJustin returned to bikes three years ago after back trouble made driving hard work. Justin’s riding problem “Tight, downhill corners give me the heebie-jeebies. No matter how much I practise, they always feel awkward and unnerving.” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training Formerpolicemotorcyclist,Mark’sbeen teachingpeopletobesafer,better,faster riders on the road for the last 20 years. Mark’s action plan “There’s a lot to think about when tackling a steep, downhill corner but I’ll show Justin techniques to make them smoother and safer.” THE LESSON 1 It’s all in the planning Get in position nice and early to buy yourself time on the approach. Keep your head up and open out your vision so you can take in as much info as possible about the corner. Pick…

‘My mates all have to stop for fuel before I do’ THE OWNER Gavin Knight , 59, Coventry Gavin started his love affair with bikes on a Suzuki AP50 back in 1976. After a break he now rides this Kawasaki Versys 650. ‘It was all my wife’s idea,” says MCN reader Gavin Knight as he describes how he got back into bikes after more than three decades away. “My youngest had just finished university, and my wife knew how I’d always wanted another bike so she suggested that the time was right.” Easing himself back in, Gavin decided to get a 125 first. “I tried a few for size but most of them felt too small and spindly. Then I discovered the Honda Varadero 125, which looked and felt just…

Suzuki’s Hayabusa has long been the king of speed. From 1999 to 2018 the superfast Suzuki dominated the hyperbike niche and, despite being out of production, still has a massive cult following but that doesn’t mean you have to pay top dollar to own one. Better still, there are plenty of hyperbike alternatives out there and some can be yours for under two grand on a private sale. Here’s some of the best… £4590 SUZUKI HAYABUSA 1299cc | 215kg | 175bhp | 805mm seat height • Dealer £4950• Private £4750• This one 2005, 10,321 miles For under £5000 you can own a genuine piece of motorcycling history and one of the fastest vehicles on the road. As a flagship model, the Hayabusa is really well built and most owners…

1 Check the service manual The spark plugs are the only serviceable item on a modern bike’s ignition system. This 1998 Yamaha R1 should have its spark plugs checked/changed every six months or 4000 miles. Check in a workshop manual for specific service details on your particular machine and assess whether you are confident and have the correct tools to manage all of the steps. 2 Take off the tank To gain access to the spark plugs on our Yamaha and many other machines you need to remove the fuel tank, seat, airbox, and other various panels depending on the type of bike. Take care disconnecting the fuel line from the tank to avoid spillages. You should also make a note of how the fuel line and any…

Toprak Razgatlioglu was one of the stars of Imola with the 22-year-old Turk muscling his way to a third career podium on Saturday. After qualifying 11th, the protégé of five-time World Supersport champ Kenan Sofuoglu fought through the field before having an intense tussle with Pata Yamaha’s Michael van der Mark and factory Kawasaki rider Leon Haslam. All had benefitted from the retirements of Chaz Davies and Tom Sykes due to electrical faults, but this didn’t take the shine off Razgatlioglu’s rostrum, his first of 2019 having previously shone at Donington Park and Argentina. ‘I’d expected podiums by now but my problem has been set-up’ In Sunday’s sprint, like Alvaro Bautista, Razgatlioglu used the new SCX tyre which is designed to be grippier and last around 10 laps, but temperatures…

How do I get a test ride? All test rides are booked on the day. Just go to the stands in the Black Horse Finance manufacturer zone with your riding kit and appropriate licence and sign up. Test rides are popular so get there early! What are the roads like? The roads around the showground are a great mix of fast A roads and twisty country lanes. All the routes are hand-picked and escorted so there’s no danger of getting lost. Can I ride more than one bike? Of course! Having a mix of test fleets from various bike brands makes the Festival unique. It’s the only event in the UK where you can test ride so many different models and brands. How long does a test ride last? That’s…

G&B Motorcycle Spares B1Bikertidy B10Rally Raid Products Ltd B11Central Wheel Components Ltd B12Vintage T-Shirts B13Bike Tours UK B14AUnisyn Ltd B14BGlen Anthony Watches B15Rams Adventures B16Carmen Imports B16APhoenix Motorcycle Training Ltd B17City Of Leather B18Dainese Chelmsford B2Complete Framing Ltd B20Fat Skeleton B21Helite UK B2AVmaxbitz.com Ltd B3Custom Fit Guards B4Big Bear Trailers & Outdoor B9Steves Inflatables Kids Fun ZoneKTM Sport Motorcycle Ltd M10Honda Motorcycles M12Ducati M14/M16/M26Yamaha Motor Europe M18Indian Motorcycles M19Yamaha Motor Europe M2Kawasaki Motors UK Ltd M20Herald Motor Company M22Yamaha Motor Europe M26Triumph Motorcycles Ltd M4CCM M8Zero Motorcycles M9Rider Bits R10-10N.A.B.D R10-11Bike Safe R1-25Scorpion Exhausts R1-26Casual Fashion R1-27Yashaz Leather R1-28Lynx Performance R1-29S&D Leisure Simulations Ltd R13-1250 London R1-31Original Wall Of Death R13-2Flying Iron Co R13-8British Mini Bikes R14-10Cobra Cords R14-12Leather Empire R14-14Custom Fit Earplugs R14-8Dogs Trust R16-13Vape Juice Hut R16-14Magpas R17-1Clinton…

Club stands are a huge part of the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling and there’s always a staggering amount of bikes on display. Whether you’re into classics, race bikes, three wheelers or just want to meet some like minded bikers from your local area the clubs zone is the place to be. CONFIRMED CLUB STANDS • 5 Counties Motorcycle Club • Aircooled RD Club • Bandit Owners Club GB • Ducati Owners Club GB • East Midlands Bikers • Federation of sidecars • GS Club UK BMW • Harley-Davidson Enthusiasts Club • Hedingham Sidecar Owners Club • Honda Owners Club GB • Iron Butt Association UK • Kettle Club • Moto Guzzi Club GB • National Sprint Association LTD • Nene & We Peterborough Motorcycle Club • LLAnd BSA Owners…

The ostentatious love child of Hollywood A-list bike addict Keanu Reeves and respected bike builder Gard Hollinger, Arch Motorcycle have been quietly and diligently working away at their KRGT-1 for several years now. But for UK buyers – who may have already seen it at Goodwood or on display at Krazy Horse or the Bike Shed – the Arch has only just been made available to buy. Availability and affordability aren’t the same thing, though, and with a price tag for the standard bike in the region of £90,000, it’ll only be the privileged few who get to have the beautifully-sculpted Arch ignition key at their disposal. And while that price might defy logic for a pared-back custom which uses a raft of off the shelf parts, including the 2032cc…

1 Just a little sissy Poking up at the rear is a small sissy bar, aimed at helping the pillion resist the 2500cc triple’s huge thrust The new bike is clearly wearing a Rocket 3 GT badge 2 Polished spinners The TFC has a polished outer rim, but the GT also gets the spokes picked out with polished faces 3 Colour me good Our first glimpse of the paint finishes for the non TFC models reveals a mix of modern and heritage 4 To the bars The new GT version appears to have longer, swept back bars than the stock version behind it, or the TFC, for laid-back comfort 5 It’s round the back Hiding behind the GT is what looks to be a base…

The spectacular scenery of North Wales provides a backdrop for some of the UK’s most sensational roads – but for anyone approaching from east of the border there’s a popular pitstop that many choose to make first. This week we take a ride up through Shropshire on the A49 to visit Lynn’s Raven Café at Prees Heath, near Whitchurch. The Raven is a traditional truck stop style diner, which means there’s plenty of room to park, and on our mid-week visit that left us spoilt for choice, but on Thursdays elbow room can be tight as over 1000 riders turn up for the weekly bike night. “I live around 40 minutes away in Stafford, so it’s a nice little ride out,” says Gaz Leyland, who rides a 2006 Yamaha R1.…

I always scratch my head as to why WSB doesn’t get the following it used to because at the end of the day it’s what you buy to ride on the street. Up until this year Johnny Rea had done a lot of winning, but I think Brits in general like an underdog. If you watch Dancing on Ice they’ll always keep the no-hoper in for a bit for the craic! People want to see them fall flat on their face! Brits are like that, nobody likes a smart arse but I’m not saying Johnny is a smart arse. ‘IT MUST HAVE FELT SO GOOD FOR REA TO WIN AT IMOLA’ We’re obviously so used to Rea clearing off and winning and now there is another rider up front with…

It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B- roads, a stretch of motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time at Silverstone for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Filling them up With such small fuel tanks we get the feeling we’ll be seeing our fair share of petrol stations today, but knocking a knuckle on their plank-like seats that doesn’t sound like a bad thing. Bruce begins on the Ducati, tip toes barely touching the floor, but squashed down under my…

Tight, twisty and full of bumps, the KTM was born for this stretch of dizzying B-road. If you were to compile a wishlist of everything you need to float through these next 15 miles you’d want a tall, light bike with long-travel suspension, supple damping and wide bars for lots of S-bend-shrinking leverage. You’d ask for a soft throttle response and not too savage a bottom end for the slow stuff, bags of midrange grunt for snappy corner exits and lots of revs for when the roads open up. Then you’d want a quickshifter and blipper for seamless changes and a button where you can disengage the traction control so you can choose how many wheels to ride on between the corners. That’s the 690 SMC R in a nutshell.…

1 Get an original The process starts with either an original sticker or complete panel. While you can buy ‘New Old Stock’ stickers, they are gen erally only good for replicating as their glue will have degraded by now. 2 Replicating lines Using ‘application tape’ which is translucent and tacky, Ted traces the outline of the fairing’s graphics. 3 Scanning plan Rough traces are scanned. If too big they can be divided into sections and then ‘stitched’ together later. 4 Creating the perfect shape Once the scans are digitised, Graham manipulates the outlines to give them a perfect finish. Each shape is assigned a colour and then the file is sent to a thermal transfer printer. 5 Print and plot The thermal transfer printer overlays…

‘It seemed far beyond the point I’d normally be’ There’s something undeniably cool about seeing a skilled rider, mid-corner with their knee on the deck (on track, obviously) – and I couldn’t help but feel envious of other MCN members as they came back from track sessions with their sliders bearing the scars of the day. As a recent sportsbike convert who’s never ridden on track before, my knee-sliders were conspicuously clean by comparison. So, when the opportunity arose to attend the Circuit Based Training Knee-down School at Mallory Park, I didn’t need a second ask. It started with a classroom session about cornering theory. Despite over 40 years riding experience between the four of us, there were some surprising gaps in our knowledge about how a bike goes around…

1. EYES UP Keep your head up and look to the furthest point you can see. This will help you plan and raise your confidence levels. 2. SLOW DOWN Apply the brakes while the bike is upright so that you don’t feel like your machine is starting to run away with you. 3. GO LOW Pick a low gear and keep a small amount of throttle to hold the bike online and stop it from running wide. 4. GET A GRIP On downhill bends you will find steering inputs are easier if you grip the tank with your knees to support your body weight. 5. STEERING Countersteering and letting the bike drop into the turn will help keep things smooth and accurate. DON’T COAST Keep a small amount of throttle…

MotoGP rookie Fabio Quartararo is out to make French fans sing this weekend when the series heads to Le Mans to give him a great chance to put the heartbreak of his DNF at the Spanish Grand Prix behind him with success in front of his home crowd. Desperately denied a podium in only his fourth race when a gear linkage broke on his Petronas Yamaha while second, there’s plenty of reasons why the 20-year-old can bounce back and deliver on the potential shown so far. Here’s five reasons why this could be his best result yet. 1 He’s put Jerez in the past Quartararo has shown remarkable maturity by bouncing back quickly from his Spanish heartbreak where he was seen being carried into the garage bawling his eyes…

As practice began at Imola, Tommy Bridewell was expecting a free weekend after drawing level with Tarran Mackenzie in the British Superbike Championship at Oulton last Monday. But that was before the GoEleven WSB squad asked the Devizes rider if he could fill in for the injured Eugene Laverty (see right). The 30-year-old obliged, nine years after his last WSB outing. “I thrive off being chucked in at the deep end,”Bridewell told MCN. “A lot of riders would’ve said ‘No’. But I said, ‘Let’s have a go’. I like to enjoy every opportunity. It’s what life’s all about. ‘The speed they come past. I had to keep my wits about me’ “I got the call, sped to Gatwick and got the flight. I got to the hotel in Imola at…

Alex Lowes was seventh and fifth in the two Imola races despite a serious stomach upset. The Englishman’s Pata Yamaha team expected their rider to withdraw from the race weekend after being struck down by the symptoms mid-week. But last year’s Brno winner fought back against the discomfort and general bodily weakness to qualify fifth as well as finish the races. Dutch team-mate Michael van der Mark collected two fourth places, just missing out on Saturday’s podium in a spirited battle with Puccetti Kawasaki’s Toprak Razgatlioglu. The Pata Yamaha duo are now separated by just six points in their fight for third in the championship standings.…

Thirty five years after I went to my first bike show, I still get a buzz of adrenaline as I show my ticket and pass through the gateway to infinite temptation. And this year’s Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling looks set to be brimming with the stuff. We’ve got the biggest new bike test fleet ever assembled – arrive early to book your slot – as well as out first MCN Bikes For Sale used-bike marketplace. So whatever size your wallet is, there’ll be bikes to test ride, poke, prod, buy and sell to match your budget. And if such large-scale garage chess isn’t part of your plan, you can lose yourself in the huge trade stand areas and pick up anything from a set of earplugs to head-to-toe riding…

The Multistrada 1260 Enduro Experience lets you try out the off-road capabilities of the Multistrada in a safe environment. With guidance from Ducati’s riding Instructors from the DRE Enduro School in Italy (led by former Dakar rider Beppe Gualini) the Experience enables you to take the Multistrada 1260 Enduro over a simple obstacle course designed to show the bike’s balance, ease of control and off-road credentials. After your off-road ride you’ll be given the chance to take the bike out on a short road demo to experience all the Multi has to offer.…

A bike show wouldn’t be complete without a line-up of vintage and classics and the VMCC are pulling out all the stops with a display of up to 30 bikes on both days. With machines from the 1900s to the 1980s the VMCC team will be on hand to answer questions about the fascinating bikes and the VMCC club scene. VMCC display includes • 1910 Triumph • 1916 Douglas • 1924 Royal Enfield 996 • 1957 Ariel NH350 • 1959 DKW RT200VS • 1960 Ariel Arrow • 1965 Triumph T100 • 1969 Norton Mercury 650 • 1972 MZ ES250/2 Trophy • 1973 Triumph T150V…

Buy a used bike at the show... We’re bringing MCN’s classified ads to life at this year’s Festival with the new MCN Bikes for Sale Live pavilion. Featuring a wide range of machines from dealerships and private sellers, the area will be packed with bikes for every pocket from low mileage minters to restoration projects. ...and sell yours too! With 20,000 people expected there’s no better place to sell your bike. Displaying your machine in the MCN Bikes for Sale Live pavilion is easy. Pre-register on www.mcnfestival.com and on the day bring along your driving licence and the V5 document for the bike. Sorry, but race or track bikes are not eligible.…

SATURDAY INDIAN LIVE ACTION ARENA 9.15-11.00 DTRA Mini stock, Youth, Hooligan and DirtQuake Showdown practice sessions 12.15-1.00 DTRA Hooligan races and DirtQuake Showdown heats. Youth Junior finals 2.15-3.00 DTRA Hooligan races and DirtQuake Showdown finals. Youth Inter finals 3.00-4.45 DTRA Thunderbike and Mini Mod finals, Pro and Inter class practice sessions 6.00-8.30 EVENING SESSION (Campers only). DTRA Pro and Inter class qualifying and finals STEVE COLLEY 11.15-11.45 1.30-2.00 3.00-3.30 STUNT STRIP 10.00-10.30 Dave Coates10.30-11.00 Two Brothers Racing11.00-11.30 Arenacross FMX show12.45-1.15 Dave Coates1.15-1.45 Two Brothers Racing1.45-2.15 Arenacross FMX show3.15-3.45 Dave Coates3.45-4.15 Two Brothers Racing4.15-4.45 Arenacross FMX show MCN STAGE 11.00-11.45 Live music: Rockola Rockets 12.30-1.00 Shakey, Foggy, Dougie Lampkin and Chris Walker interviews 1.45-2.15 Live music: Flashback Photograph 2.45-3.30 Shakey, Foggy, Dougie Lampkin and Chris Walker interviews 4.00-4.45 Live music: Stephen…