Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 67 Issue 13 i Australian Motorcycle News

This year’s AMCN Island Classic will be the 25th anniversary of this great event. I still miss Ken Wootton’s banter at the Friday night function. They were very successful attempts and counter-attempts to embarrass various people including myself, Keith Higgs, James Clark, Craig Smith and many others. Much planning would go into how we could get Ken and vice versa… I still have an ‘Elite Member of the Ken Wootton Fan Club’ T-shirt! Alas, I can’t claim 25 years of attendance, but my record in 2018 will be 17 consecutive trips from New Zealand for the event – I think this will be a record for the most by an international rider. No other Kiwi has made all the trips since 2002, and the UK team only started coming in…

MORE THAN SIX decades ago, the Vincent Black Shadow delivered the most performance from a street-legal vehicle that money could buy – on two wheels or four. Officially timed at 122mph (196km/h), it outsped the Jaguar XK120 two-seater, then the world’s fastest production car, making the Shadow the first superbike. The ultimate Vincent was the Series C Black Lightning, a production version of Rollie Free’s 1948 land speed record bike. Its genesis famously began with London dealer and sidecar racer Jack Surtees (father of future world champion John Surtees), who in 1947 ordered a Vincent Rapide with special tuning parts. This engine was built alongside one used by Vincent tester George Brown in the bike known as Gunga Din – the test bed for the Black Shadow and Black Lightning.…

A step ahead The XR23 featured a stepped cylinder design because that lowered the centre of gravity and moved it forward. Additionally, it was good for cooling because it freed the area just behind the radiator – if the front cylinders are high, there is less room for airflow. It also meant Suzuki race mechanics could extract the transmission from the right side, without the need to remove the engine from the frame. This proved a great asset, allowing gearbox ratios to be swapped in under 20 minutes. Crank call The engine had just two crankshafts, one for each pair of cylinders, rather than four separate ones as on the RG500. Two 36mm magnesium Mikuni carburettors were mounted on each side of the engine, to feed the rotary valves splined…

There was a major shift in the dynamics of MotoGP during 2017 as the factories really got to grips with the new technical rules introduced the previous season. Some prospered, others struggled, while the overall competition got closer and tighter than ever before. The big trick was the same as it had been in 2016 – to find the right bike balance with tyres that offer a very narrow performance window. The big target for 2018 is to improve mid-corner turning to better prepare the corner exit and thus reduce wheelspin. Scoring Note that points for the Constructor World Championship are only scored by factory riders, and only the highest placed finisher in each two-rider factory team scores at each race.…

If you simply can’t get enough of big, charismatic, old-school muscle bikes, this is your motorcycle AMERICAN ACE EDDIE Lawson’s stunning Superbike successes on the Kawasaki GPZ1100 prompted the factory to produce an Eddie Lawson tribute bike, the Z1000R, in the early 1980s. And the launch of the ZRX1200R in the new millennium provided ample proof that Fast Eddie’s fame was still a potent drawcard for Kawasaki almost 20 years on. The ZRX1200R really looks the part as a big, old-school, naked muscle-bike, wearing its Lawson-tribute green paint job with pride. Although they were also available in red livery, the green one had to be quicker. Surely... Beyond the ZRX’s appealing retro styling, there’s a heap of eye candy to enjoy once you start checking out the details – massive…

LIKE MANY I’M a fan of MotoGP racer Johann Zarco, and while I’ll never ride as well as the Frenchman, I can now at least look like him in this Furygan Full Apex Perfo Suit. Australian distributor Bruce Collins Enterprises has sent me the latest model for a trackday test run. The Furygan name may not be instantly recognisable to many readers, but the panther logo on the back has become well-known thanks to Zarco’s entertaining riding style. I was surprised to discover Furygan has been involved in GP racing since 1972. The Full Apex Perfo is Furygan’s top-of-the-range race suit; it’s a production version of Zarco’s with only a handful of alterations requested by the Frenchman setting it apart. It’s manufactured from full-grain 1.4mm cowhide, which feels light and…

YAMAHA’S MT-10 has been a member of our long-term fleet for a year now, and I’m still enjoying riding it as much as the day it arrived. The versatility of the big-bore naked when combined with the wide selection of genuine Yamaha accessories available from the Y-Shop has meant there’s always been a project on the go. Over the past 12 months I’ve blasted the MT-10 through my favourite mountain runs with mates, and fitted a screen, panniers and topbox for some long-range touring with the wife. Things got a little crazy when I stripped it down to its bare bones, fitted a titanium Akrapovič system, rearsets, and a quickshifter, and allowed Dave from Dynobike to turn it into a trackday weapon. Through all this I’ve continued to use it…

AS WE PREDICTED last issue, 16-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson has signed to contest the 2018 road racing season with the factory Honda squad, where he will be joined by three-time North West 200 winner Lee Johnston in a two-rider campaign. The duo will use the CBR1000RR SP2 in the North West 200, the Isle of Man TT and the Ulster Grand Prix, the same schedule as last year’s big-name pairing of John McGuinness and Guy Martin were set to contest, though the late arrival of the all-new Fireblade and consequent gremlins made for a year Honda would rather forget. That doesn’t appear to concern the Englishman or the Northern Irishman, however, with Hutchy calling it “a fresh start” and Johnston saying it’s the “most excited I’ve…

MOTOGP HEAD HONCHO Carmelo Ezpeleta has named Italian firm Energica as the sole supplier for the 2019 Moto-e World Cup, which will form a support category at selected rounds of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship. A race-spec version of its Ego roadbike will be used in next year’s series. It is claimed to produce 108kW and, while the potential top speed is not known, reports say the bikes will be limited to around 240km/h in a bid to last race distance. “We believe in excellence, quality and performance and we cannot think of a better collaborator with whom to launch the FIM Moto-e World Cup,” Ezpeleta said. A production Ego competed in the 2017 Zero TT at the Isle of Man in the hands of Adam Child. He finished seventh…

THE 2018 RACING season will see an all-new off-road series inaugurated when the eight-round World Enduro Super Series kicks off in May this year. The WESS will use existing classic and hard enduro, cross country and beach racing events in its line-up of rounds, like Hard Enduro’s Extreme XL Lagares in Portugal, which will form the curtain-raising round over 11-13 May. And while the series will use its own dedicated point scoring system, each of the already established events will continue to run under their existing rules and regulations. It’s open to anyone, from amateurs to pro riders and given the sheer number of entries that will potentially front up, points will be awarded through to 250th place. It’s the brainchild of promoters WESS Promotion GmbH which, together with the…

You’re a household name to bike fans in Australia, but people might not know you’re also a YouTube sensation… If you watch the way I ride that BMW at Goodwood, you’ll be able to see how I ride a classic bike – like I stole it! There’s a point where you’re trying to round up John McGuinness in the wet (above right), and it doesn’t go exactly to plan I didn’t realise the puddle was as deep as what it was. We had only completed the sighting lap and that was the first lap of the race. There was a bit of a downpour just before the start, and when I came around I hooked it up a gear, as I needed to coming out of the corner, then I…

WHETHER YOU LOVE or hate those distinctive vertically split headlights, KTM is committed to spreading them across its entire range and the next bike to get the family look is the 1290 Super Duke GT. The split headlamps with built-in LED daytime running lights certainly set the KTM’s products apart. Aggressive, angular and instantly recognisable, they work wonders for marque recognition, but not many people would describe them as attractive. These new spy shots show how the 1290 Super Duke GT will adopt the new look. It’s very much a facelift rather than a significant update – headlights apart, much of the bike looks similar to the existing GT. Starting at the front, the lights are obviously new. There’s also a reshaped screen; taller and wider than before, it should…

LEGENDARY MECHANIC NOBBY Clark passed away on Saturday 16 December, aged 81, after a long illness. The former factory spannerman for a string of champions from Gary Hocking to Kenny Roberts died at a clinic in New York, the city he had made his home after a peripatetic existence fettling factory bikes for MV Agusta, Honda, Yamaha and others. Clark hailed from Zimbabwe, then called Southern Rhodesia, where he became involved with future international racing legends including multi-champion Jim Redman. But his closest relationship was with the enigmatic genius Gary Hocking, who came from Rhodesia at full speed to earn a slot in the MV factory team. Clark joined him in 1960, and in 1961 Gary swept to both 350cc and 500cc championships. Hocking retired abruptly midway through 1962 –…

Australia’s first electric motorcycle manufacturer Fonzarelli scooters is upping the ante in 2018 with production starting this month of the firm’s most advanced model yet. Dubbed the X1, the new all-electric scooter gets a 20km/h advantage over the current model – a top speed claimed at 100km/h – and a 0-50km/h time of under four seconds. Depending on the consumer’s needs, the company can tailor the bike’s performance to the needs of the rider. It can tweak acceleration, top speed, regenerative braking, etc, and depending on the chosen set-up, the company claims a battery range of anywhere between 50 and 100km. “After two successful years in operation, the time is right to bring manufacturing home,” the firm’s managing director Michelle Nazzari said. “We have the skills we need right here,…

The supermotard craze was huge in the early noughties. Everybody was doing it, from road racers to weekend warriors, and championships were formed around the world. It seemed that all was well with people having fun, and the top riders could even make a living out of it. After a while companies like Husqvarna and KTM cottoned on to the fact that if they bolted a headlight and tail light onto their single-cylinder supermoto rockets, the customers would snap them up. Then the bigger Italian factories jumped on the bandwagon with firstly Ducati revealing its Hypermotard in 2005, and then Aprilia the Dorsoduro in 2008. These two models are still the most successful in the sector and have battled for supremacy over the past decade. Aprilia has chosen to completely…

Pretty was one of Australia’s rock’n’roll racers with his good looks and sense of humour Greg Pretty sits inside the concrete wall at Bathurst’s GTX Bend, sipping reflectively on a steel tin of Carlton Draught while he fiddles with the ring-pull clip (photo at right). Moments earlier he had been on target to claim second place in the 500GP on the Yamaha-Pitmans TZ500. But as Pretty started the last lap his fuel tank ran dry. After he had dismounted and pushed the bike behind the newly constructed barrier, a local sitting with a few mates at the top of a driveway ran down and handed him the beer. This photograph, taken by Phil Aynsley in 1981, sums up a golden age of motorcycling. It shows the connection fans had with…

IT’S ALWAYS A sad day when you return a favourite long-termer, but watching my YZF-R3 racebike depart Gassit HQ also meant the end of two seasons of great times and hanging out with some cool people. Unless I wake up one morning blessed with the skills of Rossi, competing in the ASBK R3 Cup on a bike provided by Yamaha Australia and prepared by the guys at Race Center will probably be the highlight of my short racing career. Jed Metcher, Darren Sciberras and Phil McCourt helped me become a much better racer and rider during that time, and we had plenty of laughs along the way. Handing the R3 over to young up-and-coming riders like Tayla Relph and Harry Khouri was also a highlight. Now that the racing bug…

Show time 3 FEBRUARY Thunder West 2018, FSB Pearlbrook, Scotts Creek Rd, Murrurundi, NSW. Steel horse muster, bike show ’n’ shine and tattoo competition. Live music, special guest Angry Anderson, camping available from 1 February (no fees) and wheelchair access. No BYO, no dogs and no fires. Entry $25, under 18s free, gates open 10am, no under 18s after 6pm. For information phone Fozzy on 0404 467 171. 25 FEBRUARY South Coast Show & Shine Gear Head Sunday, Toora Recreational Reserve, Jetty Rd, Toora, Vic. Gates open 8am. Bikes, cars, trucks, tractors, army tanks and rides, helicopter rides, live music and more. Fully licenced and catered. Show entry $10, general admission $5, under 15s free. For more information phone Joe on 0431 020 881. 10 MARCH Bike, Trike & Sidecar…

AMERICAN RIDER JAKE Gagne is the final piece of the Red Bull Honda Team WSBK puzzle. The 24-year-old has been confirmed to ride alongside Leon Camier in the two-rider squad for the 2018 season. The up-and-coming 25-year-old Californian was drafted in to replace the late Nicky Hayden on three occasions during the 2017 season and impressed with three 12th-place finishes, despite never having ridden at two of the three circuits. “It’s really a dream come true to have the chance to contest a full World Superbike season with the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team,” Gagne said. “I cannot thank Red Bull, Honda and Ten Kate enough. I have learned so much from them and I got to know them quite well, so I’m looking forward to getting going again.…

THE 2018 SEASON of the Asia Road Racing Championship will see the addition of the inaugural Australian round, set to run alongside the third round of the Australian Superbike Championship, due to be held at South Australia’s all-new The Bend Motorsport Park between 22-25 April. “Bringing the ARRC to Australia is something that has been in Motorcycling Australia’s plans since 2014 and to finally get them here is a huge boost for our ASBK championship,” MA’s CEO Peter Doyle revealed. The combination of the two events and the expanded schedule will result in a four-day program instead of the conventional three-day affair, an outcome which the state’s tourism minister Leon Bignell (pictured) says will be great for the economy. “[It] is expected to attract more than 30,000 people to the…

AMERICA’S JD BEACH became just the third rider ever to stand on the top step of a Superprestigio podium when the Yamaha rider won the fifth edition of the Barcelona-based dirt track event. The two-time MotoAmerica Supersport champ won all three Open class finals to line up in the Superfinal, which combines top riders from both the Superprestigio and Open categories. The 26-year-old American was up against some big name competition: 40 domestic and international riders were invited to contest the indoor flat-track event. Between them a total of 29 FIM World Championships. Double Moto2 world champ Johann Zarco was there, as was newly crowned World Supersport champ Lucas Mahias, 10-time world endurance champ Vincent Phillipe and 2003 WSBK runner-up Rubén Xaus. The Superprestigio Class finals saw three different winners…

NEWLY-CROWNED MOTO2 World Champion Franco Morbidelli and 2017 rival Mattia Pasini reigned supreme at the annual 100km of Champions at the Valentino Rossi Motor Ranch held over 16-17 December. The duo beat the pairing of nine-time world champ Valentino Rossi and his half brother Luca Marini in the 100km dirt track event, while MotoGP star Danillo Petrucci and Moto2 front-runner Lorenzo Baldassarri completed the podium. Franco Morbidelli also took victory in the event’s shorter Americana race. “They were two very busy days and today we were very lucky to have a sunny day,” host Valentino Rossi said. “We had many riders in the race, 36, from the World Championship, to the Superbike, to the American flat track, all very fast. Kudos to Morbidelli and Pasini who were impeccable. “We train…

TRENT LEAN’S DIRTBIKE career spans almost four decades, from his first motocross on a Suzuki RM125 at Barleigh Ranch (now MX Central) to his final Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship round at Dungog in 2015, where he wrapped up his fifth National Masters Title aboard a Suzuki RMX450Z. You could be forgiven for thinking that Trent was born wearing a yellow jersey and would be a lifelong Suzuki stalwart, but when he returned to the sport after a decade spent raising a family and establishing a career, it was with VOR and TM, supported by Cross Country Action at Cessnock. “It’s a great family sport,” Trent said, “and I was in my mid-thirties when I got back into it with my boys, Alexander and Nick. Then, in 2007, Toby Andrews (MX1)…

EVER SINCE BMW launched the single-cylinder G310R, the question of whether it would be joined by a fully faired 310 sportsbike has been asked. Well here’s that bike, but it goes under the brand of BMW’s Indian production partner TVS. The TVS Apache RR310 was hinted at by the company’s Akula concept bike, revealed in early 2016, shortly after the G310R first appeared. With 25kW, it’s a category below the likes of the Yamaha R3, Kawasaki’s new Ninja 400 and KTM’s RC390, but it outperforms other bikes like the Honda CBR300R and Kawasaki Ninja 250. In mechanical terms, the bike is basically a G310R. It has the same unusual engine – with its intake at the front, exhaust at the rear and backward-leaning cylinder – mated to an identical transmission…

BACK IN OCTOBER we revealed Honda’s patent applications for a hydrogen fuel cell bike and now the firm has taken a big step towards solving one of the technology’s major drawbacks; the lack of a convenient refuelling infrastructure. Honda has joined forces with ten other companies, including fellow car titans Nissan and Toyota to develop hydrogen refuelling stations and the network behind them. Other companies in the group include financial institutions and existing fuel suppliers. It’s part of a plan, backed by the Japanese government, to massively increase the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles on the roads in that country. At the moment, only a handful of hydrogen vehicles are available but the intention is to have 40,000 fuel cell vehicles on Japan’s roads by 2020. They will be supported by…

WITH 15-TIME WORLD champion Giacomo Agostini performing demonstration laps on board legendary championship-winning MV Agusta machinery at this year’s Island Classic, it’s only fitting the firm has jumped on board as the naming rights sponsor of both the International Challenge and the event’s Gala Dinner. Joseph Elasmar, CEO of Urban Motor Group, which distributes MV Agusta not only in Australia and New Zealand but also in North America and Canada, said: “Having Giacomo Agostini, Colin Edwards and Troy Corser in attendance, we feel that we have a special connection and a foot in each camp as it were, given our relationship with Italy, USA and of course Australia and New Zealand.” The world title-winning machinery will be on display at the Gala Dinner and includes the 500cc triple on which…

IN THE WORLD of custom motorcycles it can sometimes be difficult to appreciate the work that goes into a finished project. But nothing informs a builder of just how hard a certain model is to work on than taking one, getting their hands dirty, skinning their knuckles and cursing aloud at the moon. The Honda CB250N was a great commuter bike of the early ’80s but rarely does anyone build a good custom from one; I spent a year trying and it wasn’t pretty. So hats off to Thrive Motorcycles for the work they did to produce the T9 Prototype, an incredible 1984 Honda CB250N. The Indonesian company headed by Indra Pratama and Barata Dwiputra has been turning out impossibly cool machines, largely from commuter-based models, for a few years…

It became the first modern racer to break the 300km/h mark Often loosely referred to as the RG700, Suzuki’s steroid-laden superbike was originally conceived in 1976 as a testbed to advance development of the Japanese company’s XR14 500GP contender. This was the start of Suzuki’s mid-70s GP domination, with Barry Sheene the first man to win the 500cc world title for the marque in 1976, retaining it in 1977. Barry’s first title was earned on a bike with the classic ‘level’ cylinder configuration for its RG500 square-four rotary-valve engine. But that year Makoto Hase and his Suzuki R&D team developed a larger 652cc version with overbored stepped cylinders and a cassette-type extractable gearbox – both avant-garde race features. The extra capacity initially delivered too much power for the flimsy chassis…

Recently I was reminiscing over some old bike photos and it confirmed the fact that most of my fondest memories have involved the riding of motorcycles. My introduction to motorcycling was back in the 70s when I acquired a Deltek Rockhopper (powered by a Victa lawnmower engine) from my cousin. I rode it almost every day and even tried to devise a way to fit mower blades underneath it, to mow the lawn while still riding! To my mother’s relief, that plan didn’t eventuate, but my passion for motorcycles was born. Now I can’t imagine a life without motorcycles – they’re part of my DNA. I feel extremely grateful to have been born into a motorcycling environment, with family, friends and associates who share in this rewarding pastime. But this…

The soft sand is challenging, but it’s nothing a big handful of throttle can’t fix The KTM Adventure Rallye offers something different to a bog-stock five-day adventure ride with a couple of latte stops thrown in, but then you’d expect nothing less from Kato. It takes adventure riding to the next level by seeking terrain not usually associated with adventure bikes, to show KTM owners what their machines are capable of. The Rallye attracts all sorts of riders. From die-hard enduro nuts and motocrossers to easy-going adventure riders who are happy to stick to the easy route. This year started in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales before heading up into the Central West and New England, the Upper Hunter Valley then back to the Blue Mountains. DAY 1…

CHRISTMAS AT AMCN is a time for giving back rather than receiving goodies, and sadly the CFMoto was on the returns list. For almost 12 months we used it to commute and cover general office duties, and did some great weekend rides on our way to clocking up around 5000km. For this novice rider it’s been a steadfast steed and we built up a strong bond through summer and winter. Having the NK for an extended period also gave me the chance to practice some basic bike maintenance tasks. Highlights included a training day organised by the Yarra Ranges Council on a warm autumn weekend, and the countless smug smiles brought about by filtering through Melbourne traffic. The lowlights were some close calls with that same traffic, and once trying…

1 Canyon Cover Cassons $229.95 (02) 8882 1900 cassons.com.au The Rjays Canyon II jacket is made from 600D ballistic nylon and has removable CE-approved armour and back protector. It features a removable thermal liner, zipped vents, internal and external pockets, adjustable waist and cuffs, soft collar and reflective trim. It’s waterproof and breathable, and comes in XS-3XL. 2 Red Bucket Andy Strapz $124 (+ post) (03) 9786 3445 andystrapz.com Andy Strapz has launched a limited-edition 20th anniversary ochre Bucket Bag. This courier-style shoulder bag is made from 17oz ripstop canvas with tough clips and webbing. Features include an internal pocket and phone pouch, key clip and adjustable and angled shoulder strap. Each bag is numbered. 3 Indian Lid Indian Motorcycle $395 1300 00 463 426 indianmotorcycle.com.au The Indian Route Modular…

THREE-TIME WORLD Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss has revealed he will contest the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship in a bid to win a national title – a trophy which has so far eluded the 48-year-old. Bayliss will contest the entire seven-round series on board the DesmoSport Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition, riding for the factory-supported team he co-owns with former Australian Superbike racer Ben Henry. However, there won’t be an up-and-coming second rider alongside him – the racing veteran will be the sole rider in the factory-backed squad. “Initially, I did want to see another young guy on the bike, but after I rode it I felt that I needed to contest the championship and try and win myself that elusive Australian Superbike title,” Bayliss said. “I feel like I…

MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA HAS released its provisional calendar of dates and locations for this year’s Australian Superbike Championship. The 2018 ASBK series will be a seven-round affair, kicking off on the same weekend as the WSBK season opener at Phillip Island. As it did in 2017, Round 1 of the Australian series will appear as a support category for the World Superbike championship, with the domestic Supersport and 300 Supersport classes also on the event program. Goulburn’s Wakefield Park will be the only New South Wales venue, with no round slated for Sydney Motorsport Park. Both Tasmania and Western Australia also miss out on hosting a round this year, with WA’s Barbagallo Raceway still not approved for motorcycle racing. For further information about the 2018 season calendar, head to www.ma.org.au…

THE RECENTLY RETIRED four-time world champ Matthew Phillips has announced he will contest the 2018 World Enduro GP after all, citing recent series format changes as the source of his new-found motivation. The series will revert back to three classes and an overall structure, the same as it was when the talented Aussie won the world title in 2016. The 23-year-old Taswegian announced his retirement in August of 2017 revealing at the time he’d not been “100 per cent focused on the races – I need to go home and find the fire before it goes out! The fans don’t want that, and me neither.” Luckily for his fans, the young Aussie’s disillusionment was short-lived, having recently re-signed with the Sherco squad which is also undergoing changes for the 2018…