Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 67 Issue 18 i Australian Motorcycle News

THERE ARE PLENTY of highlights that go with being the editor of the world’s greatest magazine. Engaging with the readers via the Access pages is among them. Emails are great, but I really get a kick out of receiving a hand-written letter to the editor. If someone has taken the time to sit down and pen their thoughts, place it in an envelope and make a trip to the post office, it means they are passionate about what they have to say. There was a time when a posted letter was the only way to share your thoughts with the editor. Then email arrived and changed everything. Despite living in the digital age, I still receive a regular stream of hand-written letters and even postcards from readers. Two of the…

THE COMPANY FORMERLY known as Confederate, now renamed Curtiss, has pulled the covers off its first model, the Warhawk, revealing it to be the petrol-engined machine of the range which we revealed in AMCN Vol 67 No 17. It’s largely the same as the last of the Confederates, the FA-13 Combat Bomber, but with a machined finish to the aluminium monocoque frame and a few detail changes to the styling. Like the Combat Bomber, it uses the 2163cc S&S X-Wedge engine making a claimed 150bhp at 5100rpm at the rear wheel, allied to 217Nm of torque at 2000rpm. Curtiss will be making just 35 examples, each costing US$105,000. That’s equivalent to AU$134,000. Start saving.…

Check the name Stephen Leslie Bailey in the official Isle of Man archives and you’ll find two appearances – the first and the second for any Australian competitor. Check the same name at the British Patents Office and you’ll uncover scores of valuable patents under this enterprising Australian engineer’s name; including the first disc brake used on a motorcycle, the cross-over countershaft gearbox and the flywheel clutch. For a bloke who believed only a horizontally opposed engine could achieve perfect balance, Bailey and the Douglas twin were made for each other. Self-educated, highly skilled and an exceptionally productive inventor, ‘Les’ was never backward in coming forward, claiming the honour of introducing the first powerful high-rpm engines to the public. Yet he never became precious about where an idea originated and,…

Congratulations Gary, you’ve scored Motul’s Mini Road Chain Lube ($12.90) and Mini Chain Clean ($11.90) kindly supplied by Link International. Send an image and details about your two-wheeled pride and joy to access@amcn.com.au Giz a squiz RIDER Gary Edgar RIDE 1964 Ducati Brio 48 HE SAYS I have a perverse predilection for any of Ducati’s ‘bastard children’ – those machines that were commercial failures and unloved by the purists. More than any, I feel a need to rescue such machines from oblivion. I found the Brio in Manduria in southern Italy a little over 10 years ago, and it was shipped to Brisbane by a Sicilian friend in one of his container loads of tinned tomatoes and pasta. The engine had compression, the scoot was 99% there and…

To Troy Bayliss, winning was like a work bonus. While he loved racing motorcycles, he competed on the world stage as a family man. Superbike racing was his job, his income depending on race results. It’s 28 February 2008 at Phillip Island and Troy Bayliss is about to start another working week in the job with Ducati he’s held for 10 years. Bayliss is carrying a workplace injury from pre-season testing – a broken collarbone that is slowly healing. But a qualifying crash adds another injury, this time requiring eight stitches in an elbow and extensive strapping. Undaunted, he quietly applies himself to the task ahead. By the end of this week’s work, Bayliss will have completed a clean sweep of qualifying and the two races. Along the way he…

Period 1, Veteran For motorcycles built before 31 December 1919 Bikes must have at least one efficient braking system, run treaded tyres, and gearboxes are not allowed to have more than four gears. Methanol fuel is permitted. Period 2, Vintage For motorcycles built between 1 January 1920 and 31 December 1945 Bikes must have at least one efficient braking system, run treaded tyres, and gearboxes are not allowed to have more than four gears. Methanol fuel is permitted. Period 3, Classic For motorcycles built between 1 January 1946 and 31 December 1962 The front and rear brakes must reflect the OEM unit of the period, machines must only use treaded tyres, and methanol fuel is permitted. Period 4, Post Classic For motorcycles built between 1 January 1963 and 31 December…

In a tribute to the Vincent marque, which this year celebrates its 90th birthday, an extremely rare Series C Black Shadow (pictured) will be making the journey to Broadford. Said to be worth a million bucks, the bike has been stretched, ported, retro suspended and supercharged, boasting an Eldred Norman blower hanging off the front left-hand side of the engine. As well as that, there’ll be modern Irving Vincent racebikes and sidecars as well as what the organisers say will be at least one example from each of the brand’s models range. Cool!…

Takaaki Nakagami Nakagami bears the hopes not only of Honda but also all of Japan. A patchy Moto2 career (just one win) might not augur well, but MotoGP is a different proposition, and he was top rookie in the tests at Sepang, Buriram (where he was an impressive tenth) and in Qatar as well until the final day. Franco Morbidelli Rossi protégé Morbidelli is calm and collected. His progress in Moto2 was rapid and yet well controlled, and he was dominant in 2017. Morbidelli’s learning year in the premier class puts him on a relatively ill-favoured private Honda, but give him time and he is bound to impress. Thomas Luthi Former 125 champion Luthi had to wait until he was 31 before finally getting his MotoGP chance, by which time…

Alex Marquez The former Moto3 champion’s progress has been overshadowed by older brother Marc, and it took him until last year, his third in Moto2, to claim his first win. But he’s a class act, and his Marc VDS team has won the title before. Miguel Oliveira Portugal’s best ever, Oliveira took the KTM to victory in the last three rounds of 2017, totting up eight podium finishes in the bike’s first year in the class. His Ajo-run Red Bull team is highly competitive, and so is the rider. Pecco Bagnaia A Rossi protégé and last year’s top rookie, Bagnaia made a blazing Moto2 start last year, and next year he’s bound for the Pramac MotoGP team. So this is his one chance at the title, and to repay the…

1 Jorge Lorenzo claimed the first title of the 1000cc era in 2012 and thus far dominates the table of laps led. 2 Marc Marquez hadn’t yet graduated to the premier class in the inaugural season of the 1000cc category, but has caught up fast. He already heads the era in terms of race victories and championships. He has the best ratio of laps led per season, just ahead of Stoner. If there was a stat for miraculous saves, he’d top that too. 3 When Marquez won the premier-class crown as a rookie in 2013, he achieved what no rider had done since Kenny Roberts Snr in 1978. It helped that the rule which meant rookies couldn’t sign with a factory team was lifted to allow Marquez a clear path…

WE HAVE NOT accidentally put a long-term vehicle on the Tested pages. These days, many motorcyclists require a quality tow vehicle to transport their bikes to the track, to the bush, or to a bike show. Not all cars are suitable for towing a couple of tons worth of trailer and motorcycle, and then there is the challenge of carrying all the associated gear, such as race stands and tools. Most also need to do double duties as family transport midweek. Rather than having one vehicle for a year, we decided to begin reviewing the wide and varied range of tow vehicles available. Our first, er, cab off the rank is Toyota’s 4WD Fortuner GX. Based on the same platform as Toyota’s popular HiLux model – with only the rear…

THEY CALL IT CLIMATE change. It’s caused in part, they say, by emissions. Especially those from too many vehicles on the road. That was certainly the case at Qatar, where – as always – if nature doesn’t oblige, then spending a bunch of oil money can make up the deficit. Usually, anyway. Too many vehicles in this case comprised more than 60 tanker trucks, containing that commodity even more precious in the bleak and cheerless desert than petrol. Water. And they were emitting it in great gushing gouts onto the Losail circuit. This was to investigate a problem that was itself already entirely man-made: to see if it would be possible to race under floodlights if it was raining. This was previously ruled impossible, because of dazzle from the wet…

AFTER ENDING ITS 18-year partnership with Yamaha, MotoGP’s top independent squad Tech3 has confirmed speculation it will align with the KTM factory from 2019 onwards. Earlier, Tech3 boss Hervé Poncharal (right, below) had revealed that the then unnamed manufacturer was willing to offer him a deal to which he “couldn’t say no”. He said the deal included “something we’ve been waiting for almost since we started Tech3”. That deal is the Tech3 team will be given the same-spec machinery as the factory-run Red Bull KTM squad, instead of the year-old machines it is provided by Yamaha. “Even though the bike could be under the performance of what we have now, there is room for improvement, development, sharing ideas of how to make the package better – and at least to…

Tyre freeze Engines won’t be the only component remaining unchanged once the lights go out on the opening round of the MotoGP World Championship, with Michelin also announcing it will not introduce any new tyres during the 19-round season. According to Michelin’s Piero Taramasso, the move has been instigated by the riders and teams who have asked for consistency with the rubber in a bid to use their time on other areas, rather than on getting the rubber to work. “Starting at the beginning of the season we will fix the front casing and the front profile, plus the rear casing and the rear profile. This will not change all season,” Taramasso said. “Eighty per cent of the compounds we will use this season are from last year, plus two…

THE 2018 AUSTRALIAN Off-Road Championship kicked off with rounds one and two held at Gympie in Queensland over 10-11 March, 2018. KTM’s Daniel Milner (pictured) continued his stellar form of 2017 with two wins in the E3 double header to score maximum points (50), ahead of KTM’s Broc Grabham (38) and Yamaha’s Kane Hall (37). “Where we’re at is a good thing and the results this weekend were positive,” the factory KTM rider said. “The plan is to keep working, keep testing with the team and I know some areas we can get better, so it’s a good place to be in at the moment. Last year, in some ways, I probably had it a bit easy, so it’s good to have someone this year where we can push each-other…

Vale Davies Sad news following the sudden death of long-time dirt track star Anthony Davies. Successful on two-wheels for many years, Davies achieved the honour of winning an Australian Track Championship as a dirt track sidecar rider in 2002 with West Wyalong clubmate Harold McCahon in the chair. Always a friendly face in the pits as his sons Matthew and Tyler set out in junior racing, and as Matthew progresses into the senior ranks, Anthony will be sorely missed. To wife Leanne, Matthew and Tyler, AMCN extends its sincerest condolences. PB Darrin & Jesse Darrin Treloar and passenger Jesse Headland carried on their winning ways to take out the Curly Carmes Sidecar Spectacular at the Olympic Park track in Mildura on 3 March. After being unbeaten in the heats Treloar…

Motorcycle Sportsmen of Queensland’s ride days at Morgan Park have been selling out in as little 15 minutes, even when they are available to members only online. However, Cube Racing is offering up to five ride days this year, running to a similar format as their November debut with expert coaches Troy Herfoss, Bryan Staring, Dan Stauffer and Corey Turner, as well as two-up rides with Troy Bayliss. Separate groups cater for all skill levels and juniors, making it a perfect way to prepare for a race weekend. MSQ rep Simon Dickson welcomed the news from Cube, saying: “More days of availability will definitely help ease the frustration.”…

Australian Motorcycle News road test photographs are posed for by skilled, professional riders under controlled circumstances. Attempting to imitate their actions may be dangerous. Australian Motorcycle News supports and endorses rider training and wearing protective riding gear. The 2018 MotoGP season is on the start line and the predictions are running thick and fast. Kel’s pegged Álex Rins for a couple of podiums, while Dobie thinks Miller will out-point Lorenzo. Youngy’s money is on Zarco smoking ’em all, Art Director Andrews reckons Zarco and Miller are due a couple of wins, while Matt says Iannone will get a podium before Rins or Zarco (or get fired). And Fred? Fred reckons if anyone’s due the chopping block it’ll be Bradley Smith or Simon Crafar. Gassit for Pit Lane Commentator?…

$100,000  A Honda monkey bike once owned by Beatle John Lennon fetched £57,000 ($A100,000) at the recent H&H Classics auction held at the National Motorcycle Museum in the UK. The minibike, still in original condition with its XUC 91H licence plate, appeared in a famous photograph of Lennon and son Julian riding around their Tittenhurst Park estate in Sunninghill, Berkshire. Les Bailey He may not be a household name, but Bailey is credited with being the first Colonial to win a major Continental motorcycling event. He was also a brilliant businessman, responsible for the success of numerous projects including Penrith Speedway. Read his story in Not Forgotten pg18 VALE WALDMANN Former German GP racer Ralf Waldmann has died, aged 51. He made his GP debut in the 80cc category in…

1. WHO? Can you name the rider grabbing a sneaky cuddle from the promotional girl while he pretends to point to a friend in the crowd? Clue This rider also has an equally famous brother. 2. WHAT? What make and model of motorcycle is this gorgeous piece of engineering? Clue It has a Britsh name but was made in Germany. 3. WHERE? Where is Gregg Hansford in this classic photograph, and why is he wearing a crown? Clue You need to take your eyes off the girl to work it out. LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION & WINNER Ritorno Terry Clare, Lysterfield, Vic email your numbered answers to comps@amcn.com.au  for your chance to win!…

 AS AUSTRALIA’S OLDEST and most respected motorcycle publication, AMCN has a huge responsibility when it chooses its annual Hall of Fame inductee. With the unwavering support of his wife, Troy was able to turn a hobby into a successful career Australia has always been boxing above its weight in world motorcycle championships so there are many legends to honour. Last year the AMCN Hall of Fame inductee was Daryl Beattie, the one rider with the potential to challenge mighty Mick Doohan in the 1990s before injury prematurely ended his career. Rather than fading away, Daryl picked himself up off the canvas to become Australia’s ambassador of motorcycling. This year we gong Troy Bayliss, the man you’d want to have at your side in an hour of crisis. Ducati certainly thought…

Telling wife Kim about your race return “I’d been waiting for the right moment to tell Kim, but one night at the dinner table Oli said, ‘Hey, old man, when’ya going to spill the beans to Mum about racing again?’” And her reaction? “She seemed OK with it and said, ‘Whatever; if it keeps you off the beer and gets you fit again’.” Your kids “Mitch is a full-time cage fighter (he’s had three fights for three wins so far). I’m not sure where Oli will end up in racing as he’s growing pretty tall quickly. Abbey is a full-time uni student doing a mathematics degree. She’s the smart one but she’s got no money.” The Bayliss involvement with motorcycle events “Kim and (long-time business associate) Mark Petersen are going…

Frankie Chili Simply a legend! Five-time GP race winner in 500cc and 250cc classes, and 17-time WSBK winner Steve Parrish Former 500cc grand prix rider, former GP team manager, Barry Sheene’s best mate, and sure to make you laugh out loud Troy Corser Australia’s two-time World Superbike champion and WSBK pole record holder until just last month Troy Bayliss Three-time WSBK champion, one-time MotoGP race winner, current ASBK campaigner, and newest AMCN HoF inductee Chris Vermeulen Former World Supersport champion, World Superbike and MotoGP race winner, and all-round beaut bloke Jeremy McWilliams Former 500cc GP pole winner, 250cc grand prix winner, AMCN Island Classic regular and historic racing tragic Kevin Magee 500cc GP winner, twice WSBK race winner at Phillip Island, will be riding the Warren Willing Kawasaki H2 750…

Open paddock It’s what makes retro racing events so damn good. Wander in and out and eavesdrop on the race tactics Spectator Parade Yep, you just watched Frankie Chili, now it’s his turn to watch you Autograph Sessions Fancy shaking Stavros’s hand? This is the place to do it Swap Meet Got a project on the boil? You might get that missing bit here Club Displays You won’t believe what happens to people (and their motorcycles) when they swarm together as one Trade Displays and Show ’n’ Shine What’s a bike event without these?…

THE 2018 BROADFORD Bike Bonanza is tipping its composite-fibre hat to a very special Australian widely recognised as pioneer of speedway. Neil Street developed the very first DOHC four-valve speedway engine, known as the SR4 Neil Street Conversion, which powered his son-in-law Phil Crump to his 1975 Australian Speedway title and which went on to become the sport’s must-have race engine. Event organiser Rick Wason has gathered one of the largest collections of SR4-powered solo speedway machines anywhere in the world for the 2018 Bike Bonanza, a fitting tribute to a great man and a unique treat for attendees. Speaking of treats, both Phil and his three-time world champion son Jason Crump will be sliding around on some impressive SR4-powered machinery at the Bonanza’s dedicated speedway oval, mixing with the…

Where exactly? The State Motorcycle Sport Complex is located just off the Hume Highway at Broadford, one hour north of Melbourne. Accomodation? There’s camping and barbecues available within the complex, and there’s loads of other options in town. Food? There’ll be plenty available for purchase within the complex. Fuel? Nothing available on site. Getting about? There’s a free shuttle bus hooning around the complex, or you can walk, or ride. Is it kid friendly? The kids’ll love it. And if they’re under 16, it’s free! First aid Medical services will only be present while on-track activities are underway. Who’s that? The weekend’s commentators will be Bob Johnstone at the Speedway, Will Hagon at the Road circuit. And that familiar smiling guy over there is probably Alan Catchart – go and…

Marc Marquez Youngest-ever champ at 21, Marquez has won four of the last five titles, the last two without much help from the bike. He is a super-talent who is already easily the greatest of his generation. Now 25, he has a better bike, plus experience and enough maturity to cut the crash rate. Watch him go. Maverick Viñales Last year’s test form and early races suggested a runaway win for the Spaniard. A slow start this year, but what changed for the worse last year might do the opposite in 2018. Maverick seems to get thrown off the scent rather easily, but there’s no doubting his talent. Andrea Dovizioso Dovi surprised everyone last year, adding well-timed aggression without betraying his careful and mature technique. The wins should strengthen him…

The normal course of engine development seeks more power, and to make it more manageable. Honda brought three different-spec engines to the three pre-season tests, and by the second of them all the factory riders had chosen the same – with the emphasis on horsepower rather than good manners. The Honda riders were also testing a new carbon-fibre swing-arm. Cal Crutchlow believed the engine could be tamed with electronics. Similar thoughts emanated from Ducati, also with more power – along with a chassis development that has addressed and possibly solved the Italian bike’s reluctance to hold a corner line in long turns. But Yamaha has found the unified software an unreliable friend, and after the second test was still struggling to find the balance for which the M-1 has always…

1 Dani Pedrosa has won at least one race every year since his debut in 2006. With 31 victories, he is easily the most successful rider never to win a crown, not just in MotoGP but in the 69-year history of the premier class. The four-strokes blitzed the 500s off the line at the opening race 2 The early MotoGP seasons featured both 990cc four strokes and 500cc two strokes. At least one team considered racing both classes in 2002, making the choice according to the circuit. That idea took a hit when people saw the four strokes blitz the 500s off the starting grid at the opening race at Suzuka (pictured). 3 Only five riders can and will ever be able to say they’ve won races on both 500cc…

WITH 800KM TO cover, I planned to leave early. But my organisational dyslexia meant it was noon and I was still at home. At dawn, as I brewed my coffee, I threw on that single by David Dunas, Jeans On, to get me in the roady mood. But dawn turned into morning and by the time brunch was upon me I still had not packed my bike or made ready anything. A plan started forming in my mind. I’ll have lunch with Mrs Redmond, then I’ll ride until dusk and stop at a pub. That way I could run the remaining 600km before noon tomorrow. But my ‘Redmond cape’ began to blow and I was soon overcome with an idea. I should ride until dusk, throw my swag down and…

ONCE DESCRIBED as a career killer, Jack Miller’s switch to Ducati for the 2019 MotoGP season looks to be paying dividends for the Australian, who has had an extremely positive winter testing campaign ahead of the opening round in Qatar. The 23-year old gelled instantly with the GP17, the same machine which factory rider Andrea Dovizioso rode to second place in the championship behind Marc Marquez last year, recording a string of top-six finishes in the three official pre-season tests. “I am happy with the work we did in the winter tests,” Miller said. “We’ve lapped a lot and got a lot of information that allowed us to make steps forward day after day. “We have managed to overcome the difficulties that have arisen in every circuit and this is…

HUSQVARNA’S JASON ANDERSON has a 40-point lead in the AMA Supercross 450SX after 10 rounds of the 17-round series, despite finishing seventh overall in the most recent round held at Daytona International Speedway on 10 March 2018. Anderson, starting from 17th, was through to 14th on the opening lap before eventually finishing seventh, enough to retain the lead in the standings. Honda’s Justin Brayton grabbed the holeshot from pole position and lead every lap of the 17-lap main event to cross the line ahead of Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac and Yamaha’s Cooper Webb. KTM’s Marvin Musquin finished fifth to move himself into second in the overall standings, while Brayton moves into third on the ladder. Aussie veteran Chad Reed qualified 10th on his Husqvarna FC 450 but was shuffled back to…

What were you thinking when you got the call up for this role? When I got offered the job I just said what I thought straight away, that I was honoured and excited but the first thing I had to do was to call my family and see how they felt about it. The reason I left the paddock 17 years ago was because my boy had just been born and I was away all the time. I knew it wasn’t right so I walked away. I was worried about how they would feel if I went back. They said, ‘Dad, it’s like you always say – grab the opportunities as they go by and make the most of them!’ You would know a few of the guys racing I…

Late nights & early starts We would usually complain about lack of sleep, but it’s time for MotoGP to return to our screens. Yippee! Streaming into action Can’t make it to Round 2 of the ASBK at Wakefield Park on 17-18 March? You can stream all the action from the MA web page. A different sound The departure of Nick Harris means our ears are struggling with the voices of the new MotoGP commentary team. Trump Tariffs President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium (sorry, aloo-me-num) imports could have far-reaching ramifications that effect the motorcycle industry.…

The year was... 002008 Mick ‘Matho’ Matheson was in charge of AMCN. Matho was delighted that the two big international events at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit - MotoGP and WorldSBK - were pulling massive crowds. The reason for this? Two Aussie champs. Casey Stoner claimed his first world title in 2007, and it was standing room only when the MotoGP circus rolled into town. Meanwhile, over in WorldSBK land, this year’s AMCN Hall of Fame inductee Troy Bayliss had taken the first step towards his third title, claiming three wins from the four starts, including a Phillip Island double. How far? That’s the total combined kilometres of favourite rides (not including transport stages) Justin Law ticked off his bucket list in one go when he hit the road…

RIDER PROFILE Name Chris Dobie Age/Weight 51/88kg Riding experience Always learning Riding advice Ride like everyone is out to get you IT HAD BEEN 12 months since I last rode the KTM 1290 Super Duke R, so I was overdue for some time on the big V-twin. The break had been long enough for me to forget just how impressive the package is. The grunt-filled 1301cc LC8 V-twin engine mated to a superb trellis-frame chassis delivers riding performance on an upper-deck level. After connecting my phone to the My Ride system (which is part of the optional Performance Pack), I headed straight for my favourite twisty ribbon of tarmac. The 2018-model isn’t an all-new machine, but there’s enough evolution in the new package to see it take a sizable step…

With few Pierce Fours ever built, and fewer still surviving today, the appearance of a completely original one, bearing engine number 1590, at Bonhams’ August 2012 Quail Lodge auction in California inevitably created some excitement. It was sold for US$137,000 to an American-born enthusiast who has been resident for many decades in the UK. Auction sale protocol prevents me from naming him, but he put the bike up for sale again at the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale in October last year, having extensively recommissioned what was a basically complete (but semi-derelict) example of America’s first Four, which has enjoyed only four owners since new. The second owner had put it into dry barn storage in 1932, from which it emerged 75 years later when purchased by the third owner. He…

WHEN THE 2018 Softail range was released late last year, it was no surprise Harley-Davidson continued to paint from the same styling pallet that has brought it so much success in the past – with one exception. The new Fat Bob is so radically different from the rest of the range it has polarised opinion ever since. Peter-Michael Keppler, Harley’s head of motorcycle products, called it a “zombie apocalypse escapee”, adding it is “not going to go over things, it’s going to go through things...” The first thing you notice is the imposing rectangle-shaped LED headlight sitting between two 43mm inverted fork legs, the only Softail to wear a USD fork. Also unique to the Fat Bob are the twin 300mm front brake rotors; all other Softail models boast a…

2013 Mick Doohan and Keith Campbell BY 1988, MICK Doohan proved he was ready to take on the world by winning both legs of the Australian round of the World Superbike Championship. This led to his debut in the 500cc Grand Prix championship for Honda. By 1991 he was runner-up, finishing on the rostrum an incredible 14 times from 15 starts. He bounced back from severe injuries in 1992 to finish fourth overall the following year, before his run of five consecutive world 500cc championships from 1994. Keith Campbell was Australia’s first Grand Prix world champion, winning the 350cc title in 1957. He had started racing as a teenager in the 1940s and at just 19 headed to Europe to try his luck. Four years later he had secured a…

“TWO MONTHS AGO I was pointed in that direction as a good option for sponsors and publicity. “In the two-day test at Phillip Island I was at the pointy end but I’ve got seven-tenths of a second to find to win. “The only winner on the Panigale has been Shakey Byrne in the UK. It seems to suit dicky little tracks.” Ducati hasn’t won a WSBK riders title since 2011 with Carlos Checa on the 1098R, a development of the bike Bayliss dominated on in 2008. Chaz Davies is the only rider to consistently win WSBK races, finishing runner-up in the past two seasons, and Marco Melandri’s spectacular double at the Island recently wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. For the record, Bayliss qualified just 0.2sec behind Davies in the second of…

Road circuit Road racing pre-1963, pre-1975 and pre-1990, riders split into novice, intermediate and expert categories Motocross Pre-1975, pre-1980 and pre-1990, plus minibikes Speedway Solo and sidecars Speedway spectacular Dirt Track Pre-1978 Scrambles, grass track, dirt track and flat track Enduro Saturday: At Motorcycling Victoria’s neighbouring complex Sunday: Red Plate Enduro Ride Trials Dedicated trials sections…

Johann Zarco By the end of last year, the double Moto2 champ was more than a rostrum threat. He nearly won in Valencia. Now he has topped the final pre-season test. He’s smooth, stylish, clever, and much faster than a non-factory rider is expected to be. Valentino Rossi Now almost 40, can we take Rossi seriously as a title contender? Ask it the other way round, and, as always, only a fool rules Rossi out. He is not as fast as he once was, but he’s at least as clever. If the odds move even slightly in his favour, he will play them to the max. Jorge Lorenzo An unexpected role for a former multi-champion, but Lorenzo’s switch to Ducati is still a work in progress. If he can sustain…

Jorge Martin The Spaniard took nine pole positions last year, but it wasn’t until the last race that he managed to turn one into a first win. One year wiser, he should do better in 2018. If only there weren’t all those other fast Honda riders… Fabio Di Giannantonio Another who failed to turn his speed into victory, Di Giannantonio came close enough often enough to suggest his third year in the class will be better still. He finished fifth last year, in the thick of the Honda mob. Andrea Migno He wasn’t the top KTM rider last year overall, but Migno was the only one to win a race, with a brilliant tactical ride in Italy. He has changed teams for 2018, but as another of Rossi’s graduates he…

LINK INTERNATIONAL, the Australian distributor for the Italian AGV brand in Australia, has sent me the new AGV Veloce S helmet in the Rossi Ranch colour scheme. The Veloce S is AGV’s premium lid from its sport range, sitting above the K5 and K3. It’s designed primarily for street use (AGV offers a racing range, too) but will easily crossover for track use. I plan to give the helmet a run in both scenarios. A look back through the AMCN archives, will reveal that I have not tested an AGV helmet previously. I owned a K3 AGV many years ago and found it uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time. Just like helmets, heads come in many shapes and sizes, and my head didn’t gel with the AGV. I’m…

Top 3 TV 1 AMA SX Rd11 LIVE Fox Sports 18 Mar 11am (AEDT) Round 11 of the AMA Supercross season will be aired live from St Loius, Missouri. You can catch all the action live at 11am on Sunday on Fox Sports or on supercrosslive.tv at anytime on any device. 2 MotoGP Rd1 Qatar LIVE Videopass 19 Mar Midnight (AEDT) The 2018 MotoGP season finally kicks off at the Losail circuit in Qatar. The Moto3 race starts at 12am on Monday morning, followed by Moto2 at 1.20am and MotoGP at 3am. Watch on Videopass or Fox Sports. One will air the MotoGP race only. 3 WSBK Rd2 Thailand LIVE Videopass 24-25 Mar 8pm (AEDT) Race 1 of Round 2 of the Superbike World Championship will be aired live on…

MUCH IS BEING made about the Troy Bayliss return to national Superbike racing. The three-time world champion, and only person to win both a WSBK and MotoGP race in the same season, didn’t just slip back into the sport. He chose the biggest stage for his return, under the microscope in three support races at the Phillip Island opener of 2018 World Superbike Championship. After a torrid weekend, where he qualified third, Bayliss finished second, fifth and sixth. He now lies fourth in the title chase, less than 10 points behind the top three. In the process, the 48-year-old has become the Peter Pan of motorcycle racing. This has got us former-Seventies longhairs wondering if the 2000s are ‘the age of the oldies’. Perhaps this age started with the 2006…

AUSTRALIA’S 2018 Moto2 campaigner Remy Gardner says he’s “ready for Qatar” after a consistent performance in testing leading up to this year’s season opener. On the final day in Jerez, which was hampered by bad weather, the 20-year-old posted the fourth quickest time on his Tech 3 Racing machine, 1.2sec down on the session’s fastest rider Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini. “We finished testing early, after doing some laps in the wet this morning, which was quite successful,” he said after posting 95 laps across the three days. “I think we could have refined our set-up a bit in the afternoon, but we didn’t want to risk anything [in the wet] before the race. Overall, this test was decent.” The Aussie revealed he and the team wasted some time…

THE FIM SPEEDWAY World Cup will be replaced with the Speedway of Nations for 2018. In all but a few years since its inception, the World Cup has been one individual rider from each nation. The Speedway of Nations, however, will be staged on a pairs format. Decided over four meetings over eight days in June, 14 nations will contest the two Race-Off meetings. Teterow in Germany will see the host nation take on Denmark, Russia, Slovakia, USA, Slovenia and Latvia on 2 June, before Belle Vue in England on 5 June hosts Great Britain, Sweden, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Australia and Finland. The top three teams from each meeting will progress to the final, with host nation Poland, at Warsaw over 8-9 June. Each nation will have two riders…