Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 69 Issue 10 i Australian Motorcycle News

RECKON YOU’RE DOING things a bit tough? You might well be, but if you are in a metropolitan city, there’s a good chance your bush-residing mates are doing it even tougher. Imagine trying to go to work, but reasons beyond your control dictate you have to just wait before actually being productive – wait for something that may not come. The rain certainly hasn’t come in years for many regions in rural Australia and it’s leaving a trail of emotional wreckage and financial hardship in its wake. For many in rural towns, life plain sucks right now. But luckily, we motorcyclists can do something about it. I once had a motorcycle event manager tell me he loved motorcycle events because we have to buy everything when we get there. A…

JUST TWO YEARS on from the original launch, Ducati has revamped its Panigale, transplanting the fairing from the homologation-special V4 R onto the base and ‘S’ versions. Now all 2020 Panigale V4s have winglets, adding a significant 30kg of downforce at 270km/h. During back-to-back tests, Ducati claims test rider Michele Pirro was 0.4sec faster around Vallelunga on the new bike, and less experienced testers found even greater gains. Significant changes to frame geometry are combined with 30 percent more torsional flex and softer suspension. Meanwhile the new 2020 Panigale V2, replacing the Panigale 959, uses an updated, Euro5-legal version of the 955cc Superquadro V-twin engine with 114kW peak power and 104Nm peak torque. The frame is the familiar monocoque design that appeared with the first Panigale, and now gains the…

2 Josh Brookes set the first BSB pole for Ducati’s new V4 R at Round Two at Oulton Park before winning both races. Read his exclusive column on page 96 SALE POSTPONED The controversial Bonhams auction of the Morbidelli collection of 300 motorcycles has been postponed at the request of Italian officials until next year. Official word is that some of the older bikes don’t have the correct paperwork. However, there are moves afoot to try and raise finance to keep these irreplaceable bikes in Italy. We revealed the full extent of this contentious sale in AMCN Vol 69 No 04. “Pretty excited about racing this beast at the Macau GP! Bring on November”Roads racer Davo Johnson tweets news that he will race a Paul Bird Motorsport Ducati V4 R…

News BMW announced its scooter that’s not a scooter; but is, just with a roof. The C1 had an extensive list of optional extras and safety features, such as ABS, CD player, seat belt and impact-absorbing crumple zone. Its 125cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine and 180kg dry weight gave the C1 a top speed of something close to jogging pace. Sport Word on the street back in ’98 was that Spanish oil mob Repsol had renewed its sponsorship with Honda in the premier class. Since coming on board in 1995 the partnership had spawned three world championships with Mick Doohan. As we know, Repsol/Honda is still a successful partnership almost 25 years later. Bike test Martin Port gave us the word on Robbie Bolger’s Fireblade. The Spondon frame alone cost $25k,…

125/200 2T ENGINE Capacity 124.8 / 190.2cc Type Single cylinder, two-stroke Bore & stroke 54x54.5mm / 62x63mm Compression ratio 15:1 / 13.5:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling Keihin PWK 36 Carb Ignition Kokusan AC-digital CDI with oil pump controller Lubrication Premix / electronic oil mixing Transmission Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power Not given Torque Not given Top speed Not given Fuel consumption Not given ELECTRONICS Map switch CHASSIS Frame material Molybdenum steel Frame type Double cradle Rake Not given Trail Not given Wheelbase 1477mm SUSPENSION Type ZF Front: 48mm telescopic USD forks, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, 295mm travel Rear: Monoshock with progressive linkage, adjustable…

HONDA HAVE MOVED the focus of the standard Africa Twin model more towards the off-road side and while it gains all the same electrical and chassis updates as the Adventure Sports, it doesn’t have the option of electronic suspension. To please off-roaders, the stock bike runs tubed tyres (with stainless steel spokes) where the Sports has tubeless and for 2020 it has had its ’bars raised by 22.5mm to make it more comfortable when standing up on the ’pegs, while its non-adjustable screen has been lowered to reduce the chances of it hitting the rider’s chest. The standard bike’s bodywork is slimmer than that on the Adventure Sports to make it less vulnerable to crash damage, cornering lights aren’t included and its knuckle guards are smaller. While on the road…

THE FIRST PINK Ribbon Ride was held in 2001 and was the brain child of Selena Thurbon and Jennifer Killen. The inaugural ride left from Penrith in Sydney’s western suburbs, attracted 350 bikes and raised over $40,000. In 2009 Girls Ride Out took over the organisation of the event, and in 2010 the committee made the decision to support the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. The ride has departed from a number of different locations over the years, some of which have been used on multiple occasions such as the Ettamogah Hotel and Club Marconi.…

Top 3 TV 1 MotoGP Rd19, ES LIVE Videopass, Fox 17 Nov 9pm (AEDT) The final round of the MotoGP world championship will air live from Valencia, Spain on Videopass and Fox Sports. Moto3 starts at 9pm, Moto2 at 10.20pm and MotoGP at midnight. 10 Bold will air the MotoGP race only. 2 ABC of Hard Enduro Red Bull TV On demand Anytime Hard Enduro is one of off-road motorcycling's toughest disciplines. Learn the lingo and take a crash course in a sport where just finishing is victory in itself. Head to redbull.com and hit the search button. 3 Dougie Lampkin’s 6 Greatest Red Bull TV On demand Anytime This series of videos shows Dougie Lampkin's six greatest achievements. The British rider can do almost anything on a trials bike…

Jack Miller MotoGP 3rd “There may be one or two people here happier than me… It’s been a difficult weekend; the weather’s been atrocious, the boys in the garage had to work overtime to get a setting. I saw those three bolt and I knew they were on the softs. I just managed the race and tried not to push too hard at the beginning like I have in the past. I’m sorry for Maverick crashing out, but it is what it is. I’ll take it.” Remy Gardner Moto2 6th “Not the result I was hoping for, but it’s difficult when you start from 13th on the grid. The incident at Turn 4 spread everyone, so the first three or four guys got away. I was riding like a maniac…

Circuit length 5.543km Race distance MotoGP 110.860km Moto2 99.774km Moto3 94.231km 2018 winners MotoGP Marc Marquez 40m51.081s Moto2 Luca Marini 38m25.689s Moto3 Jorge Martin 38m34.799s Did you know? Kalex wrapped up Moto2 Manufacturer’s bragging rights for 2019 some time ago, but there will be plenty on the line in the final round of the championship at Valencia. KTM is bowing out of the class as a manufacturer, leaving the Ajo team to source Kalexes for 2020. Over the last five races KTM has scored three wins, a second and a third; Kalex has two wins, a second and two thirds. So a Kalex win would ‘square the ledger’ before KTM’s exit. The teams’ prize is still up for grabs; Flexbox HP40 leads on 381 points from Dynavolt Intact 367, so…

THE NEW ERA of naked Superbikes has arrived. The recent Tokyo Motor Show saw two manufacturers go head-to-head. It’s all about usable street power and that’s basically turning peak horsepower into torque while still meeting tough Euro5 pollution laws. There are ways of doing this, with Kawasaki even using supercharging as a weapon for supremacy. Ducati’s hierarchy has summed up this new playground for the power-hungry with a few key words, saying its Streetfighter V4 is the Superbike for road riding. Let’s put this into perspective: figures released for the Streetfighter show that at 100km/h in third gear torque is 31 per cent higher than the V4R Panigale! We’ve been closely following the development of these key models and can’t wait to get our hands on them early next year.…

World vision Aussie racing takes a step closer to the MotoGP world by hosting a round of the Asia Talent Cup at The Bend Motorsport Park next year. Back on the bike ABC journalist Charles Brice, who severed his spinal cord in a dirtbike accident 10 years ago, completes an epic hand-powered cycle trip 300km across South Australia to raise more than $70k for research. Prez crashes out Hard-nut Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte suffers scrapes and bruises after impulsively deciding to ride a three-wheeler inside Manila’s presidential compound. Tough at the top Aussie Moto3 wildcard Yannis Shaw struggles through a nightmare weekend at Phillip Island but never gives up trying.…

ONE OF PETER Molloy’s first bosses told him: “as long as your arse points towards the ground you won’t make a mechanic”. Thankfully for the subsequent history of Australian motorsport, Molloy ignored him. He reckoned he was sacked for kicking another boss in the shins. What he did do was “read every piece of paper I could get my hands on about engines,” and it paid off. Born December 27, 1934, Peter Michael James Molloy was one of eight children, growing up close to Sydney’s Randwick race course. Peter wanted to be a jockey. Father Tom was a toolmaker and first-grade footballer, and reckoned he should be a dental mechanic. He started work at 14 – he was small in stature and lacked strength due to childhood polio, but he…

My first ride, in 1957, was a 1957 Francis Barnett 197cc Villiers engined scrambler, nobbly tyres and all. I have no photos of it but I have searched on-line and have found a picture of one which is very similar to the one I had. Barry Blackman Here are photos of my girlfriend, now my wife, Anita with her first ‘new’ bike, a Honda XR200A purchased from John Burrows Malvern to replace her XL175. It was fitted with Metzeler tyres that weren‘t the duck’s guts they were made out to be. After getting rid of the ADR gear and tweeking the suspension it was a very capable bike. Anita showed up many riders in the club and could go anywhere. Michael Curwen Here’s a couple of photos you may like…

THE WHOLE RR range gets a map switch. It is simple but very effective. Located down in the top frame rail in front of the fuel filler cap where it won’t get accidently bumped. It lights up blue in full power mode and white in soft power mode. It remembers which mode it was in when you turn it off so there’s no need to press it all the time. Soft power mode cuts torque considerably, but you still get plenty of power on full throttle.…

THE AFRICA TWIN’S LCD display has gone, replaced by a 6.5-inch touch screen TFT Multi Informational Display (MID) on both models. Incorporating Apple CarPlay as well as several different displays, it is Bluetooth ready, can display navigation apps, has a USB point and can be accessed with a gloved hand. However, touch screen function is only available when the bike is stationary. When moving, you need to use the control buttons on the left-hand ’bar. Not the most intuitive of systems, there is an up and down control as well as ‘enter’ and ‘return’ alongside ‘fast forward’ and ‘reverse’ to change your music and a ‘call answer’ button. A nice feature is the ‘favourite’ button, which can be dedicated to one of the electronic assists (traction control, wheelie control etc)…

1 Looking good Blending in while on a big, shiny motorcycle packed with trinkets can be tricky, especially in far flung corners of the world. The bigger and more expensive your motorcycle, the more you stick out, and the more your bike becomes an advert. Screaming ‘money’ while travelling is never a good idea. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t ride expensive bikes, but there is merit in aesthetically down-valuing your motorcycle. When riding through poorer areas or places with high crime rates, leave the mud on, slap a strip of Gaffer tape over a fairing and don’t worry about those dents and cracked plastics. After all, travelling isn’t a bike show (and you don’t need any unwanted attention). 2 Invisibility cloaks Buy a large and cheap motorcycle…

Show time 10 NOVEMBER Trash to Treasure Car and Bike Show, Claremont Guide Hall and Village Green, Boxhill Rd, Claremont, Tas. Trophies for various categories. Food, stalls and entertainment. Entry by gold coin donation; hosted by Claremont Girl Guides. For more detailed information phone 0437 075 623 or email Claremont.girl.guides@gmail.com. 16 NOVEMBER Bike, Car & Hotrod Show, Live at London Eleven, 11 London Dr, Bayswater, Vic. 3pm til late. Live music and more. Entry by gold coin donation with proceeds to Kids Helpline. For information phone Brett on 0402 324 385. 17 NOVEMBER Wheel Junkies Bike & Car Show, L621 Heatherton Rd, Clayton South, Vic. Entry via Spring Valley Golf Club. Live music, vendors, food and drinks. $5 public entry; $10 show entry. For more information phone Andrew on 0402…

DO YOU REMEMBER where you were on 31 March, 1996? Maybe crawling round on all fours, a grown-up wiping up behind you. Or not yet born. Or telling feeble jokes to fellow primary-school pupils. I remember where I was. Sweating it up at the steamy old Shah Alam circuit outside Kuala Lumpur, reporting on the opening round of that year’s World Championship. Valentino Rossi remembers, too. He was riding in his first GP. He came sixth… the race was won by Stefano Perugini (remember him?); the 500 race by the similarly long-retired Luca Cadalora. Later that year, Rossi would take the first of a total of 115 grand prix wins; in 1997 his first World Championship. It was impossible even then not to notice him. Still a teenager who apparently…

Circuit length 4.448km Race distance MotoGP 120.096km Moto2 111.20km Moto3 102.304km 2018 winners MotoGP Maverick Viñales 40m51.081s Moto2 Brad Binder 39m23.429s Moto3 Albert Arenas 37m48.07s Did you know? Jorge Lorenzo’s miserable run in recent MotoGP races hit a new low, hopefully, at Phillip Island. When he finished 16th, he was 66 seconds back from teammate Marc Marquez, and 40 seconds behind the 13th-place Johan Zarco who, until Friday, had never ridden a MotoGP Honda. It was a terrible performance; so much so that his pace was actually not much faster than that of the KTMs that dominated the Moto2 race. Race winner Brad Binder finished that 25-lap race in 40m57.279sec; Lorenzo’s opening 25 laps of the 27-lap MotoGP race were barely 11.624sec faster – or only 0.46sec a lap. Ouch.…

I Win Again Jonathan Rea won the overall Superpole Award this year, made up of points from the conventional qualifying on day two and the Superpole race on the mornings of each raceday. He had already won more traditional Superpoles in 2019 than anybody else but his seventh on Friday was also the 23rd of his career, keeping him the fourth best qualifier of all time. Green on Green Federico Caricasulo took the Superpole win in the WorldSSP class but the rider who was going to line up alongside him, Lucas Mahias, was demoted to fifth after his best lap was struck off for him just grazing the green area of the run off, causing an ‘exceeded track limits’ penalty, losing that lap and having to rely on his next…

Faster Fab As predicted, Fabio Quartararo is to have a full “A-spec” factory Yamaha M1 next season, as a reward for his brilliant debut season. The news was confirmed on the first day of the sponsor Petronas’s home GP, after what team principal Razlan Razali described as “an incredible first season for Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team in MotoGP.” Yamaha made the commitment after Petronas provided the extra money to back the proposal. Johann V Jorge The ‘Jorge Lorenzo to retire’ rumours continued in Malaysia, with both rider and Repsol Honda continuing to deny that there are any such plans. But Johann Zarco is already faster than the triple MotoGP champion in only his second ride on the Honda, so expectations that HRC is considering slotting the Frenchman into Lorenzo’s…

ON SHEER POWER alone, the Ducati Streetfighter V4’s 153kW output at 12,750rpm means it’s already right at the sharp end of the naked bike field. MV Agusta claims precisely the same figure for its Brutale 1000, but needs 13,000rpm to get there. It also can’t hold a candle to the Ducati’s torque, peaking at 116.5Nm where the Streetfighter hits 123Nm. The Streetfighter’s figures are near-identical to the Panigale V4 (157kW at 13,000rpm and 124Nm at 10,000rpm), but Ducati claims that in the real world the Streetfighter’s lower gearing means it’s got even more roll-on performance, as much as 31 percent more. As normal, Ducati has built two versions – a base V4 and the higher-spec V4 S with Öhlins electronic suspension at both ends. Aerodynamic winglets add as much as…

Retro roller KAWASAKI’S W800 JOINS the W800 Street and W800 Cafe to become the ‘standard’ bike of the range. A 19-inch front wheel and long, chrome mudguards give a more traditional look that harks back to the 1960s. The result is one of the most convincing and authentic retro bikes on the market in 2020. Trikey! YAMAHA’S TRICITY 300 packs a clever feature that could make it a runaway success. The dimensions allow it to be classed as a motorised tricycle rather than a motorcycle. So in many countries it can be ridden by anyone who has a car licence. Based on the 292cc ‘Blue Core’ engine used in the XMAX scooter, the new three-wheeler has tilting front suspension with a locking system to stop it toppling over. Two-fiddy four…

TENSIONS BOILED OVER in May when Honda, then Yamaha, threatened to pull out of selling quads in Australia. Honda managing director Robert Toscano said he believed the ACCC was experimenting with farmers’ lives as automotive industries modelling and research had indicated no overall net benefit to the use of operator protection devices on quadbikes. “Those results showed at best fitting an operator protection device is 50-50; for every fatality and injury it saves, it can create another one,” he said. “To us it is not a safety standard, it is a bet each way.” Honda supported changes to legislation making it illegal for anyone under 16 years of age to use a quadbike and helmets be compulsory. Yamaha Motor Australia CEO Brad Ryan was equally forthright: “The science behind the…

Tap, tap? Hamish Cooper’s test on the excellent BMW R 1250 R and RS (AMCN Vol 69 No 08) was glowing. And for good reason, they really are a superb bit of modern motorcycling kit. I’m a R 1200 GS owner of six years and they are amazing… but “tapped out in top” … “on a narrow back road”… that would be well over 200 klicks?! Now that would be interesting. Good to see you back, Sam. I’ve been buying a few editions again lately. Peter Gawith Via email Artistic licence, or irresponsible riding? Only Hamish will ever know (and maybe me), but you’re right, they are a great bit of kit. Good to be back, Pete. Sam → If you want people to spend their hard earned, start making…

ENGINE Capacity 1084cc Type Parallel twin, SOHC, four valves per cylinder Bore & stroke 92 x 81.5mm Compression ratio 10.1:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, 2 x 46mm throttle bodies Transmission Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slipper Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 75kW @ 7500rpm (claimed) Torque 105Nm @ 6250rpm (claimed) Top speed 210km/h (estimated) Fuel consumption 4.9L/100km (claimed) ELECTRONICS Type Bosch ABS, Ride-by-wire Rider aides Bosch MM7.10 IMU Cornering ABS, Traction Control, Wheelie Control, Rear Lift Control, Cruise Control, cornering lights, Modes Tour, Urban, Gravel, Off-road and two User modes. ES model Showa EERA semi-active suspension. CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame type Double cradle Rake 27.5º Trail 113mm Wheelbase 1575mm SUSPENSION Type Showa EERA Front:…

Did you enjoy your Goodwood Revival debut? Honestly, it’s way better than I ever thought it would be! I think it’s a great experience that anyone who loves motorcycles has to come and be part of, even as a spectator. I must say I’m totally surprised about how the event is actually organised. Every tiny detail has been thought of, and it’s all so nicely presented – it’s very English! I don’t know how they manage to make everything look like back then, but it’s an unbelievable experience, I really like it. I also like wearing my 1960s outfit. When you talk to people, you realise everyone is enjoying themselves, everyone is relaxed, people are super happy, and the place is beautiful, especially with this perfect weather. It’s complete escapism…

1 Cool Jacket Cassons $699.95 (02) 8882 1900 cassons.com.au The Dainese Dinamica Air D-Dry has been designed for hot-weather use. It has large mesh panels, a stretchy ‘Mugello’ fabric, reinforced ‘D-Stone’ fabric on impact areas, CE rated armour, removable protectors, ‘Nanofeel’ liner, inner and outer pockets and more. Available in 48-60 in Black/White. 2 Harley Polo Harley-Davidson $86.04 harley-davidsonmotorclothes.com.au This Harley-Davidson Stretch Pique Slim Fit Polo short sleeve shirt starts with a classic shape but is claimed to be updated with a modern fit to eliminate baggy lines. The shirt’s sleek high-density graphics add a touch of colour to the black rib-knit trim finish. The polo shirt is available in a wide range of sizes from S-2XL. 3 S 1000 RR Filter CTA Australia $159.95 (02) 9604 3377 ctaaustralia.com.au K&N’s…

AS I REFUELLED my 50,000km-old 2006 SportClassic, the rumble of another Ducati had me turning my head. A limited-edition, tricolore Hypermotard swung quickly and noisily into a nearby pump bay, its rider wearing the latest neo-retro riding gear. Obviously ridden by some wealthy young punk, I thought. But when the rider took the helmet off he was just another one of us former-Seventies longhairs who never grew up. A sort of sexagenarian Mad Max road warrior with sun-creased complexion and grizzled crew-cut. Yup, us oldies are still the future of motorcycling. And we will be for some time yet. Don’t believe me? Then look at the statistics. Last year, for the first time in the world’s history, those aged 65 years and over outnumbered those younger than five years. Experts…

Quali quashed After barely half the MotoGP field had ventured out in the windy FP3, the later FP4 session was red flagged shortly after Tech3 KTM rider Miguel Oliveira was blown off course for a wild ride across the grass at the end of the main straight, where 1000cc MotoGP bikes routinely hit 340km/h. The decision to postpone qualifying until Sunday morning came at a specially convened Riders’ Safety Commission meeting shortly after Oliveira’s crash. Zarco’s show On the eve of his first outing on a Honda RC213V MotoGP bike, mercurial French former Moto2 champion Johann Zarco was clear about one thing. “These three races might be my last… I took a big risk this summer stopping my contract,” he said. “Three races is a short future, but I can…

The little things… Luke Jhonston looked set for a thrilling race finish against Matt Rindel when he had to retire out of the lead, parking against the pit wall. The reason? An earth leakage problem on his Kawasaki Ninja left the battery without charge, meaning the bike had zero electrical power at the worst possible moment! MO Where wheelie was he? You would normally see him on the back wheel wowing MotoGP goers, but stuntman ‘Lukey Luke’ Follacchio made good on his promise to race the BMW S 1000 R in the Superbike support category. Way down on horsepower compared to ASBKspec machines, he still claimed a top-10 finish and some very respectable lap times in the process. MO Ducati fan club on tap If you were trackside for MotoGP…

Jack Miller MotoGP 8th “I thought I had podium pace, and I didn’t push hard in the first few laps… but from the third I was struggling with the front. I could hardly get any lean angle at Turn Three, where usually you’re pushing the rear. I was in survival mode for the last 10 laps.” Remy Gardner Moto2 14th “After a strong free practice, I was unable to string a lap together in qualifying. In the race we got another bad tyre. After two laps the bike was basically unrideable – no grip, and in the lefts vibrating. It was spinning so bad I thought the clutch was slipping.”…

YAMAHA TEAM BOSS Lin Jarvis is under no illusion that he faces stiff competition to sign Fabio Quartararo for 2021 and beyond. And to build a war chest Jarvis has declared that, like Ducati, Yamaha will not bid to snatch Marc Marquez from Honda. “I expect all top teams to make move on Fabio and in fact it’s already started. That’s normal in this business,” Jarvis said. “However Yamaha have expressed their clear interest to Fabio and his manager that we want him to stay with us. “Yamaha has no intention of making a move on Marquez. Our mission is to race against him on a Honda and beat him with a rider on a Yamaha. “It would be a big surprise to me if Marc isn’t on a Honda…

SEVERAL YOUNG AUSSIE road racers are on the verge of signing contracts for 2020, with Tom Edwards set to sign on for another season in the World Supersport 300 championship with the Kawasaki ParkinGO team racing the Ninja 400, below. Edwards, who was back in Australia riding at the final ASBK round in the Supersport class, said, “It’s good to be home finally, it’s been a long time in Europe but I have good support from ParkinGo. The team do their best to make it like home, the atmosphere over there.” Victorian Tom Bramich will also return to the World Supersport 300 championship on a Kawasaki Ninja 400, linking up again with the Carl Cox-RT Motorsports by SKM Kawasaki team. “I really feel like I needed the extra year in…

ALL THE HARD work getting Barbagallo Raceway open again for motorcycles has paid off with the State to host an ASBK round as part of next May’s Supercars Pirtek Perth SuperNight. “Western Australia is a highly important region for Motorcycling Australia, the motorcycle industry and ASBK partners, so it’s great to bring the nation’s fastest riders back to WA,” said Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle. Strangely, only AMCN has printed regular reports nationally on the reopening of Barbagallo and how the state championship has unfolded. We’ll continue to do this.…

Well done on back-to-back titles in the Yamaha Off-Road Championship. Since switching to off-road do you miss the bar-to-bar action in motocross? Very much so. And one day I’d like to get back into a little MX just to experience that feeling again. To line up at the gates with 40 other guys is a totally different vibe to racing the clock. I’m really enjoying off-road, but in a perfect world I’d like to do both. In one sense your next event is the perfect world, the final day of the ISDE is a motocross. After five days’ off-road enduro there’s a final MX that’s almost over before it gets going. I’m more looking forward to the experience, the track walks, navigating through the long days without becoming lost. And…

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. Especially if you chose 2019 as the first time to take your family to see MotoGP in real life at Phillip Island. And even more so if you thought you’d ease them into it with a just a single day of action. Saturday seemed like the obvious choice; enough people to get a feel for the atmosphere, enough on-track action with qualifying and, with the added things to see and do high on the hill at Lukey’s Lawn, a lap of the circuit on foot would prove a great day out for Master…