Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 71 Issue 06 i Australian Motorcycle News

Many MotoGP riders are just like you and me, albeit with a lot more talent HOW BLOODY FANTASTIC was it to see Johann Zarco ride 950km from his home in France to Spain on a 1981 Ducati 900 SS Darmah for last weekend’s MotoGP round at Aragon? The ride may not have helped his on-track performance, but it was great to see one of MotoGP’s top-tier riders knock back a private jet to make his own way to a race meeting… just like GP racers of old. Another moment that caught my attention at Aragon was at the end of FP2 when Jack Miller and championship leader Fabio Quartararo lined up beside each other for a practice start. This immediately became an unofficial drag race and, as the pair fired…

A COMPLETE VISUAL and technical revamp makes KTM’s RC 390 king of the kids for 2022. Its level of rider aids, which includes cornering ABS and traction control with a switchable mode that allows supermotard-style cornering, an optional up-and-down quickshifter, and fully adjustable front and rear suspension, puts it ahead ad of its current showroom rivals. Weight has been shaved from the frame, while the wheels and brakes and the fairing use MotoGP-style aerodynamics amics which will all add up to vastly improved handling. While KTM’s recent rate of new model development has been remarkable, its RC 390 has received only minor revisions since its 2013 launch. Meanwhile Yamaha’s YZF-R3, Kawasaki’s Ninja 400 and Honda’s CBR500R have been ruling the sales roost – and the small-capacity production racing grids. Now KTM…

Hubless wonder Finnish start-up Verge is roadtesting a hubless-drive E-motorcycle it claims doesn’t lose power through a chain, belt or gearbox. The concept was first revealed two years ago and now looks set to go into production. E-MX off and racing Electric motocross bikes go mainstream later this month at the sports biggest event, the Motocross de Nations in Italy. Riders aged six to eight years will race KTM’s SX-E5, Husqvarna’s EE5 and the Gas Gas MC E.5 in the FIM Europe Junior e-Motocross Series. There will be five rounds, four held in conjunction with the World Motocross Championship, ending in October. Up to 40 competitors will be involved. E-motos on the money Forbes business magazine has named nine e-motorcycles it says are the “coolest way to get around.” The…

Facebook Post of the issue The thing about EWC is you get to become really familiar with corners, as Aussie Josh Hook proves Instagram Don’t Forget #amcn_mag Comment of the Issue Mark Sturmar suggests that MV Agusta may be in need of an influencers-free intervention When a family of attractive people have that sibling who has done too much cosmetic surgery. Reaching out Want to see your pride and joy featured in AMCN? The only thing we love more than writing about bikes is looking at your bikes. Tag your social pics with @aumotorcyclenews on Facebook or @amcn_mag on Instagram, or fire them off in an email to amcn@amcn.com.au And don’t forget to tell us why you love it. Get it off yer chest! Got something funny, new, old or wise to…

IF YOU THINK Bloodbikes Australia might be for you, you’ll need to have more than three years riding experience, plus a reliable bike with full rego, comprehensive motorcycle insurance and a good-sized bucket or pannier on the back. You’ll also need to complete an online course in blood transportation. In addition, each new rider is asked to join an experienced volunteer on an induction run. “This is really a familiarisation run and a ‘putting a face to a name’ exercise,” Alder explains. “It’s an opportunity for the new rider to ask any final questions of the more experienced person and get familiar with the drop-off site.” For more information, visit www.bloodbikesaustraliaorg.au, the Bloodbikes Australia Facebook page or simply drop Peter Davis a line at bloodbikersaus@gmail.com. But, as Davis points out,…

WALKING TOWARDS THE Heritage for the first time, my mind went straight to Ducati’s Scrambler Icon. Similar styling and stance, when you really start to compare the two, there’s plenty of comparisons that can be drawn. They both employ the same 41mm up side down KYB front fork, they both wear the same sized Pirelli MT60 RS rubber on the same-sized cast-alloy 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels. They both run a single-disc front end, their exhaust silencers are nigh-on the same and they both have LCD instruments and LED lighting. The Ducati’s engine is an 803cc V-twin compared the CFMoto’s 693cc parallel-twin but, despite the 110cc capacity deficit, the CFMoto produces slightly more torque and power than the Italian machine with 55kW versus 53.6kW of peak power, with the CFMoto…

I’M RACING IN one of the most competitive seasons of the UK’s Pirelli National Superstock 1000 championship. This year it has attracted a record number of riders and six different manufacturers. At the first round we had 53 entries! It might be a support category for BSB Superbikes but there are some big-name teams and at least 11 riders who have previously competed in the top BSB class. So this means the experience, depth of talent and commitment from teams has given this series some of the closest racing you’ll find anywhere in the world In 2021 I am riding for Powerslide Motorcycles/AJN Steelstock, onboard a Suzuki GSX-R1000 (after the Snetterton round, Levi was 14th in the points and the third-highest placed Suzuki). Many of the factory teams have riders…

2020 Winners WSBK R1 J Rea 38m13.222s WSBK R2 S Redding 37m54.626s WSS R1 A Locatelli 33m44.088s WSS R1 L Mahias 34m40.911s WSBK Race 1 DNF A LOWES (GBR, KAW), L MERCADO (ARG, HON). POLE POSITION (NEW RECORD) REA 1m35.683s (SYKES 1m35.696s, 2018) FASTEST LAP (NEW RECORD) RAZGATLIOGLU 1m36.937s (RAZGATLIOGLU 1m36.937s, 2018) WSBK Superpole race FASTEST LAP (NEW RECORD) REA 1m36.374s WSBK Race 2 DNF L HASLAM (GBR, HON), A LOWES (GBR, KAW). FASTEST LAP REA 1m37.226s RIDER STANDINGS AFTER 8 OF 13 ROUNDS 1 RAZGATLIOGLU 370, 2 REA 363, 3 REDDING 298, 4 LOCATELLI 186, 5 LOWES 176, 6 RINALDI 172, 7 SYKES 159, 8 VAN DER MARK 154, 9 GERLOFF 147, 10 BAUTISTA 115, 10 DAVIES 114, 12 BASSANI 100, 13 HASLAM 78, 14 MAHIAS 41, 15 RABAT…

ADRIAN HUERTAS (MTM Kawasaki) won both the 13-lap WoldSSP300 races at Magny Cours, in dry conditions. He had also won Superpole for the first time in his career. Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport - RT Motorsports by SKM Kawasaki) was second each time but he was so desperate to win race one he almost high-sided out of the final chicane as Huertas maintained his advantage. Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo Kawasaki) was third in Race One. The second race, held in even hotter conditions than the Saturday opener, was even more frantic but at the flag Huertas had too much for Booth-Amos again. The Englishman experienced some issues with his setup in the hotter conditions of Sunday. In third, 2020 champion Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) recovered from his race one fall…

MotorLand Aragon, Alcaniz, Spain Circuit length 5.077km Race distance MotoGP 116.771km Moto2 106.617km Moto3 96.463km 2020 winners MotoGP A Rins 41m54.391s Moto2 A Lowes 39m33.202s Moto3 J Masiá 37m45.009s Did you know? Pecco Bagnaia’s first MotoGP win makes him Ducati’s 10th MotoGP winner. The others; Loris Capirossi, Troy Bayliss, Casey Stoner, Andrea Iannone, Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo, Danilo Petrucci, Jack Miller and Jorge Martin Round 13 MOTO2 21 LAPS DNF S CHANTRA (THA, KAL), N BULEGA (ITA, KAL), S LOWES (GBR, KAL), B BENDSNYDER (NED, KAL), L DALLA PORTA (ITA, KAL), A ARENAS (SPA, BOS), H GARZO (SPA, KAL), X VIERGE (SPA, KAL), T LUTHI (SWI, KAL), P BIESIEKIRSKI (POL, KAL).P POLE POSITION LOWES 1m51.778S FASTEST LAP M BEZZECCHI 1m52.206s STANDINGS AFTER 13 OF 18 ROUNDS 1 GARDNER 251, 2…

FOR ONE CHAMPIONSHIP contender to crash out is unfortunate. But for two in this instance was just careless. A frenetic eight-rider scrap for Moto3 honours was 16 laps old when championship leader Pedro Acosta made his first major mistake since May, crashing out and taking down fellow rookie Xavi Artigas (Leopard Honda) at turn five. That presented title rival Sergio Garcia (Aspar GASGAS) with a golden chance to whittle down Acosta’s 46-point lead. He sat third with two laps to play behind Dennis Foggia (Leopard Honda) and Deniz Oncu (Tech 3 KTM), yet any assistance he may have been inclined to feel from teammate Izan Guevara (Aspar GASGAS) wasn’t forthcoming, the teammates touching on three occasions on the last lap. Oncu and Foggia exchanged the lead through turns one and…

AUSTRALIAN JOEL KELSO will make his full-time debut in the Moto3 World Championship in 2022 with the CIP KTM team, it has been announced. The 18- year old made two substitute appearances in the team at the German and Dutch Grand Prix in June, deputising for the injured Max Kofler. Having scored 17th and 22nd places in his two appearances, the Australian returned to his ride in the Junior Moto3 World Championship and won the following race at Portimao in Portugal. That improvement convinced CIP team boss Alain Bronec to get behind the rider from Darwin. “I saw him quite nervous but we could teach him some things on how to stay calm,” said the Frenchman. “But he learned quickly, improved in each session and then took what he learnt…

Testing only for Dani After a sterling 10th-place finish at the Styrian Grand Prix, KTM had planned for Dani Pedrosa to race again at Misano next week. But KTM’s Motorsport Director Pit Beirer has backflipped, saying. “Dani is basically not in our plans for Misano. We took it off. He had one race in Spielberg but I don’t think we’re going to see him racing again. We just stopped it.” Pedrosa will make an appearance at the post-race test at Misano in the days that follow the grand prix. NM 2021 calendar finalised The global situation meant races in the second half of the MotoGP season were in some doubt after the Japanese, Australian, Thai and Malaysian Grands Prix were all cancelled. And while Argentina’s Termas de Rio Hondo circuit…

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. Living in the past isn’t what it used to be. Retro bikes are becoming more popular by the week; that’s why the new Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR is on the cover. And Johann Zarco rode to Aragon on a 1981 Ducati 900 Darmah! If that sounds a biy crazy to you, just remember, it’s a good thing he races for Pramac Ducati. Imagine if he had decided to ride 950km on a 40-year-old bike when he raced for KTM!…

TRIUMPH HAS TAKEN its most powerful and sophisticated triple into a new dimension with the Speed Triple RR. Retro in looks, but right up to date in terms of performance and electronics, the half faired Speed Triple RR fills a gap in Triumph’s big-bore range while encouraging owners of its twins to step up into a new category. Powered by the 1160cc triple-cylinder engine with 132.4kW of power and 125Nm of torque, it is the most powerful mass produced retro motorcycle on the market today. Overshadowed somewhat by Triumph’s rush of publicity surrounding its new LAMS and hardcore off-road models, we reported on a leaked image of a sportsbike based on the speed triple last issue (AMCN Vol 71 No 06), but it’s more retro, and far more convincing, than we…

10 With just a single double-ended spanner, 10 minutes was all it took to completely remove the 499cc horizontally opposed engine from the 1955 Wooler Flat Four’s tubular-steel duplex frame. Read the full feature on page 74 “I WAS EXITING THE BOX AND THERE WOULD BE 10 RIDERS WAITING FOR ME AT THE END OF PIT LANE” On paper, the race results may not immediately indicate why young Aussie talent Joel Kelso was given a berth in the 2022 Moto3 world championship, but there’s been plenty of telltale signs during his time in the highly competitive CEV championship. Check out our exclusive interview with him on page 112 MAIN JETT! In just his second season as a pro rider, 18-year-old Jett Lawrence became the first Aussie to win the AMA…

KTM EV KTM unveiled two production ready electric motorcycles at the 2010 Tokyo Motorcycle Show in a move that was perhaps ahead of its time. After a prototype electric chook chaser in 2008, the orange mob pressed on with the concept and produced the Freeride dirtbike and Freeride roadie. The Freeride went ahead and can still be purchased today, but the road version never made it onto the market, which is a shame. APRIL FOOL! Valentino Rossi responded to talk of Yamaha presenting him with a massive pay cut for the 2011 season by taking Ducati’s Desmosedici for a fang between the final test of 2009 and the first round of the 2010 MotoGP season. The Doctor released just one photo of his spin on the Ducati, but nobody was…

ENGINE Capacity 1802cc Type Horizontally opposed twin, OHV, four valves per cylinder Bore & stroke 107.1 x 100mm Compression ratio 9.6:1 Cooling Air/oil Fueling EFI Transmission Six-speed Clutch Dry, single-plate, slipper Final drive Shaft PERFORMANCE Power 67kW @4750rpm (claimed) Torque 158Nm @3000rpm (claimed) Top speed 190km/h (est) Fuel consumption 5.8L/100km (claimed) ELECTRONICS Type Bosch Rider aids Traction control, ABS Rider modes Rock, Roll and Rain CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame type Double loop Rake 27.3º Trail 183.5mm Wheelbase 1695mm SUSPENSION Type Showa/ZF Front: 49mm telescopic fork, nonadjustable, 120mm travel Rear: Cantilever shock, nonadjustable, 120mm travel WHEELS & BRAKES Wheels Cast alloy Front: 19 x 3.5 Rear: 16 x 5.0 Tyres Bridgestone Battlecruise Front: 120/70R19 Rear: 180/65B16 Brakes Linked, ABS Front: Twin 300mm disc, four-piston calipers Rear: Single 300mm disc,…

700CL-X SPORT Based on the same platform as the Heritage, the Sport has clip-on ’bars instead of the one piece affair of the Heritage. It runs sportier 17-inch wheels at both ends wrapped in Maxxis MA-ST2 rubber and braking will be taken care of by twin Brembo M50 calipers. It’ll have a 5mm lower seat height, ’bar-end mirrors as standard and a TFT dash. It’s due next month. 700CL-X ADVENTURE While official specs have yet to be released on the Adventure, we can expect wire-spoked wheels to replace the cast alloy wheels of the Heritage, there’s likely to be more offroad focused tyres, as well as added wind protection in the form of a small windshield. The Adventure will be the last of the three models to land in Oz…

New stuff 1 HEY YOU, OLD BAG Ficeda Accessories From $249.95 1300 437 711 iceda.com.au Oxford’s vintagestyled Heritage 40L panniers boast a wipe-clean waxed cotton construction with a waterresistant top closure. Heritage panniers feature external and internal pockets of various sizes, side compression straps, padded shoulder straps and waterproof removeable liner. 2 RING-ADING-DING Cassons Australia $379.95 (02) 8882 1900 cassonsmedia.com The Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS has been updated for 2022 and features an improved visor design and new mouthpiece. The MX-9 Adventure boasts a MIPS energy management system, Velocity Flow Ventilation System and removable antifog and anti-scratch shield with UV protection. 3 LEVEL BEST Suspensions R Us $2500 (03) 97864414 suspensionsrus.com.au The LDC Nivomat Suspension Kit from Wilbers Suspensions is available for most 2000 and up Harley-Davidson FL Touring models.…

IT SEEMS I’M not the only one getting scared by Marc Marquez. The wounded genius, according to British road-racing legend John McGuinness, is currently a danger to himself and to others, and a liability to Honda. Writing in the veteran motorcycle weekly MCN, McGuinness was reacting to yet another first-lap mishap in the British GP, a second tumble of the weekend. Marc admitted he’d overcooked the enthusiasm, in a wild move on Jorge Martin that took both of them down and out before they’d even completed half a lap of Silverstone. As almost always, thanks to good safety gear, generous run-off, and blind luck, they both got away with it uninjured. But when it comes to pushing your luck, statistics confirm what common sense dictates… the less times you crash,…

WITH ONE SEASONED winner, one all-new one, Magny Cours’ WorldSSP races proved scary and enthralling. One early crash and one startline clash saw a delayed start to the first race, with a first time pole rider in the shape of Luca Bernardi (CM Racing Yamaha) leading them away. With the delays, the race itself was held over 12 laps, not the planned 19. It was won by runaway championship leader Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) but only by 0.869sec, from championship chaser Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros Bardahl Yamaha) and local hero Jules Cluzel (GMT94). Teenage hotshot Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo) was fourth – and just 1.356sec from the winner. Bernardi placed fifth and the top 10 riders were covered by seven seconds. In Race Two, again held in warm…

Round 13 MotorLand Aragon, Spain 10-12 September 2021 MotoGP World Championship OF ALL THE ways to claim a maiden MotoGP triumph, there are few more as satisfying than the way in which Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) achieved his. The Italian was victorious in an epic late scrap with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) at Motorland Aragon, one of the eight-time champion’s favourite tracks, and one where he has won on five of his past seven visits. Having either lost his cool (Mugello), qualified poorly (Portimao) or endured technical gremlins (Styria and Silverstone) during previous outings when winning potential was there, the 24-year old faced great expectation. Not only had he achieved Ducati’s 50th premier class pole on Saturday, mentor Valentino Rossi (Petronas SRT Yamaha) talked up his chances later that day.…

THE PERFORMANCE OF Remy Gardner and teammate Raul Fernandez has been nothing short of exceptional in 2021. So much so, the pair ensured their Ajo Motorsport KTM wrapped up the Moto2 Teams’ Championship with five races to spare, with both filling the top two spots in the Riders’ Championship thus far. And both will be rewarded for their sterling efforts by being handed a debut on KTM’s MotoGP RC16 at an official MotoGP test, which follows the Misano GP, on 19 September. Gardner admitted as much in a TV interview, leading him to quip, “I might be getting my balls chopped off later! On Wednesday (after Misano) we’ll do half a day. Two sets of tyres. It’s like a little treat for us. It’ll be fun, I can’t wait!” Gardner…

ARTEM LAGUTA LEADS the Speedway Grand Prix series for the first time this year, albeit by one point, after he won the Danish SGP last Saturday by leading home defending champion Bartosz Zmarzlik in the final. While that battle for dominance continued, there was only minor shuffling in the rest of the standings as both Australian riders again missed the semis and are further adrift of the top six. Zmarzlik (13), Laguta (12), wildcard Mikkel Michelsen and Emil Sayfutdinov (both 11) and Tai Woffinden and Robert Lambert (both 10) headed those who progressed to the semis, while Leon Madsen and Fredrik Lindgren on eight each took the last berths. Max Fricke would have progressed had he not been passed in his final heat, one of three heats where he failed…

IT MUST BE a dream job to be Clerk of the Course in a Covidfree State. No way. The person running the show at Wanneroo, Colin Cameron, had one eye on the news to keep updated on the pandemic interstate and the other on actually running the meeting. “There is myriad things involved with running a race meeting that the average spectator has no idea about,” he said during a break in racing on a day when even changeable weather was an issue. “One of the primary things is to make sure that the meeting runs strictly to schedule: we literally run minute to minute.” This also involves flaggies, recovery crews and marshals being in position when needed. As well CCTV coverage has to be monitored. “Here in WA we…

FRESH FROM RENEWING its contract to supply engines to Moto2 for another three years, entering the LAMS Adventure market and dropping a bombshell by taking on the motocross and enduro market, Triumph goes hi-tech retro. Make no mistake, Triumph is transforming into a motorcycle powerhouse of production. The Speed Triple 1200 RR is just the latest example of research and development that even includes a possible performance electric model. Any doubts about Triumph’s expansion plans would have been put aside by its record half-yearly global sales this year. Up 50 percent compared to the same period in 2020 and 24 percent higher that prepandemic 2019, it seems buyers want what Triumph is making. Of course, Triumph isn’t the only company repositioning itself. Both KTM and, to a much lesser extent…

ENGINE Capacity 693cc Type Parallel twin, DOHC, eight-valves Bore & stroke 83 x 64mm Compression ratio 11.6:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling Bosch EFI Transmission Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slipper Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 55kW @8500rpm (claimed) Torque 68Nm @6500rpm (claimed) Top speed 180km/h (est) Fuel consumption 4.54L/100km (measured) ELECTRONICS Type Bosch/Continental Rider aids ABS, cruise control Rider modes Sport and Eco CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame type Trellis Rake Not given Trail Not given Wheelbase 1435mm SUSPENSION Type KYB Front: 43mm USD fork, fully adjustable, 150mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload and compression, 150mm travel WHEELS & BRAKES Wheels Cast aluminium Front: 18 x 3.0 Rear: 17 x 5.5 Tyres Pirelli MT60 RS Front: 110/80R18 Rear: 180/55R17 Brakes J.Juan, ABS Front: Single 320mm disc, four-piston radial-mount caliper Rear: Single…

ENGINE Capacity 1200cc Type Parallel twin, SOHC, four valves per cylinder Bore & stroke 97.6 x 80mm Compression ratio 12.1:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI Transmission Six-speed ClutchWet, multi-plate, slipper Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 73.6kW @ 7250rpm (claimed) Torque 112Nm @ 4250rpm (claimed) Top speed 240km/h (est) Fuel consumption 4.9L/100km (measured) ELECTRONICS Type Not given Rider aids Traction control, ABS Rider modes Rain, Road and Sport CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame type Cradle Rake 22.3º Trail 91.5mm Wheelbase 1413mm SUSPENSION TypeMarzocchi/KYB Front: 43mm USD fork, nonadjustable, 120mm travel Rear: Twin shocks, preload adjustable, 129mm travel WHEELS & BRAKES Wheels Cast alloy Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 5.0 Tyres Metzeler Racetec RR Front: 120/70ZR17 Rear: 160/60ZR17 Brakes Brembo, Nissin Front: Twin 320mm disc, four-piston M50 caliper Rear: Single 220mm…

ENGINE Capacity 499cc Type Horizontally opposed four cylinder, OHV, four-stroke Bore & stroke 50 x 63.5mm Compression ratio 8:1 Cooling Air Fueling 2 x 22mm Solex carburetors Transmission Four-speed Clutch Dry, single-plate Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 24kW @ 6000rpm (claimed) Torque Not given Top speed 145km/h (claimed) Fuel consumption Not given ELECTRONICS Type Not applicable Rider aids Not applicable Rider modes Not applicable CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame type Duplex twin loop Rake Not given Trail Not given Wheelbase 1416mm SUSPENSION Type Wooler Front: Oil-damped plunger fork, 90mm travel Rear: Twin Girling shocks, 100mm travel WHEELS & BRAKES WheelsWire-spoked steel Front: 19 x 3.25 Rear: 19 x 3.25 Tyres Avon Speedmaster Mk. II Front: 3.25 x 19 Rear: 3.50 x 19 Brakes Front: 178mm leading-shoe drum Rear: 178mm…

IT’S ALL ABOUT power to weight, right? Now, you’re reading AMCN, so you know that. But trust me, the other half of the world doesn’t. Or if they do, they ignore it like a lettuce sandwich in a pie shop. To motorcyclists, it’s obvious. Pushing a bike backwards out of a garage can do it. Shoving it up a ramp shows the difference between, say, a 1999 YZ400’s 105kg and its 1970s DT400 equivalent which weighed 50kg more. And the DT was a two stroke with about 10 moving parts compared to the five-valve four stroker’s umpteen zillion. Yes, I am talking personal experience here and yes, Rooth rhymes with truth, but that’s about it in the accuracy stakes. Point is power up, weight down, go faster. But there’s more…

Round 8 Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France, 3-5 September 2021 WorldSBK Championship THE WORLDSBK RACES at Magny Cours were straight out of the top drawer of modern competition. They had it all; great racing, rulebook controversies and a late souring of relationships after what had been a tremendous weekend of respectful rivalry It has a weird ending however, after the main events were all wrapped up the race results of one WorldSBK outing would be overturned for the smallest of misdemeanours. That damn green paint again, the stuff that you cross onto at your peril as a rider. Safer sure, but proving as controversial here as it has been in MotoGP. But before the racing in the biggest class, the small matter of Superpole qualifying. In Superpole, Jonathan Rea (KRT),…

HARRY KHOURI (FUSPORT - RT Motorsports by SKM Kawasaki) was a faller in each race at Magny Cours, after a ninth in FP1, and fifth in FP2 on day one – but he was 22nd in Superpole. “Friday was a really good start for us, we were top five and I felt really good with the bike,” he said. “Coming into Saturday I think I put a little bit too much pressure on myself in qualifying and started overthinking. There is a lot of strategy involved in qualifying and I did not put myself in the right position; got a bit flustered. “In Race One I went in with too much front brake and closed the front. I was hoping to turn Sunday around after my crash in yesterday’s race,…

MILLER HELD HIGH hopes for Sunday after a smooth weekend of free practice running and qualifying second. And a podium challenge was on the cards early on as he went with the two leaders But an issue with his gear lever forced an important mistake on lap 11, dropping him to fifth, where he remained to the flag. “I’m not happy, I’m not disappointed. But I wanted more,” the 26-year-old said. “I was having some issues with my leg when I tried to shift. The lever felt quite difficult and I made some mistakes with the gearbox, hence going wide at the last corner. I kept going wide at turn one. We have to analyse that. “It felt good until 17 laps to go. Then I started to struggled. I…

MOTORLAND ARAGON HAS never been Gardner’s favourite track, so he wasn’t expecting to add to his tally of four victories this year. “I have to say, man, Raul was on another level with his pace. It was just about limiting the damage.” Gardner struggled in the early laps but recovered his rhythm and was on course for third when Lowes crashed. “Getting a second in Aragon feels like a win.” he said. “It’s a track I’ve always struggled with. I didn’t have the pace of Raul or Sam. They were on another level today. In the last laps I started getting some vibration on the rear tyre. It was damage control today.” On Aki Ajo’s team winning the Moto2 Team’s Championship, Gardner added, “Winning with five races to go is…

AS WELL AS lacking his blistering speed over a single flying lap, Marc Marquez has admitted he can no longer produce his once common spectacular saves. The Catalan endured his 17th (FP2) and 18th (FP3) crash of the season at Aragon, two more than the rider with the next highest number of falls. The second of those was a low-speed front fold at turn 14. “If I had them in 2019 would I have saved half of them? Yes. But this is the situation, the word ‘save’ does not exist now in my dictionary anymore. When it goes, it goes, I can’t save the fall. I have to ride in a different way, it’s a complicated situation that at the moment I am able to manage.” On his lacklustre qualifying…

AS WELL AS Joel Kelso earning a full-time berth in the 2022 Moto3 World Championship, several Aussie road racers are heading overseas to take advantage of Covid-19 disruptions to the ASBK schedule. Anthony West revealed he was on a plane to Slovakia to race the final two rounds of the Endurance World Championship, riding a Yamaha R1 for the Maco Racing Team at the Bol D’Or 24 Hour and the 12 Hour of Most in the Czech Republic. Lachlan Epis will be racing in the final rounds of the World Superbike Championship for Team Pedercini Kawasaki, beginning at the Catalunya round. Both riders have said they will be returning to complete the ASBK season. Billy Van Erde has also been confirmed to be racing the Barcelona, Jerez and Portimao rounds…