Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 72 Issue 05 i Australian Motorcycle News

THERE’S NO DOUBT that MotoGP can be a very cruel sport, and so it is for Remy Gardner right now. Struggling all season on what is clearly an uncompetitive bike, Remy has been told there is no place for him at KTM next year – despite outperforming his teammate Raul Fernandez all season long. I reckon it’s pretty harsh giving a bloke who won you the Moto. title last year just half a season to get a feel for a MotoGP bike before giving him the flick… before the season is over. Sure, some of Remy’s comments about the RC.. earlier this year weren’t exactly flattering, but you could hardly say they were inaccurate; if the factory boys aren’t performing on the bike either, you know there’s something wrong with…

MOTOGP STAR JACK Miller will race the finale ASBK round at The Bend Motorsport Park over 25-27 November. Miller, who rode at the season-ending event last year on a Ducati V4 R, will compete again this year but has not said on what machine, given his switch to KTM will be effective after the final grand prix on 6 November. “I am looking forward to heading back to Adelaide to race in the Australian Superbike Championship event at The Bend in November!” Miller enthused. “I had a heap of fun with my friends and family last year and can’t wait to do it all over again.” Miller said at the time he would be keen to return to the ASBK paddock, but there was speculation an ASBK cameo wouldn’t be…

ALTHOUGH THE SCOOP-style deflector attached to the bottom of the swingarm is something we’ve seen on rivals before, initially appearing on the 2019 Ducati, the Aprilia design appears to integrate the idea more completely with the rest of the bike. Look at rival GP bikes like the 2022 KTM RC16, which also has a swingarm-mounted spoiler, and usually their bellypans come to a distinct end at the back. That’s not the case with the RS-GP. Instead, its belly swoops upwards and blends into an unseen channel through the front of the swingarm, ahead of the rear wheel, drawing air upwards with the help of that scoop-like swingarm spoiler. The air then runs through the rear ‘hugger’ which does anything but hug the rear tyre – it’s a long distance away…

The man who introduced colourful leathers to motorcycle racing, the legendary Barry Sheene, won his first 500cc world championship in 1976, clinching the title again the following year. Bazza, who passed away in 2003, became a household name at a time when media coverage of the sport had been pretty low-key. The TV cameras loved him: Sheene smoked through a hole drilled in his helmet, stunning models adoringly caressed his long trusses, he advertised Brut aftershave on TV and he was even a chat show host. HOW MUCH? $360! MV Agusta’s 50cc single-cylinder two-stroke racing minibike, complete with a full fairing. ERA TECH The Frank Matich three-part air filter kit eliminates the expense of replacing your air filter. The kit consists of a K&N air filter available for all makes,…

Facebook Post of the issue With Remy Gardner’s tenure in MotoGP facing an unceremonious end after just one year, the commentary has come in thick and fast Instagram Don’t Forget #amcn_mag Comment of the Issue Stiofan O Caomhanach doesn’t believe Darren Goulder’s returned to civilisation after this piece of afternoon delight on his turbo-charged ’Blade chopper. “Some say he’s still out there” 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,…

The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT lacks some of the fruit of the other bikes in this shootout but look at how much bike you get for that sub- $20k price! And yes, it’s not as powerful nor refined as the Ninja H2 SX or the BMW S 1000 XR, but that 998cc inline four is a ripper of an engine… and it’s housed in a chassis that will put a smile on your dial every time you see a yellow sign with a squiggly arrow on it. Suspension refinement isn’t up there with the BMW, but the Suzuki inspires front-end confidence like no other. And as well as carving up the twisties, you can still tour on this bike all day long. In fact, it’s almost laughable at just how successfully Suzuki…

I’M NOT USUALLY one for listening to music while riding but occasionally I need to take phone calls when I’m on the bike, and for that the Cardo Freecom 4X is impressive. Not only do calls come through crystal clear thanks to the 40mm JBL speakers, but chances are the person on the other end of the line will have no idea you’re hurtling along at 100 clicks and talking into your helmet. Connecting the Freecom 4X via Bluetooth is simple, and with the Cardo Connect app installed on your phone, you have shortcuts to make calls, use the intercom, play music or turn on and tune the radio. You can also add favourites so you can quickly call regular contacts. Without the app open, you can still answer calls…

THE FIRST QUESTION she’d sent me was “What is a bush mechanic?” Hmm, someone who’s not a real mechanic maybe? Someone who’s good with wire and tape? Someone who’s spent a lifetime riding shitty old bikes that need roadside patches? Oh no, not a nice thought on a glorious day, not when I’m riding the prettiest bike I own. Sure, I know beauty’s in the eye of the beholder but I love this old Harley. Especially since painting it fire-engine red and plucking the crap. Unbelievable, who’d have thought all of that HOG-style bling would weigh 49kg? It’s a year ago since I wrote about stripping the old girl on these hallowed pages so it’s time for a correction. I’ve had to put the crash bars back on. Why? Because the…

YES, THE RECORDS will show the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix was won by Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati). Yes, they will also state he led all 28 laps, becoming the first Ducati rider to win three races on the spin since a certain Casey Stoner 14 years before. And yes, in doing so he has also pegged back a remarkable 48 points over his chief rival in the past three races to add further intrigue to this year’s title fight. Yet despite all that, the Italian was still outshone. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) may not have left Austria with the winner’s trophy, but the Frenchman posted yet another remarkable performance to leave no one in any doubt that he will fight to defend his title until the bitter end. Scrapping…

MOTOGP WILL HAVE one of the biggest shake-ups in its recent history in 2023. In Austria, it was confirmed the series will run a sprint race at 3pm on the Saturday of each grand prix next year before the main event runs as normal on Sunday. According to IRTA President Hervé Poncharal, the move is “just the tip of the iceberg” in terms of new ideas designed to attract a host of new followers to the sport. The sprint race will be exactly half distance of the main event, with half points being awarded. The winner will score 12 points, second will score nine, then seven for third, six for fourth and so on. Q1 and Q2 will determine the grid for both races. “We are trying to offer a…

ROOKIE DALLAS DANIELS continued his breakout American Flat Track season, picking up his second Super Twins victory at the Sacramento Mile on August 20. The top four in the championship – Daniels and his Yamaha teammate JD Beach as well as the Indian Motorcycles pairing of Jared Mees and Briar Bauman – lined up alongside each other on the front row. Daniels, who had led the race from the outset, produced two stunning final laps on a challenging track to hold off Mees for victory. Bauman was third, while JD Beach fell back early after losing the tow. “These dudes are insane,” Daniels said on the podium. “Leading that whole race is stressful; I was riding super tight, struggling really bad in turns three and four.” When asked what made the…

What started your interest in motorcycling? Back in the early 1980s my husband, Wayne, decided that a motorcycle would be a good idea. I’d never been on a bike before that, so didn’t know much about it. We ended up doing lots of rides with me being a pillion. I progressed to riding in the late 1980s and spent the next 15 or so years road riding. Wayne then started racing in 2003 and, before the end of that year, I was racing too. You were born in Victoria, so what brought you to Tasmania? We bought a shack at Low Head a few months after doing a lap of Tassie on a pair of Honda CBR1000RRs in 2003. After visiting a few times a year for about six years,…

“KTM’S DONE IT AGAIN” Australia’s 2021 Moto2 world champion Remy Gardner reacts to reports he will be dumped from KTM’s MotoGP team, despite showing promise in his debut season in the big league. It continues KTM’s policy of a revolving-door of racers. Full story on page 106. 03 For the first time since Casey Stoner in 2008, Ducati has nailed three back-to-back wins courtesy of Pecco Bagnaia (however Stoner’s effort included pole position and fastest lap in all three wins). GOPRO GOONS BUSTED Sky News has released footage it claims was taken by three Sunshine Coast hinterland riders speeding at up to 200km/h. Queensland police have confirmed that they have charged three men, aged in their 40s, who shared video footage of a high-speed ride. Mental Twisties Last issue’s quiz-winning…

ON THE FINAL day of the 2006 International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) in Taupo, New Zealand, Chris Birch had just completed the final test only to discover the day’s competition had been cancelled due to the conditions. Chris was a little cheesed off – couldn’t these Europeans cope with a little Kiwi mud? “In retrospect, cancelling the day was probably the right call,” Chris recalls. “But at the time, I thought screw this, I’m through with enduro.” That was only until a video of the Romaniacs extreme enduro in Romania excited his sense of purpose and, at his own expense, he was quick to take on the challenge of this now legendary event and finished a remarkable third in his rookie year. Another third place followed in 2008, then runner-up…

Retail price $8790 ride away Distance covered 296km Fuel Economy 3.3L/100km Servicing First: 1000km Minor: 10,000km Major: 20,000km Options added Touring seat, screen and rear rack Here, parked in one corner of my shed, there’s a ground-up redesign of a really significant model from a 120-year-old brand. Significant because in its home market it outsold anything else in its stable by three to one. And that’s just in May 2022 alone when 29,959 Royal Enfield Classic 350s found new homes in India, compared to 8290 Meteor 350s. And that’s especially significant when you consider that in the same period there was a combined total of just 1357 Continental GT and Interceptor 650s sold throughout India in the same four-week period. But all that aside, there’s another significant model on the…

THERE IS A range of luggage options to choose from that have been developed with industry stalwart Givi so you know the products will be top quality. The 79-litre Trekker moulded baggage looks great and, combined with the matching 52-litre topbox that holds two full-face helmets, that’s a total luggage capacity of a whopping 131 litres. These require mounting kits, and the full set-up adds $2559.42 to the cost of the bike. For more of a rugged set up, the aluminium expedition cases and topbox (which will hold one full-face helmet) have a combined capacity of 116 litres. With mounting brackets the Expedition cases will set you back $2907.68. Most of the Explorer parts can be added to the Rally Pro bikes if you want to pick and choose. For…

SPORTS-TOURERS HAVE come along way and there isn’t a dud bike in this bunch. Rain, hail or shine they’re all great bikes that have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the essentials of what makes a capable sports-tourer are all there. Sure, some are leaning closer to the sporty end, while others are erring more towards the touring side of the equation. I have a fondness for some of the old sportstouring bikes like VFR750s, ZZR-1100s, FZR1000s and even the oddball Suzuki RF900. But if you think little has changed in this genre and your old mount is just as good as the new breed, I’m afraid you are sadly mistaken. Because as well as not having to fashion some makeshift cruise control or hack your wiring to bits to…

01 MotoGP Rd14, Misano, LIVE Videopass, Kayo, Foxsports 4 SEPTEMBER From 5pm AEST Back to twists and turns of Misano, and another chance for Bagnaia to pile the heat on Quartararo. And Miller will be in the mix, too. Moto3 will air from 7pm AEST, followed by Moto2 at 8:20pm and MotoGP at 10pm. 02 FIM Speedway GP, Rd9, Vojens, LIVE Kayo, Foxsports 10 SEPTEMBER From 3am AEST Speedway Grand Prix hits Denmark, with Aussie trio Max Fricke, Jack Holder and Jason Doyle looking to make their prescence felt as the championship hits the business end of proceedings. 03 WSBK Rd7, Magny-Cours, LIVE Videopass, Kayo, Foxsports 10-11 SEPTEMBER From 6.25pm Sep 10 AEST The 2022 WorldSBK title has been a jaw-dropper from the start, and with reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu starting to…

AT THE END of 2019, I’d just won the veterans’ division of the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) on a KTM 500 EXC-F for Newcastle KTM and I was hoping to back that up in 2020. Then came the pandemic and the family painting business – our major sponsor – had a short hiccup followed by plenty of exterior house painting jobs. My partner Kristy and I live at Fullerton Cove, north of Newcastle, and together with our two boys, Kodi and Levi, regularly let our frustrations out in the Stockton sand dunes. All things considered, we were pretty lucky really during the pandemic: the phones were still ringing and we were all still riding. Coming into 2022, the two boys and I turned up at Round 1 of the AORC…

NEVER HAVE THINGS been so good for Honda Team Asia Kalex. Here both its riders contested victory in a tense shootout that so nearly had a surprise conclusion. Aside from Alonso Lopez’s (Speed Up Boscoscuro) brief spell out front, pole sitter Ai Ogura expertly controlled the first half of this encounter, easing clear of Somkiat Chantra by close to one second by lap 15. The early exchanges were frenetic, with Celestino Vietti (VR46 Kalex), Aron Canet (Pons Kalex), Jake Dixon (Aspar Kalex) and Ajo Kalex duo Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez fighting among each other, allowing the teammates to escape. For a flicker, it appeared Vietti would join them, after the Italian posted the race’s fastest lap the 14th time around. Escaping an intense fight that was led by Acosta, Vietti…

AFTER A STAGGERING rookie campaign in Moto2 last year, many tipped Raul Fernandez to be the Rookie of the Year in 2023. But the Tech3 KTM man’s year has been nothing short of disastrous. Not only have his results been terrible, scoring just five points in 12 races; his attitude has incurred the wrath of KTM’s top brass. In an interview with German website Speedweek, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer said the Spaniard’s working environment is “a disaster,” his attitude “smug and boastful”. KTM then revealed that as early as Jerez, Fernandez informed the factory of his intentions to leave in 2023. The issue? There is an option for another year on his contract and he must pay a substantial sum to get out of it, with RNF Aprilia his preferred…

TECH3 WILL BECOME the GasGas Factory Racing Team in the 2023 MotoGP World Championship, it was announced on the Friday of the Austrian Grand Prix. A majority share of the GasGas brand – previously successful in off-road disciplines – was acquired by KTM in 2019. Since then it has attempted to increase visibility by rebranding KTM machinery in Moto3 as GasGas, as well as an entry in Moto2 as the GasGas team, despite running Kalex chassis, with the Aspar team running the GasGas logos in both cases. Tech3’s machinery will be a KTM RC16, identical to the bikes run by the Red Bull KTM Factory Team. Essentially, the set-up will be the same as this year. But instead of orange, Tech3 boss Hervé Poncharal’s bikes will run red. Pol Espargaro…

BENELLI’S CHINESE SISTER company QJMotor is ramping up for the export market using the engine that will power the upcoming MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5. At present only sold domestically, type-approval documents we’ve seen indicates that a MotoGP-inspired middleweight sportsbike is on the way. Called the 500R, it actually packs the same 549cc, 45kW twin that QJ’s parent firm Qianjiang is making for the Lucky Explorer 5.5. QJMotor showed a disguised example at a recent race meeting, but the new type-approval confirms its final appearance and spec. As well as the new engine, derived from the existing 500cc twin used in Benelli’s TRK 502 and Leoncino 500, the 500R gets a single-sided swingarm and the inevitable MotoGP-style winglets on the fairing. Brembo brakes, an upside-down fork and a wet weight…

AS WE’VE SEEN from the proliferation of winglets on GP bikes and their showroom spin-offs in recent years, there’s a new focus on downforce in motorcycle design. For decades the aerodynamic targets of motorcycle designers have been stability and drag reduction, but the addition of any substantial level of downforce is relatively new. So far, the development of downforce has mirrored the way it emerged in F1 cars decades ago: in the late 60s cars sprouted tacked-on wings, but into the 70s the bodywork itself started to create downforce, initially with wedge-shaped cars and later with ground-effect underbodies. Most GP bikes are still in the ‘tacked-on wings’ stage, but Aprilia is evolving towards a more holistic approach. The new patent applications ignore the wings entirely and focus on a body…

IN AUSTRALIA, THERE will be four Tiger 1200 models to sink your teeth into. Not everyone wants to go exploring in remote destinations, so there are two dedicated road models (the GTs) as well of the pair of offroad variants (the Rallys) utilised at the Aussie launch. The Tiger GT Pro and GT Explorer models come with 19-inch front and 18-inch rear cast-alloy wheels fitted with road-orientated Metzler Tourance tyres. The GT models feature five ride modes: Rain, Road, Sport, Off-road and User with the full suite of rider aids and connectivity. They have shorter 200mm suspension travel but employ the same spec semi-active Showa suspension and Brembo Stylema calipers. The Explorer cops a few extra goodies like the 30L fuel tank, blind-spot radar, heated seats, lane-change assist and tyre-pressure…

BMW S 1000 XR ENGINE Capacity 999cc Type Inline four-cylinder, DOHC, four valves per cylinder Bore & stroke 80 x 49.7mm Compression ratio 12.5:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI Transmission Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 121kW @ 11,000rpm (claimed) Torque 114Nm @ 9250rpm (claimed) Top speed 250km/h (est) Fuel consumption 7.99L/100km (measured) ELECTRONICS Type BMW Continental ABS, ride-by-wire Rider aids Cornering ABS, cornering traction control, hill start assist, dynamic damping control, dynamic brake control, adaptive headlights Modes Rain, Road, Dynamic and Dynamic Pro CHASSIS Frame material Aluminium Frame type Bridge Rake 24.9° Trail 116mm Wheelbase 1552mm SUSPENSION Type DDC Front: 45mm telescopic fork, electronically adjustable compression, rebound and spring preload, 150mm travel Rear: Monoshock, electronically adjustable preload, compression and rebound, 150mm travel WHEELS & BRAKES Wheels Cast…

TRIUMPH TIGER 100 A VERY SECONDHAND 500cc parallel-twin roadbike Britten turned into a racer in the early 1980s when the BEARS series was first established in Christchurch. He got a lot of advice and help from fellow Triumph owners Allan Wylie and Joe Hannah. Britten had a reputation for his lurid hang-off style on it. He also had a freewheeling attitude to race preparation, once welding up a broken piston and thinking he could survive another meeting on it. Britten and his mates constructed the alloy fuel tank, oil tank and seat cowling. It ran alloy wheel rims and the front brake was two single-leading-shoe hubs mounted back to back. CARDINAL BRITTEN WHILE MOST OF the Britten team reckoned the Precursor could have been a showroom world beater, John had…

I’VE RUN THESE heated gloves quite a lot over the winter and have come away impressed… mostly. When there’s charge in the batteries, they keep your hands toasty warm, and the temperature is easy to adjust via Bluetooth connection to your phone using the clim8 app, which also displays battery status and session duration. On AMCN’s adventure test (AMCN Vol 71 No 25) the Yate EVOs kept my hands warm for about 400km of a 600km ride in the rain before the batteries drained, at which point they were like wearing any other winter touring glove with a water-resistant, breathable liner. I grabbed a second set of larger-capacity 3000mAh batteries ($129.95) for our Dumb & Dumber ride (AMCN Vol 72 No 03) into the snow, which would likely have extended…

ROAD RACING MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Rd14 4 Sep, Misano, IT Rd15 18 Sep, Aragon, ES Rd16 25 Sep, Twin Ring Motegi, JP Rd17 2 Oct, Chang International, TH Rd18 16 Oct, Phillip Island, AU Rd19 23 Oct, Sepang, MY Rd20 6 Nov, Ricardo Tormo Valencia, ES SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Rd7 10-11 Sep, Magny-Cours, FR Rd8 24-25 Sep, Catalunya, ES Rd9 8-9 Oct, Portimao, PT Rd10 22-23 Oct, El Villicum, AR Rd11 12-13 Nov, Mandalika, ID Rd12 19-20 Nov, Phillip Island, AU ASBK Rd6 18-20 Nov, Philip Island, Vic Rd7 25-27 Nov, The Bend, SA FIM MINIGP AUSTRALIA Rd4 30 Sep-2 Oct, Oakleigh, Vic MOTOE WORLD CUP Rd7 3 Sep, Misano, IT BRITISH SUPERBIKE C’SHIP Rd8 10-11 Sep, Snetterton, NFK Rd9 24-25 Sep, Oulton Park, CHS Rd10 1-2 Oct, Donington Park,…

New stuff 1 MORE AIR HEAD McLeod Accessories $1199.90 1300 300 191 premiumhelmets.com.au The new Shoei GT-Air 2 Qubit features an aerodynamic shell with improved ventilation and a ‘crack’ option that props the visor open for airflow. Features include aerodynamic shell, multi-layer cheek pads, Pinlock anti-fog lens, longer drop-down sun visor and micro ratchet chin strap. 2 NOW HEAR THIS Ficeda Accessories $539.95 1300 437 711 ficeda.com.au The U-com 16 is said to be the thinnest intercom with Mesh technology, providing a reliable connection and group connection with other intercoms. It’s compatible with other brands, too, and has 40mm speakers and a separate battery to double its operation time between recharging. 3 TOURTOO… AS WELL Cassons Australia From $399.95 (02) 8882 1900 araihelmets.net.au The Rjays Tour 2 jacket features a T20 Nylon…

“IF YOU DON’T go forward, you take a step backwards.” Articulated by IRTA president Herve Poncharal, this was the three-strong mantra from the stage as Dorna, the FIM and IRTA joined forces to announce a sea change in the Road Racing World Championship. The step forward? An extra sprint race during every grand prix weekend, on Saturday afternoons, starting next year. Actually an extra half-a-race, over half distance, and carrying half points. Will it be half as popular? Reactions were mixed. But some initial hostility softened overnight, with Fabio Quartararo one who, when he learned more details, went from calling it “stupid” to saying “I changed my mind”. Those in favour, and there were more than just the three bosses at the conference table, were confident it would increase MotoGP’s…

GOING INTO THE 13th round, there wasn’t a great deal to choose between the Moto3 field. Aside from Ayumu Sasaki (Max Racing Husqvarna) that is. But the fact the Japanese rider had to serve two long-lap penalites after he torpedoed Sergio Garcia (Aspar GASGAS) at the previous round seemed to diminish his chances. Sasaki was undeterred. He was leading when he took the first penalty on the third lap, dropping him to 17th. The second saw him lose four further places two laps on. But his fightback was immediate and ruthless. After a string of four lap records in five laps, he joined the lead group by lap nine. By then a lead group had formed containing Izan Guevara (AsparGASGAS), pole sitter Dani Holgado (Ajo KTM), Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Honda), Deniz…

REPSOL HONDA’S MARC Marquez has been given the go ahead to get back on a motorcycle to assess the condition of his arm following his most recent checkup. The news points to the likelihood of the eight-time world champ being in attendance at the upcoming Misano test where he’ll be able to help steer the much-needed development of Honda’s RC213V ahead of the 2023 season. Satisfied with the recovery of his right humerus, Marquez’s medical team have given the approval for Marc to further intensify his training. “Fortunately, Marc has regained a great arc of motion and has recovered well from a muscular perspective as well,” said Dr Sanchez Sotelo from the Mayo Clinic’s division of shoulder and elbow surgery. “Today, he underwent radiographs and a CT scan that show complete…

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’re from a rival media outlet and perhaps aren’t as thorough as some of your older, more experienced colleagues. Imagine missing out on the trip of a lifetime riding Royal Enfields through the Himalayas for a couple of weeks because your visa application gets rejected at the 11th hour! We suspect that young man has upped his form-filling-out game……