Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 72 Issue 23 i Australian Motorcycle News

“WHILE THERE ARE PLENTY OF LATE NIGHTS AND EARLY MORNINGS AT HORROR HQ, IT’S A BLOODY FUN RIDE” IT’S AMAZING how time flies when you’re having fun. It has already been a tad over two years since I made my return to Horror HQ after a 10-year break, and in that time the team has pumped out more than 50 issues of AMCN – including our mammoth 212-page 70th anniversary issue in 2021, a couple of 200-page yearbooks, and a Valentino Rossi collector’s edition to mark the great man’s retirement from motorcycle racing. That’s a hell of a lot of magazines. I have been working in publishing for almost 30 years, and no other publication that I’m aware of places demands on its staff like AMCN does. But then again,…

MV Agusta’s future model range has been revealed in documents filed with America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – revealing a host of upcoming bikes that will hugely expand the heritage brand’s appeal. The NHTSA oversees safety and vehicle recalls in the States, so manufacturers selling models there must supply a key to decode the VIN information held in the frame numbers. This info includes the model, engine type and capacity, and the decoding document lists several models that have yet to be officially launched. Four-cylinder expansion The list shows MV’s four-cylinder, 1000cc range is also being expanded, with the production version of the Superveloce Serie Oro that was shown last year, plus two lower-spec, mass-made versions: the Superveloce 1000 R and Superveloce 1000 S.…

“Politics end up ruining everything and this is why they just need to follow what the TT does”Isle of Man TT legend Peter Hickman expresses his view of what he calls “wheelgate”, which stopped him and teammate Josh Brookes competing at the North West 200 in Ireland. More on page 108 $258K Nearly 260 grand changed hands at the recent UK Bonhams auction of Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood’s 1960 Ducati 125cc racer which helped launch his international career. CAN’T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN Jay Leno is back in the saddle, helping out on a reality television show as a special guest. He’s still recovering from a workshop fire that involved, in his words, a “new face and an ear” as part of the recovery. Around the same time he…

A MONASH UNIVERSITY team is developing a blood test that measures whether a driver or motorcycle rider who has caused an accident was impaired by a lack of sleep. It says the test could be available within two years, making it easier to legislate against drowsy drivers, which research says is as dangerous an activity as drink driving. The team’s early research in 2021 found drivers with only three hours sleep are 10 times more likely to be involved in a crash. The May 2021 trial, developed in conjunction with the Victorian Government, Road Safety Victoria and Victorian Police, was to accurately predict the level of sleep loss associated with driving impairment and to also ensure the technology could identify those who were well rested and those who were fatigued.…

Access, AMCN, PO Box 6, Bittern, Vic, 3918 access@amcn.com.au WINNER LETTER OF THE ISSUE Motomuck Win five litres of Motomuck Motorcycle Cleaner to keep your ride as clean as a whistle. Valued at $59.95! Include your full name and address in your letter, via post or email. Long letters will be cut to fit, so don’t ramble. The views expressed by readers are not necessarily those of the editor. LETTER OF THE ISSUE Never stop I confess upfront I’m 76 now and my bike-riding days are over – at least I thought they were. My first bike after getting my license on my faithful BSA Bantam at 16 was a Norton 650SS. There have been lots of bikes and adventures in between, including trips to the Isle of man, culminating…

I’m sitting on the first floor of Red Bull’s over the top MotoGP energy station – a vast, alpine-style pinewood palace that’s bigger than most people’s houses – Jack Miller and his wife Ruby, who’s pregnant, sit opposite me. The hospitality staffer arrives. Mr and Mrs Miller order their sparkling waters, I order a beer. As I quaff the amber nectar, the 28-year-old Aussie smiles “You’re only trying to make me jealous.” Jack was once MotoGP’s wild man, charging around the paddock on Sunday nights, full of vodka and mischief. Then good mate Cal Crutchlow told him he had the talent to go all the way, but only if he dedicated himself to the cause and gave up booze. “Last year I didn’t drink from the start of the season…

Today’s world is full of superlatives, but occasionally something comes along which truly deserves being extolled as the biggest and best. But the 940-page large format (28 x 36cm) Ultimate Collector Motorcycles masterwork is truly worthy. This massive two-volume 220,000-word title weighing 9.4kg is the finest book about motorcycles yet published in any language, both in terms of content and presentation. It’s not cheap, but I believe anyone who spends $US250 plus $US70 shipping ($A481 total) will not be disappointed. And, for full disclosure, I say that as someone asked to read the title through for accuracy before publication, but who otherwise played no part in its creation – so I have read every word. That satisfaction will follow because what may at first glance appear to be a massive…

06 THINGS YOU NEED 1 CIRCLE WORK Whites Powersports From $959 (03) 8720 6000 richa.com.au The Cyclone Gore-Tex Jacket from Richa boasts a rugged 500D Cordura outer construction, with strategically placed abrasion-resistant 750D Cordura reinforcements. The Cyclone also features D30 back, elbow and shoulder armour, a 3L Gore-Tex internal liner, and an integrated front and rear ventilation system. 2 PYRO MANIA Moto National $259.95 1300 885 355 falcoboots.com.au Falco’s new Pyro 2 boot features a durable Micro-Synth upper construction with a High-Tex waterproof membrane, reinforced toe and heel, and D3O-backed ankle cup inserts. The Pyro utilises a secure lace-up closure, has a dual-compound rubber sole and is available in men’s Euro sizes 40-47. 3 ABLE GABLE Link International $799.95 (07) 3382 5000 merlinbikegear.com.au Merlin’s Gable leather jacket features a unique…

STAGES COME NO bigger. Not only did Le Mans play host to the 1000th Grand Prix in history in the circuit’s centenary year. A record 116,692 were there to see it on race day, with combined attendance over four days totalling 278,805 – the biggest in the past 23 years. Unlike last year’s damp squib at this venue, MotoGP’s leading names delivered a race fitting of the occasion. A glance at the results would suggest Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) won at a canter. But the winning margin of 4.2sec doesn’t paint the full picture of what was a chaotic outing, in which as many as seven riders went at it early on, and eight crashed out. Only from half-race did the Italian break clear to assert some form of control.…

PERHAPS THIS YEAR’S Moto2 title fight won’t be as straightforward as expected. Pedro Acosta (Ajo Kalex) showed he is fallible after all by crashing out in spectacular fashion when chasing down early leader Tony Arbolino (Marc VDS Kalex) in a shortened Moto2 race. Arbolino got the jump in the first start and proceeded to lead comfortably from Alonso Lopez (Speed Up Boscoscuro) and polesitter Sam Lowes (Marc VDS), before the Brit crashed out at Turn 3. He would get another chance, albeit starting from the back of the grid, however, as red flags were soon shown after Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha Mastercamp Kalex) and Aron Canet (Pons Kalex) ploughed into the stricken bike of Albert Arenas after the Spaniard highsided on the exit of Turn 5. With the restart running over 14…

KELSO WASN’T EXACTLY delighted with 11th place at Le Mans. But the fact it came in his second race back from a nasty left ankle injury, and involved a strong fightback, meant he left France for the three-week break “content”. The Australian qualified in 16th, and was shuffled back to 20th in the early laps before he started recovering positions. He eventually found himself scrapping with Stefano Nepa (MTA KTM), Katio Toba (SIC58 Honda) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Honda) for 10th. “I’m not over the moon, but content with the result,” said the Darwin rider. “The qualifying position really affected us. I dropped back to 19th so to get back to 11th position wasn’t too bad. When I arrived to the third group, there was already a gap ahead. “Even from Jerez…

THE CRASHES involving high-profile road racers Lee Johnston, Michael Sweeney and Nathan Harrison overshadowed the meeting. Johnston was airlifted to Belfast Hospital after a blood transfusion with many fearing the worst. His injuries were vast, with the broken femur, shoulder, foot fractures, facial fractures, numerous broken ribs and a collapsed lung. “It’s going to be a slow and long recovery, but he’ll be back,” a statement read. Sweeney will also miss the TT as he recovers from two fractured vertebrae as well as numerous other injuries. His family are “currently awaiting on more results but are remaining positive”. Harrison, Honda UK’s new young prospect, broke a collarbone and wrist in an opening Superstock race crash, but the Manxman hasn’t given up on his TT hopes. James Hillier and Mike Browne…

LAST ISSUE we revealed a raft of four-cylinder models coming out of China. Another brand at the forefront of the Chinese international expansion is Kove, which is already on sale in Europe and about to hit the US. It’s jumped in at the deep end, with a production version of its Dakar Rally racer going on sale for a fraction of KTM’s extremely limited-edition $60,000 450 Rally. Kove might not be a familiar name yet but it entered three bikes into this year’s Dakar. While 46th, 67th and 77th places might not sound impressive, the fact that all three finished the toughest race on the globe is an enviable achievement. The Kove 450 Rally might not have the same level of ability or race-winning pedigree as KTM, but the standard…

WIN WIN FOR ROSSI Not only does his VR46 team claim the lead in MotoGP at Le Mans, Valentino secures his first international four-wheel podium at the UK round of the GT World Challenge Sprint Cup Europe. MUM’S THE WORD The Murray Valley Training Company opened its 1.6km, nine-corner circuit on the Vic-NSW border free of charge to mothers on their big day. BUMMER FOR BROOKES Josh Brookes has lost crucial ‘real roads’ track time in the lead-up to the Isle of Man TT with his team involved in the North West 200 “wheelgate” controversy. ROYAL TRAGEDY A woman aged in her 80s is fighting for her life in hospital after being struck by a motorcycle escort accompanying Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh on official business in London.…

FACEBOOK Post of the issue INSTAGRAM Don’t Forget #amcn_mag Comment of the Issue Ellen Bedford hits the nail on the head about the 1970s Aussie road racing talent. “Fabulous group of talented people – great story!” 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 say or share? Do it! Head to www.facebook.com/aumotorcyclenews AMCN’S WEBSITE IS THE PLACE TO BE! Get all the latest motorcycle news and…

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WEB HOT! Check out the website for the latest reviews at amcn.com.au TESTED VOL 72 NO 05 BIKE SPOTLIGHT HONDA NT1100 ENGINE 1084cc parallel twin POWER 75kW (102hp) TORQUE 104Nm WEIGHT 238kg (wet) PRICE $21,690 ride away “It’s a cracking engine for its intended purpose. It hits performance marks just where it’s needed on a sports-tourer” TESTED VOL 65 NO 11 BIKE SPOTLIGHT YAMAHA XSR700 ENGINE 655cc parallel twin POWER 38.3kW (52hp) TORQUE 57.5Nm WEIGHT 186kg (wet) PRICE $14,299 (ride away) “Relaxed when required, more than happy to bang up a few wheelies if stirred into action”…

THE WEEKEND HAD been going so well until the Sprint. No one was faster than Miller on Friday at one of his strongest tracks. A victory push was very much expected from fourth on the grid. But choosing Michelin’s medium front compound would be his undoing in the Sprint. A switch to the soft for Sunday initially paid off, as the 28-year-old led from laps three to 10. But he would fade to seventh, before crashing out at Turn 4. “We had great pace all weekend but when the other boys came past they seemed to be able to knock it up a gear. I was fading but also preserving the left side of the tyre and knew I had a bit left. I then used too much kerb on the inside of…

DEPUTISING FOR THE injured Darryn Binder in the IntactGP team for the second race running, Agius arrived in France on a high thanks to a double victory at Estoril in the opening European Moto2 Championship round. The 17-year-old got a great getaway from 21st in the restart to sit 14th by the end of lap one. But he soon fell back, eventually coming home in 19th place. “It was a tough race, especially in the last five laps as I didn’t have much left to give. I was struggling at the end but my lap times in the race weren’t bad and I would like to improve my consistency in the future. The weekend has been full of learning and I take many things with me to Valencia.”…

JOSH BROOKES and Peter Hickman’s Superstock M 1000 RRs were pulled from the grid just seconds before Thursday’s Superstock race due the carbon-fibre wheels which come fitted as standard. The debacle started because the MCUI rules state that carbon wheels are illegal, but also state that a Superstock bike must compete using the machine’s standard wheels. The fact that Brookes and Hickman completed every practice session before it was picked up was the major bone of contention, because by the time the issue was highlighted it was too late to rectify. The North West organisers issued a statement which put the blame on the stewards, but the situation flared up quickly and with no one willing to back down, FHO withdrew its high-profile riders in protest. The BMW team stated…

Ernie’s first win of record was a 10-mile street race at Morang around the back blocks of Bendigo in Victoria. He was 15 years old and his victory marked the beginning of a long list of cycling championships until a bad crash at the Melbourne Exhibition Ground terminated his pedalling career. Still keen to take to the track, Ernie switched to a chain-drive Minerva as soon as he could walk. Come 1915, Ernie moved north to Toowoomba where, at the time, imports of British-built Triumph, Humber and Abington motorcycles had all but ceased due to the Great War. Taking a sales position with the progressive T Cycle Company, an organisation which had just been thrown a lifeline by being appointed the Queensland distributor for Indian Motorcycles, Ernie built a new…

1 2023 WorldSBK, Rd5, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo & Video Pass 3-4 JUNE Check website and local guides At the moment it’s a Bautista show, but Rea, Razgatlioglu et al all want to bring the Spaniard back a peg at Misano – and this could be the round where Gardner really starts to shine. 2 2023 SGP, Rd3, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo 3 JUNE Check website and local guides No venue in the world has hosted more SGP events than the beautiful Marketa Stadium in Prague, which always produces racing of the highest order. Three Aussies will be in the hunt: Jason Doyle, Max Fricke and Jack Holder. 3 2023 MXGP, Rd8, LIVE Kayo, Eurosport 4 JUNE Check website and local guides The MXGP makes its way to Kegums in…

Yes, adventure boots are comfortable, but they don’t provide the level of protection that a motocross boot can. The problem with motocross boots is that they usually have a near slick sole – and try holding up a 220kg adventure bike in mud in said items. I went for Gaerne SG12 Enduros when I updated my boots about two years ago. The Enduros offer the same super tough exterior as the MX version of the SG12 but with a chunkier sole that’s better suited to adventure riding. So far, the SG12s have proven to be amazingly tough. I’ve bashed my way through the bush on adventure and enduro machinery, slammed the shin guards into multiple BMW cylinders, been attacked by rocks, sticks and animals, and binned enduro bikes all without…

The MotoGP teams completed one of only two official in-season test days on the Monday following the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. The Mooney VR46 duo topped the timesheets, with Marco Bezzecchi throwing in a 1m36.574s lap late in the day to end the session 0.101sec faster than teammate Luca Marini. For context, Aleix Espargaro’s (Aprilia Racing) pole lap two days prior came with a 1m37.216s lap time. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) finished third fastest with his YZF-M1 matching the Mooney VR46 Ducatis for top speed. All three registered 292.6km/h in the speed trap and, while it was still a long way off the top-speed capability of a MotoGP machine, only Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco (294.2km/h) and RNF Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez (293.4km/h) registered higher speeds. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) put…

THE SPRINT WAS calmer by comparison to the main race. Mainly as Martin rose from sixth to second by the race’s third turn, with only Bagnaia up ahead. And the overtaking woes the Spaniard spoke of at Jerez were not evident here as he confidently passed the reigning champ on the fourth lap, before making his pace advantage tell. And 1.8sec was the winning margin in Martin’s first triumph since August, 2021. Miller’s early crash out of third (Turn 7, lap two), brought Marc Marquez, Binder and Marini into the podium fight. By lap five they were all by Bagnaia, the reigning champ struggling with a lack of feedback from the front tyre, and reeling from a hard Marquez overtake at Turn 3, which gifted Binder second and left them…

FEW GAVE DANI Holgado (Tech3 KTM) a fighting chance of victory after arm pump plagued his past two outings. Despite holding off surgery, the Spaniard held his nerve in the face of intense pressure asserted by Ayumu Sasaki (IntactGP Husqvarna) to win by 0.15sec. Holgado led every lap in what was initially a seven-rider fight once Diogo Moreira (MSI KTM) crashed out at Turn 12 on lap 11. Sasaki, Jaume Masia (Leopard Honda), Ivan Ortola (MTA KTM), Deniz Oncu (Ajo KTM), Ryusei Yamanaka (MSI KTM) and Xavi Artigas (PrustelGP CFMOTO) were also in the action. It threatened to explode into a brawl, but not once did Holgado ease off. He gained vital ground when Masia took second from Sasaki at Turn 2 with five laps to go. And by the time…