Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 73 Issue 02 i Australian Motorcycle News

DECLINING NEW bike sales effects more than Australia’s motorcycle industry and I can’t help but think the Australian round of the MotoGP must be on the chopping block once its contract expires in 2026. The additions to the calendar over the last decade have been driven by the individual region’s sales successes. Even if we take Australia’s best sales result in 15 years – which was the 95,209 two-wheelers sold in the 12 months of 2021 – and compare it to the same period in Latin America, Indonesia and India, you’re looking at 5.2 million, 5.05 million and 15 million respectively. Two decades ago, the Australian, Japanese and Malaysian Grands Prix were the only rounds in the Asia-Pacific region. Today we have seven with Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India…

IT’S BEEN more than two years since CFMoto unveiled its 700CL-X retro roadster powered by a heavily reworked version of the familiar parallel-twin, and that same engine has finally filtered down to the ‘MT’. Although the basics of the parallel-twin engine are carried over from the previous model, with a layout that’s more than a little bit similar to Kawasaki’s 650cc twin, the 700MT gets the same 693cc capacity as the 700CL-X. That’s only a 44cc hike from the previous 649cc, but the performance increase is much more substantial. Power rises from 41.5kW to 49kW (67hp) – an 18 percent increase from just seven percent more capacity – and torque is up from 54.4Nm to 60Nm, arriving 250rpm higher at 7250rpm. The rest of the bike’s mechanical parts are largely…

Red Alert I was looking through the Isle of Man TT practice and race results and was puzzled when I could not find any Ducatis listed in any race category. Does anyone know the reason for this? Considering its success in other production-class racing like WorldSBK, WSSP and ASBK it makes me wonder whether the factory had any say. Conspiracy theories… Has anyone else noticed the absence of this make at the loM this year? Brian GrantCasino, NSW There’s a fantastic piece on Ducati’s participation (and recent lack thereof) on the official IOM TT website. “Despite being the most successful manufacturer in the history of the World and British Superbike Championships with countless short-circuit race wins from the likes of Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss, Neil Hodgson, Steve Hislop, Troy Corser…

THE BMW S 1000 RR family has a few members to suit different tastes. The cheapest of the bunch is the standard S 1000 RR which features manually adjustable suspension and cast aluminium wheels. The next step up is the S 1000 RR Sport, which gets dynamic damping system, riding modes pro, heated grips, tyre-pressure monitoring and cruise control. Next is the bike on test, the S 1000 RR Race, which gets upgraded to M forged aluminium wheels, M endurance chain and Akrapovic silencer. The S 1000 RR M-Sport cops some extra fruit again with M carbon wheels, M seat, M blue brake calipers, M adjustable footrests, M chassis kit and an M fuel filler cap. Plus you can add on the M carbon package which gets you carbon front…

HONDA HAS released an extensive range of accessories for the Transalp. Some, like the bashplate, are a must, and others desirable like the quickshifter, crash bars and heated grips. Honda has also bundled a selection of bits into different packs to suit a variety of needs. Each item is available separately, however you save a few bucks if you buy one or more of the five packs. ADVENTURE PACK Radiator grill, front and side bar and front fog lights. $1750 RALLY PACK Bashplate, engine guard, guard attachment, quickshifter, knuckle guard extension and rally ’pegs. $2150.01 COMFORT PACK Three-litre tank bag, fairing deflector, windscreen deflector, comfort pillion ’pegs, accessories socket and clamp cord. $599.01 TOURING PACK Pannier set including pannier cases, pannier inner bags, pannier support bracket, pannier panel set and…

The acquisition of a 25.1 percent stake in MV Agusta by Pierer Mobility AG in November 2022 is exciting news. It’s exciting news for MV’s future and the flow-on effects of the new partnership will be good news for fans on the historic Italian manufacturer. You see, there’s an awful lot of cash and expertise within the Austrian powerhouse, and to ensure the future of MV it needs access to both those things – so the new partnership is set to open all kinds of doors for the Italian brand. AMCN was invited to Italy as the only Australian media outlet out of just nine non-Italian global motorcycle journalists by MV representatives, Pierer Mobility and KTM group bigwigs to hear about the new partnership. While I was there, I grabbed…

1 FLEX FOR ME Cassons Australia From $69.95 (02) 8882 1900 cassonsmedia.com Fanom’s BFB_2 back ventilated back protector features an ultra-thin CE certified flexible thermos-plastic construction that provides excellent freedom of movement. The BFB_2 is washable, retains its protective properties even in hot weather, and is available in three sizes for a custom fit. 2 POST-RIDE ACTIVITIES Postiebook From $40 NA postiebook.com The Are We There Yet? Postie Bikes Explore the World chronicles the stories of 13 riders who took their Honda CT110 postie bikes around Australia and the world. Profits from the glossy, full-colour, 62-page hardback book will be donated to a range of charities including the Black Dog Ride and Royal Flying Doctor Service. 3 LOOK AT ME Rider Safety Technology Group $465 0407 723 389 rstg.com.au The bold and colourful…

With Cameron Swain (Caboolture Yamaha) on pole, Marcus Hamod (Motocity) started the weekend by emerging the victor in a five-way battle for the opening race by the tiniest of margins – 0.01sec after a video review – with Henry Snell (Megacycle) third. The second race saw four riders out front after Hamod crashed early, with Brodie Gawtih (Megacycle) breaking through for victory after several close calls in Supersport 300. Swain picked up second and Snell third from Brandon Demmery (Sureflight). The final race saw the third different winner, as Snell took the win from Swain with Hamod completing the podium and Gawith fourth. Swain’s consistent results means he takes a 10-point lead over Demmery going into the final two rounds.…

ALPINESTARS SUPERBIKE ROUND 5 1 T Herfoss Hon 50 2 M Jones Yam 41 3 G Allerton BMW 36 4 B Pearson Duc 33 5 C Halliday Yam 32 STANDINGS AFTER 5 OF 7 ROUNDS T Herfoss 262, J Waters 248, M Jones 202, G Allerton 196, C Halliday 177 MICHELIN SUPERSPORT ROUND 4 1 O Simpson Yam 45 2 C Dunker Yam 42 3 J Lytras Yam 38 4 J Nahlous Yam 33 5 T Lynch Yam 31 STANDINGS AFTER 4 OF 6 ROUNDS O Simpson 164, C Dunker 151, T Lynch 151, J Lytras 122, J Passfield 102 SUPERSPORT 300 ROUND 4 1 C Swain Yam 76 2 H Snell Yam 58 3 M Hamod Yam 56 4 J Russo Yam 47 5 J Newman Yam 44 STANDINGS…

WORLDSSP300 HAD two standout riders at Imola, but one of them transgressed enough to be deprived of one of his race ‘wins.’ In Superpole, KTM rider Dirk Geiger was on top, with Matteo Vannucci second on his Yamaha and another championship contender, Petr Svoboda third on his Kawasaki. A nicely balanced front row, comprising machines from each major competing manufacturer. The two leading riders, Vannucci and Geiger cut themselves from the chasing pack quickly and opened up a gap that would never be closed. Gennai would be the victor thanks to his cool racecraft on the last lap, winning by only 0.090sec. Third was taken by Jeffrey Buis, the 2020 world champion, who headed up the usually large WorldSSP300 mob, albeit 10 seconds back. Sunday’s Race 2 was held later…

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE’S Jared Mees has taken his seventh victory of the American Flat Track season at the Orange County Half Mile, held in New York. After Johnny Lewis took out the Dash on his Royal Enfield 650 and with Estenson Yamaha’s chief Dallas Daniels on pole, Mees said the resulting changes in the track worked in his favour – along with some minor adjustments on the fly to his Indian FTR 750. He held a solid lead up until a red flag stoppage late in the main event, but had no trouble pulling away at the restart to secure a record-breaking 36th half mile win. Briar Bauman continues to impress on the KTM 790, prevailing in a four-way scrap for second place. Daniels was on the podium in third, just in…

TEENAGE AUSTRALIAN speedway riders have made their mark on the international stage with some impressive results in two major competitions staged in Sweden. The FIM Speedway Youth World Championship, now SGP3 (for Under 16s on 250cc machines) saw Mitchell McDiarmid, Beau Bailey and Alexander Adamson finish midfield in the final after McDiarmid and Bailey had finished second and first respectively in their semi-finals. The FIM Speedway Youth World Cup, now SGP4 (for 11- to 13-year-olds on 190cc machines developed by multiple world champion Tony Rickardsson) was a one-off meeting where Cooper Antone finished second, while Kobi Canning lost a run-off for third place.…

Now missing from MotoGP and shying away from WorldSBK, Suzuki is in a deep low point in its racing history and it’s reflected in its roadbike line-up. While the GSXR600 and 750 labour on in some markets, they’ve been unchanged for more than a decade, and the GSX-R1000 was last refreshed six years ago. None of them can be sold in Europe, falling foul of the latest emissions rules, and with many other countries adopting similar standards the GSX-R line is being edged out of existence. However a new patent from Suzuki suggests that the company hasn’t given up on the idea of a fully faired sportsbike, aiming to protect a fairing design that could provide a significant aerodynamic edge over its rivals. And while we can’t read too much…

“The company when I joined was dead and not just dead economically: it was dead in terms of technology, it was dead in terms of design, it was dead in terms of philosophy.”Strong words from current MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov when talking to Pete Vorst in Italy recently, as we were the only Aussie media outlet invited to the factory to get the lowdown on the new partnership with KTM. Get all the inside news from page 50. 30 ASBK stalwart Troy Herfoss has silenced critics by winning his 30th Australian Superbike race during last weekend’s Morgan Park round to take a 14-point lead in the championship with just two rounds left to run. Read the full report from Morgan Park from page 100 onwards. MENTAL TWISTIES Who knew…

THE YEAR WAS… WAKEFIELD BOYCOTT Australia’s leading Superbike and Supersport riders launched a boycott at the Wakefield Park round of the ASBK championship over safety concerns at the NSW circuit. Riders from Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha pulled the pin on racing activities over the state of the circuit and access by medical teams. The boycott was triggered by a red flag-incident in the second of the three Superbike races and, while team bosses managed to negotiate a resolution with officials, a number of high-profile riders weren’t happy with the resolution and allegedly threatened to block the circuit if racing went ahead. In the end the racing continued, albeit without factory riders, the grid of the final race filled by just 11 privateers. GOBERT BE GONE The AMA Superbike team Erion…

FACEBOOK Post of the issue INSTAGRAM Don’t Forget #amcn_mag Comment of the Issue Raymond Bakker is not the first to lose his bearings looking at the new Mandello… "At first glance I thought it was an upgraded CX650 Turbo" 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…

1987 The first generation XL600V was powered by a liquid-cooled 583cc six-valve V-twin good for 41kW (55hp). It ran a single-disc front end, a drum rear brake and weighed 194kg ready-to-ride. It remained in production until 1998. 1997 Production moved from Japan to Italy, but the Italian-made XL600V PD10 models were plagued by electrical problems, poor paint finish and weak spokes. A second front disc was a welcome addition, as was a new ignition. It now weighed 208kg (wet). 1999 The second-generation XL650V was powered by a new 647cc V-twin with more power and torque as well as a catalytic converter. 2002 Production moved to Spain. The first Spanish Transalp was the XL650V RD11. 2008 The third-generation eight-valve XL700V grew to 680cc and boasted fuel injection. Styling was new, brakes…

Luggage includes soft side cases and tank bags, there are heated grips and a USB port, there’s an under-cowl and lever guards, billet levers, anodised bits and pieces, rim stickers and more. Here are some of the main accessories. Heated grips $550.70 Tank bag ring $70.30 Large tank bag $392.80 Small tank bag $265.30 Billet brake lever $292.64 Billet clutch lever $297.69 Brake lever guard $230.74 Clutch lever guard $230.74 Rim sticker $83.70 Under cowling $217.80 USB port $39.60…

Phillip Island Ride Days/0490 281 840 Phillip Island, Vic Sydney Motorsport Park Ride Days/0490 281 840 SMSP, NSW Murray Valley Training Co 0459 415 787 Barnawartha North, Vic Champion’s Ride Days (07) 3287 4144 Broadford, Vic Collie Motorplex, WA Morgan Park, Qld The Bend, SA Trakdayz 0401 484 898 Barbagallo, WA California Superbike School/1300 793 423 Phillip Island, Vic SMSP, NSW Broadford, Vic Morgan Park Qld Mount Gambier MCC Coaching/Ride Days 0448 951 163 Mac Park, SA Ride-Tek MTA 1300 788 382 Sandown, Vic Ridedays WA (08) 9409 1002 Barbagallo, WA Collie, WA Top Rider 1300 131 362 Various venues, Qld Phoenix MCC Junior Coaching 0403 386 788 Tailem Bend, SA Mallala, SA…

MORGAN PARK hosted the fifth round of the 2023 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship and with it came another opportunity for Troy Herfoss and the Penrite Honda Racing team to flip the script in the Alpinestars Superbike class. Such was the shocker from Josh Waters and the McMartin Racing Ducati team, the seemingly unassailable outfit at the start of the year now has a 14-point deficit heading into the final two rounds. While Waters faltered, Mike Jones and his Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1 again took the fight to Herfoss, the duo going head to head producing an epic battle for local supremacy. Jones fired the first shot, claiming pole position on the partly resurfaced Morgan Park tarmac. That didn’t stop Herfoss from grabbing the holeshot in the opener, confidently taking the…

CAMERON SWAIN (Caboolture Yamaha) completely dominated the Supersport 300 class at Morgan Park, taking three wins from as many starts as well as an extra championship point for pole position. An excellent start from Marcus Hamod (Motocity) saw him in the front group of five, with Swain able to pull a crucial few bike lengths on the final lap to ensure victory with Henry Snell (Megacycle Racing) second and Hamod third – 0.599sec separating the trio. In the second race, Swain took full advantage of fresh rubber to pull a gap, with Hamod and Snell completing the podium. Brodie Gawith (Megacycle) was the only rider in striking distance before crashing out, after suffering a similar fate in Race 1. The final race saw Swain again triumph in a five-way battle,…

THE WHOLE WorldSBK paddock sweated it out in the high temperatures that turned most of Italy into a witch’s cauldron, so it is no surprise that the devilishly red machines proved to be the fastest of all – in the hands of Ducati factory rider Alvaro Bautista at least. He did not come out on top in the overheated and very messy Superpole qualifying, which was taken by Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) from Andrea Locatelli and top independent rider Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Ducati). The very nature of Imola, with walls encircling the track and four chicanes to catch out the unwary, means that crashes usually result in red flags and there were plenty of stoppages all weekend. Three, in FP2, for example, but it was yellow flags that caught out…

LOWES AND MARCVDS SET FOR SUPERS MOTO 2 RIDER Sam Lowes will switch championships but not teams in 2024 as Marc VDS Racing has announced it will also compete in the WorldSBK category for the first time, using Ducati machinery. “I have a lot to learn with the new category including the bike, the tyres and some new tracks. But I am very motivated and excited for this opportunity,” the British rider said. KB CRUMP DEPUTISES FOR JOHNSTON AUSSIE RACER Seth Crump will ride the Ashourt Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 for the reminder of the 2023 British Supersport season after being drafted in to replace Lee Johnston as he continues his recovery from injuries sustained in a serious crash at the North West 200. KB SOUTHERN 100 TRAGEDY A SERIOUS incident…

JUNIOR RIDERS are not just the stars of tomorrow – many are already stars, confirming there is some great young talent coming through the ranks, and they display poise and confidence beyond their years. And they can be extremely exciting to watch, too, judging by a thrilling two-day 2023 Australian Junior Track Championships hosted by the Hunter Motorcycle Club at Barleigh Ranch Raceway (NSW) on 8-9 July. A superbly prepared track allowed the youngsters to show off their wares and overtaking manoeuvres were prevalent, highlighted by the final series of races. Amazingly in the eight classes that were decided by a final, after four rounds of heats only twice did the top point-scorer from heats go on to win the final. Two riders scored doubles: Jed Fyffe from the Albury-Wodonga…

WITH TWO ‘CE’ electric scooters now in production, the CE 02 joining the existing, higher-performance CE 04, BMW is expected to turn towards a more motorcycle-style model for its next battery-powered offering. The company has already trademarked an array of alphanumeric names for electric motorcycles, all using the letters ‘DC’ followed by two-figure numbers reflecting their performance level, and showed the Vision DC Roadster back in 2019 to hint at the direction those bikes will take.…

Harley-Davidson’s Indian arm – run by Hero MotoCorp under a deal that allows the Indian company to both distribute Harleys in that market and to develop bikes to wear the H-D badge in India – has launched its first dedicated new model in the form of the Harley-Davidson X440. It’s the latest in a string of tie-in bikes from Harley that are likely to upset traditionalists but also to give the American brand a stong foothold in lucrative emerging markets. We’ve already seen the results of the collaboration with China’s Qianjiang Group, which has resulted in the launch of the twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled X350 and X500 models for Asian markets. Unlike the Qianjiang-made twins, which are both reskinned versions of existing models, the Heromade X440 is a clean sheet design. Made…

Noel McCutcheon had two interesting claims, before you examined his 1950’s racing record. The furthest travelled to be part of the Continental Circus and one of the few riders who ever bollocked Mike Hailwood over an on-track incident. McCutcheon hailed from Dunedin, so his route to the 1957 Isle of Man TT involved land travel to the top of the South Island, inter-island ferry to Wellington, and then ship to England via the Pacific Ocean, Panama Canal and Atlantic. In August 1958, McCutcheon rode in an international at Zandvoort in The Netherlands, the second time he had raced there. “I remember I came upon a young English rider, probably in one of his first overseas meetings, doing something very dangerous by pushing his broken-down bike around a blind corner. “Boy,…

CFMOTO 800MT Price $14,490 (ride away) Power 70kW (95hp) Torque 77Nm Seat height 825mm Suspension travel F:160mm, R:150mm Ground clearance 190mm Weight 225kg (kerb, claimed) SUZUKI V-STROM 800DE $18,590 (ride away) Power 62kW (84hp) Torque 78Nm Seat height 855mm Suspension travel 220mm front and rear Ground clearance 220mm Weight 230kg (kerb, claimed) YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700 $19,999 (ride away) Power 54kW (73hp) Torque 68Nm Seat height 875mm Suspension travel F: 210mm, R:200mm Ground clearance 240mm Weight 205kg (kerb, claimed)…

CLOTHING-BASED airbags have the edge at the moment with a large array of options when it comes to airbag-equipped leathers, jackets or vests. The adoption of airbags in top-level FIM racing certainly helps, and the sight of MotoGP riders waddling away from crashes in inflated leathers is far better than seeing them stretchered away. For road riders, the options are growing, too – we’ve seen airbag jeans launched by Mo’Cycle, for instance, and Airoh is working hand-in-hand with Autoliv to create an airbag helmet. Mo’Cycle, the firm behind the first airbag jeans, has also confirmed that it’s working on an airbag-based inflatable parachute system for riders, designed to slow you down rapidly if you come off your bike, as well as airbag-equipped boots to accompany its existing vest and jeans.…

1 2023 WorldSBK, Rd8, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo and Video Pass 28-30 JULY Check website and local guides A return to the Most circuit in the Czech Republic, after Bautista suffered only the mildest bruising in round seven when he was bested by Razgatlioglu in the Superpole race. 2 2023 SGP, Rd6, LIVE Fox Sports and Kayo 23 JULY Check website and local guides Zrarzlik has opened up a sizeable gap, but Aussies Holder and Doyle are in the pack trying to put the brakes on the Polish world champion. Doyle has been luckless in his finals appearances, so a change of fortunes is on the cards. 3 Docoumentary: The Showdown WorldSBK Video Pass ON DEMAND See worldsbk.com A WorldSBK finale for the ages! It was 2002, and it all…

HAYDEN NELSON (Taree Motorcycles Yamaha) has announced himself on the Supersport stage, tipping out his more fancied rivals to steal pole position and then snatching the holeshot in Race 1, leading Cameron Dunker (GTR MotoStars Yamaha) and Tom Bramich (Apex Yamaha) through the opening turns. Olly Simpson (Simpson Crash Yamaha) also made a strong start from row three, as did Ty Lynch (Unitech Racing Yamaha), who quickly assumed the lead while Nelson was shuffled back through the pack. The first fall of the race was a signal of things to come as Glenn Nelson (Team BWR Yamaha) went down, followed a few laps later by Dallas Skeer (YRD Yamaha) and then race leader Lynch. Just past half race distance the top three were Simpson, Dunker and Bramich. Looking ominous in…

THE OCEANIA JUNIOR Cup saw three different winners over the weekend with Riley Nauta grabbing pole position at a circuit well suited to the Yamaha YZF-R15. Race 1 on Saturday afternoon saw the customary close racing expected from the class, with a five-bike leading group established. Having recently returned from flat-track success in the US, Bodie Paige held off Archie Schmidt and fellow flat-tracker Jed Fyffe. The next day there were up to seven riders in contention for the win on the final lap, with the younger Paige brother, Jake, holding the advantage. Nauta and Schmidt were tucked in close behind but neither could grab the slipstream of Paige in the run to the line. The final race for the weekend put on the biggest show, this time with eight bikes…

AT THIS MOST Italian of racetracks it was only right that locally born riders should dominate. The first of those was Superpole winner Federico Caricasulo on his Althea Ducati. He held off championship leader Nicolo Bulega’s Aruba Ducati and also the Dutch-operated Ten Kate Yamaha YZF-R6 of Stefano Manzi for pole. The seriously hot conditions that made life so hard for the riders and teams alike made their presence felt all weekend, but it was relatively hot heads rather than any climatic conditions that caused Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) to have an accident in the final chicane during Race 1, stopping the race a lap early. The countback of laps (now more correctly of timed sectors around the lap) gave Manzi the deserved win, with the always pugilistic Marcel Schrötter (MV…