Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 73 Issue 03 i Australian Motorcycle News

Ducati’s 916 is often credited with changing the face of motorcycling but the Monster – introduced a year earlier in 1993 and styled by Miguel Galluzzi rather than Massimo Tamburini – has arguably had an even greater impact. Not only did its forward-hunched style, with the mass centralised towards the front wheel, set the template for virtually every sporty nakedbike since, but its mass sales success all but guaranteed Ducati’s future in a way that the more expensive 916 couldn’t. The Monster has been a core part of Ducati’s range since, in a vast array of capacities from 400cc to 1200cc, and to mark its 30th anniversary the company has revealed the new Monster 30° Anniversario as a limited-edition and the first model in the company’s 2024 line-up. Spec-wise, the…

Take the engine from the MV Agusta F3 800 sportsbike and stick it in one of the most unique and arguably best-looking motorcycles ever made and you have yourself a Superveloce. So beautiful and interesting do I find the Superveloce I was so looking forward to riding it – but after seeing it in the flesh I had concerns about how I might fit on it! I had visions of a beanbag draped over a pushbike… but my desire got the better of me and, yes, I’m far too big to own a Superveloce but it doesn’t mean I didn’t love riding it. The compact cockpit, clip-on ’bars, plank-like seat and high ’pegs ensured that my time on the bike was as uncomfortable as possible, but the design and attention…

“The last Wraiths will each sell from $US155-165k ($A229-244k) depending on the anodising,” said Lee. “We’re still making the Bomber, we sell that bike for $125,000 ($A185,000). And then we have the P51 Fighter that sells for $100,000 ($A148,000) and the F117 Fighter for $85,000 ($A160,000). When the new Hellcat comes on board our target price for that is $65,000 ($A96,000). My target was $50k, but I quickly realised I was going to have to cut corners that I didn’t want to do. Even priced at $65k we have to sell 50 Hellcats every year to stay in profit, because they’re fully handbuilt, with high-quality hardware.” Sounds like a bargain.…

THE AUSSIE presence at Goodwood this year was especially pronounced with three former Aussie Champions in Stoner, Gardner and Doohan all in attendance. Though it was Stoner, a large part of Ducati’s show of force, who was most active in the paddock and who was glowing in his assessment of the event. “I’ve been coming here since 2006, I think it’s my fifth or sixth time here,” he said. “For me, it’s an incredible event. There aren’t many places in the world where you can come to one area and see so much history as well as all the new products. And not only that, you get to see most of the cars and bikes all going up the hill and actually being started, not just on display. As a…

ROYAL ENFIELD currently fields a factory-supported two-rider team in the American Flat Track series and plays host to an all-female initiate called Build. Train. Race which, as the name suggests, teaches women how to build a bike and prepare physically to go racing. Maybe I’m missing the point, but the initiatives don’t strike me as particularly pure, simple or all-inclusive – the things which form a large part of Royal Enfield’s ethos. “We’re not talking about MotoGP – it’s flat track,” says Yaddi. “It’s about the rider, the durability, the stress on the engine. That helps us improve engine and technology. It helps the R&Ds based on the feedback. “It’s not about the wins and losses, finally it’s about what we can learn from that; dynamics, engine durability and all…

You might think I’m jumping the gun sourcing a mesh jacket at the start of August but hey, the sun is shining and it’s a balmy 22°C outside, so why not? Anyway, with La Niña well and truly behind us I reckon there’s going to be a crackin’ hot summer headed our way. While the Motodry Revolt has mesh aplenty for airflow in warm weather, it’s also supplied with a zip-out waterproof lining, which keeps the wind out in cooler temps, so I reckon it’s going to get plenty of action even if the BOM – sorry, The Bureau – predicts a cool change. As well as its abrasion-resistant textile mesh construction, the Revolt also features leather reinforced shoulders, elbows, cuffs and kidney panel for protection, along with removable CE…

1 POLE VOLT Cassons Australia $149.95 (02) 8882 1900 cassonsmedia.com O’Neal’s new Volt open-face helmet features a robust and lightweight ABS shell with a multipoint ventilation system, microlock buckle and removable and washable comfort liner. The Volt meets ECE 22.05 safety standards and boasts an integrated sun visor and removable peak, and weighs in at just 1150g. 2 BOOTS OF BRAWN Moto National $499.95 1300 885 355 motonational.com.au The Falco Avantour 2 boot sports a full-grain, oil-treated leather upper with High-Tex waterproof membrane, PU-moulded shin-plate and Falco’s Eso-Motion 2 rear articulation system. D3O-backed ankle cups up the safety level, while a buckle and velcro closure and high-grip sole offer secure footings and fit. 3 ENDURANCE LEATHER Link International $899.95 (07) 3382 5000 linkint.com.au Difi’s Suzuka two-piece leather suit provides protection…

Most, Czech Republic 4.212km 2022Winners WorldSBK R1 A Bautista WorldSBK SP Race T Razgatlioglu WorldSBK R2 T Razgatlioglu WorldSSP R1 L Baldassarri WorldSSP R2 L Baldassarri WorldSBK Race 1 DNF: P OETTL (GER, DUC), E GRANADO (BRA, HON), G GERLOFF (USA, YAM), H SOOMER (EST, HON) POLE POSITION (AND NEW BEST LAP) RAZGATLIOGLU 1m30.801s FASTEST LAP BAUTISTA 1m32.400s WorldSBK Superpole Race FASTEST LAP RAZGATLIOGLU 1m31.254s WorldSBK Race 2 DNF T RAZGATLIOGLU (TUR, YAM), L BALDASSARRI (ITA, YAM), O KONIG (CZE, KAW), E GRANADO (BRA, HON) FASTEST LAP RAZGATLIOGLU 1m31.951s RIDER STANDINGS AFTER 8 OF 12 ROUNDS 1 BAUTISTA 427, 2 RAZGATLIOGLU 353, 3 REA 251 4 LOCATELLI 227, 5 BASSANI 207, 6 PETRUCCI 155, 7 RINALDI 147, 8 LOWES 121, 9 AEGERTER 114, 10 VIERGE 105, 11 REDDING 99, 12…

AFTER SUPERPOLE qualifying Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing Kawasaki) launched off the front row, with the combination of Marc Garcia and his Kove 321RR machine making some history with a first front-row start for the Chinese manufacturer. The opening race was the usual wild ride, not aided by the suddenly wet conditions after a dry start. Several riders collided and fell at Turn 1 but the race was finally decided in favour of those brave or foolhardy enough to continue racing on slick tyres for all 14 laps. The race was won by the KTM of Lennox Lehmann, for his first ever WorldSSP300 victory. Second was Marco Gaggi from the BR Corse Yamaha team, while first-time podium rider Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) placed third. Many riders pitted for…

HONDA WORLDSBK rider Iker Lecuona will deputise for the injured Alex Rins in the LCR Honda squad at this weekend’s British Grand Prix in Silverstone, while it’s been confirmed that Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow will be granted a wildcard entry at the Japanese Grand Prix in the last weekend of September. Lecuona’s inclusion will rule the Spaniard out of his Endurance World Championship duties at this year’s iconic Suzuka 8 Hours race, but the Spaniard said he was “happy to jump on the bike, as I want to do my best and help the team. I like Silverstone’s layout and we can have fun.” Crutchlow, with three grand prix wins to his name, will be the third Yamaha rider on the grid alongside the Monster Yamaha pairing of Fabio Quartararo and…

TOMMY BRIDEWELL took two British Superbike Championship race wins out of three at Brands Hatch to propel the PBM BeerMonster Ducati rider to the top of the points table, with the only blemish being a seventh place in the opening wet sprint race on the Saturday. “It’s been a great weekend in all aspects,” a delighted Bridewell said. “To win one BSB race is an achievement so to win two in a day shows how confident I am and how I feel within myself, with the bike and with the team.” Bridewell’s teammate Glenn Irwin gave the BeerMonster team a one-two in the final race and now sits second in the standings. Ryan Vickers (OMG Racing Yamaha) took his first BSB win in the sprint race while Danny Kent (Lovell…

MUSICAL CHAIRS THE WORLDSBK who-goes-where in 2024 stories went into overdrive again at Most, with Andrea Iannone (pictured) looking set to sign for GoEleven Ducati to replace Philipp Oett l. The rumours of Jonathan Rea moving to Yamaha also had some gravity built in, even if they were brushed off as gossip by the man himself. Michael Ruben Rinaldi is almost certain to be replaced by Nicolo Bulega, while Iker Lecuona says he will go wherever HRC wants him. GORDON RITCHIE THAT’S THE SPIRIT BEAU SKILLINGTON has picked up the 2023 Holden On Tight Junior Sportsmen Spirit Award aft er stopping to assist a fellow competitor who had crashed during this year’s Australian Junior Motocross Championship in Darwin, NT. Skillington’s trophy, gearbag and $200 prizemoney is the last of its…

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 Ralph, Pete or Sean’s ex-girlfriend, for that matter. Cos, as we found out at Dumb & Dumber, turns out you never quite know when you’re going land on your arse, go arse over head or get plonked on a plastic cowl by an inconsiderate arse!…

BMW has confirmed the all-new R 1300 GS is getting a September unveiling before hitting dealers in 2024, but it’s not going to be the only tempting new option in the big adventure bike market as evidence has emerged confirming there’s a new Honda model being prepared to rival it. At the moment, details are scarce but AMCN can confirm Honda has applied for type-approval certification in Europe on a new bike codenamed ‘SD14’. That might not seem very revealing, but students of Honda’s long-running model code format will know that it can only apply to a large-capacity adventure bike. The first character – ‘S’ – relates to engine capacity. Honda has a simple system to categorise bikes by size, starting with ‘A’ for sub-50cc models and running up through…

“Half this sh*t needs to stop” Two-time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner referring to the latest technology in MotoGP which has allowed Ducati to rise to dominance. Talking at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, he rattled off aerodynamics, shapeshifters, overbearing electronics and even suggested putting a cap on decade-old rules “so that manufacturers can reasonable catch up to each other” as way to improve the sport. For more from Goodwood, head to page 60. 50 It’s been half a century since Yamaha won its first Motocross World Championship and it’s marking the occasion with some retro graphics in its 2023 competition off-road range. Steering clear of the words purple or pink, it’s simply called ‘Anniversary White’. MENTAL TWISTIES The Sidecar World Championship paddock is a busy place, but not…

AIR YOUR THOUGHTS OR VENT YOUR SPLEEN Access, AMCN, PO Box 6, Bittern, Vic, 3918 access@amcn.com.au LETTER OF THE ISSUE Don’t procrastinate I’m lying here recovering from prostate cancer surgery and reading the latest issue (AMCN Vol 73 No 02). Geez, I hope you’re wrong, Kel, cos I can’t ride for at least a few more weeks. Any of you blokes who have a family history of prostate cancer get it checked out. I had no symptoms, just a slightly elevated blood test result. From there it’s an MRI which will tell the specialist what’s happening. No rectal examination anymore – that’s old school. Don’t put it off any longer. Pete Garfield via email OZ GP future Regarding Kel’s comment last issue (AMCN Vol 73 No 02). My opinion on…

I’m sure you’ll agree the Brutale RR looks spectacular. But pictures don’t do this bike – or any other MV for that matter – justice. In the flesh, the Brutale is beautiful. From the overall look to the splashes of raw carbon parts, there’s that tail, the four-exit exhaust… and that billet alloy dash mount. The Brutale really is a rolling piece of art. Gone are the days when owning a nakedbike meant compromises in comfort and performance. Weapons like the Streetfighter V4, Super Duke R and MT-10 offer sportsbike performance with ergonomics that don’t require a chiropractor. I made a beeline for the Brutale 1000 RR first thing, drawn to the 153kW (208hp) four-cylinder big hitter. But half an hour into the ride, I was questioning my decision –…

“I did some financing for Confederate in 2017, when the brand came up for sale in 2018 I bought it. I felt like the brand still had legs – there was a good following. I was lucky enough to hire some of the folks who worked for Confederate, and I credit the success of Combat Motors to those people as much as me. “I’m not married, I don’t have kids and so my businesses are my children. My employees are my partners and they’re important to me – everyone in the company has a slice of commission on the bikes sold. It’s important they have skin in the game. “Gasoline bikes have a significant future, if necessary with digital fuels because I think people are still going to want to…

THERE WAS NO hiding the fact that Ducati decided to go all in at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with a significant chunk of the Ballroom Paddock given over to the unmistakable red machines. Its dominance of the current season’s standings may have played a role, so too that the next round of the MotoGP season sees the greatest show on two wheels rolling into Silverstone – or perhaps it was to mark 20 years since the iconic brand re-entered the premier class. Whatever the reason, the presence of the iconic Italian marque was unmissable. Ducati Lenovo MotoGP spearheaded the Italian invasion with all three of the riders: Enea Bastianini, Pecco Bagnaia and test man Michele Pirro. Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna and Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatt…

Many people in the MotoGP paddock – including rights-holder Dorna Sports – are worried that the last-remaining embattled Japanese factories will quit the championship. Merely thinking this thought a few years ago would have been ridiculous, but not anymore. Suzuki withdrew from MotoGP at the end of last season, despite having won the championship as recently as 2020 and winning two of the last three races of 2022. So far this year Honda and Yamaha have been humiliated by their European rivals: Italian brands Ducati and Aprilia and Austrian brand KTM. Twenty-two of the 24 podium positions at the first eight grands prix were occupied by riders of European machines. And June’s German grand prix was the first since the 1969 Adriatic GP without a single Japanese motorcycle in the…

EVERY RIDER needs a good backpack. I’ve had some great packs over the years, and I’ve had some junk, but even the best of the best didn’t make the first impression that Kriega’s R30 has. I’ve seen and heard a lot about Kriega’s range of packs and always wanted to get my hands on one. After seeing Daryl Beattie sporting one at the Honda Transalp launch that had obviously seen a serious amount of work but was still in top-notch condition, I thought it was about time I replaced my ageing pack. Sure, there are cooler-looking backpacks on the market, but nothing I’ve come in contact with compares to the R30 for quality construction and durable feel. The R30 is like a tank and feels like it’ll last forever –…

TESTED VOL 65 NO 25 BIKE SPOTLIGHT INDIAN SPRINGFIELD ENGINE 1819cc V-twin POWER Not given TORQUE 161Nm WEIGHT 376kg (kerb) PRICE $39,495 (ride away) “When you consider its multiple personalities you are getting a lot of bike for your buck” WEB HOT! Check out the website for the latest reviews at amcn.com.au TESTED VOL 66 NO 15 BIKE SPOTLIGHT URAL SAHARA ENGINE 749cc flat twin POWER 31kW (42hp) TORQUE 56.9Nm WEIGHT 331kg (dry) PRICE $30,599 (plus ORC) “The Ural is remarkably competent – the company has been doing this for a very long time”…

REMY GARDNER (GYTR GRT Yamaha) started his weekend second fastest on Friday, with only Toprak Razgatlioglu ahead of him. In Superpole he was third fastest, aft er changes to the grid. In Race 1 he was 11th, after pitting for slicks, sixth in the Superpole Race and sixth again in the final race. He’s 12th overall. “We solved a technical problem I have been suffering with all year and I’ve started getting a better understanding with the bike. Position-wise, I don’t think there was much more, to be honest, here on Sunday. It was tough against the other manufacturers today. I had a kind of similar thing as Toprak and finished the race with big old holes in the rear tyre. We were lucky, one more lap and maybe we wouldn’t have…

AFTER REPEATED pleas from some riders, the Grand Prix Commission has agreed to reduce the number of sessions which count towards earning a spot in the second qualifying session (Q2). Sparked by a desire to reduce the intensity and risk required from teams and riders from the very first session, and therefore reducing the likelihood of crashes and injuries, the changed needed unanimous agreement from all premier-class teams before it could be implemented. Until now, the times set in both of Friday’s 45-minute P1 and the 60-minute P2 session would count towards determining the top-10 fastest riders eligible to progress into the second qualifying session (Q2). Riders who missed out were forced to battle it out in the opening qualifying session (Q1) with only the two quickest riders allowed to…

JUDD ‘ROCKET RONNY’ Plaisted and Cameron Dunker took the overall round wins at the third round of the FIM MiniGP Australia Series held at Ipswich Go Kart Track over 22-23 July. Plaisted, from South Australia and competing in the 160cc class for 10-14 year olds, qualified second in between Queenslanders Jake Paige and the polesitter Hunter Corney. Corney started strongly in the first race, building a gap to Paige of over three seconds by mid-race distance. Plaisted, applying constant pressure, made his move on Paige for second place soon after. They finished in that position at the line, with Rikki Henry and Ethan Johnston completing the top five. In Race 2, Plaisted made a much better start, taking Corney early on and holding position throughout the race. With several laps…

CFMOTO’S PLANNED 1000cc superbike has been mentioned on these pages before (AMCN Vol 72 No 15) when the company filed patent applications related to a 150kW V4 engine at the start of this year. Now it looks to be on schedule for launch near the end of 2023 and has been spotted on test in China. Long-distance video footage of a superbike-style machine with a distinctive V4 engine note has circulated on social media in China. The poor quality means there’s little else that can be gleaned about the project at the moment, but it will be interesting to see how the V4 stacks up against established rivals in terms of performance and, more importantly, price.…

LIVEWIRE CLIMBER Australian Livewire owner Duncan Mallord has been recognised by the Guinness World Records for the highest altitude change achieved on an electric motorbike. BIKES IN ANCAP Car safety tester ANCAP has added motorcycles to its autonomous emergency braking test for 2023 as part of its updated collision avoidance tests. NFT NFI In a bid to attract a new audience, Ducati will release its first-ever digital collectible which will be an animated sequence of every Ducati tank badge since 1946. OPERATION OLI Aussie WorldSSP rider Oli Bayliss was forced to sit out the world championship round at Most as he underwent surgery in Oz to repair his injured shoulder.…

LAMS ON TRIAL Time flies when you’re having fun, and it’s hard to believe 21 years has passed since common sense had an impact on the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme in NSW. The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), as it was known back then, announced a two-year trial allowing learner and provisional riders to ride bikes up to 660cc capacity that did not exceed a power-to-weigh ratio of 150kW per tonne, replacing the arbitrary 250cc limit previously imposed. Common sense prevailed, the trial was a resounding success, eventually filtered through to all states and territories. NEW METAL Munich’s 2002 Intermot show had just concluded and there was a ton of new metal for readers to feast their eyes on. Suzuki unveiled its new 2003 GSX-R1000, which was more powerful and…

THE DUCATI Panigale family continues to increase – there are now six different models to choose from, not including the limited-edition Superleggera V4. At the lower end of the Panigale family, but still desirable and a great bike to ride on the road and track, is the standard V2, starting at $25,600 (all prices ride away). The only other V-twin in the Panigale range is the V2 Bayliss $29,600. Next up is the V4 Panigale range starting with the standard V4 at $35,600. The V4 S has upgraded Öhlins semi-active suspension, $45,000. Next is the V4 SP2, the same power as the standard V4 Panigale and V4 S, but now with lighter carbon wheels and classy SP livery, and the price is $56,800. And now finally we have the V4…

MotoGP was the star of the 30th instalment of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held annually on the private estate of the Duke of Richmond in the south of London. The festival has been celebrating all things motorsport since its inception and, thanks to the fortuitous timing of the MotoGP summer break, MotoGP drew focus from an otherwise packed schedule of four-wheel mayhem. For 2023, a good chunk of the iconic hillclimb’s program was devoted to all things MotoGP, past and present. Over in the paddock fans were able to get the kind of access to their heroes and iconic rides only an exclusive pit pass can usually buy. The Ducati garage with its current Desmosedici GP23 machines consistently drew solid crowds over the weekend with a crush of iPhone-wielding…

Anuj Dua is Royal Enfield’s Head of Business in the Asia Pacific. A Royal Enfield employee for the past seven years, he took over the role about 12 months ago and he, as well as a handful of other Royal Enfileds bigwigs, were in Australia recently for the national launch of the Super Meteor 650. The bike’s a really big deal for the Indian brand – the third such machine to spawn from the hugely popular 650 parallel-twin platform which includes the Interceptor and Continental GT launched five years ago now. But, as both AMCN spy shots and carefully worded statements from the brand have confirmed, it certainly won’t be the last. Warm and engaging, Anuj immediately strikes me as too nice a bloke to be put in charge of…

TOP THREE TV 1 2023 MOTOGP, Rd9, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo and Video Pass 4-6 AUGUST Check website and local guides It’s been a long time between drinks in MotoGP land – so much so that it looks like Jack Miller has built himself a new motocross track in Townsville! -so we await the return with anticipation. 2 2023 EWC, Rd4, LIVE Fox Sports and Kayo 4-6 AUGUST Check website and local guides It’s the pinnacle of world endurance racing: the famed Suzuka 8 Hours, which has been won by a smorgasbord of Aussie stars including Cole, Hatton, Gardner, Magee, Beattie and Doohan. It’s like an eight-hour sprint race! 3 2023 ProMX, Rd7, LIVE SBS, Livestream 13 AUGUST Check website and local guides The business end of the championship, with…

THE DJI MINI 2 drone is compact and light, weighing less than 250g and measuring 159mm (l) x 203mm (w) x 56mm (h) when folded, so it’s easy to pack if you only have limited space. The Mini 2 is easy to fly, too, with a simple two-stick controller that you plug into your phone, and there’s a ‘return home’ butt on, meaning if you lose sight of it it’ll return back to where you launched it from. You can record video or take photos using the 12mp gimbal-mounted camera and it takes surprisingly good stills and video for such a small drone. The Mini 2 can shoot stills in either JPEG or RAW format and can record up to 4k video. The Mini 2 doesn’t feature a lock and…

IT’S A FUNNY old place, Most, with the emphasis on fun and old, and unique compared to all those identikit modern tracks built in the middle of absolutely nowhere. The weather was predictably unpredictable again, as it had been at the two previous WorldSBK visits, and Race 1 was all about how people reacted to and used the weather changes. That’s what decided the outcome to go to the often beleaguered Kawasaki Racing Team squad and Jonathan Rea. He won his 119th WorldSBK race, a full-length 22-lap one at that, when the riders were faced with a wet track surface on the grid and many tyre choices. Starting from pole position was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha), who signed his name in the record books again with his new track best…

ANOTHER CRAZY Race 1 starting melee into that impossibly tight first chicane saw several riders touch or run off, with Lucas Mahias’ Kawasaki leaking fuel from its full tank as it lay on the track, alongside lots of gravel and other debris. One heavy clean up later and the 19-lap race became 12 laps. Pole man Nicolo Bulega would win it on his official Ducati, Stefano Manzi second on his Ten Kate Yam and, for the sake of variety, Bahattin Sofuoglu’s MV Agusta ran out third – but only just – from Raffaele De Rosa’s Orelac Ducati. The shock of the century came in Race 2, when a dry start led to a wet middle and then a dry finish. The end result was Tarran Mackenzie winning on his Petronas…

THE CHANGE to the schedule isn’t the only tweak to the MotoGP rulebook that will take effect at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, with the control tyre-pressure monitoring system to be introduced which could see riders penalised if their tyre pressures fall under the minimum mandated by Michelin. The system has been used by all premier-class teams during the first half of the 2023 season in a bid to familiarise themselves with how tyre pressures fluctuate in different conditions and at certain tracks, and it will now be open to a scale of time penalties if it's found that pressures have dropped below the required reading. Riders will be issued with a warning for their first offence, a three-second time penalty for their second, a six-second time penalty for their…

BAYLISS UNDER THE KNIFE AUSSIE WORLDSSP rider Oli Bayliss was undergoing surgery in Brisbane during the opening day of Round 8 of the championship at Most in a bid to ensure the shoulder injury he sustained during Superpole at Donington Park doesn’t hinder him long term. “We’ll soon have a clearer picture regarding my recovery time,” he posted on social media. “I will also have the recovery process at home. I’m sorry to all my sponsors, supporters and the team.” KB ARGENTINA CANNED ARGENTINA WILL no longer host the final round of the 2023 Superbike World Championship aft er the 13-15 October date clashes with the country’s national and provincial elections. The series says the decision shows respect “for the political context and allows proper planning for events of the…