Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 75 Issue 8 i Australian Motorcycle News

“THANK YOU, LOYAL READERS, FOR SUPPORTING ONE OF THE OLDEST MOTORCYLE MAGS IN THE WORLD” GOT AN UNUSUAL phone call the other day. In our recent Adventure issue, we ran a big feature written by former AMCN editor Chris Dobie on Kiwi adventurer Michael Ruegg (‘The World According to Michael’, Vol 75 No.05) who thrashed his Yamaha XV750 around the planet to the tune of 413,000km or thereabouts. At some point Dobie must have given Michael my number, because he called out of the blue and we had a big long chat. Lovely old chap who could well be the biggest Gassit fan I’ve ever come across – and that’s saying something. Michael told me (begged, really) that his lifelong dream was to be featured in one of Fred’s adventures…

CFMOTO’S DEVELOPMENT of a V4 superbike has been public knowledge for over a year but the bike broke cover at EICMA in near-production form and proved to be more impressive than we could have imagined from a Chinese manufacturer until very recently. We’re looking at strong performance claims, high levels of technology and styling that avoids the trap of aping established European or Japanese machines. The company’s V4 project was exposed a couple of years ago when patents for the new engine emerged, and was confirmed at EICMA in 2024 when the engine was presented alongside a sculpture that represented the new bike. The finished result, dubbed V4 SR-RR, appears to have all the ingredients for success, including that 1000cc fourcylinder engine, claimed to make 210hp, paired to a kerb weight…

When Honda showed the V3 E-Compressor engine last year – mounted in a makeshift trellis frame but lacking any bodywork – it stole the EICMA show by proving there’s still life in the internal combustion engine. Now Honda has unveiled a close-to-production spec prototype using the same engine and carrying the name V3R E-Compressor. While there are still huge gaps in the details that have been provided, we’ve also gained some insight into what to expect when it reaches showrooms, including that the engine measures 900cc and, thanks to its electric supercharger, offers performance similar to a conventional 1200cc engine. That’s still a pretty vague proposition: 1200cc bikes on the market today range from sub-100hp to over-200hp in performance terms, but the Honda looks likely to be nearer the upper…

More than five years after India’s TVS took control of Norton its $A400 million investment has resulted in a completely new line-up revealed for the first time at EICMA. Norton showed four of a planned six-model range with the headliner the Manx R. This is a 1200cc V4 superbike that uses a development of the engine from the previous V4 models, but with substantially improved performance, a new chassis, futuristic styling and – at last – the emissions performance needed for it to go on sale internationally. In the Manx R, as well as the mechanically-identical Manx cafe racer that was presented alongside it, the new engine puts out a claimed 154kW (206hp) at 11,500rpm and 130Nm of torque at 9000rpm. Road-usable midrange grunt is the goal here. For example…

AV5 engine will power a future MV Agusta platform across multiple segments, from Supersport to Naked and Touring. The Italian company revealed a concept engine, saying it had ‘a modular displacement range’ from 850cc to 1150cc, capable of delivering over 180kW (240hp) at more than 16,000rpm and a beefy 135Nm of torque at 8500rpm. MV’s CEO Luca Martin explained the internals to AMCN’s Alan Cathcart: “We basically have two engines coupled together – an inline three-cylinder in front, and a parallel-twin behind, to make it easier for the rider’s knees to be brought closer together. Each bank of cylinders has its own crankshaft, coupled via a central gear pinion, and are contra-rotating to cancel out the gyroscopic inertia of the rotating masses. This improves the bike’s handling, especially the steering,…

LETTER OF THE YEAR Funny who you run into! I recently had my Monster booked in for its annual service with Solitaire Adelaide Ducati’s new service adviser Louise Flett. Her name didn’t ring any bells. But soon, proving the words of that Rod Stewart song Some Guys Have All the Luck, it truly was my lucky day to meet such a delightful and knowledgeable lady. As our conversation progressed, I discovered that Louise is not only Tara Morrison’s proud and devoted mum, but she has an amazing motorcycle history herself. I told Louise that I think the AMCN readers would like to hear her story and get a little insight into the DNA that has helped Tarzy become the successful racer she is today. “WITH THE PEDIGREE OF HER PARENTS,…

IZAN GUEVARA capped a recordbreaking year in Moto2, as he became the 11th different winner of the season while Ivan Ortola (MSI Boscoscuro) was the 18th different podium finisher of 2025, equalling last year’s tally. Most importantly, Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Kalex) was the champion after coming home in a nervy 10th to cap the greatest comeback in intermediate class history. Holding a 24-point advantage over Manuel Gonzalez (IntactGP Kalex), a 14th would seal the title for the Brazilian. Gonzalez, meanwhile, simply had to win. That always seemed an outside shot as Guevara passed polesitter Dani Holgado (IntactGP Kalex) on the run to Turn 1 with Albert Arenas, Senna Agius (IntactGP Kalex) and Gonzalez all following suit. As Moreira circulated in ninth, his qualifying position, Gonzalez began to encounter a huge…

DIOGO MOREIRA (Italtrans Kalex) took a huge step toward taking the Moto2 title with a perfectly timed victory to stretch his lead out to 24 points. Only a disaster can stop him from here. Outside the top 10 on Friday, the Brazilian coolly took pole while chief contender Manuel Gonzalez (IntactGP Kalex) was eighth after catching an inopportune yellow flag. Moreira initially got the jump but looked tentative out front, as Collin Veijer (Ajo Kalex), Jake Dixon (Marc VDS Boscoscuro), David Alonso (Aspar Kalex), Celestino Vietti (SpeedRS Boscoscuro) and Gonzalez queued up behind. Surprisingly, Viejer took control on lap four before stretching his lead out to 0.7sec by lap 12. Aron Canet (Fantic Kalex) replaced Dixon, Gonzalez and Vietti up front. And as the laps ticked by, the lead quartet…

1 Josh Waters and McMartin Racing – title No. 5  How can this win not be on the list? Not content with a record-breaking fourth title last year, Waters, McMartin and Adrian Monti knew they needed something extra special in 2025 with Queensland picking up extra dates. The ASBK talent pool has been an embarrassment of riches the last seven or eight years, with many riders in their mid 30s (or beyond!) with a very complete skill set. Herfoss, Jones, West Allerton, Staring, Maxwell or Halliday – all race winners on their day, but Josh Waters simply delivers and looks to improve year on year. McMartin Racing are the benchmark in ASBK Superbike – the team sticks to a process-oriented approach and are rarely flustered. Who would bet against them…

TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU winning the WSBK championship for BMW in 2024 was akin to a miracle. Winning it for a second time, after so many unforeseen issues interfering with the 2025 pre-season preparation plan, was at least as much of an achievement. For man and manufacturer both. It was as troubled a runup to a title defence for the official ROKiT Motorrad BMW team as almost any in history, for the simple reason that they could not run their previous Superconcession chassis package. The final ruling on that (predictable enough to some others) came very late in the pre-season development cycle, so there was little time to prepare for the first races. Then there was the small problem of Toprak having had his right index finger knuckle rebuilt with three screws…

IN THE SECOND year of the unique women-only WWCR championship, the fight for the title was once again a right set-to involving two riders from Spain. This time around the highly experienced Maria Herrera secured the title, having missed out narrowly last year, but not in the clear way that many expected. Beatriz Neila and Herrera traded the bulk of the race wins (Herrera 6, Neila 4, with Roberta Ponziani and final-round wildcard Paola Ramos scoring one apiece). The podiums were another matter. All of the top six, plus Ramos of course, secured podium spots, with this year’s star arrival being the UK’s Chloe Jones. She ended up third overall and did everything except score her first win. She did, however, take Superpole at Magny-Cours. Ponziani added a second place to…

To determine our coveted MOTY award, we pulled together a selection of new models that showcased what the options were for Aussie buyers in 2025. It covered a cross-section of genres. For example, a Chinese four-pot screamer with way more tech than the sale price would indicate. Then a Japanese triple that transformed WorldSSP racing. How about a German retro adventure bike that actually rocks on an enduro course? Or an Italian single-cylinder that almost guarantees you’ll lose your licence if you ride it like its maker intended? Not to mention a British perfomance naked that really offers you three motorcycles in one. That’s just a few of the new models that have stuck in our minds and found a place in our hearts after a year of riding everything…

Let’s talk about the big red elephant in the room. Earlier in April, I had a career – and life – highlight that will be hard to top. Ducati is a staple in the motorcycle world. I first fell in love with the red beast when my dad showed me videos of Anthony Gobert riding the Vance & Hines Ducati in AMA Superbike. That’s when I knew I wanted to be Number 95 and ride a red bike just like him. The Go Show legend! Fast forward to the present – stepping off a plane in Thailand with my helmet as my carry-on, I was about to ride one of the most serious bikes on the planet at one of the fastest MotoGP tracks in the world. I was beyond…

Can you believe it’s been over 30 years since Triumph launched the first Speed Triple back in 1994? Countless bikes have come and gone over those three decades but the Speed Triple story continues with this heavily revised and fully naked 134.6kW (180.5hp) Street Triple RS – Triumph’s most powerful bike to date. It’s also arguably the Hinckley factory’s most advanced bike to date, with Öhlins Smart EC3 electronic suspension and even more advanced rider aids than ever before, including a very clever front wheel lift control and a new engine brake strategy. The Öhlins Smart EC3 suspension is the very latest electronic system, only seen before on the considerably more expensive Ducati Panigale V4 S and Honda Fireblade SP. Triumph has also taken the opportunity to play with the…

Here’s our highlights of an action-packed 12 months CARBON IS KING Vol 74 No.13 Our cover shot of Jack Miller testing an unpainted carbon-clad Yamaha was poster quality and an example of how ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. It pointed to our exclusive look inside the secret world of MotoGP garages. A DEAD-SET LEGEND Vol 74 No.14  It had all been doom and gloom for KTM, deep in the throes of a corporate meltdown. One man changed the public image of the Austrian giant, totally dominating the Dakar. Our in-depth coverage took readers to the heart of Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders’ amazing winning effort. RED ALERT Vol 74 No.15 AMCN was ahead of the game again, predicting that the arrival of a reborn multiple world champion would turn Ducati’s…

THE V4 WASN’T the only CFMoto novelty at EICMA, which also saw the launch of the its 1000MT-X adventure bike. Looking identical to the existing 800MT-X and sharing similar chassis specs, the 1000MT-X adopts the latest-generation KTM LC8c parallel twin engine in 947cc form, as used in the 990 Duke, instead of the first-gen 799cc variant used in the 800MT-X. KTM completely redesigned the LC8c for the ‘990’ version, with all-new castings, but ensured its mounting points matched the previous to make it easy to update existing bikes – and that’s exactly what CFMoto has done. It’s likely that, without its financial crisi, KTM would have already launched multiple additional ‘990’ models, including a 990 Adventure, by now. CFMoto’s existing partnership with KTM means they operate a joint manufacturing venture…

ALTHOUGH NOT revealed in full, Ducati used EICMA to preview the upcoming DesertX V2 that will get its full unveiling in February and reach dealers towards the middle of next year. Under bodywork that’s clearly similar in style to the current, Dakar-inspired DesertX, there’s a completely new chassis and engine. At the moment, the DesertX is the last man standing in Ducati’s line-up with the Testastretta engine. Now it will get the new 890cc ‘V2’, with conventional valve springs, chain-driven camshafts and variable valve timing that also offers long service intervals. The engine will acts as a structural chassis component, helping reduce weight. With a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel, the DesertX V2 retains genuine offroad potential.…

INDIAN MANUFACTURER Bajaj Auto has taken majority ownership of KTM, renaming Pierer Bajaj AG as Bajaj Auto International Holdings AG, while KTM’s holding company, Pierer Mobility AG, will be called Bajaj Mobility AG. This follows the announcement last week that Bajaj had become Pierer Mobility’s majority owner with an effective stake of 74.9 per cent. Pierer Mobility is the sole owner of KTM and listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. Austrian Stefan Pierer took over KTM in 1991 when it faced bankruptcy, eventually turning it into Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer with more than 4000 employees and an annual turnover of more than $A4.5 billion. He is expected step down soon as the CEO of Pierer Mobility and KTM, along with the board members nominated by him. This will allow Bajaj…

IT TOOK 86 attempts, but Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Honda) is finally a grand prix winner after he kept his cool in a tight, five-way Moto3 finale. Attentions turned to the battle for second in the championship after Jose Antonio Rueda (Ajo KTM), back in the paddock this weekend after his Malaysia injury, had wrapped the title up one round earlier. Max Quiles (Aspar KTM) needed to outscore Angel Piqueras (MSI KTM) by nine points to seal the place. The encounter had plenty of jeopardy with the two riders in the lead group early on. But polesitter Fernandez’s rapid pace was too much for Piqueras, David Almansa (Leopard Honda) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Honda), who all dropped away from the lead quintet that also included Taiyo Furusato (HTA Honda), Alvaro Carpe…

DURING THE race’s first half, this appeared to be Joel Kelso’s (MTA KTM) big chance. The Australian had taken the third pole position of his career and went all-in from the start in an attempt to claim a maiden Moto3 victory. Having built up a decent lead, his chances were enhanced when Maximo Quiles (Aspar KTM) had a huge moment through the final turn on lap three. But Kelso’s decision to run Pirelli’s soft front tyre unravelled and it was clear he had nothing to keep the chasing pack behind as he ran wide at Turn 5 on lap 10. He was swallowed up, with Quiles, Angel Piqueras (MSI KTM), Alvaro Carpe (Ajo KTM) and Taiyo Furusato (HTA Honda) soon getting through. Piqueras had the pace to win but was pushed…

SCOTT NICHOLSON had already wrapped up the Race and Road Supersport 300 title at One Raceway, but another consistent performance handed him the final round that was filled with chaos. Nick Lazos took out the opening race by 3.5secs from Nicholson after Riley Nauta crashed out of the lead with Hudson Thompson completing the podium. The second race was abandoned due to time delays after a crash and the final saw the red flags came out for a crash on lap two. This time Nauta (Champion Ride Days) made no mistake, taking the win ahead of Mitch Simpson (Simpson Crash) and Tyler King (Wet 4 U Race Fairings). Jordy finished Simpson finished second in the series points followed by King, Mitch Simpson and Jake Paige. Tara Morrison slipped from fourth to…

THERE WAS an era when predicting the Dakar winner was as easy as a coin toss. Heads: Marc Coma. Tails: Cyril Despres. For 10 years in succession the Catalan and the Frenchman totally dominated the Dakar Rally during the time of its relocation from North Africa to South America. Then along came Toby Price, the Ocker from Oz, disrupting the Eurocentric circus with his laissez faire attitude to preparation. A bloke with the speed and determination to overcome politics, personal injury and ‘technical issues’. Who can forget Price reconstructing his rear tyre with cable ties and gaffer tape midway through a marathon stage? Lured by lucre, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) moved the Dakar to Saudi Arabia in 2020. Gone were the captivating images of the Andes bordering Chile, the…

BRADY KURTZ won the last five rounds of the Speedway GP series to come agonisingly close to denying Bartosz Zmarzlik a sixth world championship crown as one of the highlights of a very good 2025 for Australian speedway. Victory in the Speedway of Nations tournament should not have come as a great surprise given that there were four Australians in the top 10 in the individual championship – Great Britain with two being the only other country with more than one representative in that top 10. No other Polish rider joined Zmarzlik in that top 10 and their domination of Under 21 competition ended, while Ukraine produced their first world champion and Germany were shock Speedway of Nations 2 winners as success spread wider across countries. The most pleasing aspect…

Twist the throttle of CFMoto’s new 500SR VOOM and its four 125cc pistons harmonise into a fluid, rising soundtrack that builds. It starts with a reasonably loud hum at low revs, as musical as it is mechanical. Then the note tightens into a keen-edged growl in the midrange before soaring into a distinctive howl as the digital tacho climbs past 10,000rpm. It’s urgent, alive and unmistakably inline-four, and I’d forgotten just how much fun a small-capacity four-cylinder engine can be. Compared to today’s ubiquitous parallel twins, the VOOM’s engine feels creamy and turbine-smooth, thanks to its naturally balanced 180-degree crankshaft and the seamless timing of four evenly spaced crank throws. It’s just so much fun; you’re chasing the redline not out of necessity, but because it’s addictive. The 500SR VOOM…

We usually kick off a road test by highlighting a bike’s exciting technical updates and innovations. But with the all-new Honda CB1000 Hornet SP, the real headline is its price. Somehow, Honda has managed to bring a 155hp naked bike to Australia for well under $20,000… $17,799, to be precise, plus on-road costs. Honda brought back the Hornet model name in 2023 with the CB750, a competitively priced middleweight that quickly became Europe’s best-selling naked bike of that year. Following up with the CB500 Hornet last year, the 1000 completes the Hornet line-up. The design follows the Hornet tradition – broad in the front, slim in the middle, beefy at the rear – shaped like a hornet when viewed from above. Despite the SP’s 212kg weight, it feels incredibly nimble,…

THE DESMO NO-MO AWARD Ducati went and replaced its 937cc Testastretta V2 DVT engine with a new 890cc V2 with variable valve timing. Unlike the Testastretta engine it replaces, it employs conventional chain-driven camshafts and spring return valves operated by finger followers. Ducati lists valve-clearance checks at 45,000km, the longest interval yet, which in itself is significant as it replaces the Desmodromic valve system used by Ducati for the last 50 years. UNCHARTED WATERS Josh Waters went from breaking his collarbone at pre-season testing and being in doubt for the opening round, to winning a record fifth Australian Superbike title with essentially a round to spare. The 38-year-old made it look easy; it was far from it. A stellar job from both team and rider. THE 18-YEAR ITCH AWARD Eighteen…

There’s an old joke in biker circlesabout the ever-suffering wife’s lament: the ‘just one more bike’ scenario. And just how many bikes are enough? Well, just one more, obviously. For most single-bike owners, this is not a big deal. Space, finance and the spouse’s protestations keep a lid on things. But some blokes seem to fly against the trend, amassing dozens – sometimes hundreds – of bikes. We went in search of these collections and met some very interesting characters and mouth-watering motorcycles along the way… Collector: Nick and Megan Hawtin Location: Rutherglen, Victoria Bikes in Collection: 50 Publicly Viewable: Caffeine N Machine Is this the perfect mix – motorcycles, coffee and delectable pastries? Opened in 2020, the couple pooled their respective talents and created this fabulous bakery/cafe right in…

Long-time AMCN reader and adventure junkie Anthony Mitchell decided that buying an airline ticket to attend the 2025 MXGP at Hidden Valley this year would have been far too easy. Instead, he and two mates saddled up, loaded a pair of support utes and pointed north from Brisbane on a 3800km odyssey through some of the toughest, most unpredictable terrain in the country to Darwin. What started as a ride to watch (and volunteer!) at a world-class motocross event quickly became a test of bush skills, mechanical luck and pure stubbornness – with limp-mode utes, bushfires, and kangaroo dodging all part of the fun. This is Anthony’s tale… LOADED UP AND READY FOR ANYTHING Three riders, two support utes, one trailer – and an eight-day deadline to make it unscathed…

“THE ONLY PERSON WHO ACTUALLY BEAT MARC IN A STRAIGHT FIGHT WAS BROTHER ALEX” WHAT A YEAR. In terms of length, if nothing else. Twenty-two races – many of them back-to-back – left this writer reeling. And I was sitting down… never mind the riders and pit crews, on the outer edges of their physical and mental resources. There were other reasons to make it exceptional. Especially two of them. We all knew Marc Marquez could ride fast, although he needed to prove he could still do it after four years of being crocked. But brother Alex? Wasn’t he something of a lame duck by comparison… getting a factory ride with Honda in 2020 on his brother’s coat-tails, and struggling to justify it? Well, we were wrong. Marc can win…

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… and that can also apply to the workshop. Just ask columnist Roothy, who forgot to bung up his Harley clutch cover and created a trip hazard Exxon Valdez-like ATF spill that even had the cockroaches skating on thin oil under his beer fridge.…

One strong message came out of EICMA 2025: China and India are shaping up to be the motorcycling powerbrokers of the future. CFMoto stunned with its state-of-the art V4 superbike while TVS finally revealed the fruit of its $A400m investment in the Norton brand to reveal four new models. Meanwhile Indian manufacturing giant Mahindra fired another shot across the bows of its sub-450cc rivals with the BSA Thunderbolt adventure bike. The lower-capacity ADV segment is red now and BMW showed it could still be the leader with its F 450 GS. To underline the rising power of India, it was developed in co-operation with TVS. The motorcycling world may be about to tilt on a new axis but some original players are rising to the challenge. Honda is bravely powering…

Honda V3R 900 The width of a twin. The performance of a 1200. The weight of a 900. Could it be the ‘blown’ Fireblade of the future? I reckon a new Fireblade with that engine would be incredible – not for racing (blowers are banned) but for lovers of light and fast. Norton Manx R Good on re-born Norton for having a tilt, from day one, at the open-class sportsbike market: 206hp, 204kg, cast aluminium monocoque chassis, semi-active suspension, the best brakes in the business… it’s got the works, and looks great, too. CFMoto 1000MT-X I don’t know if a 946cc twin is mid-range or big-bore these days, but 111hp and 105Nm pushing 199kg sounds like a great formula. Big and grunty enough for two-up adventure touring, yet maybe still…

MOTOGP WASTED no time shifting into 2026 mode, with teams rolling straight into the traditional post-season Valencia Test just two days after the 2025 finale. For Yamaha, it was a milestone as both the factory Monster Energy squad and satellite Prima Pramac Yamaha hit the track on the longawaited V4-powered YZR-M1 prototype. Of course, the spotlight fell on Toprak Razgatlioglu, making his official MotoGP debut. The triple WorldSBK champ spent the first afternoon adapting to both the prototype V4 M1 and MotoGP machinery, tyres and electronics, impressively posting 18th in 1min30.667sec after 53 laps. Jack Miller also began his Yamaha transition, completing 51 laps for 20th (1min30.864sec). Despite never racing at Valencia and with the new engine not yet at full power, Toprak was just threequarters of a second off…

THE BEND played host to the final round of the Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship over 7-9 November and for Josh Waters and McMartin racing the result was an unprecedented fifth title. With Yamaha Racing Team’s Mike Jones missing out on the pole position bonus point, Waters now had an unassailable lead but there was still much to prove for the rest of the field. Desmosport Ducati’s Broc Pearson made a small mistake on lap two of the first race, locking the front wheel on a white line and going down in the gravel trap. Two laps later the Stop & Seal Ducati V4R of Cru Halliday tucked the front and also went down, leaving Waters heading a leading trio that included JJ Nahlous and Jones. Nahlous was having only his…

THE WSSP300 championship went through its final iteration and it was easily one of the best. Entering the final round, three riders realistically could have won the title. The champion turned out to be 17-year-old Basque rider Benat Fernandez, competing for the Irish-run, Australian-supported #109 Retro Traffic Management Kove team. They won on a relatively trick Chinese machine, the 321-RR S. There was plenty of competition in 2025, as ever, with none other than Carter Thompson ending up second overall and another Kawasaki rider, David Salvador, third. Seven different riders won races, with every manufacturer – Kove, Kawasaki, KTM and Yamaha – winning multiples. Over its nine-year life, WSSP300 has been both an oversubscribed success and not quite the Superbike rider production line that the previous Stock600 championship was. The…

Until recently BMW had held back from going all the way with a hypernaked. Then it brought the famed M brand from the automotive world to us two-wheeled heathens. ‘M’ in this context stands for Motorsport, and the M 1000 R gets the full-fat superbike engine from the S 1000 RR, together with the kind of race-grade componentry normally reserved for WorldSBK paddocks. For 2025, aside from the obvious styling move to dual LED headlights, the new M R also gets a quick-action 58° throttle, revised DTC and Race ABS Pro, along with larger aerodynamic winglets – said to provide over 10.8kg of downforce at 220km/h. The headline act is still the screaming 999cc inline four, deploying BMW’s patented ShiftCam system with variable intake valve timing to lift power from…