Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2016 i Fast Bikes

The last few months have been magical on every front. Mega miles, historic racing, sunny skies and scuffed sliders. But even I have to get dragged away for a week or two to enjoy ‘quality time’ with the kids – regardless of whether the feeling’s mutual or not... So I spent a ten days away from two wheels – or so I thought. We’d located a lovely little house in the South of France to recharge the batteries and to let my mind go blank. 15 minutes later that job was done and it was time to switch off from motorbikes. Except this house was in the middle of the most mental motorcycle route imaginable. I was being serenaded by thumping singles, gurgling twins, tasty triples and screaming four pots…

BMW opened its account for 2017 by showing off the ‘new’ S 1000 RR and the naked S 1000 R, among other trinkets. But let’s start with the superbike, the one most pertinent to us. With it (and the rest) now being Euro4 compatible, we wondered if there would be any changes to the motor. However, nothing has been mentioned about it in the spec sheet. So either BMW has fiddled with it to keep the same power figures (They are still claiming 199bhp at the crank) and have neglected to mention it, or they don’t want us to know just how much power Euro4 has sapped away via a sneaky extra catalyser or the like – the dyno will tell all... In other news, the DTC traction-control system now…

True, these are not roads blessed with a smorgasbord of gnarly switchbacks or delicious hairpins, but the roads across Salisbury Plain are some that you can have a proper good blast on. It’s not just the army that can use the area for fun and games, because the Plain makes a great alternative to the hell that is the A303 around Stonehenge. There are a few corners that interrupt time spent on-the-stop, so it’s not just the centre of your tyres that take all the abuse here. A few isolated villages in the area slow the average speeds, and it pays to be respectful here, but elsewhere there’s nowt but fields and farms (although we’ve occasionally seen a police presence up there –you’ve been warned). Traffic is generally very light,…

It’s ahorrible thing to admit, but life isn't always centred on 200bhp and the last tenth at FB Towers. This quartet of budget nakedness may not pack anything outrageously captivating or lavish into their diminutive packages, but in terms of the good old performance per pound idiom, these cheeky scamps offer serious value and we never tire of extolling their collective virtues. Most of the marketing guff focuses on urban environs, yet riding further into suburbia and rural roads only brings miles of smiles – no matter the pilot. Over the years bike firms have slowly banished the budget componentry that blighted older models as they realise the true value of this prevalent sector. If memory serves me correctly, Yamaha’s MT-07 was the third bestselling big bike throughout the world…

I was going to begin with some witty banter regarding single life, linking to KTM’s exclusive perseverance in developing mono-pot technology and a single brake disc/caliper arrangement. Instead, I’ll justify the Duke 690’s presence. Before the armchair cynics begin convulsing in anger because we’ve included a bike that costs two grand dearer than the others, there isn’t another home for KTM’s slightly niche Duke 690. Granted, it’s vastly more expensive, but it looks, feels and rides in far more Gucci fashion than the sparrow-limbed Japanese bikes, too. The spec’ sheet and impressive array of electronics is enough to spark frothing, with features that make a mockery of this budget naked sector. This starts when you’re greeted by a full-colour dash that is more visually inspiring than my gran’s television. Its…

I recall dancing down the hospital ward with unbridled ecstasy on being told my first-born was a boy. Visions of riding bikes, father/son tyre shredding sessions, and mutual fist-pumping on clocking fit grid girls had already entered my brain. And now, as my eldest son approaches the grand old age of six years old, his motorcycling ‘career’ is already being thought about seriously. Growing up in the BSB paddock and watching me wobble round from the age of six months, he soon contracted that infectious motorcycling affliction that grips many – but he has already chosen motocross as his preferred two-wheeled sport, perhaps not aided by crashing heavily on a minimoto already – that’s my boy! And he’s riding the very same PW50 that I used at his age. I…

EXTRAS Unlike some litre bikes, a lot of Ninja owners modify their bikes. Most stick with stubby levers, a loud pipe and a tail tidy, which is good, but it is best to avoid too heavily tweaked machines. If the bike has been altered from stock, just check all the MOT critical items such as lights, etc, work and ask if the OE kit is included in the sale. RECALL It is highly unlikely this will be an issue (unless you are looking at an imported and not official UK-spec bike) but the 2008 and 2009 ZX-10Rs were recalled for a reg/rec fault that could lead to overheating issues and possibly even a battery meltdown! Just check this recall has been completed. If the owner isn’t certain, check with an…

WHEELIE GOOD QUESTION Hey Guys, great mag. A quick question. So I have just splashed the cash on a 2009 ‘Blade (3,350 miles on the clock) and while I feel really happy with how my riding has progressed since being on a relative new piece of machinery (I previously had a 2001 R1), I now want to learn to pull controlled wheelies instead of just power wheelies whilst on the gas in first. I’ve got the technique nailed and now just need somewhere to actually practice properly. Any ideas? Places I’ve considered are just too busy during the day, as are public highways, so I’m stuck. Rick Turner We couldn’t condone such irresponsible behaviour, Rick. With that in mind we couldn’t possibly suggest that you find somewhere really quiet, with…

THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… Giving my feet a treat... A set of rearsets isn't just a flash addition of extra bling or a way to optimise your riding position. I see them also as an essential part of a bike's crash protection. Standard pegs that fold up merely capitulate in an accident, doing nothing to stop further damage. Sticking aset of rearsets on adds another protrusion to hit the ground first, protecting pricier parts of your pride and joy. Oh, and they look great and also add racer kudos to your set of wheels... That's why I persuaded Steve 'Stevie' Heneghan to stick a set of top spec Lightech rearsets onto the ZX-10R (a version with a fixed peg, although there is the option to have fold-ups). Steve…

THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Re-rubbering and sense checking..“ With over 3,000 miles completed on the Ducati it was time to look at the tyres. The OE Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas have done their job, but the numerous road miles – combined with two trackdays and what is now a change in the weather and road conditions – has meant that reluctantly I needed to change my tyres. Cornering is becoming less fluid and fast turns are getting more than a little sketchy. The choice of tyres was not easy. With further track time pending and wet and dry roads to contend with over the final period of Monster ownership I needed to get it right. Having done my research I opted for the Michelin Power Supersport Evo, boasting 50/50…

“The thing with BSB is there’s certain stuff we can change to make the bike as competitive as it is, with swingarms, stiffer frames, adding struts, different engine specs – there’s so much we change – but to be fair, it’s still a very good all-round package. The Suzuki’s chassis has always been notoriously good, and with the permitted BSB engine spec, we can get some decent horsepower – I expect we’re around 208bhp, so we are down because, obviously, you look at the new machines that are coming out the crate with 215bhp after a few tweaks. “At Brands Hatch last year, my fastest lap was a 1m26.2. This year on the Suzuki I did a 1m25.3. Don’t ask me why but we’re going to circuits this year and…

When we heard the Lausitzring was to return to the WSB calendar, we were initially pleased. But then we remembered where it was, which in Germanic terms, is the middle of nowhere. The nearest large population centre is Dresden, which is at least an hour away and the larger cities may as well be in Africa. This means that crowds have never been great and to exacerbate this, seating for 150,000 fans means even a healthy turnout always looks threadbare. Then there’s the state of the track to consider. While it’s an interesting enough layout for a ‘ring’ circuit, even with a bit of elevation thrown in, the surface is completely ruined. Not the Tarmac, per se, but the vicious bumps that populate every corner – and even the straights.…

OK, last month I did a bit of Lorenzo defending, but this month I’m going to struggle. No, not because I’ve jumped on the anti-Lorenzo bandwagon. It’s because he fell hook, line and sinker into a typical journo trap after Misano’s race in the press conference. More depressing is that the initial question wasn’t aimed at him, but Valentino Rossi. This gave Lorenzo time to brood while Rossi answered about what he thought of his own overtake on Jorge. You know that imminent car-crash feeling, where you can see something bad coming and can do little about it? That’s the feeling I had sat there, and when it was time for Lorenzo to put his side forward part of me wanted to scream and shout not to fall for it…

Following a terrific morning with Maverick, watching him thrap a Radical sportscar around the Stowe complex, it was time to go and talk to Alvaro about where he finds himself right now, which is essentially as a development rider for Aprilia. We’d like to know if when he took this new challenge two years ago, there were other offers on the table? “Yes, there was. In that moment I had some offers from satellite teams, but the idea to work with a factory for me was very strong. So I decided to come to Aprilia even if I knew the bike wasn’t a real MotoGP bike at the time. But Aprilia are able to make a champion bike in WSB, so I trust in them and accepted the challenge.” And…

CHASSIS The new frame now offers a 20mm longer wheelbase, at 1,425mm. It’s 10 per cent lighter than the outgoing version and the big visual change is the removal of the triangulating spur off the main beam. It’s also 20mm narrower than before, which should mean that the GSX-R will feel like a plaything beneath you – especially when taking into account the new tank design. The swingarm is all new too. The ram air system has been redesigned to locate it closer to the centre of the fairing. There’s a slim new LED headlight befitting the redesign. TOP END The GSX-R1000 swaps from the bucket tappet arrangement to a new finger follower design. The means that the moving mass is only three grams, enabling high revs, reduced friction and…

Valentino Rossi has won nine world titles, including four successive MotoGP titles between 2002 and 2005, making him without doubt the best motorcycle racer of all time. And on 1st July 2016 Kiddimoto were able to join forces with Rossi and proudly add his name to the hero range. With a selection of bold and bright colours all inspired by Rossi’s famous sun and moon design, the collection includes the classic Kiddimoto superbike, Super Junior Max metal balance bike, helmet, gloves, and matching accessories. Children will feel as heroic as Rossi himself when they see the Italian legend’s signature and ‘The Doctor’ nickname emblazoned across the products, making them all the more exclusive. Kiddimoto is offering one lucky winner a Rossi hero superbike with matching helmet, matching gloves and a…

NITRON: TVT FORK CARTRIDGE KITS This is a very big deal for British firm Nitron. Previously the preserve of the rear, this move to the front of the bike is very exciting. They feature a 25mm piston, all of the crucial components are hard anodised with the option to specify a low friction Kashima coating for the ultimate in feel. They are, obviously, fully adjustable with compression dealt with in the left leg and rebound being taken care of by the right. Preload can be set and sorted by the fork top caps. A high speed damping valve is also featured in the compression leg to deal with those bumps that typically upset a bike at speed. Easy to work on, revalving needn’t require the forks to be pulled out…

What will become of the supersport class? That’s a question we’ve asked ourselves time and again while we wait to see what’s coming for 2017. Honda is ditching the CBR600RR, Triumph is rumoured to be dropping the Daytona 675, and MV’s F3 and Kawasaki’s ZX-6R haven’t changed much in nearly four years. Then we have Suzuki’s GSX-R600, which had its last refresh in 2011 and Yamaha’s YZF-R6, updated back in 2010 (but essentially the same bike from 2006). You’ll have read about the new Yamaha for 2017, but for those of you expecting a new Suzuki supersport machine to meet Euro4 regulations, you’d best get comfortable... Did you know that after a couple of poor sales years in a row for both Yamaha and Suzuki’s supersport hacks, the last couple…

Time can be either cruel or kind to a motorcycle, and in the GSX-R’s case, time was in a very good mood indeed. This final iteration of the wee Gixer is the best Suzuki has ever produced, finally eclipsing the rather naughty original SRAD 600 that remains a proper little terror, even now. The 2011 machine revived just enough of the naughty nature, but combined it with modern attributes to make it one wonderfully versatile motorcycle. It also finally pushed the Suzuki ahead of the R6 (and others) in terms of overall performance for a combination of road and track work. For circuit work only, you won’t be surprised to learn that the Yamaha has the Gixer easily licked, but when it comes to value for money in all areas…

After a massive logistics fail, Iended up riding the ER-6f from our friends at Bristol Kawasaki to Llandow. But what started as a faff soon turned into something worthwhile. Eagle-eyed readers (actually, anyone with vision) will spot that this particular bike is the ‘f’ model, although there’s bugger-all to separate this from the naked ‘n’ model we wanted (except for the obvious frontal arrangement). I revelled in its additional wind protection along the M4 – most soothing indeed – and offset motorway monotony by playing the fuel economy game; the crux of its electronics involves an ECO feature that warns you’re riding like a soft lad by indicating on the dash, should you need reminding. There’s nothing aggressive about the Ninja 650, not that respective owners would necessarily lust after…

MiniGP: Run alongside minimotos, MiniGP is the steppingstone to the big time – as proven by a feast of professional racers currently winning across the globe. From eight-years-old, the majority run Metrakits with adjustable chassis geometry and 50cc (10bhp) and 70cc (17bhp) two-stroke engines, earning that name ‘MiniGP.’ Slightly smaller, trick-looking Ohvale four-stroke machines are starting to make an impact in the UK with a 190cc being the premium model. Motocross: The beauty of motocross is the close proximity of tracks. Rather than traipsing halfway across the country – as with road racing, and even minimotos – you’d be surprised at the number of MX tracks within a 10-mile radius of anywhere in the UK. There’s also a relative lack of prima donnas often seen in other paddocks, although you’ll…

On the face of it, most of us would willingly jump into the – no doubt exquisitely hand crafted Italian – shoes of Lin Jarvis, Yamaha’s MotoGP boss, without a moment’s hesitation. Fancy Italian base HQ, glamorous circuit locations, hospitality food for breakfast, lunch and tea, never having to iron a team shirt, schmoozing with the rich and famous, and managing the two biggest and brightest stars the race series has ever seen – Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi – seems like it should be the job of everyone’s dreams. But when you actually stop and think about what the job involves, the constant pressures that you face and the massive responsibility of delivering Yamaha a world title every year, you may start to think twice. Yes, it’s all well…

V-twins are not for everyone. Notoriously difficult to get well fuelled, expensive to maintain and often delivering brutal amounts of power, it’s easy to be overawed by a twin – especially if you’ve jumped straight off an inline four. Coming in differing configurations, the V‘s angle can offer a range of characteristics. Ducati’s long held preference is to go with the 90-degree V (or L) for reasons of balance. Aprilia, however, plumped for the 60-degree version to make its engine more compact. The advantage of the former is the balance it offers, the latter needing further refining to get it running tolerably smooth. KTM’s lump sits at a 75-degree angle, so snuggly in the middle of the action. It’s horses for courses! Because we’re dealing with two heads on the…

FAIRINGS These bad boys may look pretty different from standard, and it’s because they’ve been hydro-dipped. The good news is they look awesome, just don’t bloody crash the things – it gets expensive! LAPTIMER Clever little system triggered by a receiver that the team take down and stick on the pit wall for every session. Neat little package for a neat little price from Rollcentre. A cheap on board solution. RENTHAL BARS/GRIPS A massive factor for rider comfort, no matter what speed you’re going. These grips are the medium compound so just in the middle of the scale, but their feel can make a huge difference, especially if you suffer with arm pump like Milo. SUSPENSION That little Italian brand we picked up on Buildbase BMW’s championship winning bike is…

CANNONBALL RUN 2017 News has reached us that the 2017 incarnation of the Cannonball Run will be heading to Scotland and the Isle of Man. The route will take in the TT course, as well as the Isle of Man’s Billown circuit, before heading to Scotland to incorporate the North Coast 500 road as part of the event. The chequered flag will be waved in Edinburgh, and that will be the cue for a big blow out at a swanky venue in the Scottish capital. An early bird discount is available for the first 15 spots, meaning that £750 is knocked off the price of £2,199 –but to qualify for this you’ll need to vlog while on the Run. That price includes ferry crossings to and from the IoM, hotels,…

THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… Getting to grips with (nearly) the Beast! It may have ‘only’ had a new system and clever dongle fitted, but the KTM Super Duke 1290 R SE (phew) has come alive with these new accoutrements attached. Inspired by being serenaded every night on holiday by an assortment of different French motorcycles screaming past our place, I took out ten days worth of frustrations out on my first week back to work. And it was absolutely magic. The traction control and ABS are now on permanent retirement, the bulb illuminating the two warning lights now in danger of blowing. With a set of new Continental SportAttack3s fitted, and us enjoying decent temperatures during summer’s arse end, there really is no need for any form of…

THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Coming to a conclusion...” Another month, another few hundred miles on a naked bike! This time, again in not enough time, a weekend dash from one port to another, and then another, and back to the second port and from there to the first port you’d thought of, then home, ticking up 500 miles on the mileage bit and (amazingly) 50mpg on the fuel side. Triumph’s tank bag looked appealing in the pictures and the reality of it was everything I’d hoped for. It fits perfectly, doesn’t move at all and is just the right size for my camera of choice and spare bits and pieces, making the job even easier, but not so easy that I haven’t decided to chuck it in so…

It’s taken all year to get to this stage, but the ZX-6R’s finally sorted… just in time for winter. Well, almost. There are two rounds of the No Limits Racing series left to go, with Brands first before rounding the job off at Donington. I’m looking forward to them both, especially because of the recent work we’ve done to the Kwacker. For those who’ve followed my column, you’ll know the year’s been anything but plain sailing. It’s been an epic learning curve that has proven both costly and painful along the way, but we’re still here and the fight to get back on the podium’s burning hotter than ever. Since my last outing at Cadwell, which kind of went to plan, I’ve not had chance to get out and ride…

We’ve seen our fair share of wacky stuff in the past, but there’s a hint of pure genius in this concept of roundabout speedway. What’s not to like – no brakes, massive power (typically 80bhp from the 500cc single engine), the waft of methanol and very little grip! This particular stunt was done to promote the virtues of a rather famous taurine based beverage, and was staged around the streets of Lublin in Poland. Starring local riders, Maciek Janowski, Piotr Pawlicki and Przemyslaw Pawlicki (Speedway GP regulars), the spectacle may have been purely for show, but we’re saying there’s a future in this sport. Imagine a big roundabout, or set of roundabouts, on anindustrial estate near you. Four nutters vying to get the holeshot and then keeping their nose in…

For half of my time on the Triumph Thruxton R, the top of the new old Bonneville range from the Hinckley hooners, I’ve felt nothing but elation, bordering on giddiness. Pottering through villages serenely, blasting down B-roads, catching glances of our combined form in shop windows, it’s been summer personified. Having shown off the bike to the wife and kids, and received their admiring glances (that doesn’t happen very often, let me assure you), I’ve then rushed out on brilliantly bright mornings to get in early, then made my excuses and ducked out early to go home along the most convoluted route imaginable. It’s been nothing short of epic. I’ve maxxed it out, I’ve pinged it off crests, I’ve hustled it through some dainty country roads, I’ve gone knee deep…

We’ve not ridden an R6 for quite some time now, which is quite peculiar if you actually think about it. Yes, it’s been overtaken quite comprehensively in terms oftech by other more modern supersport machines, but does this mean it’s nolonger relevant? Not one bit. It’s still a viable option – and it’s about to become a future classic, too. No, the reason we’ve not ridden one is because we haven’t done a full-on supersport group test for some time. Seeing as nothing has changed since 2013 (when the ZX-6R and Daytona changed), the finishing order wasn’t going to change either. So we tended to find different things to do with them instead. So aside from the reader longterm bike we ran for a year, it’s been a long old…

It’s easy to see why Suzuki has sold nearly half a million SVs since its inception back in 1999. King of versatility, it’s been the Daley Thompson of motorcycling in various guises; flooding minitwin grids, offering bulletproof commuting, or an intrinsic B-road terrorist. It’ll do the lot without batting an eyelid. Suzuki has gone big on the new SV. On paper, an apparent 140 component changes over the outgoing SFV looks like it should manifest into something nearing revolutionary. In reality, although the SV has been boosted across the board, it’s all about marginal gains for this season. Let’s just say Dave Brailsford would like it. Like a washing machine or microwave, I still struggle to get excited about its looks. A busy (but well thought out) dash is your…

While we don’t welcome the extensive new wave of motorcycle test and emission laws’ complexities that have the inevitable knock-on effect of discouraging new riders, it has sparked manufacturers into taking the budget sector more seriously and channelling development further down the food chain. With its popularity all too obvious, it’s a class that’s only going to grow and become more prevalent. Expect other manufacturers to follow in KTM’s footsteps by producing Gucci budget middleweight nakeds rather than budget fare focusing on simply getting from A to B. Sexy suspension and decent brakes are largely all that’s needed to transform fairly guff motorcycles into something more premium, even if the consumer takes a hit on the final price. The end result is a bike that’s far more appealing to far…

“My son, Remy, is pretty handy. He's quick and a good looking boy. He's got a lot on his side, but I say to him that you have to look after your fans, this is what will get you to where you want to be. Some think it must be easier because I've been through it, but I find it worse. When he had a big crash at Navarro it was the most horrific thing I've ever seen in my whole life of motor racing. I couldn't breathe, I thought I'd had a heart attack. I was watching it live on TV, and he didn't move afterwards – but in the end all he had was a sprained ankle. Now I know how my parents felt. I've apologised to them…

The quest to eke more speed from my aging, injury ravaged body and ever more reluctantly enthusiastic brain found me making the trip up to Cadwell Park, a venue that more than appreciates the faster things in life. Away from its Silverstone activities, the California Superbike School (CSS) was hosting two days of intensive learning, something that I have decided to embrace over the course of this year. Screw you, Alice Cooper and your crazy sentiments, school’s in for the summer! I’d tried to make this trip last year, but an interface with a car on the way up put pay to me establishing new levels of speed after my schooling. Yes, I’ve done all four levels of the school (get me), but was keen for a brush up of…

“It’s true that when I first started at Yamaha I was working with Barry Sheene. That’s a long time ago now! I started in the technical department at Yamaha UK, almost straight from school. I had the choice to go to uni at 18, but I hated studying so I decided to get a job at Mitsui Machinery Sales UK, who were the distributor of Yamaha then. After that I switched over to the racing side, when a guy called Robert Jackson was the head of the department. That’s when Barry became a Yamaha guy on the Akai bike. I remember the big team launch at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s ground! Stavros was riding too, and there was also a big motocross team and a big trials team –these were the…

An inline four is the obvious choice, and if you’re looking at spending big on a v-twin then we’re going to go in with a big budget buy –but still with a European manufacturer. The original BMW S 1000 RR has the potential to be a future classic, but while you wait for the investment to accrue, head out and go crazy on this Bavarian bahnstomer. This is the moment that electronics truly hit the masses, and its tyres needed a little helping hand what with its immense power output. The fact that it felt like a600 also meant that it could tie knots round its rivals on track, making it a serious effective tool – for seriously effective tools……

THE CALIFORNIA SUPERBIKE SCHOOL Founded by the legendary Keith Code in 1980, the California Superbike School offers a step-by-step method of technique oriented rider training in the art of cornering motorcycles. Over the past 30 years hundreds of thousands of students have improved their riding skills and cornering capabilities at CSS and their team of professional coaches are dedicated to your improvement. One definition of a threshold is the level of intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, result, or condition to occur – how much throttle it takes to accelerate, for example, or how much brake to slow or stop. A threshold can also be the point of excess – how much is too much gas, too much brake, or too much lean angle. Riding is an…

GIXER JUNKIE I thought I’d share with you my 2005 GSX-R750 with 4,500 miles. I purchased it in February of 2015 when it was bone stock (it still had fork reflectors) with 1,200 miles on it from the original Marine owner. He got hurt in Iraq with nerve damage and couldn’t ride it any more. It was the fourth 750 he’d owned between 1998 and 2005, and financially he didn’t need to sell it, so it sat in this clean and carpeted garage next to his CR450s and Suzuki enduro bike for almost ten years, so that was cool. When I first saw it in the garage that night, I knew I had to have it. This was my second GSX-R750. My previous one I purchased new (K3) in Phoenix,…

THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Behaving! No, not really...” It’s been a busy month for the MT, having lots of miles stuck under her svelte belt, including some track action, and also a load of stuff being thrown at her too. Most notably, I’d say, the Brembo Road and Track brake pads from Bike HPS. As you may remember, while I thought the brakes were fine for everyday use, when it came to an emergency need for extra stomp, or overall power in general, I (and many others) found them lacking. And it’s been the same case on whichever MT-10s we’ve ridden, so not just solely on this particular machine. Now, there are plenty of fixes available for this. I could have changed the lines to performance braided items,…

THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Taking the FFS to a knife fight...” The phrase ‘all-star’ is often overused as a hyperbole sales pitch technique, although everywhere you looked at Suzuki’s All-Star day at Silverstone, it really was all stars; James Whitham, John Reynolds, Steve Plater, Simon Crafar, Niall Mackenzie (plus offspring) and Dangerous Bruce Wilson to name a few. It seemed the perfect venue to test recent performance tweaks to the GSX-S and, at the same time, put it up against the retiring 2016 GSX-R1000, which, of course, is where the GSX-S was born. Ish. Fresh from a full Yoshimura system that’s added nearly 10bhp (and a brought peak power figure that’s not a million miles away from the GSX-R), plus a new Hyperpro shock spring to mate with…

A hell of a lot has happened in MotoGP over the summer months, but perhaps the most telling indication of how the sweeping new technical specifications have impacted on this remarkable season is the number 'eight'. That's because, if you didn't already know, there were eight different winners in a row, which has never happened before in the history of the sport. The bizarre occurrence began with Jorge Lorenzo's victory at Mugello, and he was followed by Valentino Rossi, then Jack Miller, Marc Marquez, Andrea Iannone, Cal Crutchlow, Maverick Vinales and lastly, Dani Pedrosa. On quite a few occasions as this season approached, we repeatedly warned everyone to expect some oddball results. A swap in tyres is disruptive enough, but add to that the inclusion of specification electronics and that's…

Probably the worst kept racing secret since the Lorenzo to Ducati malarkey, it’s finally been made official that Team SMR will be binning off BMW, and both of their riders, to become Aprilia’s factory effort in WSB for the next two seasons. Milwaukee will remain as title sponsor to the team, which will receive a big dose of Latin factory loving from the Noale based manufacturer. They’ll receive the bikes and all the parts, plus personnel and a development program. Shaun Muir’s squad will now become like the other ‘factory’ WSB squads, in that they’re a private team backed by the manufacturer – there is no fully blown factory squad in WSB. In fact, there hasn’t been on of those for a very long time. The riders are confirmed as…