Fermin Aldeguer joins Team Gresini Racing MotoGP

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August 27, 2024

The final day of the Manx Grand Prix brought more delays and schedule changes. The roads were wet everywhere early in the morning; meaning delays were necessary whilst they dried out and mist on the mountain section lifted. First decision of the day was to call off the scheduled re-run of the Junior Race that was halted on lap 2 on Saturday. The result was based on the positions at the end of lap 1. This meant victory for Andrea Majola from countryman Maurizio Bottalico with Daniel Ingham third. Julien Cregniot; Lian Chawke and Michael Gahan completed the top 6. Toby Shann was best newcomer in eighth on the Cowton Racing Kawasaki.

Next decision was the inevitable combination of the Senior and Junior Classic into a single race. Most of those with double entries chose to ride in the Senior. The course was described as “a scary,

4 New Winners On Frenetic Final Day Of Mgp 2024. — John McGuinness at Schoolhouse Corner

scratchy situation” by multiple race winner Chris Palmer. John McGuinness said that he had not expected any racing to take place. The course had a large number of wet patches; it appears that much work will be needed in the winter to address the problem of running water crossing the track after rainfall.

The first race; the Senior and Junior Classic MGP; started 4 hours and 32 minutes after it was scheduled to. The one lap dash gave an exciting finish and new names on the trophies. At Glen Helen, John McGuinness led on the road and on corrected time; his lead 4.45s from Shaun Anderson; both Paton mounted. Mike Browne on the Norton ES2 had closed down the 10s starting interval to Jamie Coward to hold third by 0.876s from Flitwick Enfield mounted Adam McLean. Paul Jordan was fifth with Coward sixth. The Junior leader was Mikey Evans; but he was to retire just up the road. At Ballaugh Bridge, the lead had increased to 4.705s; McLean was up to third, but just 0.12s ahead of Browne. Nigel Moore was the new leader of the Junior class.

We had some fine action for the small number of enthusiasts to enjoy at Schoolhouse Corner in Ramsey where the roads were perfectly dry. Leaving the town McGuinness led by 4.703s; behind him Browne had retaken third by 0.562s and Coward had taken 5^th from Jordan. Newcomer Harley Rushton; impressive at Billown; had taken the Junior class lead from the soon to retire Moore. Anderson was fastest on the mountain climb to be 2.365s down on McGuinness at the Bungalow. With 1.1 miles to go at Cronk ny Mona the lead was 1.12s. Anderson was quickest on the wet final section and took victory by 0.163s. McLean won the battle for third by 0.92s from Browne. Jamie Coward took fifth with Jordan sixth. Harley Rushton duly won the Junior class; with returning former Senior Classic winner Glen English second and Mark Johnson third.

Next up was the Senior Manx Grand; for many of us the main race of the meeting. This was to be run over 2 laps, taking pitstops out of the equation. Race favourite Daniel Ingham had the number one plate so was first to plunge down Bray Hill. For Maurizio Bottalico the race was over at Quarter Bridge. Ingham was the fastest on the 9 miles to Glen Helen; he led by 5.562s from Sam Johnson; with Jacque Foley 1.927s behind in third. Julian Cregniot, Chris Cook and Johnny Stewart completed the top six. At Ballaugh Bridge; the lead had grown to 11.27s. Chris Cook was second, Sam Johnson third, Foley; Cregniot and Stewart completed the top 6. The action at Schoolhouse was noticeably faster than in the previous race; with a few riders using some of the bus stop on the exit. The lead at Ramsey was up to 15.278s; the only change being Michael Gahan moving from 8^th at Ballaugh, to be sixth.

The Bungalow produced no change in positions; the lead was 20.656s and Gahan had closed to within 0.2s of Foley. A lap at 118.762mph gave Ingham a lead of 23.13s over Cook as they screamed past the Grandstand. Behind them Gahan had edged ahead of Foley to hold fifth.

There was no change to the batting order at Glen Helen; the lead was now 24.885s. Ballaugh saw no change in the top six; just wider gaps. At Schoolhouse the action was excellent; the lead now out to 31.68s with 13.73 miles left to go at the timing beam. Ingham did not ease off; setting the best time to the Bungalow; Crony ny Mona and the finish line. A race average of 118.815mph gave him victory by 35.394s from Chris Cook. It was a much deserved victory after a second and third in the last couple of years. Sam Johnson secured his first podium finish after many years of trying. Julian Cregniot secured another fourth place finish; Gahan was fifth with Johnny Stewart best newcomer in sixth after a superb ride. The podium men were all delighted with the result; with Ingham “over the moon.” Sixth finisher Stewart was more laid back saying it “felt like just another day out on my bike.”

The next race was the Lightweight Race; this incorporated the Ultra Lightweight class. There was another brief delay to the start to allow mist to clear from Brandywell and for an issue with the digital flags to be ironed out. The temperature was now lowering; in itself a problem for the two stroke machines in the race. Winner for the last two years; Mike Browne only made it to Quarter Bridge. At Glen Helen, it was Michael Dunlop on the MD / Crossan Honda who led the way by 0.932s from Ian Lougher on the Laycock Racing Yamaha. Lee Johnston held third on the Reed Honda. Stuart Hall, Rhys Hardisty and James Hind completed the top 6. At Ballaugh, Dunlop had increased his lead to 3.747s over Lougher. Hall had taken third from Johnston, whilst Hind had moved up to fifth. Hind had stop to make adjustments at Sulby Bridge; but he was forced to retire at the Gooseneck. At Parliament Square in Ramsey, Lougher led on the road; with Dunlop next through the right and left turns in the square. Mikey Evans was next on the little Moto 3 KTM that sounded sweet as it powered away. Dunlop led by 6.316s from Lougher; with Hall 13.727s down on Lougher. Johnston, Hardisty and Ultra Lightweight class leader Evans completed the top 6.

The first hint of a problem for Dunlop came at the Bungalow; his lead was down to 3.285s. The extent of he problem was revealed at Cronk ny Mona; he was nearly 40s slower than Lougher on the drop down the mountain to hold fifth. Lougher now led by 31.316s from Johnston who had been 2.8s faster down the mountain. With a lap at 114.1mph Lougher duly took victory; 41 years after he made his debut. His winning margin was 22.206s; with Hall 2.48s behind Johnston. Hardisty was fourth; Evans was fifth overall and first in the Ultra Lightweight; Stefano Bonetti; sixth overall and second Ultra Lightweight. Joe Yeardsley was 8^th overall and third Ultra lightweight on Neil Wood’s Kawasaki. Dunlop eventually finished, with the aid of some leg power, he received a good ovation from the crowd on the Grandstand.

The final race of the meeting was the Classic Superbike Race; this was scheduled to be over 2 laps; but was reduced to one, when the mist started marching down the mountain again. There were a large number of non-starters, including Michael Dunlop, who had not managed a practice lap on the big Suzuki.

Fastest on the 9 miles to Glen Helen was Mike Browne on the booming Key Racing Ducati 916. He led past winner Rob Hodson (Greenall Kawasaki); the fastest man in practice; by 3.607s. Dom Herbertson was third on the BHR Kawasaki, 2.714s down on Hodson. Derek Sheils; Craig Neve and Brian McCormack completed the top 6. The order was the same at Ballaugh; where just 2.8s covered fourth to sixth. At Parliament Square, Browne overtook McCormack to take the lead on the road. Sheils held third, 4.41s behind Hodson. Herbertson held fourth but just 0.003s ahead of Neve. McCormack held sixth, 2.23s ahead of Michael Rutter.

Browne was rapid on the mountain climb; he led by 13.548s at the Bungalow. Hodson had an advantage of 4.408s over Sheils. Neve had displaced Herbertson from fourth; Rutter had moved to sixth following the retirement of McCormack. There was no major drama on the descent of the mountain and Browne duly took victory by 13.973s after a lap at 123.919mph; excellent given the number of wet patches and the rapidly decreasing visibility on the mountain. Hodson had 4.193s in hand over Sheils at the finish. Neve took fourth; Herbertson fifth and Ian Hutchinson sixth, after a rapid trip over the mountain eased him past Rutter. With this year’s TT and MGP behind him; he seems set for a full paced assault on the TT in 2025. Mikey Evans was best local in 8^th; whilst Amalric Blanc continued his progress with a fine ninth. Stefano Bonetti brought the beautiful Bimota YB4 home in 14^th; 1s ahead of the hub centre steering Flitwick YZF750 of Adam McLean; it was a real pleasure to see these machines in race action.

This year provided the most problematic meeting in the 101 years of the event. The Clerk of the Course did a superb job in managing the time that he had available to him. The shortened format seems to find little favour with anyone other than the management group. More practice time needs to be found and more flexibility for the Clerk of the Course would probably be welcomed. A major concern is that the number of spectators seemed to be well down on past years; similarly, the offering at the Grandstand was quite simply underwhelming.

Introducing HEX ezBUS: Revolutionizing Motorcycle Accessory Integration

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August 27, 2024

Introducing HEX ezBUS: Revolutionizing Motorcycle Accessory Integration with the Latest HEX ezCAN Update.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new game-changing technology, the HEX ezBUS, included in the upcoming firmware update for the HEX ezCAN. This innovative update gives motorcyclists unprecedented control and flexibility, allowing seamless integration of multiple electronic accessories through the HEX ezCAN, creating a smarter, more connected riding experience.

So, what exactly is the HEX ezBUS?
The HEX ezBUS is a groundbreaking 3-wire system that not only powers but also communicates with compatible accessories linked to the HEX ezCAN. Operating through the WHITE channel of the HEX ezCAN—which now doubles as the ezBUS circuit—this technology makes connecting, configuring, and managing up to 16 compatible accessories easier than ever. These accessories range from switches and smart controllers to lights, communication devices, and more.

What Does This Mean for Riders?
Previously, motorcyclists were limited to attaching and configuring up to four electronic accessories with a single HEX ezCAN. But now, the HEX ezBUS expands this capacity, supporting up to 19 configurable accessories in total! With this update, riders can outfit their bikes with an array of advanced gadgets, all perfectly synced with the motorcycle’s original equipment (OE) controls.

Below is an example of connecting four low-powered accessories, using the MT 3-PIN Y-Splitter cable.

Key Benefits for Motorcyclists:

Seamless Integration: Users can connect up to 16 low-current accessories to the HEX ezBUS-enabled white channel of the HEX ezCAN. This drastically enhances the functionality of your motorcycle, making it easier to power and control multiple devices like auxiliary lights and smart switches.
User-Friendly Configuration: The HEX ezCAN PC/Mac software application is designed to be intuitive, automatically detecting ezBUS-connected devices and simplifying the setup process for all users—no tech expertise required!
Enhanced Control: Enjoy seamless integration with your motorcycle’s OE controls, giving you full command of your attached accessories directly from your bike’s existing switches and buttons.

The HEX ezBUS is a real-world gamechanger for motorcyclists who want a powerful, versatile, and user-friendly solution for managing electronic add-ons.

Stephan Thiel, Founder and CEO of HEX Innovate: “We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce the HEX ezBUS. It’s something the motorcycle community has been asking for—a smarter and simpler way to expand their setup beyond the previous limits. With ezBUS, riders can finally unleash the full potential of their accessories while keeping everything fully integrated and easy to control. This is a major leap forward for us and our users, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience it!”

For more information and to explore the full potential of the HEX ezCAN, visit www.hexezcan.com.

Kriega Product Update OS-Platform

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August 27, 2024

There is nothing on the market quite like the Kriega OS-Platform. It provides an interface between the most popular OEM and aftermarket pannier frames and our OS-Soft Panniers. To keep up with demand we have released an updated and improved OS-Platform.

The OS-Platform offers many benefits over more traditional panniers and mounting systems, giving a 100% secure mounting for soft panniers and more. Previously, most soft panniers were ‘throwovers’, the two bags linked by fabric that sat on, or under, the pillion seat. This throwover solution is an option with our OS-Soft Panniers (thanks to the optional OS-Straps), but by fitting OS-Platforms, the OS-Soft Panniers simply and quickly strap to the lightweight, virtually indestructible OS-Platform.

Here’s what you need to know about the new for 2024 OS-Platform in the form of a Q&A with Kriega’s Design Team.

The new OS-Platforms look very similar to the original design, what’s changed?
The changes are the material they’re made from and the method of manufacture. They are now injection moulded, using a material called Zytel, a type of thermoplastic nylon produced by DuPont. These changes mean the new OS-Platforms are 40% lighter than the previous design, and have also allowed Kriega to significantly lower the price.

If they’re injection moulded now, how were the made before?
Because these Platforms were a brand-new concept, and we didn’t know how popular they would be, we began by CNC machining them in our own headquarters. When we couldn’t keep up with demand, we contracted a specialist CNC machine shop to produce them for us. When they couldn’t keep up with demand, we knew we had to invest in relatively expensive tooling to allow us to mould them. As stated above, the change in material and manufacture has allowed us to make them much lighter, but they are virtually indestructible.

Has anything else changed?
They’re now packaged as a pair with all the fittings you could need to attach them to a wide range of pannier frames from companies including: SW-Motech, Hepco & Becker, Givi, Outback Motortek, Touratech, plus OEM pannier frames offered by BMW, Honda, KTM and Yamaha.

Plus, it’s only a small thing, but the packaging, with all the mounting instructions included, is really attractively designed too.

Why should a rider consider this luggage solution?
There’s the safety issue when you compare soft panniers to hard luggage. If ADV riders are taking their bikes off-road, there’s a real risk of getting their legs pushed back and under their rigidly-mounted hard panniers with pretty serious results. Soft panniers avoid that risk.

The OS-Soft Panniers are an alternative to rackless luggage, like our very popular OS-BASE system. When considering touring on the TET (Trans-European Trail) or similar off-road routes, some Kriega staff choose the OS-BASE rackless luggage and some prefer the OS-Soft Panniers. Those who choose the OS-Platform/Soft Pannier solution, say they find them easier to pack, and repack on a trip. It’s a personal choice. ADV riders love rackless luggage, but others swear by the OS-Soft Panniers.

And the OS-Platform is modular too, right?
We try to make as much of our luggage systems as modular as possible. If a rider has fitted the OS-Platform, they can then fit different sizes of OS-Soft Pannier, depending on the length of their trip. We make 22-, 32- and 38-litre sizes, and obviously you can have different size panniers on each side of the bike.

The OS-Platforms are also designed to carry Overland 4.5-litre fuel or water containers, on their own or with smaller OS-Adventure Packs next to them on the same Platform.

Accessories, like the OS-Bottle can be fastened directly to the Platforms or strapped onto the Soft Panniers, and so can smaller OS-Adventure packs. The options make the OS-Soft Pannier and Platform luggage system really adaptable.

Another benefit of this system is, if you sell the bike you can simply and quickly unbolt the OS-Platforms and fit them to luggage frames on your next bike, whatever make or model it is. You take your luggage with you, so you don’t lose money selling it used with the bike. It makes Kriega luggage a long-term, worthwhile investment.

Anything else to add?
Just one thing, some people seem to be of the opinion that it’s tricky to fix the OS-Soft Panniers to the OS-Platforms, but it takes seconds once you understand how simple it is. Do it a couple of times and it becomes second nature to take them on and off.

Explore all the options of the OS-Platform and OS-Soft Pannier luggage system and accessories at KRIEGA.COM

Head to your local dealer for a closer look
Kriega UK dealer network
Kriega Worldwide importers

Suicide Prevention evening with M&M Motorcycles

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August 27, 2024

On the evening of Thursday 26th September 2024 from 6pm Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS trust have teamed with M&M Motorcycles (m-mmotorcycles.co.uk) who are located off the A10 in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire and Mental Health Motorbike (https://mhmotorbike.com) will be delivering their first suicide prevention evening in the motorcycle community on M&M Motorcycles bike night.

Mental Health motorbike support motorcyclist and their families through a safe space to engage either in person or via their Facebook page, Men do “not” talk about their issues and the aim of the event is to raise awareness “that it is good to talk” and if you do know of someone in a Mental health crisis, please support them in calling #111 option 2. The event is open to everyone in the Motorcycle community as Mental Health Motorbike also support ladies and the LBGT Community.

The event is free for all to attend, and we are hosting an on-line raffle, please scan the QR code on the Event flyer to see our prizes or click here and please enter if you so wish?,

We have:

2 x VIP hospitality tickets for the Final round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch courtesy of DatatagID
4 weekend entry tickets for the 2025 MotoGP event at Silverstone,
OMG Racing have donated 2 x entry tickets for any round of 2025 British Superbike Championship, with garage tour to be confirmed depending on the event chosen and have been so supportive of our event.
Toprak #54 and Scott Redding have made personal donations that are authenticated to name a few, again Scott has been very supportive .

All money raised from the auction will be donated to Mental health charities.

Quattro Group British Supersport & GP2 / HEL Supersport Cup – Cadwell Park Monday Recap

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August 27, 2024

Morning Warm-Up

The day began with a morning warm-up session, providing riders a final opportunity to fine-tune their setups before the Feature Race.

Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) set the pace with a lap time of 1:29.004, demonstrating his intent for the upcoming race. Eugene McManus (ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati) and Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) followed closely, both posting times within a tenth of a second of Kennedy.

Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) and Benjamin Currie (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) rounded out the top five, all separated by just over half a second.

Top 5 Warm-Up Results:

Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) – 1:29.004
Eugene McManus (ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati) – 1:29.413
Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) – 1:29.414
Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) – 1:29.523
Benjamin Currie (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) – 1:29.534

Feature Race: Stapleford Dominates as Currie Crashes Out

The Feature Race provided plenty of drama and action, with Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) emerging victorious for the second time at Cadwell Park.

Race Highlights:

Benjamin Currie (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) made a strong start, leading into the first corner ahead of Stapleford and Jack Kennedy.
Stapleford took the lead on the second lap and maintained his position throughout the race.
Drama unfolded on Lap Three when championship leader Currie crashed out, significantly impacting the title race.
Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) kept close to Stapleford throughout the race but couldn’t find a way past, settling for second place.
Eugene McManus (ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati) secured the final podium position, finishing 12.975 seconds behind the winner.

Class Victories:

GP2 Class: Owen Jenner secured the win and, in doing so, became the first championship winner of the year. Keo Walker finished second, with Lucca Allen in third.

Cup Class: Cameron Hall took the victory, followed by Adon Davie and Ben Tolliday.

Feature Race Results:

Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) – 23:50.082
Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) – +2.607s
Eugene McManus (ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati) – +12.975s
TJ Toms (R&R Racing) – +13.104s
Rhys Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) – +20.760s

Notable Performances:

TJ Toms (R&R Racing) put in a strong ride to finish fourth, just behind the podium places.
Rhys Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) rounded out the top five with a solid performance.
Harry Truelove (Astro-JJR Suzuki) finished sixth, maintaining his consistency throughout the weekend.

Championship Implications

Currie’s crash has undoubtedly shaken up the championship standings. Stapleford’s double victory at Cadwell Park will have significantly boosted his position in the title race, while Currie’s non-finish may prove costly as the season progresses.

In the GP2 class, Owen Jenner’s strong performance throughout the season has been rewarded with an early championship victory, showcasing his dominance in the category.

The Cadwell Park round of the Quattro Group British Supersport & GP2 / HEL Supersport Cup has provided thrilling racing and unexpected turns, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 2024 season. With Currie’s lead now under threat, the upcoming rounds promise to be fiercely contested as riders vie for championship glory.

Pirelli National Superstock with Moneybarn Vehicle Finance – Cadwell Park Weekend Recap

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August 27, 2024

Qualifying: Talbot and Mossey Set Identical Times

The qualifying session for the Pirelli National Superstock with Moneybarn Vehicle Finance at Cadwell Park delivered an extraordinary outcome, with the top two riders setting identical fastest lap times.

Championship challenger Joe Talbot (SAF INTRADISC Honda by JR Performance) secured pole position with a blistering lap of 1:27.990. Remarkably, Luke Mossey (Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles) matched this time exactly. The pole position was ultimately decided by their second-fastest laps, where Talbot edged out Mossey by a mere 0.001 seconds.

Scott Swann (Swann Racing) completed the front row, while championship leader Davey Todd (Cheshire Mouldings BMW by TAS Racing) had to settle for fourth, heading the second row.

Top 5 Qualifying Results:

Joe Talbot (SAF INTRADISC Honda by JR Performance) – 1:27.990
Luke Mossey (Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles) – +0.000s
Scott Swann (Swann Racing) – +0.099s
Davey Todd (Cheshire Mouldings BMW by TAS Racing) – +0.377s
Tim Neave (MasterMac Honda) – +0.627s

Race: Talbot Triumphs in Thrilling Battle

The race proved to be a nail-biting affair, with Joe Talbot securing his second win of the season and significantly closing the gap in the championship standings.

Despite starting from the second row, Davey Todd showcased his skill with an impressive start, taking the lead into the first corner. Talbot and Mossey slotted in behind, engaging in a brief battle for second place before Talbot asserted himself in the position on the third lap.

The lead changed hands multiple times throughout the race, with Talbot making a decisive move past Todd on Lap Five. Todd fought back to regain the lead, but Talbot’s determination saw him reclaim the top spot on the penultimate lap. A backmarker in the closing corners added to the drama, preventing Todd from launching a final attack on Talbot.

Local favourite Tim Neave rounded out the podium in third, while Luke Mossey, who had started alongside Talbot on the front row, finished fourth. Matt Truelove put in a strong performance to climb from his 11th place starting position to finish fifth.

Race Results:

Joe Talbot (SAF INTRADISC Honda by JR Performance) – 22:15.159
Davey Todd (Cheshire Mouldings BMW by TAS Racing) – +0.238s
Tim Neave (MasterMac Honda) – +0.781s
Luke Mossey (Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles) – +0.849s
Matt Truelove (TAG Racing Honda) – +1.277s

Championship Implications

Talbot’s victory has significantly tightened the championship battle. With this result, he has cut Todd’s lead to just one point, setting the stage for an intense fight in the remaining rounds of the season.

Notable Performances

Tim Neave’s third-place finish delighted the local crowd and demonstrated the strength of the MasterMac Honda team.
Matt Truelove’s climb from 11th to 5th showcased his race craft and the potential of the TAG Racing Honda.
Scott Swann, who qualified strongly in third, couldn’t maintain his position in the race, eventually finishing sixth.

The combination of the incredibly close qualifying session and the thrilling race has made this round of the Pirelli National Superstock with Moneybarn Vehicle Finance at Cadwell Park one to remember. With the championship battle now closer than ever, fans can look forward to more exciting racing in the upcoming rounds.

Pirelli National Sportbike with Moneybarn Vehicle Finance – Cadwell Park Weekend Recap

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August 27, 2024

Saturday: Changing Conditions Challenge Riders

The weekend kicked off with challenging weather conditions at Cadwell Park. Free Practice 1 saw wet conditions, favouring some riders over others.

Free Practice 1

Italian rider Edoardo Colombi (Gradara Corse Asd) set the pace in the wet, clocking a best lap of 1:50.546. He was closely followed by Lennon Docherty (Symcirrus Motorsport), just 0.036 seconds behind. Aaron Silvester (MIH Solutions/Macadam Racing) rounded out the top three.

Top 5 FP1 Results:

Edoardo Colombi – 1:50.546
Lennon Docherty – +0.036s
Aaron Silvester – +1.763s
Rhys Stephenson – +2.574s
Jayden Martin – +3.336s

Free Practice 2

As conditions improved in the afternoon, lap times dropped significantly. Richard Cooper (PHR Performance Triumph) dominated FP2 with a time of 1:39.276, over 11 seconds faster than the morning session. Ash Barnes (Raceways Yamaha) and Rhys Stephenson (Rocket Racing) completed the top three.

Top 5 FP2 Results:

Richard Cooper – 1:39.276
Ash Barnes – +2.338s
Rhys Stephenson – +2.501s
Edoardo Colombi – +3.475s
Aaron Silvester – +4.141s

Sunday: Qualifying Shakes Up the Order

Qualifying

Ash Barnes showcased his speed in qualifying, securing pole position with a blistering lap of 1:32.608. Richard Cooper was a close second, just 0.040s behind. Thomas Strudwick (TS Racing) impressed with third place, completing the front row.

Top 5 Qualifying Results:

Ash Barnes – 1:32.608
Richard Cooper – +0.040s
Thomas Strudwick – +0.968s
Rhys Stephenson – +1.302s
Edoardo Colombi – +1.409s

Monday: Dramatic Race Day

The race day brought high drama and close competition to Cadwell Park. The initial start was red-flagged due to a crash involving Rhys Stephenson and Harrison Dessoy on the Mountain section during the second lap.

Restarted Race – 10 Laps

After the restart, Richard Cooper took the early lead and held it for most of the race. However, championship leader Edoardo Colombi, in his Cadwell Park debut, mounted a late-race charge.

The battle for the win came down to the final lap, with Colombi making a decisive move at Park corner to take the lead. Despite Cooper’s best efforts, Colombi held on to claim victory by a mere 0.167 seconds, extending his championship lead to 4.5 points.

Thomas Strudwick secured the final podium position, while Alfie Davidson and Aaron Silvester rounded out the top five.

Race Results:

Edoardo Colombi (Gradara Corse Asd) – 15:34.106
Richard Cooper (PHR Performance Triumph) – +0.167s
Thomas Strudwick (TS Racing) – +5.665s
Alfie Davidson (IN Competition/SENCAT Aprilia) – +11.670s
Aaron Silvester (MIH Solutions/Macadam Racing Triumph) – +12.268s

Notable performances further down the order included Maximus Hardy, who brought his Triumph Daytona 660 home in 7th place after starting 15th on the grid. This impressive result came after a last-minute switch to the Pirelli National Sportbike class, following financial challenges earlier in the season.

Edoardo Colombi also set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:32.418, establishing a new lap record for the class at Cadwell Park.

The weekend showcased the unpredictable nature of motorcycle racing, with changing weather conditions and on-track incidents playing a significant role in the outcomes. Colombi’s victory and extended championship lead set the stage for an exciting continuation of the season.

World record for Ducati at Iconic Auctioneers sale at Silverstone Festival this past weekend

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August 27, 2024

Two Ducati Moto GP bikes were sold to an international buyer at this weekends Silverstone Festival by Iconic Auctioneers – Lot 515, a 2003 Ducati Desmosedici GP3 989cc sold for £201,250 and lot 517, a 2007 Ducati Desmosedici GP7 799cc for £402,500, making it one of the most expensive motorcycle ever sold at auction.

How often does one see two racing motorcycles of this calibre come to auction at the same time? “Rarely, very rarely”, says Mark Bryan, Head of Motorcycles at Iconic Auctioneers.

These are known bikes and both would have been used during the 2003 and 2007 seasons respectively. Both bikes are running and have been maintained by experienced Ducati technicians and are fitted with more modern electronics for ease of use. It’s a rare opportunity as very few manufacturers sell their race bikes post season.

Mark Bryan, Motorcycle Manager at Iconic Auctioneers, says: ” We are more than delighted with the result of these two MotoGP bikes that sold today and how apt that they should sell at Silverstone, which is the home of the British MotoGP. They have been sold to an international buyer, which just goes to the show the global reach of our marketing.”

World Record For Ducati At Iconic Auctioneers Sale At Silverstone Festival This Past Weekend — 2007 Ducati Desmosedici GP7 799cc sold for £402,500

Recently rebuilt 2007 MotoGP GP7 Desmosedici race bike sold for: £402,500. It formed part of a private Collection for many years until being purchased by our vendor in 2020. An incredible opportunity to own a piece of Ducati and MotoGP history.

The frame designation is D16GP7 CS1 and was built for the 2007 season. All the factory race bikes were fitted with tamper-proof metal stickers on the frame showing designation numbers. This original frame was used in the 2007 season and still has the Spanish MotoGP scrutineering sticker attached. The GP7 bike featured a 799cc, 90° V4, desmodromic DOHC engine, with 4-valves per cylinder producing 220bhp-plus with Magneti Marelli electronic injection and ignition with EVO TCF throttle control. Weighing 148kg and capable of speeds in excess of 190mph. Featuring a tubular steel, trellis-style frame with a pressed aluminium swing arm with Ohlins front and rear fully adjustable suspension. Fitted with powerful Brembo four-piston calipers with 305mm carbon discs on the front and a Brembo single two-piston caliper on the rear with 220mm steel disc. Currently fitted with 17″ rims but complete with its original 16.5″ wheels.

The 2007 season saw Casey Stoner win the MotoGP Championship for the Marlboro Ducati factory team. He won the Riders Championship ahead of Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi, with Ducati taking the constructor’s title ahead of Honda and Yamaha. Ducati took five pole positions and 11 victories, with Stoner taking ten and Capirossi just one.

The early MotoGP bikes can be maintained and run without the need for factory support so can be used for track use and classic parades. Recently rebuilt by Ducati expert Dave Allenby and is presented in good running order with all Corsa parts purchased from Target Motorsport.

This Ducati 2003 MotoGP GP3 Desmosedici race bike which sold old for:£201,250 is one of the few examples built by Ducati Corsa for the 2003 season, a true piece of Ducati and MotoGP history.

In 2003 Ducati entered MotoGP for the first time with the brand new Desmosedici GP3.

The bike featured a 989cc, 90° V4 desmodromic DOHC engine, with four valves per cylinder producing 220bhp-plus @ 16,000rpm with Magneti Marelli injection and ignition.

Weighing a mere 145kg it is capable of speeds in excess of 200mph..

Finished in the iconic Marlboro colours, this machine has the designation of LC1 and was used by Loris Capirossi during the 2003 season. Loris finished fourth in the MotoGP championship in 2003 with Ducati taking a second place in the manufacturer’s standings behind Honda. During the 2003 season, Ducati took three pole positions but their only win came at the Spanish Grand Prix at Catalunya, Loris Capirossi beating the Hondas of Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau.

This correct example Ducati GP3 has been maintained over the last few years and presented in good running order. Fitted with a later Marelli ignition system with traction control.

A very usable example with spares readily available, unlike many other exotics and eligible for numerous classic events worldwide

Anyone interested in selling with us at a future event, we are now inviting entries for our next Motorcycle Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show on the 10^th December.”

For more information please contact

Mark Bryan

Motorcycle Manager

mark@iconicauctioneers.com

Tel +44 (0) 7958 107974

Ryde and Bridewell Share Honours in Thrilling Cadwell Park Showdown

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August 26, 2024

The 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship delivered an action-packed Bank Holiday Monday at Cadwell Park, with two races that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The day began with an intense morning warm-up session that set the stage for the battles to come.

Warm-Up Session: Kyle Ryde of OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing topped the timesheets with a 1:26.372, showcasing his intent for the day. His teammate Ryan Vickers was close behind, just 0.077 seconds off the pace, with Lee Jackson rounding out the top three. This session hinted at the fierce competition to come, with the top 10 riders separated by less than a second.

Race 2: The second race of the weekend saw Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) demonstrate why he’s leading the championship. Starting from 12th on the grid, Bridewell made a blistering start, taking the lead on the opening lap. Despite constant pressure from Kyle Ryde and local favourite Lee Jackson, Bridewell held his nerve to take the checkered flag by a mere 0.219 seconds.

The race was marked by several notable performances:

Ryan Vickers put on a spectacular show, charging from 20th on the grid to finish 6th, showcasing both his skill and the potential of the OMG GRILLA Yamaha.
Charlie Nesbitt set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:25.882, underlining the pace of the MasterMac Honda team.
Peter Hickman received a long lap penalty for an incident involving Danny Kent, who unfortunately crashed out, adding drama to the mid-pack battle.

The tight finish, with the top three covered by just 0.242 seconds, highlighted the competitive nature of the championship this season.

Top 5 Results – Race 2:

Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) – 17:23.051
Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) – +0.219s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) – +0.242s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) – +2.025s
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) – +2.425s

Race 3 – Monster Energy Cadwell 90 Trophy: The final race of the weekend provided even more excitement over its longer 20-lap format. Kyle Ryde claimed victory in a thrilling race, but not before early drama saw his teammate Ryan Vickers crash out of the lead at Coppice on lap two. Vickers had set a blistering pace, recording the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1:25.891 before his unfortunate exit.

Ryde managed the race perfectly from that point, holding off a determined Tommy Bridewell, who secured his 100th British Superbike podium – a remarkable milestone in his career. Lee Jackson rounded out the podium, much to the delight of the home crowd, making it a fantastic weekend for the Lincolnshire rider.

The longer race format allowed for some interesting developments:

Glenn Irwin and Josh Brookes engaged in a race-long battle, finishing 5th and 6th respectively, separated by just 0.582 seconds after 20 laps.
Peter Hickman bounced back from his earlier penalty to finish 9th, showcasing strong pace in the latter stages of the race.
Billy McConnell impressed with a solid 10th place finish for the C&L Fairburn Properties/Look Forward Racing Honda team.

Top 5 Results – Race 3:

Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) – 28:52.399
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) – +0.702s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) – +3.436s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) – +4.368s
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) – +10.337s

Championship Implications: The day’s results have significant implications for the championship. Bridewell’s consistent performances, including a win and a second place, have strengthened his lead. However, Ryde’s victory in the final race, coupled with his Pirelli King of the Mountain Trophy from earlier in the day, keeps him firmly in contention.

The consistent performances of Jackson and Nesbitt, each securing two podium finishes over the weekend, suggest they could be dark horses in the title race. Glenn Irwin’s steady top-five finishes also keep him in the mix.

Looking Ahead: As the championship moves forward, the battle between Bridewell and Ryde promises to intensify, with both riders showing exceptional form. The upcoming rounds will be crucial, as teams and riders look to build on their Cadwell Park performances.

The varied nature of the remaining circuits on the calendar will test the versatility of both riders and machines. With the top riders so closely matched, consistency and the ability to perform under pressure will likely be the deciding factors in the 2024 title race.

In conclusion, the Cadwell Park round of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship delivered everything fans could hope for – close racing, dramatic moments, and shifting championship dynamics. As the season progresses, it’s clear that this year’s title fight could go down to the wire, promising more thrilling action in the rounds to come.

Back to MotorLand: does another duel await in 2024?

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August 26, 2024

MotoGP™ returns to the stage of some spectacular duels in recent seasons, with the scene set for a repeat performance. But which?

As the paddock arrived into MotorLand Aragon in 2021, now two-time MotoGP™ World Champion – and current Championship leader – Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) had never won a MotoGP™ race. That changed on Sunday as the then #63 duelled eight-time World Champion, home hero and anti-clockwise king Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) for the top step, repelling seven attacks over the final three laps to join the pantheon of premier class winners. Since that day, their respective paths have taken plenty of twists and turns – and next year they converge as teammates. But a big chapter of what could become one of the sport’s biggest long term rivalries started right here. So can we expect a throwdown?

Bagnaia is on a roll as the paddock heads back to Spain. He’s now equalled his maximum number of wins in a season already – seven – and arrives in Aragon from a double taken in style at Spielberg. He’s the rider to beat, the Championship leader, riding in enemy territory and now looking down the barrel of a 2025 teammate whose presence will have its own say on Bagnaia’s legacy. Incidentally, the same rider who has a corner named after them at this very track. Motivation and form don’t come in much more convincing packages than this.

Marquez, meanwhile, arrives in a scrappier run after two Sprint crashes and a more dramatic start to the Austrian GP. But his pace in Spielberg was dramatic in a different way. Might he have been able to stick with the red machine up ahead? No one else seemed likely to do so, and the stage seemed set for it too as the Bagnaia, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Marc Marquez trio lined up on the front row. So now add in Aragon, the fact it’s anti-clockwise and home turf, and there could be fireworks this weekend – even without considering that a single centimetre more luck could have its own say in turning his run of form around.

Having said that, Martin can never be counted out. Over the last stint of 2023 the #89 learned to be both fast and consistent at the same time, and he’s carried that into 2024 to remain right in the fight at the front – also leading the way for much of the season – without needing to stage any grand comeback. He’s fast everywhere, he’s made relatively few unforced errors, and he’s only five points off the top. He’s also well versed in sticking with and overhauling his fellow key contenders. Finding that final tenth is something he’s done before and it would be no surprise to see him prove a key protagonist in the fight for victory.

And then there’s Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). 2021 was not, of course, the last time Aragon welcomed MotoGP™. The last time it did, in 2022, it was another duel – but this time Bastianini vs Bagnaia, and with the Beast coming out on top. He lost a little ground in the Championship in Austria but his double at Silverstone was a reminder, if anyone needed one, how fast he is. He lurks in third in the title fight, clearly hasn’t given up on it, and is 61 points off the top. There’s a maximum of 333 points left on the table in 2024, and Bastianini is one of the riders, if not THE rider, who immediately comes to mind when thinking about 148 of them: Aragon, San Marino, Emilia-Romagna and Sepang. That stint starts here.

There were some positives for plenty in Austria though. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was back in the top five on their home turf, and teammate Jack Miller had plenty of speed to write home about, even if it came apart on Sunday. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) had a solid weekend and took home a top six, and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) had some real flashes of pace even if some dramas got in the way. At Aragon, we can also expect the return of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) to fight it out in a similar group too.

For Aprilia, meanwhile, Aragon should promise a little more. Spielberg saw Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) take a Tissot Sprint podium and then teammate Maverick Viñales lead the charge on Sunday in P7, but that doesn’t better their previous best at the venue. The very different MotorLand layout, plus their records at the track and the home turf aspect for the #12 and #41, should see the Noale factory back in the mix. Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira will also want plenty more on their 2024 RS-GPs and hope for a similar uptick.

Looking to rejoin that tight battle for the top five or more – and win it – are the likes of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and, most especially, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The #73 took a top ten but had a tougher weekend, and the #31 had one of his toughest yet in MotoGP™, behind wildcard Pol Espargaro and with teammate Augusto Fernandez not far off nipping at his heels.

It was a tough one in Austria for a few. Some issues for Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) – although the latter finished – affected their Sundays, although Honda did take two points thanks to a P14 nabbed on the very last lap by a charging Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR). Meanwhile Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) had a tougher one and will want more at Aragon in the Honda battle and the fight for points too. Of no one is that more true, however, than Yamaha.

Neither Fabio Quartararo nor Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Alex Rins scored in Austria, and they’ll want to put that right ASAP at Aragon. They also had a test in the meantime as work continues towards getting back into that fight at the front, and rather interestingly called on the talents of MotoGP™ Legend Andrea Dovizioso to join them on track for that as test rider Cal Crutchlow continues to recover from injury. That was at Misano, so could prove interesting at the events appearing on the horizon, but the first mission at MotorLand will be clear: points.

We’ve seen some true classics at this track and the 2024 season so far promises so much potential for another to thrill us as we return to the venue. With so more than points on the line as honour, reputation, glory and more go up for grabs, you don’t want to miss the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragón this weekend!

SHOWTIME
Saturday
Tissot Sprint: 15:00 (UTC +2)
Sunday
Grand Prix: 14:00 (UTC +2)

For more MotoGP info checkout our dedicated MotoGP News page

Or visit the official MotoGP website www.motogp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

Will the form book shuffle again in Aragon?

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August 26, 2024

The Austrian GP was a weekend where the Moto2™ World Championship frontrunners endured tougher times – and one where nobody could match Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on Sunday afternoon.

The Italian won at the Red Bull Ring for a second year in succession as a trip to a different challenge in the form of MotorLand Aragon now beckons.

Vietti’s debut win in the famous Red Bull KTM Ajo colours was a dominant one. Two podiums on the spin have been a fantastic start to the second half of the season for the #13, as a second for Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) ended his mini podium drought. Jake Dixon’s (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) P3 was his third top three on the spin as the Briton continues to find great form, as Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) – a podium finisher at Aragon in 2022 – narrowly missed out on a podium.

Those four riders will be looking for more of the same performance in Aragon, but title chase leader Sergio Garcia, his MT Helmets – MSI teammate Ai Ogura, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) and Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) will be hungry for much more.

Garcia’s P14 saw him gain just two points – the gap now at 20 – on the luckless Ogura, with the Japanese star’s first crash of the season seeing him suffer a fracture in his right hand. Roberts’ quiet weekend saw him claw back some crucial points on Garcia, while Aldeguer’s P20 now sees him drop to P5 – behind his teammate – in the overall standings… how will the grid shuffle again at MotorLand?

For more Moto2 info checkout our dedicated Moto2 News page

Or visit the official MotoGP website motogp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

Alonso looks to hammer home his advantage in Aragon

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August 26, 2024

A showstopper from David Alonso in Spielberg saw the Colombian claim a phenomenal seventh win of the season, despite having to contend with a Long Lap penalty.

The latest 25-point collection sees the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team star land in Aragon with a whopping 71-point lead in the Moto3™ title race. The question now is: can anyone halt the #80’s incredible momentum?

Despite the drama that unfolded for Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) in Austria, the Spaniard remains Alonso’s chief Championship chaser. Sunday promised much more than a P9 for Ortola, as he was left to stew on stalling his bike as the riders rolled up to the grid. Still, that recovery ride was something pretty special, but now it’s all about beating Alonso at every opportunity.

2022 Aragon podium finisher, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), bagged his first rostrum since Le Mans sees the #96 stay in P3 overall, as David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) nicked P2 from his grasp by just 0.005s in Austria. That result for Muñoz saw him move up to P5 in the Championship, one place behind Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Dutch star hopes Aragon can be the place he wins for the first time since Jerez, because a P5 wasn’t what Veijer ordered from Austria.

Catch me if you can is the shout from Alonso – how will the chasers respond at MotorLand?

For more Moto3 info checkout our dedicated Moto3 News page

Or visit the official MotoGP website motogp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

Lopez leads the way with new lap record ahead of timesheets tightening up

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August 26, 2024

Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) completed a perfect Friday at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon with a new lap record in P1 after having already led the way on Friday morning.

The #21 set an impressive 1:50.989 benchmark to move two tenths clear of the first on the chase, rookie Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), with CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team’s Jake Dixon taking the final spot inside the top three within a tenth of the Brazilian.

Fourth was even closer, with Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) within just 0.007 of Dixon, and small gaps from there on out: Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) in fifth is only half a tenth further back, ahead of Albert Arenas (QJMotor Gresini Moto2™) at a similar deficit and Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team).

Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had one of his best intermediate class showings so far in P7, ahead of Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) completing the top ten. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was the rider just edged out.

Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) was all the way down in P26, and fellow contender and teammate Ai Ogura in P17 as he returns from injury.

The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards have given a number of riders three-place grid penalties for being slow online in P1: Arenas, Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team), Filip Salač (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team).

For more Moto2 info checkout our dedicated Moto2 News page

Or visit the official MotoGP website motogp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

Stapleford Triumphs in Cadwell Park Thriller as Kennedy’s Challenge Ends in Heartbreak

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August 26, 2024

The Quattro Group British Supersport & GP2 Championship, along with the HEL Supersport Cup, delivered an action-packed day at Cadwell Park, featuring intense qualifying sessions and a dramatic Sprint Race.

Qualifying saw Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) secure pole position with a blistering lap of 1:28.575. Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) and Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) completed the front row, setting the stage for an exciting Sprint Race.

As the lights went out for the 12-lap Sprint Race, it was Ben Currie (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) who made the most of his second-row start, grabbing the holeshot. However, by lap three, both Stapleford and Kennedy had passed the reigning champion.

What followed was a masterclass in race craft from Stapleford. The Triumph rider set a consistent pace at the front, with Kennedy in hot pursuit. The Honda rider kept the pressure on, even setting a new lap record of 1:28.388 on lap 9.

The battle for the lead reached its climax on the penultimate lap. With Kennedy looking increasingly threatening, disaster struck for the Honda rider as he crashed out with just over a lap to go. This left Stapleford with a comfortable lead and an easy run to the checkered flag, finishing the race in 17:53.221.

Ben Currie, who had been running a distant third for most of the race, inherited second place, finishing 8.542 seconds behind Stapleford. The fight for the final podium spot provided some late-race excitement, with Harry Truelove (Astro-JJR Suzuki) ultimately claiming third, just 0.064 seconds ahead of Dean Harrison. Eugene McManus (ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati) rounded out the top five.

In the GP2 class, Owen Jenner had a relatively easy run to victory, finishing 12th overall and 27.914 seconds behind the leader. Keo Walker secured second in class after Lucca Allen fell on the final lap.

The Cup class provided some last-lap drama as well. Mikey Hardie, who had been trailing Cameron Hall for most of the race, made a decisive move on the final lap. Hardie clinched the win, finishing 16th overall, with Hall just 0.015 seconds behind. Adon Davie completed the Cup podium in 22nd place overall.

Top 5 Sprint Race Results:

Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) – 17:53.221

Ben Currie (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) – +8.542s

Harry Truelove (Astro-JJR Suzuki) – +10.594s

Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) – +10.658s

Eugene McManus (ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati) – +11.347s

Stapleford’s dominant performance has undoubtedly shaken up the championship standings, while Kennedy’s unfortunate crash may have significant implications for the title race. With the Feature Race still to come, the Supersport field is poised for another thrilling battle at the challenging Cadwell Park circuit.

Sweet Swiss Victories For Gajser And De Wolf at The MXGP of Switzerland

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August 26, 2024

The blazing heat of Saturday turned into grey skies and showers at the Schweizer Zucker circuit before today’s MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS. Dealing with completely different circuit conditions to those of the RAM Qualifying Races, the World Championship elite nevertheless put on an amazing show of riding skill and determination.

After a difficult few rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship, red plate holder Tim Gajser seemed to take control of the series again today with two brilliant race wins for Team HRC to rebuild his points lead and assert his authority over his pursuers.

It was a similar story in MX2 as Kay de Wolf took his seventh GP win of the season and saw his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Lucas Coenen finish only seventh overall. Simon Laengenfelder celebrated taking the second race victory for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing and finishing second overall on the day.

As he had done in all of the practice sessions across the weekend, Gajser was again fastest in Warm-Up and looked in determined mood. However, the returning Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP star Maxime Renaux took a stunning holeshot, his first since the opening round in Argentina before the aggravation of his foot injury!

Reigning Champion and Saturday’s RAM Qualifying Race winner Jorge Prado started in second for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, with Josh Gilbert briefly in third for Gabriel SS24 KTM. Gajser was clearly on a mission though, and charged around them both to take second around the third corner! Just after the halfway point of the lap the Slovenian forced his way to the inside of the Frenchman to power into the lead, and from there he simply was not going to be caught.

The atmosphere was palpable around the Swiss circuit as the red smoke from the fans’ flares began to disperse, but it reached fever pitch as their home hero Jeremy Seewer, making the 200th consecutive Grand Prix start of his career and looking fast for Kawasaki Racing Team, put pressure on Prado, who had been unable to pick his way past Renaux. The Swiss veteran sent the crowd into raptures as he dived inside the Champ on lap six, who veered off-track momentarily in surprise!

All the time though, Jeffrey Herlings, struggling off the gate all weekend for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, was starting to make his presence felt as he moved forward on a familiar charge through the pack. With a magical show of speed at the end of lap eight, he was able to pass first Prado, then Seewer, within the space of three corners! With blistering pace he caught Renaux two laps later, dealing with him rapidly before eyeing up the near 15-second gap to the leader.

On lap 14, Prado seemed to realise that he was in danger of losing serious points to his title rivals, and with sweet moves along the back straight of the track, he passed both Seewer and Renaux on consecutive laps to keep the damage to a minimum with a third-place finish. Seewer kept the fans happy as he advanced to fourth with the aid of a Renaux mistake before the two-lap board, and that was how the top five finished.

Behind them, Romain Febvre held sixth for Kawasaki Racing Team for almost the entire race, ahead of Fantic Factory Racing’s Glenn Coldenhoff, another local favourite Valentin Guillod in eighth for Team Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR, and then Alberto Forato, who moved up to ninth for Standing Construct Honda ahead of Slovenian Jan Pancar, taking a fine top ten result for his own TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team.

Gajser managed to keep his advantage over Herlings to the flag, and as the circuit dried for race two his competitors might have worried about his all-out speed that returned with a vengeance this weekend.

Renaux had one possible answer – get the best start possible! Making it a clean sweep of Yamaha holeshots for the day (Spoiler alert – in both classes!), the Frenchman gave us a glimpse of what he might serve up in 2025 as he led the first six laps at a pace that the chasing Prado and Febvre could not live with.

Gajser was not to be denied, however, and recovered from a tenth place start to blast his way into fifth after the first half-lap, with Herlings still languishing in ninth at this stage. The Dutchman marched relentlessly forward, demoting Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez, Forato, and Coldenhoff on consecutive laps, before railing around Seewer on lap six. Just then, Prado had closed on Renaux and took the lead from the Frenchman, the Spaniard now sitting in a solid position to win the GP overall.

As Febvre and then Gajser worked past Renaux, it was Gajser’s turn to dig in as he attacked Febvre and advanced to second on lap nine, just as Herlings had also passed Renaux and was looking like a real threat. Just as “The Bullet” lost time in trying to make a pass, so Gajser made his move, jumping thrillingly alongside Prado over the Finish Line jump at the start of lap 12 and blasting around the outside of the following corner! The Slovenian was in control, and nobody had an answer for him.

Further back, there were impressive rides throughout the top ten. Andrea Bonacorsi moved forward to claim tenth for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP behind Fernandez who took ninth on his own return from injury. Eighth went to Guillod’s teammate Kevin Horgmo, as Forato pounced on a tiring Renaux to grab sixth from him on the last lap.

Coldenhoff had got himself stuck in some trackside mud and would not finish, while Seewer took fifth to finish fourth overall in front of his happy local supporters. The final four laps saw a spell-binding charge from Herlings, as he finally got around Febvre for third, then pulled out all the stops to outpace Prado for second with a pass around a heavily rutted 180-degree right-hander!

Gajser kept his pace up to win by just under seven seconds, and the Sunday maximum, his first of the season, puts him up to an amazing 49 Grand Prix wins in his career. It doubles his lead from the start of the weekend to 18 points over Prado, and Herlings is now 24 further back from the Spaniard.

With Gajser approaching the MXGP of Turkiye with a two-year winning streak at that event, he has grabbed the momentum going into the final three rounds of the year. How will his chasers react at the Afyon Motor Sports Center? Join us or tune in to find out!

Tim Gajser: “it’s starting to be crucial, you know, like we are going towards the end of the championship, just three rounds to go. I lost some ground in Lommel and also in Arnhem. But anyway, I’m really looking forward to the tracks that we are going now. But today I felt really good, two solid starts, quick passes, let’s say, make a little gap and then control the race. I was really enjoying out there. The track was not easy, so you have to be smart and also pick the right lines. But yeah, we’re all super happy. I want to say a huge thank you to all my team, everybody around me, all the fans. Thank you very much! “

Jeffrey Herlings: “Both times once I got the second, the bird was gone. I had the speed, I had the speed all day to win, but it doesn’t bring me anything, you know! So anyway, two-two on a track, I’d say I don’t fancy so much, it’s not too bad. So, no, I mean, this is the track last year I struggled the most and now this year I felt like my bike setup was much better my riding was good I was really at good speed so yeah just couldn’t get out of start like almost always so you know it is like it is but looking forward to Turkey and China I think those tracks for the inside gates will suit me a bit better so looking forward to them”

Jorge Prado: “It was a tough day for me. I struggled with my health in race 1 and obviously race 2 was a bit better, let’s say health-wise, struggling still with the leg also that hurt in race one too. I don’t know today just everything was hard for me just fighting through myself. And if I need to battle these guys and I’m not 100% it’s hard to beat them. So it’s a pity we lost some points, but three rounds left. Let’s get back to 100% healthy and let’s get a championship.”

MXGP – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:17.116; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:14.525; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:22.150; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:23.513; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:26.344; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.986; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +1:15.163; 8. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:15.636; 9. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +1:28.669; 10. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:29.815

MXGP – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:24.188; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:06.943; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:16.842; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:23.172; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:26.160; 6. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +0:37.286; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:40.106; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:51.588; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:10.788; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +1:18.975

MXGP Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 40 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 34 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 33 p.; 6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 30 p.; 7. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 27 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 23 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 23 p.; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 20 p.

MXGP – World Championship – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 860 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 842 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 818 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 587 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 550 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 527 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 514 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 386 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 329 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 295 p

MXGP – Manufacturers Classification: Honda, 877 points; 2. GASGAS, 842 p.; 3. KTM, 830 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 723 p.; 5. Yamaha, 649 p.; 6. Fantic, 556 p.; 7. Husqvarna, 271 p.; 8. Beta, 152 p.; 9. Ducati, 10 p

In the muddy morning Warm-Up session, Karlis Reisulis had set the fastest time for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, but it was his teammate on return from injury, Thibault Benistant, who claimed the Fox Holeshot Award at the start of race one, with De Wolf second ahead of another Monster Energy Yamaha with Rick Elzinga at the helm.

Lucas Coenen had started in a lowly 13th position and had a lot of work to do on the slippery and sloppy circuit, while WZ Racing Team’s Oriol Oliver ran as high as fourth in the opening laps. Reisulis was ahead of Laengenfelder, but Liam Everts suffered a small tip over in the first lap, which would ultimately prove to be costly for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider!

Liam made a forceful pass on Lucas which put the pair in seventh and eighth, and both moved up a spot as Team HRC’s Ferruccio Zanchi slipped off to run in ninth for most of the race. Meanwhile, De Wolf was reeling in early leader Benistant, and just past the Pit Lane straight the Frenchman lost his balance through a tricky rut and fell, allowing both De Wolf and Elzinga through into the top two places!

Two laps later, the mud master that is Liam Everts passed both Laengenfelder and Reisulis to move to fourth, the move on the Latvian being a work of art that wasn’t repeated by anybody all day! The Belgian then took just two laps to close a three-second gap to Elzinga, but the Dutchman was suffering with bike issues and just after Liam went by into second, he ground to a halt at the side of the circuit.

On the penultimate lap, Lucas Coenen made a mistake and cut out the big, cambered corner, a unique feature to this circuit, and was therefore penalised two positions. This put him eighth in the classification, ahead of F & H Racing’s Quentin Marc Prugnieres and Monster Energy Triumph Racing rider Camden McLellan.

Zanchi and Reisulis were promoted to sixth and seventh, after a strong charge from McLellan’s teammate Mikkel Haarup earned him a solid fifth from a start outside of the top ten. Laengenfelder took fourth behind Benistant, which was still an impressive ride on his return from injury, but Everts charged to the rear wheel of De Wolf with three laps to go and very nearly passed the Championship leader. The Dutchman held his nerve to take a narrow win and extend his series lead by 12 points just in that race alone!

In what was a good day for the blue bikes, Reisulis took the first Fox Holeshot Award of his MX2 career in race two, with Benistant initially behind him but jumping past in the corner after the finish line to take the lead, with Laengenfelder chasing them both! On the first full lap, Everts fell, making life difficult for the teenage Belgian, while Reisulis retook the lead from Benistant, a bold move for the team rookie against the established star!

With De Wolf in fourth and Lucas Coenen crashing in a corner on lap three, Laengenfelder was keen to capitalise on his good start and fired inside Benistant on lap five, although it would take him many laps to close in the surprising Reisulis, whose confidence was growing by the lap in much better racing conditions than the first outing.

Benistant, feeling the pace on his return to action, slipped down the order to an eventual eighth in front of Zanchi and Prugnieres. Lucas Coenen recovered to seventh at the flag, nearly catching a disappointed Elzinga for sixth. Everts had to charge again, and although he was just shy of Haarup’s fourth position, it was enough for the KTM man, in a difficult weekend for his teammates, to claim the third spot on the podium overall.

De Wolf held station in third place, but Laengenfelder finally caught and passed Reisulis on lap 13 to take his fourth race victory of the year, and the Latvian held on for his best race finish of second, and his best overall result of 4th in MX2. A strong prospect for the future!

De Wolf’s Championship lead looks very strong now at 61, meaning he will carry the red plate even after the MXGP of Turkiye no matter what happens there, as Lucas Coenen will try to bounce back at Afyonkarahisar.

It’s the return to Turkiye next, after a week’s break for the series, to begin the final three rounds of the season. The battle to clinch the Championships swung towards the series leaders in Switzerland, but it is all still far from done yet!

Kay de Wolf: “The second race wasn’t as easy as the first one. The first few guys were really fast and I was struggling with my pace a little bit but I brought it home safe and gained some massive points in the championship. So that’s what it’s all about and yeah, I’m really happy. I can’t do it without this team. They do an amazing job for me day in day out. So yeah, I really appreciate it and now on to the next one in Turkiye!”

Simon Laengenfelder: “It’s nice to bounce back after a bad weekend like this. Okay, not the best start but at least the riding was really good in the second race. I was really happy to get the Moto win and happy with the bike. I’m now looking forward to the last few races this season.”

Liam Everts: “I certainly didn’t make it easy you know also last rounds; the speed was really good but just some little tip overs. And again, today but I still managed to make it happen which is which is pretty cool. I felt great all weekend. I also want to say hi to my parents, it’s the first time that they missed a round!”

MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 35:29.269; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:01.313; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:13.749; 4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:16.506; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:36.702; 6. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:56.030; 7. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:03.550; 8. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:50.398; 9. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:30.119; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +1:41.699

MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), 34:39.275; 2. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:12.029; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:15.975; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:17.720; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:18.398; 6. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:22.041; 7. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:23.845; 8. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:37.770; 9. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:45.287; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:50.114;

MX2 Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 45 points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 43 p.; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 34 p.; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 33 p.; 7. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 27 p.; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 27 p.; 9. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 23 p.; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 21 p

MX2 – World Championship Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 831 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 770 p.; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 727 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 681 p.; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 581 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 570 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 511 p.; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 456 p.; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 337 p.; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 317 p

MX2 – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Husqvarna, 936 points; 2. KTM, 820 p.; 3. GASGAS, 734 p.; 4. Triumph, 627 p.; 5. Yamaha, 599 p.; 6. Honda, 352 p.; 7. Kawasaki, 318 p.; 8. Fantic, 238 p.; 9. TM, 60

MXGP OF SWITZERLAND QUICK FACTS:

Crow Attendance: 31,000

Circuit length: 1500m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 21°

Weather conditions: Cloudy

For more news check out our dedicated MXGP/MX2 News page

Or visit the official MXGP website mxgp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.mxgp.com

Ryde Dominates as Local Hero Jackson Shines in Cadwell Park Thriller

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August 25, 2024

The 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship continued its electrifying season with Round 8 at the iconic Cadwell Park circuit. Sunday’s action packed a punch with Free Practice 3, an intense qualifying session, and a dramatic Race 1 that reshuffled the championship standings.

Free Practice 3 saw Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) set the pace with a blistering 1:26.292, closely followed by Tommy Bridewell and Lee Jackson. However, the morning’s form wouldn’t translate directly into qualifying success.

The Omologato Superpole qualifying session brought its own surprises. Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) clinched pole position with a 1:25.916, edging out Kyle Ryde and Charlie Nesbitt. Local favourite Lee Jackson secured fourth, setting the stage for an exciting race.

As the lights went out for Race 1, Kyle Ryde showcased his exceptional race craft. Despite starting from second, Ryde swiftly took control, demonstrating pace and consistency that his rivals couldn’t match. His teammate Ryan Vickers, unfortunately, saw his race end prematurely due to mechanical issues.

Lee Jackson, buoyed by local support, put on a spectacular show. Starting fourth, he methodically worked his way through the field, eventually securing second place and keeping the pressure on Ryde until the checkered flag.

Charlie Nesbitt continued his impressive form, rounding out the podium and giving the MasterMac Honda team a double podium finish.

Reigning champion Tommy Bridewell delivered a masterclass in overtaking. Starting from a challenging 12th position, Bridewell carved through the field to finish fourth, maintaining his championship lead. His battle with Glenn Irwin in the closing stages was a particular highlight, with the two rivals swapping positions in a thrilling duel.

Jason O’Halloran couldn’t convert his pole position into victory, eventually finishing sixth after being overtaken by both Bridewell and Irwin in the final laps.

The race saw several intense battles throughout the field, with Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam engaging in a BMW duel for seventh and eighth, while Billy McConnell impressed with a solid ninth-place finish.

Here are the top 10 results from Race 1:

Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) – 26:04.788
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) – +0.791s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) – +3.795s
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) – +5.214s
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) – +5.320s
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) – +6.269s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) – +11.293s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) – +11.846s
Billy McConnell (C&L Fairburn/Look Forward Racing) – +17.644s
Danny Buchan (DAO Racing Kawasaki) – +17.733s

Despite a tough race that saw him finish 13th and receive a two-second penalty for course-cutting, Christian Iddon maintains his third place in the championship standings.

The day’s results have tightened up the championship battle. Tommy Bridewell leads with 260 points, but Kyle Ryde’s victory has closed the gap, putting him just 19 points behind. Christian Iddon, Glenn Irwin, and Ryan Vickers round out the top five in the standings, ensuring an exciting battle as the season progresses.

With two more races scheduled for Monday, the Cadwell Park round promises more thrills and potentially further changes to the championship landscape. All eyes will be on whether Ryde can continue his momentum, if Bridewell can extend his lead, or if another contender will emerge from the pack.

Riders in serious condition following MGP crashes.

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August 25, 2024

Wayne Axon; aka Ciderman, and local rider Chris Moffitt are in a serious condition following accidents in yesterday’s aborted Junior Manx Grand Prix. Axon crashed at Creg ny Baa on the first lap of the race; whilst Moffitt crashed out at Ballacrye on the second lap. It was Moffitt’s accident that necessitated the use of the red flag. We hope that both riders will make a full recovery from their injuries.

Monday is scheduled to have six races; all of reduced distance; in the case of the Classic Junior; just one lap of 37.73 miles of the Mountain Course. Repeating an all too familiar theme; the weather forecast suggest that there will be a delay to the start of proceedings.

Riders In Serious Condition Following Mgp Crashes. — Wayne Axon

Truelove Leads the Way in Challenging Conditions at Cadwell Park

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August 25, 2024

The 2024 Pirelli National Superstock Championship with Moneybarn Vehicle Finance kicked off its eighth round at Cadwell Park with a day of practice marked by changeable weather conditions. As rain and drizzle played havoc with the track surface throughout the day, it was Matt Truelove who emerged as the pacesetter.

Riding for TAG Racing Honda, Truelove clocked an impressive 1:39.892 in Free Practice 2, a time that would stand as the benchmark for the day. This lap put him 0.157 seconds clear of his nearest rival, demonstrating both his pace and adaptability to the tricky conditions.

Cheshire Mouldings BMW by TAS Racing’s Davey Todd showed strong form to claim the second spot in the combined timesheets. Todd’s time of 1:40.049 was set in the afternoon session, showcasing his ability to extract performance as the track evolved.

Simon Reid, aboard the Cumins by Team IWR Honda, made a significant impact in FP2. Despite not setting a time in the morning session, Reid’s afternoon performance was good enough for third overall with a 1:40.379, highlighting the importance of timing in the mixed conditions.

Scott Swann continued his consistent form, ending the day fourth quickest. The Swann Racing rider improved his time in FP2, posting a 1:40.495 to secure his position near the front of the field.

The morning’s Free Practice 1 saw different names at the top of the timesheets, with Tim Neave (MasterMac Honda) setting the pace with a 1:41.325 in wet conditions. However, as the track dried slightly for FP2, Neave was unable to improve his time, resulting in him finishing fifth in the combined standings.

Notable performances came from Joe Talbot and Tom Oliver, who showed strong pace in the wet morning session but couldn’t capitalize on the marginally improved conditions in FP2.

As teams and riders look ahead to qualifying and race day, the weather forecast remains a crucial factor. With more unpredictable conditions potentially on the horizon, the grid could see further shake-ups, promising an exciting and unpredictable round at the challenging Cadwell Park circuit.

Top 5 Combined Times:

Matt Truelove (TAG Racing Honda) – 1:39.892

Davey Todd (Cheshire Mouldings BMW by TAS Racing) – 1:40.049

Simon Reid (Cumins by Team IWR Honda) – 1:40.379

Scott Swann (Swann Racing) – 1:40.495

Tim Neave (MasterMac Honda) – 1:41.325

With changing conditions levelling the playing field, tomorrow’s qualifying session promises to be a thrilling spectacle as riders vie for crucial grid positions at the technically demanding Cadwell Park layout. The ability to adapt quickly to the conditions could prove to be the key to success in this round of the Pirelli National Superstock Championship.

Currie Conquers Cadwell Park’s Changing Conditions in British Supersport

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August 25, 2024

The 2024 Quattro Group British Supersport & GP2 Championship, along with the HEL Supersport Cup, kicked off its eighth round at Cadwell Park with a day of practice marked by rapidly changing weather conditions. As rain played a significant role throughout the day, it was Benjamin Currie who managed to set the pace before the skies opened up.

The Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider clocked an impressive 1:32.442 in the early stages of Free Practice 2, a time that would remain unbeaten as conditions deteriorated. Currie’s lap put him 0.232 seconds clear of Honda Racing UK’s Jack Kennedy, showcasing the tight competition at the front of the field.

The morning’s Free Practice 1 saw different names at the top of the timesheets, with Alastair Seeley (Binch Pro Yamaha) setting the pace with a 1:43.144 in wet conditions. However, as the track dried briefly in FP2, times tumbled dramatically, reshuffling the order.

Luke Stapleford, aboard the Macadam Triumph Racing machine, made significant improvements to secure the third fastest time overall, despite limited dry running. Seeley, unable to replicate his morning performance, had to settle for fourth in the combined standings, followed closely by Joe Sheldon-Shaw on the MSG Racing Suzuki.

In the Cup class, ROKiT Rookie Mikey Hardie showed remarkable resilience. After sitting out most of the morning session, Hardie bounced back strongly in FP2, leading his class and finishing an impressive 13th overall. Cameron Hall and Joe Farragher rounded out the Cup podium positions for the day.

The GP2 category saw Keo Walker on the RD Racing Triumph emerge as the pacesetter, demonstrating strong form despite the challenging conditions.

Notable performances came from Dean Harrison and Rhys Irwin, who showed strong pace in the wet morning session but couldn’t capitalize on the brief window of improved conditions in FP2.

As teams and riders look ahead to qualifying and race day, the weather forecast remains a crucial factor. With more rain potentially on the horizon, the grid could see further shake-ups, promising an exciting and unpredictable round at the iconic Cadwell Park circuit.

Top 5 Combined Times:

Benjamin Currie (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) – 1:32.442
Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) – 1:32.674
Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) – 1:34.158
Alastair Seeley (Binch Pro Yamaha) – 1:34.228
Joe Sheldon-Shaw (MSG Racing) – 1:34.260

With changing conditions levelling the playing field, tomorrow’s qualifying session promises to be a thrilling spectacle as riders vie for crucial grid positions at the challenging Cadwell Park layout.

The Swiss Sun Shines For Prado & L.Coenen In The Ram Qualifying Races

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August 24, 2024

The Swiss sun shines for Prado & L.Coenen in the Ram Qualifying Races at Frauenfeld.

Round 17 of the MXGP World Motocross Championships kicked into life today at the Schweizer Zucker circuit in Frauenfeld for the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by IXS, and with beautiful blue skies the conditions were on the hot side for the afternoon’s RAM Qualifying Races.

The battle at the top of the MXGP World Championship continues to tighten up as Jorge Prado took the win for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, narrowing the gap to just eight points behind Tim Gajser, who took second for Team HRC. He also closed the gap in the race for the RAM Driving Experience as well, taking his fifth Black Plate of the year compared to the seven of Gajser!

The MX2 class again saw a battle between the Championship rivals from the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team, with Lucas Coenen emerging triumphant after a big crash for Kay de Wolf left him lucky to still pick up second place.

Tim Gajser showed his pace on the Swiss grassland surface with the fastest time in both Practice sessions, just ahead of Prado in Time Practice, with home hero Jeremy Seewer getting amongst the top men with third for the Kawasaki Racing Team ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star Jeffrey Herlings.

There was a strong return to racing for Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez as he launched around the first corner in the lead, just ahead of Seewer who got the banks of Swiss fans screaming for their man! Another rider back from injury, Maxime Renaux of the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team, was a good fourth at the start behind Prado, while Herlings and Gajser were down in eighth and ninth!

On the third lap Seewer, who had made several attempts to pass Fernandez for the lead, tipped over in a deep rut and dropped to seventh. On the same lap, Renaux got passed by Gajser and Herlings as the Slovenian had sneaked past “The Bullet” on the opening lap. The three title contenders then took their turns to get past Fernandez and stayed in those positions for the final ten laps!

The crowd were kept entertained by the recovery of Seewer, who skipped deftly past Fernandez on lap eight and chased after Renaux. Meanwhile, Romain Febvre, having recently renewed his contract with the Kawasaki Racing Team, recovered from a poor start and passed Alberto Forato for ninth in the closing stages after the Standing Construct Honda man fell from sixth, but would claim the final point.

Fernandez dropped to eighth as the early pace and heat wore him down. Glenn Coldenhoff took sixth for Fantic Factory Racing, and Kevin Horgmo a charging seventh for Team Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR.

Seewer took one final lunge at Renaux but nearly fell again on the last lap, having to settle for fifth behind the Frenchman and console himself with his move up to fourth in the Championship ahead of Renaux’s absent teammate Calvin Vlaanderen.

Prado led his fellow title contenders as Gajser and Herlings took second and third. Herlings is now 36 behind the Slovenian, but the reigning Champ continues to reel in the leader with the deficit now down to just eight points!

Jorge Prado: ”I mean it’s very warm today yeah especially now I think it was way warmer than this afternoon. About the race, I made good passes and got the lead and got another qualifying race win. It’s good for the championship so let’s go get it!”

MXGP – RAM Qualifying Race – Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 24:23.958; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:01.569; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:11.492; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:22.152; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:24.277; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:32.957; 7. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:35.355; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:40.358; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:48.526; 10. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +0:49.545; (BEL, Honda), +0:38.225; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:39.200

MXGP – World Championship Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 810 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 802 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 774 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 553 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 550 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 500 p.; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 494 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 363 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 306 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 283 p.

Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing star Simon Laengenfelder was fastest in the first Free Practice session, but the advantage was grabbed by Kay de Wolf in Time Practice as the red plate holder took first gate pick ahead of the German, with Lucas Coenen not far off in third.

Lucas Coenen bolted into the first corner in front, but there was confusion at the starting line as several gates appeared not to drop evenly. Further investigation revealed that the issue was caused by riders hitting the gate, so the race was allowed to continue.

Andrea Adamo had started up in second, but De Wolf was quickly past the man he intends to succeed as World Champion and took up the chase on his teammate. Laengenfelder fired around Adamo for third on lap four but could not get close to the flying Husqvarna men out front.

Adamo’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Liam Everts was right up there in fourth to begin with but made a stunning pass on the Italian on lap seven, cutting from outside to inside on the fast approach to the finish line!

Rick Elzinga held down a solid sixth place for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, just ahead of his teammate Thibault Benistant, the winner here last year who was in his first race back from injury. Monster Energy Triumph Racing star Mikkel Haarup fought past the Frenchman on lap nine and would also pass Elzinga for sixth as time expired. Elzinga would claim seventh, ahead of his other teammate Karlis Reisulis, who passed Benistant with three laps to go for eighth. The second Triumph of Camden McLellan took the final point in tenth.

Meanwhile, the tension was building at the front, as using some dazzling lines around the roughening Frauenfeld circuit, De Wolf closed to within a second of his teammate. It was looking like a showdown between the top two with three laps to go, but just as they caught a bunch of lapped riders, De Wolf’s rear wheel skipped sideways on the face of a jump and he suffered a spectacular crash in front of the fullest bank of fans!

With the bike looking twisted he was able to remount still in second place, and just managed to hold back Laengenfelder for second to the flag. Everts came home in fourth ahead of Adamo. It was Lucas Coenen, however, who won the RAM Qualifying Race for the seventh time this year!

All of the riders were feeling the heat from the hot Swiss sun today, but the weather is due to be cooler tomorrow with the possibility of rain on the horizon. It could be a completely different challenge for everybody on Grand Prix Sunday and should make for some fascinating racing as the sharp end of the Championship draws near!

Lucas Coenen: “It was a good race. The start was not bad. I had a good jump and I made my way up to the lead, so I was happy about that. And then I just did my own race, not really pushed on the limit because this track is quite sketchy. So I just went, not cruise mode, let’s say, but just riding smooth, because it was difficult to find the rhythm this morning. So, I mean, it’s good to kick the weekend like this. So tomorrow is another day, and we will see.”

MX2 – RAM Qualifying Race – Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 24:14.196; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:09.052; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:09.670; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:13.130; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:25.943; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:29.791; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:31.863; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:33.395; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.189; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:56.963

MX2 – World Championship Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 786 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 743 p.; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 684 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 643 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 551 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 547 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 496 p.; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 444 p.; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 316 p.; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 290 p

MXGP OF SWITZERLAND PRESENTED BY iXS QUICK FACTS:
Circuit length: 1500m
Type of ground: Hard Pack
Temperature: 32°
Weather conditions: Sunny

TIMETABLE

SUNDAY: 09:45 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 12:20 MXe Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

For more news check out our dedicated MXGP/MX2 News page

Or visit the official MXGP website mxgp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.mxgp.com

Weather chaos and red flag disrupt Manx Grand Prix.

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August 24, 2024

Another day; another multitude of problems for the Clerk of the Course to contend with. The first problem was roads that were too wet to allow racing to begin; that caused 2 hours of delay. To compound that emergency works were required on the drainage infrastructure at Union Mills that caused another long delay.

When the action finally started conditions were much improved, but many locations displayed lack of adhesion flags due to damp or wet patches. At Tower Bends the road was dry and the sun was shining. Proceedings began with a practice lap for all classes. It was used mostly by Senior MGP and Classic Superbike riders; although two Junior MGP riders did utilise it.

The first race scheduled for the afternoon was the Junior (Supertwins) Race. The practice form was soon proved to be accurate; Andrea Majola (Paton) led by 5s at Glen Helen from Maurizio Bottalico (Kawasaki), who had started 10s before him. Daniel Ingham (Aprilia) was third; with Julian Cregniot (Paton) fourth. Majola had closed the starting interval by Ramsey, and he led on the road at Tower Bends by 5 metres from his countryman as they swept through the S bend in fine style. He increased his lead over the mountain; to be 6.2s ahead as they took their compulsory pit stops.

There were a few penalties issued for pit lane infringements; but these did not affect the leading quartet. The first 8 riders had passed through Tower Bends on lap 2 when the red flag was displayed, halting the action. The flag was due to an incident at Ballacyre; between Ballaugh and Sulby. Thankfully the rider was conscious and talking to medics when he was being evacuated from the scene to Nobles Hospital.

The weather then returned to normality; rain that began in the west gradually spread to make the track unfit for racing. This gives Gary Thompson the unenviable task of trying to fit 6 shortened races into Monday. This may prove impossible if the current weather forecast is correct. This has been the most problematic MGP of all time; one day to go; no races completed.

Weather Chaos And Red Flag Disrupt Manx Grand Prix. — Andrea Majola and Maurizio Bottalico

Rain Reigns at Cadwell Park as Vickers Tops BSB Practice

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August 24, 2024

The 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roared into Cadwell Park for Round 8 under challenging conditions. Following Friday evening’s official test session held in dry weather, Saturday brought a dramatic shift with heavy rain intermittently lashing the Lincolnshire circuit throughout the day.

Ryan Vickers, aboard the OMG GRILLA Yamaha, demonstrated his prowess in both dry and wet conditions. After setting the pace in Friday’s test with a blistering lap of 1:25.914, Vickers continued his form into Saturday’s rain-soaked free practice sessions. The young Brit topped the combined practice times with a 1:37.026, showcasing his adaptability to the treacherous conditions.

Lee Jackson, riding for MasterMac Honda, proved to be Vickers’ closest challenger in the wet. Jackson’s time of 1:37.646 put him second overall, just 0.620 seconds off the pace. Tommy Bridewell, representing Honda Racing UK, rounded out the top three with a 1:37.680, a mere 0.034 seconds behind Jackson.

Here are the top 10 combined times from Saturday’s practice sessions:

Ryan Vickers (Yamaha – OMG GRILLA) – 1:37.026
Lee Jackson (Honda – MasterMac) – 1:37.646
Tommy Bridewell (Honda – Honda Racing UK) – 1:37.680
Danny Buchan (Kawasaki – DAO Racing) – 1:37.818
Jason O’Halloran (Kawasaki – Completely Motorbikes) – 1:38.093
Andrew Irwin (Honda – Honda Racing UK) – 1:38.199
Kyle Ryde (Yamaha – OMG GRILLA) – 1:38.231
Christian Iddon (Ducati – Oxford Products Racing) – 1:38.280
Charlie Nesbitt (Honda – MasterMac) – 1:38.514
Storm Stacey (Kawasaki – LKQ Euro Car Parts) – 1:38.565

Notable performances came from Danny Buchan on the DAO Racing Kawasaki and Jason O’Halloran on the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki, finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the combined standings.

The changing conditions from Friday’s test to Saturday’s wet practices have set the stage for an unpredictable qualifying session and races. With more rain forecasted, riders and teams will be working overtime to fine-tune their wet weather setups.

As the BSB paddock looks ahead to Sunday’s action, all eyes will be on the sky, with weather conditions likely to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of Round 8 at the iconic Cadwell Park circuit.

Weather havoc continues at MGP; Herbertson fastest in practice 3.

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August 23, 2024

Another day; another weather headache for the Clerk of the Course. An overnight gale, with a deluge of biblical proportions, left him no choice but delay the start of the day’s first contingency practice session by 3 hours; then, that had to be extended due to a road traffic incident in the vicinity of Duke’s. The roads had a multitude of damp; or just plain wet areas. These areas were very well flagged by the orange army whose numbers were boosted by those answering an appeal for more marshals to enable the required manning levels to be reached. The Clerk of the Course reiterated yesterday’s message to riders that any wild riding would mean exclusion. The message was heeded; just two minor incidents with no injuries.

The Classic and Lightweight machines were out first, and as expected speeds were well below those seen in the first two practice sessions. Stuart Hall was first to reach Milntown Bridge on his Lightweight Yamaha; he had Mike Browne close behind on the Eureka Norton. Roads here were completely dry so speeds were fairly high, and we were treated to some nice wheelies. Michael Dunlop’s Honda 250cc; after early retirements in the first two sessions, sounded neat and Michael was; as always; tucked under the bubble. He pulled in at the Grandstand after a class leading first lap and did not reappear. The second lap was faster for all as the riders’ confidence in the improving conditions rose. At the end of the first part of the session the Lightweights were headed by Stuart Hall at 111.535mph. Michael Dunlop’s lap gave him second; marginally quicker than Mikey Evans who was very impressive on the Gary Vines tribute KTM. The Classic Juniors were a Honda benefit; they were led by Paul Jordan on the Davies machine; second was Mikey Evans (Ken Rutter) with Dan Sayle (John Chapman) third. Shaun Anderson has settled well on the Peter Beugger Paton; he led the Classic Senior chart at 108.410mph, from John McGuinness on the Winfield Paton; with Mike Browne third on the Eureka Norton.

The start of the session for the Classic Superbikes; Senior and Junior MGP was delayed due to a non-racing medical emergency in a trackside house in Ramsey. The lost time meant just two laps for the riders. The speeds were most impressive at Milntown; as were some of the wheelies. The Classic Superbikes were a Kawasaki benefit; Dominic Herbertson topped the speed charts at 122.600ph on his BHR machine. Derek Sheils continued to impress; he was second on the Greenall machine; with Craig Neve third on the Batham’s machine. The Senior speed chart was topped by Chris Cook on his self-funded Kawasaki. Michael Gahan was second his Newline Elite Group Yamaha; with Dan Sayle third on his Falcon Electrical Yamaha. Andrea Majola continued to be the man to beat in the Junior; he led at 112.500mph on the VAS Paton. Marizio Bottalico was second once again on his Venditti / Seipa Paton. Dan Ingham was third on his Castings Technology Aprilia. Newcomers Johnny Stewart and Caomhan Canny breeched the 110mph barrier; a real achievement given the lack of track time and generally poor conditions.

The evening session was a few minutes away from the scheduled start when the weather turned; heavy rain hit the western and northern sectors ending play for the day. Saturday is scheduled to see more qualifying in the morning; followed by 3 races in the afternoon and evening. Sunday will see no racing due to the dreadful weather forecast. Monday will bring the final three races; weather Gods permitting. The riders; marshals; organizers and spectators deserve to see the full programme completed, after what has been the worst week of practice weather for a generation.

Weather Havoc Continues At Mgp; Herbertson Fastest In Practice 3. — Stuart Hall leading Mike Browne

Stay Cool & Dry in the Weise Hive Jacket

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August 23, 2024

AA-rated mesh jacket, with a removable breathable and waterproof membrane to deal with changeable conditions.

Named after the hexagonal shape of its 3-D mesh panels, the Weise Hive jacket combines maximum venting with a handy removable waterproof membrane, to deal with any occasional summer showers encountered.

Extra-large 3-D mesh panels at the front and rear of the torso, and on each arm, allow maximum airflow when the going gets hot. Their size makes them much more efficient than the zipped vents found on many textile jackets.

The removable waterproof and windproof liner provides backup should the conditions change while out riding. It’s easy to get in and out, allowing you to adapt swiftly on the road.

Rated AA for safety, the Hive has a tough and durable 600D fabric shell and comes with RE ZRO® removable shoulder and elbow armour, and a RE ZRO® back protector as standard.

Perfect for summer riding jackets, RE ZRO® armour is lighter and more flexible than the majority of impact protection products on the market without any compromise on performance. Its unique design also allows for greater breathability, eliminating hot spots in garments. Designed and developed in the UK, RE ZRO® is also the world’s first rapidly biodegradable* impact protection!

Popper-secured adjusters on the forearms and biceps of the jacket prevent billowing, and a trouser connection zip with comfort stretch panel prevents the jacket riding up at the back. Accordion-style stretch panels in key areas allow flexibility.

Two hand-warmer pockets with zipped closure, and two internal pockets, offer plenty of options for carrying essentials. There’s also 3M® reflective detailing for improved visibility at night and on dull rainy days.

The Weise Hive comes in Black, with red highlighting and a subtle logo on the chest. It’s available in sizes S-5XL and retails at £199.99 including VAT. Find out more at www.weiseclothing.com

*Biodegrade in landfill estimated at 3-5 years with ‘zero’ residue.

The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show Returns With Epic Battle Of Legends

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August 23, 2024

The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show sponsored by Carole Nash returns with epic Battle Of Legends.

GET ready for a showdown at Stafford County Showground as racing titans Carl Fogarty and Frankie Chili reunite to relive their legendary battles, victories, and fierce rivalry at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show sponsored by Carole Nash. This year’s event promises an explosive day out for the whole family, featuring an impressive lineup of special guests, bikes, trade and live entertainment.

Carl Fogarty, a four-time World Superbike Champion, and Frankie Chili, with 17 World Superbike wins, bring unparalleled racing pedigree to this year’s event. Fogarty, known as the ‘King of the Jungle,’ dominated the 1990s with fearless riding. Chili’s flamboyant style and tenacity earned him multiple podium finishes, making him a fan favourite. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to celebrate the careers of these motorcycle racing legends at Staffordshire’s premier classic motorcycling showcase.

With over 1,000 bikes on display, vibrant club stands, and the best in trade and autojumble offerings, the show offers something for every motorcycle aficionado. Live music and thrilling stunt displays by the Bolddog stunt team add to the excitement, making it a must-attend event.

Tickets for the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show are priced at £16 online and £20 on the gate, available for purchase at www.classicbikeshows.com.

DJI Osmo Action 4, DJI Mic 2 and a lav mic

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Read item by subscribing to latest issue of Modern Classic Motorcycle News info below

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August 23, 2024

DJI is fast becoming a name to watch out for in the action camera market despite being more known for their drones.

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

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Read item by subscribing to latest issue of Modern Classic Motorcycle News info below:

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August 23, 2024

You can checkout our Shotgun 360 feature in issue 27 of Modern Classic Motorcycle News

Oxford Security Products Feature

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Read item by subscribing to latest issue of Modern Classic Motorcycle News info below:

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August 23, 2024

We take a quick look at Oxford Products Security

Quartz XA10 Alarm Disc Lock

Stinger Anchor and Chain

Browne fastest as weather havoc continues at MGP.

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August 22, 2024

The weather relented briefly to allow this afternoon’s contingency practice session to be run. The wind was fairly strong; especially on the mountain; the sun was in evidence through the gaps in the cloud cover. The roads were dry, or close to it, over most of the course, apart from the usual suspects such as Glen Helen, Bishopscourt, Hairpin to Waterworks and at the 27^th Milestone. These areas were well flagged by the orange army of volunteer marshals, without whom there would be no Manx Grand Prix.

The batting was order was changed to allow the lower powered Classic and Lightweight machines the first session. The riders had been warned by Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson that they had to take no risks on the far from ideal road surface. This afternoon it was more about laps under the belt, rather than speeds on the board. The riders were cautious on the first lap and then began to increase the pace as the track continued to dry. Jamie Coward (Craven Manx) was first rider to leave the grandstand; but by Sulby Bridge he had been overhauled by Ian Lougher on the LayLaw Yamaha. John McGuinness, Mike Browne and Adam McLean were amongst the front runners on their Senior Classic mounts; whilst Lee Johnston was on board his Lightweight, Reed Honda. Mikey Evans was out on the Atherstone / Faraldo 250cc KTM that is being raced in tribute to the late Gary Vines. Mikey is getting to grips with it and was 8^th on the speed chart today. There were many retirements, most notably Michael Dunlop whose Lightweight Honda expired at the bottom of Barregarrow. Michael has yet to complete a single lap.

Most riders managed laps on each of their mounts; if they were in more than one class. Late in the session Jamie Coward put in the best lap thus far in the Junior Classic at 103.585mph, on the Craven Honda ridden by Harley Rushton at Billown in the Pre-TT Races. Paul Jordan and Adam McLean both lapped at over 99mph. The Senior Classic best lap of 109.694mph was set by Shaun Anderson on his Beugger Paton. He was rapid on Norton last year and will be looking for a podium finish this year. Jamie Coward and Mike Browne both lapped at over 107mph. Ian Lougher repeated his Sunday performance by being the best of the Lightweights at 114.317mph. Stuart Hall and Rhys Hardisty both lapped at over 111mph. Joe Yeardsley was again best of the sub-class for 400cc machines.

The second session was for the Classic Superbikes; plus, the MGP Senior and Junior machines. This session was busier and noticeably quicker; with some of the newcomers running rather wide as a consequence of missing the correct breaking point. The speeds edged higher and at the end of the session it was Mike Browne on the Key Racing Ducati 916 who had set the best lap of 122.755mph. James Hind was second on the WhizNorton at 122.519mph, with Davo Johnson third at 121.114mph on his Mistral Kawasaki. Daniel Ingham was again best in the Senior MGP class at 116.997mph. Maurizio Bottalico was second at 114.902mph; with Michael Gahan third at 113.676mph. The form book continued to be followed in the Junior MGP in which Andrea Majola was again the quickest at 114.100mph; countryman Maurizio Bottalico was second at 113.245mph. Liam Chawke was third at 109.988mph.

The weather turned earlier than had been forecast, the deluge forcing Gary Thompson to call off the scheduled evening session. Weather permitting; Friday will see two practice sessions.

Browne Fastest As Weather Havoc Continues At Mgp. — Ian Lougher

ZERO Motorcycles announces new aftercare warranty

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August 22, 2024

ZERO Motorcycles announces new aftercare warranty

Partnering with The Motorcycle Organisation, aftercare is available on all new and used ZEROs
12, 24, and 36 month plans available, with or without battery care
Available on all bikes below seven years old and 70k miles

Thursday 22^nd August 2024 – ZERO, the world’s leading manufacturer of 100% electric motorcycles, have announced a new aftercare warranty for all new purchases.

Partnering with The Motorcycle Organisation, aftercare warranty can be added to all purchases of a new or used ZERO, up to a maximum age of seven years and a maximum mileage of 70k. Cover can be selected with or without battery protection, but all warranties cover mechanical failures on the grounds of wear and tear.

Available on 12, 24, and 36 month options, the new warranty can include:

Platinum aftercare without battery cover
Platinum aftercare with battery cover
Platinum aftercare without battery cover + roadside assistance
Platinum aftercare with battery cover + roadside assistance
Standalone AA breakdown assistance

The Motorcycle Organisation guarantee that no claim will be rejected on the grounds of wear and tear where the motorcycle has covered less than 70k miles and is under seven years old at the time of claim.

Additional to the warranty options, extra cover built in includes recovery cover if your valid claim means the bike is immobile and requires recovery to a repair garage. It also includes accommodation and rail fare of up to £100 to get you home or ensure you have somewhere to stay whilst your bike is being fixed. The warranty also additionally covers policyholders for personal trips to mainland Europe, for a maximum of sixty consecutive days.

The cost to dealers for the policy is as follows:

Price structure including battery cover

12 months cover with a £3k claim limit – £355 + VAT includes six-month battery cover from date of policy inception
24 months cover with a £3k claim limit – £479 + VAT includes 12-month battery cover from date of policy inception
36 months cover with a £3k claim limit – £520 + VAT includes 18-month battery cover from date of policy inception

Price structure excluding battery cover

12 months cover with a £3k claim limit – £255 + VAT
24 months cover with a £3k claim limit – £324 + VAT
36 months cover with a £3k claim limit – £418 + VAT

Dale Robinson, UK Country Manager for ZERO, said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce the new aftercare warranty, available to offer on all new and used ZERO purchases. We want everybody to enjoy their ZERO to the fullest extent, so having a full and complete warranty offer gives all riders the peace of mind that, should anything happen, we’ve got you covered to get you back on the road fast!”.

The Scalpel Returns: KTM 790 Duke Review

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Kerrie McFadden

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August 22, 2024

Originally launched in 2018, the 790 Duke as is often the way with KTM was a bold and unique take on what a middle weight naked motorcycle should be. Housing the manufacturers first ever parallel twin it was squarely aimed at being the sharpest tool in the middle weight market with the self-proclaimed ‘Scalpel’ moniker thanks to the also all new tubular steel back bone chassis.

In typical modern KTM style it also led the way being the first middleweight naked to the market to feature an IMU unit which brought with it a full suite of electronics including 4 riding modes, multi-level traction control, wheelie control and lean angle based abs itself with an adjustable ‘Supermoto’ mode enabling rear wheel locking for stunt based fun. Topped off with a quickshifter & autoblipper all thanks to the addition of a fly-by wire throttle.

The model was well received by both press and the buying public with its only main criticism being somewhat inconsistent fuelling and some ill feeling towards lacking certain items such as adjustable suspension and leading name tyres its rivals offered. The model ran until the introduction of Euro5 in 2020/21 when in its current format the 790 motor required some work which in turn led to the launch of the 890 duke.

In the subsequent years with the ever-increasing life costs pushing up the average motorcycle OTR, KTM saw the need to be able to offer more affordably priced models within its range as well as being able to increase its worldwide distribution capabilities. Enter stage right, CF Moto in a move to have the Chinese marque manufacture certain models whilst KTM in turn take over the distribution of their CF moto products within the UK and Ireland.

This led to the reintroduction of the 790 Duke at the beginning of 2023, now updated to meet Euro5 with all the subtle upgrades and improvements that can come from the interim years of manufacturing experience and electronic advancements.

With a reduced claim in bhp, down to 95 from 105 along with an increase in claimed wet weight from 175 to 187.7kg pointing towards some of the comprises needed to meet Euro 5 the claimed maximum torque figure of 63.4 lb-ft does confirm the manufacturers claim of positive overall improvements in the riding experience with particular attention being given to throttle control and fuelling issues felt on the original model.

Sitting astride the 790 Duke for the first time I’m immediately taken by how small and light the bike feels. Despite the tall seat height at 825mm (a lower 805mm option is available through the power parts catalogue along with a lowering rear suspension link reducing the seat height a further 25mm) both my feet were firmly on the ground. I put this down to the narrowness of the bike aided by the compactness of the LC8 motor. Both the front of the seat and lower half of the petrol tank give the bike a svelte razor like feel. Suitably wide bars, themselves marked for adjustability fore and aft give excellent leverage as I rock the bike backwards and forward to get a feel for things. I also note that Brembo style squarer edge brake/clutch levers each have span adjustment immediately giving me a sense of thought and quality I wasn’t necessarily expecting from its price point.

I also spot the undermount steering damper, again unusual in the sector and perhaps something of a sign of intent with regards to the geometry KTM have equipped the model with.

Despite being narrow at the rear, the petrol tank suitably widens towards the front and also as it rises finishing higher than a usual road bike petrol tank giving a feeling of sitting in the bike rather than on it. It lends itself to giving extra support to clamp against under braking and turning whilst still giving that narrowness to counteract the extra seat height at a standstill.

The seat also widens significantly towards the rear, which is perfect once you’re on the move to slide back onto for more comfort. It’s also a surprisingly deep and supple feeling seat and I can report not once during my time with the 790 did I arrive at a destination in discomfort.

The pegs are reasonably neutral in their position, resulting in only slightly bent knees for myself however are canted slightly forward, which rotate your feet downwards giving a sportier feel. The standard handlebar position canting my upper half slightly forward in a similar vein to the Suzuki GSX-8S, another middleweight I found to offer a perfect blend of comfort/control with its riding position. The ability to either rotate these fore/aft for more comfort or to push more weight over the front is a nice touch.

The difference between the 790, and with all of its other natural competitors, is that due to the overall seat height and its longer stoke suspension (140mm front & 150mm rear) it sits in a unique position of being in between a normal road bike and closer (albeit only 30>40mm) to say a supermoto bike in its stature and riding sensation.

During my riding the extra vision afforded by this meant I could see over hedges/crops and vehicles along my preferred local routes of b roads allowing me to make passes and progress that would not have been possible on its natural competitors. Despite being a little short in the stem, the mirrors can be adjusted to provide ample rearward vision and the remarkedly loud standard exhaust provided enough noise to make other road users aware of your presence should the distinctively shaped LED running lights not have peaked their attention in their mirrors.

The exhaust itself running up and exiting with a high mounted silencer also help to reinforce the Supermotard feel and I believe adds to the overall visceral feeling the bike gives, popping and banging with a closeness not felt with the more modern lower exiting systems.

The throttle itself is very strongly sprung on its return, ala motorcross and can give the impression of a snatchy throttle until you adapt to the extra umph that’s required to meter off throttle moments. The overall fuelling is very good, in fact the only time fuelling entered my riding thoughts was through towns when using only very slight throttle amounts, say the 0>5% range and would be felt as a slight hunting sensation. By no means a major issue and perfectly acceptable as something of a character trait rather than an inherent issue.

I picked the bike up on the hottest day of the year so far (34 degrees plus) and had the joy of it raining for the first 30 minutes of the ride home. It was akin to riding through a steam room and during this time the 790 was a perfect companion. I felt very in command on the road, similar as I have in the past riding larger bikes like the Tenere, yet with a level of agility and control the larger bikes could only dream of.

A light clutch along and slick gearbox which I was alternating using either the shifter/blipper or traditional clutch method depending on revs and load seemingly offered excellently spaced ratios for the engine power spread.

Despite being happy to hold speed in higher gears down to around 2000rpm the engine would protest at all but the smallest throttle openings, vibrating and churning in protest much preferring revs to be above 2500rpm to offer a lovely smooth (for a parallel twin) thrust. The motor hits strongly in the midrange before an additional surge and change in tone to its 10,000 rpm redline. The LC8 is another twin which is seemingly cut short with a hard limiter that is easy to run into until you become familiar with the bike.

With the early town and motorway miles of my return journey home out of the way, and the rain a distant memory I decide to take the more scenic route home once I’m back within my usual riding routes. Aware that the 790 comes with Maxxis tyres, a brand I’ve never ridden on before a note to self was made to go easier than I would on more familiar tyres. Unfortunately, the 790 had other ideas. Being the first time I’d had opportunity to fully open it up, I found I’d approached the tightening radius right hand bend with more speed than I’d expected it to muster. A pull of the front brake, which until now had been offering a satisfying amount of lever feel and stopping performance during the first part of the journey appeared to now be lacking in the overall stopping performance department. I personally always use plenty of back brake (which is excellent, more of this later) but still had to round the corner with far more speed and lean than I felt comfortable with on the unknown to me tyres. Despite making the corner and still enjoying the remaining journey home I did so with the wick turned down somewhat.

Once home and cooling down from the tropical ride I began trying to understand what I had felt in a bid to better understand how to best ride the 790.

Clearly the engine performance was more than potent enough for real roads. My thoughts turned to the lack of braking feel, reliving the hard braking into the corner a sensation of a high rate of front suspension pitch come to the fore. Initially I think of the higher centre of gravity the bike has over a traditional naked and the extra travel the suspension it possesses would all be contributing factors.

Further sitting on the bike at a standstill, noting the initial suspension sag and bouncing up and down to get a feel for the movement and it hits immediately hits me. A quick check of the specifications on the KTM website confirms it. Progressive front and rear suspension springs.

In a bid to create a bike that can deal with as many different riding styles, riders and roads as possible whilst keeping the costs down the non-adjustable (apart from rear preload) suspension utilises progressive rather than the modern norm of linear springs. This helps give a nice subtle, compliant initial part of the stroke when riding, with the spring strength increasing further and further as more of the stroke is taken up with harder bumps and or braking.

The lack of braking performance I felt was in fact exasperated with the bike burying itself deeper into its stroke. With a standard linear setup, the bike would’ve very quickly pitched and found support for me to brake much harder. I was thrown by the fact the bike was continuing to fall through the stroke beyond my anticipated norm which subconsciously stopped me from applying the brake as hard as I would usually. The unknown performance of the tyres also played its part too. A few minutes checking the tyres reveals a very softly rounded, almost oval profile with a significant flat top section, suggesting stability was high on the design brief requirements. Perhaps in a bid to dial down the inherent agility designed into the frame geometry, backed up with the oe steering damper.

For my next ride, I purposely sought out the bumpiest, wiggliest b road I know to aim the Duke down and experimented with corner entry techniques. After a fun afternoon enjoying the quiet summer roads, I found that entering the braking phase softer and earlier than normal to push through the softer part of the suspension stroke before then applying full braking performance right up to the apex brought the best out of the package. The braking performance was more than adequate (although I feel an upgrade to a more performance-based brake pad/fluid combo would reap significant benefits). The Maxxis tyres never once gave me any issues, the neutral turning from the centre to side backing up the visual profile noticed earlier. The auto blipper works perfectly on corner entry with the engine brake mapping and clutch providing just the right amount of negative torque to keep the bike in line, even if one two many gears has been called for too quickly. Once at the apex and with a sensible release of the front brake so as to not unload the front too quickly with the relatively strong rebound the excellent throttle pick up and punch of the twin fires you out of the corner with a grin inducing level of speed, all of which is accompanied with a glorious soundtrack. Not once, despite my best efforts did the rear tyre break free, even with the traction control off. I’ve no doubt in perhaps lesser conditions there is enough poke to do so, however the bike wants to be picked up as quickly as possible on corner exit and is therefore off the edge of the tyre and at this the Maxxis performed admirably.

Once I had adjusted to this I began to understand the benefit of the progressive springs which meant that I could literally barrel over the bumpiest sections of road at much higher speeds I’ve previously been happy to on other bikes all the while making use of extra field of vision to be able to further extend the real world pace over its rivals.

That’s not to say there wasn’t any movement at times, however the steering damper worked its magic to keep any headshakes below the level I’ve experienced on other non-damped rivals on the previous occasions I’ve used the route.

For those that enjoy stunting around, I found sport mode, traction/wheelie control off and ‘Supermoto’ abs mode engaged which disables the rear abs, the 790 really came alive.

With more than enough grunt to lift the front wheel in second using the clutch, the extra dive of the front end could be used just before doing so. A quick burst of acceleration followed by a sharp shut of the heavily spring throttle would cause enough dive to then time the blip of the throttle with the clutch to bring the front wheel up utilising the good fuelling and well-balanced chassis.

The softness of the suspension aiding the landing of even the most poorly executed attempts had me respecting the famously adept KTM development and testing team whose primary aim is to create exhilarating motorcycles.

The rear brake is one of the best oe setups I’ve used and thanks again to the compliance of the suspension playing around at general skids and backing it in the 790 feels is the perfect partner, actively encouraging you to try new things. Not once did it snap back at my efforts, which again I feel is down to the extra softness that’s been built into the package.

There are of course many upgrades available through the power parts catalogue. Most notable being upgraded front and rear suspension. This I’m sure would make the 790 much more accomplished on track, or smoother roads. Which if these are your chosen forte or represent the roads where you live, would be a good choice. If these were added along with an upgrade to the front master cylinder and some more aggressively profiled, all-out performance tyres I’m sure the 790 would become an all together different beast. Ultimately more capable but also considerably more serious no doubt with a much sharper bite when things start to go wrong.

As it stands the 790 manages to straddle everyday usefulness. It’s agile and easy to dart around congested urban environments. Comfortable enough to cover the dull motorway miles that often needs must. The front cowl/headlight arrangement offering comparable wind protection to say the Suzuki GSX8S and it can certainly hustle along the bumpiest of the UKs B-roads like a enduro bike across a rutted field.

From a stunting and rider development point of view its one of the most playful and non-intimidating motorcycles I’ve ever ridden, motorcycle Gymkharna would almost be cheating on one of these.

From an equipment perspective it has the TFT dash, modes and ride aids to match its competitors. I found the system intuitive to use, with only my lack of knowledge on KTMs acronyms to be the issue, something which as an owner and reading the manual would easily subside.

Although it has a decent pillion grab handle the step in the seat which gives a nice stop as a rider to push up against, does place a pillion noticeably higher than the rider and therefore as well as placing them directly into the wind, would also have a noticeable effect on the bikes dynamics with a further draw back being the high mounted side silencer and link pipe being exactly where their right leg would be. I wouldn’t be able to actively recommend a purchase for two-up riding.

Also the progressive suspension springs could see the bike compressing with too much rider/pillion sag, losing extra agility above the usual loss the extra weight of a pillion makes to any motorcycle.

With the reintroduction of the 790 Duke utilising the economy of scale and cost reduction CF Moto can bring to the manufacturing of the model resulting in KTM being able to offer the base model at £7999.00 OTR. With the ethos at KTM of trying to keep the base OTR prices as competitive as possible and therefore stripping back switchable electronic options such as track orientated rider aid suites and connectivity upgrades as separate packages to be purchased as and when required.

The quick-shifter and auto-blipper also falls into this category. With the hardware being fitted to all bikes this can also be ‘switched on’ at any time by purchasing the relevant package at your local KTM dealer. I can recommend this as a worthy addition to spend your money on.

The test bike I rode had the Tech pack activated which consisted of the blipper/shifter, track pack (adjustable traction, track mode, engine maps, anti-wheelie off and launch control) and MSR (engine braking control) activation which is currently listed as a £633.38 option.

With regards to the tech pack, I purposedly refrained from sampling the activated ‘Track pack’ that is part of the overall ‘Tech pack’ during the first few rides required to write this review in order to ascertain what, if any, difference the additional expense would make over the standard electronic options.

This is selected as ‘Track mode’ through menu system and can be done so on the fly, with the only additional requirement being to close the throttle as directed by the screen for a couple of seconds while the ECU does it’s thing. Track mode changes the screen lay out, indicating whether the now switchable wheelie control is on or off. It also advises on whether the ‘launch control’ setting is activated and finally it advises on which of the 9 levels of ‘slip’ control you are running. Itself handily adjustable with the up/down lefthand switch gear buttons. Within this setting you also have the ability to select between 3 different types of throttle response (track, sport, street).

Once selected leaving a small village that leads onto one of my favourite local twisty b roads, dropping down to 2^nd gear and opening the throttle fully, I was taken aback by the difference it had made. Whereby in standard sport mode you could feel the front lifting to take out the forks to near full extension, with the wheel still tracking the road keeping the steering in check, the additional thrust was enough to have the front wheel skimming the ground inciting mild bar waggling. For the next few miles of B-road heaven, I found the entire package had moved up a level. The shifter/blipper worked beautifully and the revised engine braking/slip strategy kept the back end under control despite my best efforts with over eager downshifts.

Having now allowed for the additional torque I found that a simple light pull on the bars whilst under hard acceleration out of 2^nd gear corners led to the most easily control power wheelies which could be pulled still leant over and landed slightly crossed up, just as in the ‘unleash the beast’ promotional videos whilst the chassis and steering damper helped to keep everything fun rather than terrifying.

I ran the ‘slip control’ at level 3, which allowed enough movement for me on the road before catching the times where I’d been asking a little too much of the road tyres in a nice, controlled manner.

It literally felt like another 10% had been given throughout the rev range. It’s clear that considerable work has gone into altering the full suite of electronics and not just simply applying a sharper and snatchier throttle map as is often the case with OE switchable options.

The extra grunt was such that in comparison to the standard sport mode riding the same stretch of road I found that during the short straights between corners I was requiring an additional gear change. With the standard mode the limiter was just being kissed before having to brake for the next corner, whereby in track mode there was still time to select the next gear for additional drive.

As a package I can’t fault it and for experienced riders I would urge you to test ride a bike fitted with the pack and carry out a back to back test along a familiar stretch of road as I did in order to feel the transformation it makes.

Perhaps a less experienced rider, I would see it as a natural upgrade that can be made once the familiarity a couple of years ownership has been made. Activating the pack and mastering the additional performance would reduce the urge (and costs involved) in moving up the model ladder.

Unsold 2023 models are currently subject to £1000 saving resulting in an incredible OTR of £6999.00 with 2024 bikes listed at £7999.00

KTM are currently running PCP deals at a funded 4.9% apr which based on the 2024 year OTR £7999.00 with a customer deposit of £1513.50 would result in a £99.00 monthly payment on a 37 month, 4000 miles a year contract realising a £3,676.25 optional final payment (Guaranteed future value)

The 2024 KTM 790 Duke is also currently subject to a complimentary warranty extension every time the bike is serviced by an authorised dealer as per its service schedule, for up to four years. Additionally, the KTM 790 Duke qualifies for KTM’s Lifetime Mobility cover for up to max. 80,000km or eight years, whichever comes first.

With the significant cost of living increases we’ve all faced over the last few years as well as the more recent spiralling insurance costs motorcycles like the 790 Duke are hard to look past when you take into account their overall lower running and maintenance costs as well as their significantly lower purchase cost in comparison to their larger siblings.

In conclusion the 790 Duke manages to be a cossetting and friendly ally, excellent for less experienced riders whilst also still possessing the abilities to be the KTM defined ‘Scalpel’. Agile, playful and exciting in equal measure and ready to play for the more experienced riders.

As my experience highlights, I would recommend a couple of separate test rides to fully allow the charms of 790 to get under your skin. You won’t be disappointed if you do.

Words by Danny McFadden. @DannyMcFaddenRacing

With thanks to KTM UK for the use of the bike.

For press work please contact via First Turn Media Info@firstturnmedia.co.uk | www.firstturnmedia.co.uk

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