Table of contents for 14 May 2025 in MCN

TOP STORY Yamaha have given their twin-cylinder Tracer 7 family a radical overhaul for 2025, with a new engine, new styling, and ride-by-wire throttle to unlock cruise control and ride modes. As before, the range will be split between a standard Tracer 7, and higher-specced GT. Prices start from £8804 on the road, and both will be available from July. Rising to £10,104 for the GT, the duo share the majority of upgrades – with the GT getting a little extra for improved distance ability. Designed as a no-nonsense everyday sports-tourer that appeals to both new riders and experienced pilots, the new models will come powered by a Euro5+ compliant 690cc parallel-twin – also found in the latest generation MT-07 naked. This is fed by a now larger 18-litre fuel…

Spy shots have revealed a new Ducati Monster in development, appearing to be powered by the Italian brand's latest V2 twin-cylinder engine. Seen ahead of a planned release early next year, the naked roadster is almost certain to incorporate the newer 890cc V-twin engine – a unit that will replace the 937cc Testastretta which has been in service since 2021. At 54.4kg, the new V2 motor is the lightest V-twin to ever leave the Bologna factory and is already found in Ducati's latest mid-size Multistrada, Panigale, and Streetfighter. Only the Monster, DesertX, and Hypermotard 950 continue to use the Testastretta design for 2025, and it's likely they will all migrate to the newer platform or cease to exist in the range. Given the new engine, it's safe to assume this…

Harley-Davidson have lifted the lid on their fifth limited-edition model in the ongoing Icons Motorcycles Collection. Called the Fat Boy Gray Ghost, the new cruiser is built to celebrate 35 years of the Fat Boy, which has established itself as one of the brand's most standout models – it was Arnie's ride of choice in Terminator 2, after all. Limited to 1990 units worldwide and priced at £25,195, the bike features a fancy new ‘reflection finish’, which has been achieved using a process called physical vapour deposition (PVD). The finish is applied to parts such as the fuel tank and fenders, resulting in a mirror-like surface that's designed to be more durable than traditional chrome. The PVD process, previously used by the American firm for smaller parts such as tank…

‘Fake papers, still trading!’ Hardly a day goes by without someone contacting me about another rogue seller of motorcycle clothing pushing dubious products online. If the seller is UK-based, complaints are submitted to the relevant Trading Standards office. In several cases, this has led to product recalls and refunds – details are on the Office for Product Safety and Standards website. One recent case involved a seller (who we can't name for legal reasons) using forged EU type-examination certificates and Trading Standards found the company had no UK presence. An officer visited the registered office, only to be told the company wasn't known there. Soon after, perhaps tipped off, the company changed address to a building that doesn't even exist (it's a parking space) and this has been reported to…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Nick Turnbull The ride Morocco or bust How long do you need? We went for four days of riding Tell us about the trip… Richard ‘Dickie’ Fincher did an article for your sister publication Bike back in November 2024, about off-roading in Morocco with Chris Scott and Henry Barney. He ran out of time to ride his bike back to the UK and so he and Henry stored their bikes in Marrakech until they had time to pick them up and ride them home (mostly off-road). Well Dickie is a good friend of my brother Oliver so a plan was hatched to fly out to Marrakech, do some off roading and then Dickie and Henry would ride back to the UK. Oliver, another friend…

BMW The least powerful engine here (though it claims identical peak torque to the Tracer), and it feels it. It has a little less easy roll-on grunt, as well as less fizz if you rev it on. Brembos have all the power needed, though they're a bit abrupt next to the finer control on the other bikes. 6.5in TFT has the same interface as other BMWs and works well. Optional satnav is too low to read easily. TRIUMPH Currently unique to the Tiger Sport 800. The triple has just the right mix of friendliness, flexibility and fun, with a wide spread of torque and power, and good manners. Radial four-piston calipers (and non-radial master cylinder) have great feel and plenty of power. The dash betrays its origins in the Tiger…

FIRST RIDE Ducati's new £25,995 XDiavel V4 is more than just a standard Diavel V4 with feet-forward pegs. Only the engine and single-sided swingarm are the same. That means everything from its cast aluminium monocoque to its stretched chassis, lower seat, bodywork, spangly wheels and dash are new. Even its colours are a move away from the Ducati norm, with a new metallic candy apple red (the bike is also available in black) that glistens provocatively in the sunshine here at the world launch near Cannes. The V4 oozes attitude. It's a cruiser built to impress and one that'll have you admiring yourself in shop windows. That said, it goes like stink, handles like a supernaked and stops with the ferocity of a race bike. Mucho rapido Having a 166bhp…

No Limits Trackdays Although there are plenty of companies offering trackdays, we opted to spend our day at Brands Hatch with No Limits Trackdays. Established in 1993, No Limits offer a host of dates through the year, at tracks in the UK, across Europe and even beyond. ‘You can focus purely on yourself’ and the machine’ You might think that trackdays are reserved for racers only, on super-trick carbon-clad sportsbikes that are making more power than a fighter jet on steroids. But that's not the case; trackdays aren't about achieving a lap time but are a fun and relatively safe environment where you can explore the limit of yourself and your machine (whatever it may be), without some of the hazards and restrictions that come with riding on the road.…

@asaffronscrapbook Serial tourer and weekend journey-er always looking for the next adventure whether that is in the UK or riding across Europe. Although I've done some commuting and the odd longer ride here and there, I was itching to get out on the ‘Bumblebike’ (as I like to call it, on account of the yellow/ black colour scheme) and have a proper ride – it felt like ages since I'd been out just for the hell of it. And even when I had been out, pretty much every ride was interrupted by rain. Although the screen helps massively and the softer rain mode gives a little more confidence when it is absolutely tipping it down, I wanted to get out in the sunshine. So, when the forecast said that it…

Precision and flow Braking challenges Redgate Corner is Donington's first major braking zone, requiring heavy deceleration into this more-than-90-degree right-hander. Riders must balance late braking with a clean exit to carry speed downhill into Hollywood. The Craner Curves present a unique challenge: while not a traditional braking zone, riders may need subtle brake inputs to maintain stability through this high-speed, downhill sequence. Any misjudgment here can compromise entry into the Old Hairpin, where medium braking is needed to hit the apex and accelerate uphill. Coppice demands precision braking on an uphill approach with a blind apex. Riders must decelerate sharply while maintaining control to ensure maximum speed onto the following straight. Brake like a pro HEL Performance brakes are engineered to excel under Donington Park's varied demands. From the heavy…

‘My feeling wasn't perfect, but I stayed calm’ Does MotoGP have another superstar-in-waiting? Fermin Aldeguer's performance at the French GP suggested as much, after the 20-year-old backed up a maiden Sprint podium with a superb ride to third in the Sunday rain. Aldeguer dealt with a multitude of challenges in his first flag-to-flag race like a seasoned pro. He briefly led on dry tyres, pitted to change to wets a lap later than Marc Marquez, and then reeled in lifelong rival Pedro Acosta for the podium. And it's been coming. The Gresini rider has shown potential in each round since CoTA, where he was the fastest rider in the closing laps before crashing out. “We are arriving with a good progression,” he said after becoming the fifth youngest MotoGP podium…

Joining Michael Laverty's new Moobob MLav road racing squad appears to be reigniting Ian Hutchinson's career as the Bingley racer recorded a series of top-six finishes in the Superstock and Superbike races at last week's North West 200. The standout moment came in the opening Superstock race where the 45-year-old finished third behind Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison and ahead of Davey Todd, Peter Hickman, Josh Brookes, Conor Cummins and John McGuinness. Hutchy also notched up 4th, 6th and 7th place finishes in the Superbike races. “Michael Laverty gave me a ring in November about this project and it sort of came together in the last four weeks or so,” he explained. Sadly Laverty's commitments as a MotoGP pundit in Le Mans meant he wasn't at the North West to…

Leading roads photojournalist reports from the NW200 Davey Todd achieved one of his longstanding road racing ambitions by claiming his first North West 200 Superbike race win at the 2025 event. The 8TEN Racing rider led Dean Harrison home by 0.215 seconds with his teammate, Peter Hickman, finishing third a further 1.424 seconds back. “A Superbike win is the one that's been eluding me for quite a while so to finally get it done is really special, especially with Pete on the podium as well,” Todd said before dedicating his victory to Owen Jenner and Shane Richardson who lost their lives in the Supersport crash at Oulton Park BSB meeting earlier in the week (see p54). He went on to applaud his new 8TEN Racing team which has been resurrected…

Leading roads photojournalist reports from the NW200 TOP STORY Michael Dunlop enjoyed the most successful North West 200 of his career last weekend, claiming his first hat-trick at his home meeting. And, as we have come to expect with the Ulsterman, it wasn't without controversy! The 36-yearold, who hadn't won a race around the 8.9-mile course on Ireland's north coast since 2016, opened his account by scoring a Supersport and Superstock double on the Thursday evening. Undeterred by a slip off at Magherabouy chicane during qualifying earlier in the day, Dunlop powered his way to a new lap record and a 0.378s victory on his Milwaukee Ducati in the Supersport race ahead of Davey Todd (Milenco Padgett's Honda) and Richard Cooper (BPE/Russell Racing Yamaha). “I was strong in the second…

With Ducati's dominance in MotoGP these days, the sport's got its fair share of detractors. Yet surely even the most staunch of these wouldn't be able to argue against the pure tension of Sunday's French GP, which had the entire MCN team (as well as TNTSport's expert pundits) watching through the cracks in our hands, as Johann Zarco delivered a wet-weather masterclass to become the first Frenchman in 71 years to win the French GP. The double Moto2 world champion looked shellshocked as he stood in front of recordbreaking crowds at Le Mans then delivered his trademark victory backflip off the rain-soaked circuit barrier. And as for those crowds, over 311,797 people attended Le Mans for this year's GP – not only a record for the circuit but for MotoGP…

On top of all of the revisions already outlined, the GT model goes several steps further with a number of additional goodies, plus a striking grey and blue paint finish with gold fork tubes. Helping to justify the £1300 price differential is a remote preload adjuster as standard, plus a pair of hard cases that mount using a one-piece aluminium frame and are designed to be able to carry a helmet in each side. The screen is also 90mm taller, 1mm thicker, and adjustable by 60mm. There are three-stage heated grips to keep your hands warm in cooler conditions. A centrestand helps with tinkering, with thicker seat padding adding to the comfort levels – as do rubber-inset footpegs to reduce tingles in your toes.…

Triumph have launched a new £18,995 Speed Triple 1200 RX for 2025, which builds on the standard RS with clip-on bars, taller pegs, and a special racing-inspired paintjob in ‘Triumph Performance Yellow’. Just 1200 units will be available worldwide, and we've ridden it already – with a first ride test from Portimao, Portugal on p28. The RX is based on the £17,495 Speed Triple 1200 RS and shares the same 1160cc three-cylinder engine, aluminium twin-spar chassis, electronics package, and Öhlins Smart EC3 suspension as before. Like the standard machine, power remains at a claimed 180.5bhp at 10,750rpm, with torque at 94.5lb.ft at 8750rpm – making it a direct rival to bikes including the BMW S1000R, and Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100. The bars are now 69mm lower and 52mm further…

DVSA data published by internet comparison site GoCompare has shown that 41% of motorbike MoT failures in 2023/24 were caused by faulty lamps and reflectors – something riders can easily check at home. The company's research shows such oversights cost bikers £35,000 in retests, with £210,000 lost to failed tests from simple issues over a five-year period. Brake issues followed at 18% of failures, next came structural faults (11%), and suspension (10%). The end of an era Kawasaki and Global Moto have officially parted ways after a 41-year partnership that began with Lloyd Cooper Motorcycles – the UK's oldest bike dealership. Under MD Luke Gregory, the business expanded to include Colchester Kawasaki and Clay Cross Motorcycles. “It's been fantastic working with Kawasaki,” said Gregory, who now plans to focus on…

Isle of Man TT fans can now relive the most unforgettable moments from the last three decades, with the TT+ streaming service launching a massive archive of footage – completely free to watch. The newly released TT Rewind collection spans from 1995 to present, capturing legendary performances from Joey Dunlop, David Jefferies, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson, Michael Dunlop, and many more. From Phillip McCallen's four-win week in 1996 to McGuinness breaking through the 130mph average lap barrier in 2007, and Peter Hickman's record-shattering 135mph lap in the 2018 Senior – the collection is packed with landmark moments. There's an immense volume of content available, opening up access to hundreds of races, interviews, and unforgettable battles, the rivalries, and the defining moments that have shaped the Isle of Man TT across…

In the April 2 issue of MCN, we reported on a camera system being teased aboard Honda's Africa Twin, which was being developed by Hitachi Astemo – a company part owned by Honda that also controls the Showa, Nissin and Keihin operations. One of the longest-running projects since the company started has been a forward-facing stereo camera system for motorcycles, intended to work alongside or in place of a radar to create a more complete picture of the road ahead for rider assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control. The latest prototype for the system – with a camera on each side of the bike's nose – is even able to monitor the state of the road surface ahead, alerting the rider or even adjusting the suspension, ABS, traction control…

It's been super busy as ever. From being in the paddock, to building bikes, to doing my trackdays… On that subject, they've been going well and we're using the new Yamaha R9 and, although I'm biased, what a lovely bike. So much fun, user friendly and not intimidating. This week we've been up to Anglesey with a load of BSB riders who are my instructors. It's such a fantastic place to ride and in terms of track time, facilities, venue and cost it really is one of the best days we do. This week we had Christian Iddon, Max Cook, Joe Talbot, James Westmoreland, Dan Linfoot and Adam Jenkinson. We have two instructors per group (novice, intermediate and fast) and each group only has eight or nine riders in it,…

THE UK'S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite one-hour routes At 27 miles this may not be a long route that will demand a full day of riding but it is a lovely one, flowing through Thetford Forest, in Norfolk. Not only is it calm, peaceful and pleasant, but it's also a lovely stretch of road, filled with long smooth curves and nice, open stretches. If you're starting in Thetford, all you need to do is head north, out on the A1066 and onto the A134. Go at a time that isn't rush hour and it opens up instantly, through Lynford, Mundford and beyond. Stay on the A134 and you'll be fine, before you arrive to the A10 and then turn right, heading towards King's Lynn. There are loads…

There's no nicer feeling than riding an immaculately prepared bike that's sparklingly clean, with perfectly maintained components and a deep lustre to the paintwork. We don't all have time to prepare to show standards, so the products need to be high-performance, easy to use, and safe on all surfaces – and that's where Oxford Mint comes in. One example is their general-purpose protectant, which has strong film-forming properties, and creates a protective coating to prevent moisture ingress and damage on all types of components. Mint General Protectant is great for helping to maintain the condition of your bike's components, including moving parts, metal fasteners, rubber seals, and electronics. The protectant creates a light wax coating that enhances protection against dirt and grime, which makes cleaning your bike a quick and…

Pitch up at Dover or Folkestone for the ferry/chunnel, and odds are there'll be at least one Tracer 9 getting ready to cut across the continent. Yamaha's mid-size sports tourer has been a hit since its introduction in 2015 thanks to its blend of comfort, manageable size and relative value as well as a touch of fun from its MT-09-derived design. It's surprising that Triumph took so long to defend its triple-pot patch with a direct rival, but the Tiger Sport 800 is finally squaring up to the Yam. Base Triumph to base Yamaha it's a strong competitor, but the most popular version of the Yamaha is the higher-spec GT (as we've chosen to test), and Triumph's accessories can't match the GT's kit list. Can it compete on natural ability…

Which has the best luggage? Panniers are extra on the Triumph, BMW and base-model Tracer 9; the GT, and GT+ come with central locking equipped boxes as standard. How do they compare in use? The Triumph's were our least favourite, though perfectly functional. At 57 litres combined, they're the smallest, though that pays off with the narrowest width (86cm) which will help in traffic. The attachment mechanism isn't positive, and a touch fiddly; the closing catches aren't reassuring either. But they did the job and carried kit for one person, for four days. The Tracer 9 GT's 60-litre capacity comes with extra width – at 94cm, it's enough to require more care when filtering. The ignition needs to be switched on to use the lock button on the left side…

V4 power Euro 5+, 166bhp, 1158cc spring valve V4 with 37,000-mile valve service intervals and low rpm rear cylinder cut. Twin-pulse firing order booms through quad exhaust tips. Best foot forward Three-way adjustable feet-forward footpegs create the XDiavel's cruiser look and feel, but don't scrape tarmac in corners. Mid-position pegs are available as accessories. Superbike dash 6.9in widescreen display, loaded with functions was debuted on the new Panigale V4. It has a bonded display, like a smartphone, for crispness and to reduce glare.…

‘Nervous, but excited too’ “I've been riding for four years now, with a Suzuki SV650S, which I still own, being my first bike. I've had a Honda CBR600RR and an Aprilia RS660 too, so sportsbikes are my preference, but having only ridden on road, a trackday was on the bucket list. “I was nervous for the day, but excited for my first trackday – I arrived with an idea of what I was supposed to be doing and felt well prepared. “I went to sign on, which was nice and simple – I gave my name, presented my licence and was given a novice class wristband. I filed in for noise testing, next it was time for the in-person briefing and then, my first time on track. “The first laps…

Squire Defiant £199.99 Two years ON TEST I've used this Squire Defiant lock across a number of motorcycles, but it now spends much of its time at home, keeping my own Royal Enfield safe in the garage. Weighing a claimed 1.1kg, it's a hefty unit that packs a 25mm solid hardened steel body and 12mm boron steel shackle. As such, it achieves a Sold Secure ‘Powered Cycle Diamond’ rating for attacks against angle grinders – giving me the confidence to leave my bike parked up, safe in the knowledge that it's protected. You get a stretchy reminder cord from the lock to the handlebar, too. However, while sturdy, for just shy of 200 quid it would be nice to have an alarm element included for an added theft deterrent. It's…

One year ON TEST Oxford Dirt Guard £9.99 Although I'm a stickler for chain maintenance, I'm one messy pup when it comes to cleaning and relubing. I've traditionally used bits of cardboard or folded newspaper pages to try to mask the wheel, tyre and brake caliper, but no matter how careful I am, I always end up having to wipe everything down again at the end. Oxford's Dirt Guard saves all that hassle; once the two halves are trimmed it clicks neatly together around the rear hub, preventing over-spray altogether. It even has a built-in drip tray to collect run off, making one of the potentially dirtiest jobs on your bike mess-free. MCN rating www.oxfordproducts.com…

The wheels we cleaned in this guide were from a Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX, which had been used during the latter part of the winter months. They cleaned up beautifully, showing no signs of corrosion which is always a good thing, although they were absolutely caked in muck. However, it's important to be careful when cleaning wheels and always use the correct products. While there is a lot of overlap between car and motorcycle cleaning products, you should be particularly cautious with car wheel cleaners. Some car-specific wheel cleaners are chemically too aggressive and can damage either the alloy or painted finishes, and be even more careful if you're lucky enough to have carbon rims. I recall a winter road test a few years ago when we stopped by a hand…

Delivers the inside line as WSBK heads to Czech Republic The WSBK circus heads to the Most circuit in the Czech Republic this weekend – and if Nicolo Bulega beats Toprak Razgatlioglu it'll be panic stations for BMW. The reigning champion boasts a superlative record at the Most circuit, so the pressure is on to do the business following Bulega's scintillating Cremona treble. There's a lot happening. THE CIRCUIT Autodrom Most Length 2.6 miles / 4.2 kilometres Corners 21 Direction Clockwise Current WSBK deal 2021-25 Did you Know? Most's circuit was built between 1978 and 1983; it was the first permanent motor racing complex in what was then Czechoslovakia Schedule Saturday, May 17 10:00 Superpole 13:00 Race 1 Sunday, May 18 10:00 Superpole race 13:00 Race 2 Bulega, Locatelli and…

Tom Tunstall remains at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and is undergoing treatment for the spinal injuries sustained during the Supersport race crash at Oulton Park last Monday. He suffered a broken bone in his neck, and has also been left with significant back and abdominal injuries. “Tom's family would like to thank everyone for their well wishes at this difficult time,” a family statement said. “We are grateful for the excellent care received from the Royal Stoke University Hospital. We would like to thank the BSB medical team at Oulton Park for their hard work and care for all the riders involved. ‘We're grateful for the excellent care received’ “But most of all, we are all extremely saddened to hear about the loss of Owen and Shane, and we…

Shane Richardson packed up and travelled over 11,000 miles in order to realise his dream of being a motorcycle racer at a high level. Originally from the town of Lower Hutt, New Zealand, he made his debut inside the BSB paddock in 2019. Competing in the National Superstock 600 Championship, he was instantly fast and lost out on the title by just six points – suffering a technical problem in the final race. Perhaps it shouldn't have come as such a surprise given that Richardson had already stood on the top step of a Superstock 1000 podium. Indeed, Richardson won the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race at Road America in June 2018, riding the Woolich Racing Kawasaki. ‘Never failed to put a smile on all our faces’ His time in the…

A cleverly constructed performance by Marc Marquez in the French GP reinforced that the peerless Spaniard is now focused on the long game for a MotoGP title with Ducati. But it was far from nerveless with Marquez committed to not making it three consecutive DNFs after costly errors in CoTA and Jerez. Marquez pocketed his trademark appetite for risk after a two-lap burst made no impression on runaway Johann Zarco. Marquez settled for second, showing he is on top of the tricky handling character of the GP25 with an updated frame arriving at Le Mans. There was no upside in turning the screws on Zarco. This was a controlled, mature ride. Marquez said: “It was demanding on the mental side to understand what you needed to do. With 20 points…

Honda Racing's Dean Harrison arrived at Portrush without a NW200 victory on his CV and unfortunately left with the same blank spot after finishing runner-up five times during a week of high-speed racing. Harrison was impressive in qualifying, posting the fastest lap in the Supersport sessions, third quickest time in the Superbike class and fourth fastest in Superstock. The Bradford rider, who now lives on the Isle of Man, was in the mix for a win throughout race week with his closest call coming in Thursday evening's opening Superbike encounter. Harrison posted the quickest lap of the race but lost out on the win by 0.215s to Davey Todd on the 8TEN Racing BMW. He slipped to fifth in the second big bike encounter before reclaiming his familiar second in…

Kawasaki are giving newbies a leg up for 2025 with a New Rider Grant scheme, offering up to £500 off certain machines. Riders who've passed their test in the past year can claim discounts on bikes like the Z900, ZX-4RR and Vulcan S by flashing their pass certificate at participating dealers. The deal runs until December 31 and includes £400 off the new Ninja 500, Z500, and Eliminator. Londoner wins big A London motorcyclist has bagged himself a brand-new Ducati Scrambler Icon worth over £10,000 – all thanks to a free prize draw from comparison site Entire Cover. Dan Shell landed the ‘62 Yellow machine after requesting an online insurance quote. “I've never won anything before – I didn't believe it until I had the key!” he said. Entire Cover's…

More people getting advanced training will improve biking's reputation according to industry bosses – as well as making us smoother and safer riders. That's why the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) are supporting calls from Europe encouraging riders to take additional post-test lessons. At the same time there are calls for car drivers and fellow road users to be given better training to help them look out for motorcyclists and other vulnerable groups. “Motorcycling is under constant pressure to improve its safety record, and it's vital that we, as a sector, do all we can to address this,” said MCIA Chief Executive Tony Campbell. “While riders and the industry are stepping up, we will also be pressing the Government and road safety organisations to take more action.” According to Government data,…

Maeving have launched a special edition version of their RM1S retro, called the Blackout. As the name suggests, the new model takes the normally colourful £7495 RM1S and finishes it in an understated blacked-out design – with styling touches including a matt paintwork on the tank with grey striping, and matt carbon on the central battery housing plus Razor ‘Lite’ shocks. The performance of the bike goes unchanged, with removable batteries for charging at home, a claimed top speed of 70mph, and a claimed range of 80 miles. Priced at £8995, it's limited to 300 units worldwide.…

Margate's sandy shoreline has played host to the fifth annual Malle Beach Race, welcoming hundreds of bikers to the town for two days of inappropriate two-wheeled action. Kick-starting on May 3 with a day of racing, the run-what-you-brung event saw around 400 competitors take to the sand on an eclectic mix of machines – from century-old classics to specials finished moments before the flag dropped. “Margate has an amazing folklore in motorcycling history because of the Mods and Rockers back in the 60s,” Malle London's founder, Robert Nightingale told MCN. “We got permission five years ago to host the first beach race and it's all about bringing anything on two wheels together – minimal attention focused on winning – it's the race where we all lose together.” Performance ranged from…

Pierer Mobility has posted preliminary results for 2024, revealing a €1.28bn loss before tax and plunging sales as the company scrambles to restructure. Equity has gone deep into the red at minus €199 million while revenue nose-dived by 29.4% to €1.88bn from €2.66bn the previous year, with net debt ballooning to €1.64bn. The group sold 292,497 bikes last year, down 21% from 372,511 in 2023. Over 60,000 of those were sold via Indian partner Bajaj, while the European market remained the biggest chunk at 38% of total sales. North America made up 24%, with India and Indonesia sharing 21%. The figures come as Pierer battles to finalise a circa €600m investor lifeline that is crucial to its survival. Production at KTM's Mattighofen plant had been halted since December 2024, only…

Ducati's V21L MotoE racer made its 2025 season debut at Le Mans in France, with the firm unveiling a raft of updates aimed at improving performance, agility and rider control. Now entering its third year as the machine used in the FIM MotoE World Championship, the V21L is Ducati's first electric race bike. Race 1 was won by Spain's Oscar Gutierrez with Race 2 honours going to Italian Mattia Casadei. At the heart of the updates is a revised battery pack using new high-density 5Ah cells, replacing the 4.2Ah units. This allows engineers to cut the number of cells from 1152 to 960 without affecting power or range. Crucially, that change trims 8.2kg from the total mass – a weight saving that Ducati's simulations suggest could knock between three and…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com 1987 on my trusty TS50X with Autisa 65cc big bore kit (if you can class that as big). Jay Watson Me and my best mate in 1981 on my brand new MB5 a few weeks before l turned 16. Martin White This was me in the 1980s on the little Suzuki. Ian Bradley Note the L-plate cunningly wrapped around the fork leg. David Cook Picture of my first ever Ducati and first-ever bike after passing my test in November. Michael Flucker My first bike was this TT600 which I resprayed myself after a low-speed spill in 2010. Love the paper. Andrew Henderson This is me and my now wife Sarah back in 2001 on my CB400 Super Four restricted to 33bhp. Lee Westbrook…

THE DETAILS • Everyday 8am-3pm • Find out more / www.yondermanncafe.com • A623, Wardlow Mires, Buxton SK17 8RW With so many making the Peaks their top destination (and for good reason), it's hardly surprising that there are a gaggle of epic Pit Stops nearby, and one of them is the Yondermann which has been serving hungry motorcyclists for decades. “The café had already been open for 40 years or so before we had it,” says co-owner Charlotte Higgins. “The previous owners had it for 10 years and we'll have had it for seven. In the summer we'll get groups of up to 200 bikers turning up at once, and we have videos of cars getting stuck in the car park because there are so many bikes!” “It had a huge…

1 May 18 InSpire Ride The International Bomber Command Centre (LN4 2HQ) is hosting its yearly charity event this weekend complete with a pair of ride-ins from the north and the south. It's a £10 donation, but you can spoil yourself with a VIP ticket from £55 if you fancy. internationalbcc.co.uk 2 May 18 Rugby Bikefest Two-wheelers will take over Rugby town centre this weekend between 10.30am-4pm. Completely free for all the family, there is a ride-in along with live music, stalls, bike displays, funfair, food and more. Hope for sunshine and enjoy the day. rugbyfirstevents.org.uk/rugby-bikefest 3 May 16-18 British Superbikes British Superbikes are heading to Donington Park this weekend with the championship hotting up already. Weekend admission is £49 online (£75 on the gate) with cheaper tickets for teens.…

FIRST RIDE The new Speed Triple 1200 RX is a more focused, limited run version of Triumph's standard Speed Triple 1200 RS – itself updated for 2025. It gets the same 1160cc engine, aluminium twin spar frame, and semi-active Öhlins, but now boasts more aggressive clip-ons and higher pegs to appeal to the sportiest of potential customers. It does much the same job that the Moto2 Edition of the Street Triple 765 did in 2023 – only this time with 180.5bhp on tap, and a price of £18,995. So have Triumph done enough to differentiate it from the £17,495 RS, and does it feel special? Cue a day's riding at Portimao in Portugal to find out. 1 Time to get sporty The RX shares the same 830mm seat height as…

DEAN ELLISON Top tips for track skills TIP 1 Nail your body position This is crucially important, especially if you're a road rider. Focus on getting your feet position correct, by using the ball of your foot, rather than your heel. This will give you more control and raise your feet too, which will allow you to then get a better position for your legs. Focus on getting your bum off the seat and use your bodyweight to help the bike corner – but support your bodyweight using your legs, not your arms. Always look through the corner to where you're going. TIP 2 Work on your lines Don't just stay tight all the way in and through the corner (or in the middle of the road) at all times,…

@motorcyclenews A big fan of long days in the saddle. Enjoys touring as much as getting down and dirty. Towards the end of every year, the MCN office gets itself in a froth as we start dreaming of what we each might hope to have on long-term test. Two of my top three made it onto the 2025 fleet, but the humble Bear 650 wasn't even on my list at the beginning – pretty, yes, but not my thing. Or so I thought. In under 1000 miles, I've been won over by its charms. 1 Just look at it… While the green-framed version with white tank and 249 number board is the pick of the bunch, the blue and orange Bear is beautiful in the metal. Deep, metallic paint with…

The British Superbike Championship heads to Donington Park this weekend with a trio of riders level at the top after the first round. Oulton Park saw Brad Ray assert his dominance on his return to the series, however he was reeled in and beaten in the Sprint race by Leon Haslam, meanwhile Glenn Irwin kept them both honest. The trio now head to the east midlands ready and prepared for battle once more. Home advantage No one has completed more laps around Donington Park than Haslam. The local hero is now BSB's oldest ever race winner, with his victory earlier this month coming aged 41 years, 329 days. The previous holder of that record was Shakey Byrne (41 years, 126 days). The trip to Donington has come at a good…

Jorge Martin is assessing his options after it was confirmed to MCN that there is a clause in his contract that could see him leave Aprilia at the end of 2025. The Spaniard was a surprise, if covert, visitor to Le Mans and it was there that rumours started mounting regarding his plans for next year after a disastrous start. A source from Martin's camp told MCN his contract with Aprilia, while a two-year deal, has a clause that gives the Spaniard autonomy to decide his future after one year. ‘Martin could make a move to HRC for 2026’ The same source intimated this clause was a sweetener for Martin to sign for Aprilia last year, so he could assess whether they and the RS-GP have the potential to fight…

A double top five for Pedro Acosta and Maverick Viñales was a positive sign for KTM and continued a recent streak of fast and consistent podium challenging performances. It was another boost for the financially troubled Austrian brand who despite their ongoing issues remain committed to MotoGP. In form Viñales has led that charge with his preferred setup now adopted by other KTM riders. But the rain squalls that hit Le Mans and triggered drama-charged bike swaps and long-lap penalties left Viñales feeling somewhat perplexed. Neither Viñales nor Acosta could respond to the late race podium charge by rookie Fermin Aldeguer on the Ducati GP24 (see left). “The bike performed well in the rain but I have no explanation why we had no traction on the straights. Even in sixth…

As the holder of the 136.415mph lap record at Dundrod's now defunct Ulster Grand Prix since 2019 and the outright lap record holder at the Isle of Man TT, Peter Hickman retains ‘the world's fastest road racer’ title. Only a NW200 Superbike race win continues to elude the 38-yearold and his frustration carried on at this year's event with his best finishes being two thirds in the first and second Superbike races behind Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop alongside a DNF in the last race. Hickman was outspoken about events in the second Superbike race and raised doubts over his future participation in the event following the organisers’ decision not to penalise Michael Dunlop when he failed to complete a mandatory stop after running on at the chicane (see page…

Two-time British Superstock champ Richard Cooper has carved out a second career as a road racer at the North West 200 with the Nottingham man notching up another double at the 2025 event. The 42-year-old made his debut at the NW200 in 2019 and last year he added a maiden Supersport win on Alastair Russell's BPE Yamaha R6 to his four previous Supertwin victories with Ryan Farquhar's KMR team. Cooper returned in 2025 on the same machinery in the same classes. Cooper won the opening Supertwin encounter on his Jack Reid Cars/KMR Kawasaki by 0.280 seconds from Adam McLean (Flitwick Motorcycles/ SMV Yamaha) with veteran, Jeremy McWilliams, completing the podium on the JMcC Racing Aprilia. Next up was a Supersport battle with Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop which Cooper got…