Table of contents for 8 October 2025 in MCN

‘It’s a huge shot in the arm for the brand’ KTM 390 ADVENTURE R, P28 FIRST RIDE Time for serious adventuring One of the stars of last year’s Milan show, KTM’s 390 Adventure R got dual-sport lovers thinking seriously dirty thoughts. Finally, it looked like KTM were bestowing their small capacity adventurers with the same do-it-all abilities as their big-bore brethren. But we’ve had to wait almost a year before we were able to put that theory to the test, as the Austrian firm wrestled to get back on a firm financial footing. With KTM stable once again, it’s finally time to get to grips with the long-awaited mini Adventure R. Carl Stevens put it to the test on road, and off. PAGE 28 NEWS More magic for Multistrada Ducati’s…

Triumph have launched a fourstrong range of off-road-only electrics – designed to cater for riders as young as three, through to fully grown adults. All four have been built in partnership with Oset – a British brand founded in 2004 that was purchased by the Hinckley factory in June 2022. Called the TXP series, they have age-specific frames/geometry and can be converted between either a trials or enduro stance via a removable seat unit. Smallest of the bunch is the TXP-12, which is priced at £1595 and caters for kids aged three to five. From there comes the £2295 TXP-16 for ages five to seven, before the TXP-20 at £3195 for riders seven through to 10. Finally, there’s a full-sized 24 model for £3695 for riders up to 90kg. ‘All…

‘Less is more, it’s time to downsize’ MCN recently celebrated its 70th Anniversary at the National Motorcycle Museum, which was a great opportunity to meet all you dear readers. I’ll talk the hind legs off a donkey, so I thoroughly enjoyed the day and it was also an eye-opener as to where the bike market is heading. I parked myself next to MCN’s Tiger Sport 800 and honestly, I wish I had been a Triumph dealer because I could have sold that bike about eight times. At least three readers told me they had ordered one. When I asked why the answer was the same: ‘I’m downsizing’. I’ve long been an advocate of downsizing because these days it is in no way a downgrade, as the Tiger Sport 800 more…

‘Don’t trust rogue sellers’ Last week I answered questions from readers. This week, I’m dissecting answers from two rogue vendors. Rogue vendor one is advertising heavily on social media. Posts promise orders ready within five business days and boast of one-piece suits with: “External CE approved removable knee sliders.” When I asked about certification, the response was: “We will get the certificate made for you and it will be CE approved.” That’s not how it works. CE approval isn’t something made on demand, and in past cases where sellers claimed to supply paperwork, it has never come from an authorised body. As for ‘CE approved knee sliders,’ that’s pure invention. Sliders are accessories, not protective equipment, and cannot be certified. More telling is what the seller doesn’t say: Nothing about…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER IN ASSOCIATION WITH ‘I’ve bought another one…’ I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to Saffron Wilson and the rest of the team for the fantastic Dream Garage spread on my collection (MCN, October 1). I was over the moon when I saw it – it’s such a brilliant piece of work, and I couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out. I’ve already been out buying copies (in fact, half a dozen so far!) and have friends and family running around the country picking up more issues for me. It really means a lot to me to see this story told in such a professional and engaging way, and I’m so grateful for the time and effort…

Small bikes are big fun, that’s something I’ve always maintained. But recently, I’ve been reminded of just how brilliant they are after riding a VéloSolex. It’ a French front-wheel-drive bike, a bit like a bicycle, and I’’l tell you something: it’’ the most obscure thing I’’e ever ridden in my life! Henry’s got two that we’ve been working on for Shed and Buried, and it’s the kind of thing where, at first glance, you look at it and think that’ll be rubbish, because it’s only 45cc with 0.4bhp. But, honestly, riding them was hilarious – we’ve never laughed so much in our lives – because there’s no power and they’re really complicated to ride. To start it, there’s a lock on the front that says ‘choke or go’ in French,…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Kristian Grundy The ride Wet and wonderful motorcycle pilgrimage to Iona How far? 650 miles in three days Don’t miss this The single-track road from Craignure to Fionnphort is a narrow ribbon of tarmac twisting through jaw-dropping scenery. Total magic. Tell us about the trip… Part pilgrimage, part artistic mission, and a full-throttle adventure. I ran the Great North Run to raise money for St Oswald’s Hospice on Tyneside. Learning that St Oswald was baptised on Iona made the island feel like a calling – and this ride became personal. After a rain-lashed ride to Girvan, the sun broke through for my stay at the very friendly Balkenna Tearoom campsite. I took a swim in the Firth of Clyde and found a strange white…

‘Frenzied tech race…’ Not only did BMW transform their image with the S1000RR, but they also forced their rivals to embark on a frenzied power and tech race. Now we don’t think twice when we see 200bhp-plus or MotoGP-inspired electronics on a spec sheet… and prices to match. The battle to produce the fastest, cleverest, most extreme machine has forced superbikes close to irrelevance for all but race teams and wealthy trackday riders. But the when the S1000RR arrived we still had a hunger for race reps and for those who sought the latest and greatest, the BMW was manna from heaven with its race-ready engine, chassis, brakes and electronics that were so far ahead of rivals it took them years to catch up. Sure, the modern stuff is smoother…

If ever there was a race which showed how far Jose Antonio Rueda has come in 2025 this was it. The Spaniard wrapped up the 2025 Moto3 World Championship after to recovering from a disastrous start to win his 11th race of the year in dramatic circumstances. “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was six years old,” he said. The race was marred by David Muñoz’s left femur break. Game on in Moto2 The Moto2 title race was blown wide open as Manuel Gonzalez was disqualified from second place for “using a non-homologated software version”. Race winner Diogo Moreira now sits just nine points back. “There was a transmission error in the last firmware update, in which only one parameter was updated. Unfortunately, it didn’t signal this to us,”…

The lacklustre performances of Yamaha factory rider Alex Rins in 2025 did not match his status as a six-time MotoGP winner and runner-up to Joan Mir in Suzuki’s 2020 world championship. But he delivered a surprising and stinging reminder of his talent and the unloved Yamaha M1 at Mandalika. From back marker to podium contender in an intense GP the surge by Rins to second place ahead of Pedro Acosta’s KTM ultimately faltered on a bold tyre gamble. Rins went soft-soft on tyres to maximise his attacking style but the strategy ended five laps from the finish as rear grip disappeared. Rins had no regrets after fading to tenth, nor reasons for the M1’s uptick. He said: “I know what I’m capable of and while some people around me have…

Delivers his verdict on a wild weekend in Indonesia TOP STORY Fermin Aldeguer wrote his name into the history books in Indonesia by keeping a cool head while those around him lost theirs during MotoGP’s wackiest weekend of the year. The rider from the Murcia region of Spain became the second youngest rider in history to win a premier class race after he dominated Sunday’s encounter from the eighth lap, when he took control to stretch out his lead to, at one point in the race, 9.3 seconds. There have been flashes of this speed before now. The eight-time Moto2 race winner was as fast as anyone in the closing laps of the Austin GP before he crashed out. He then scored two podiums at Le Mans – just his…

Delivering breaking news from the BSB paddock Italian exotica will grace the Bennetts British Superbike grid in 2026 as FS-3 Racing join forces with Bimota. Following in the footsteps of their WorldSBK counterparts, FS-3 Racing will trade their Kawasaki ZX-10RRs for the KB998 Rimini. The team will be known as AJN Steelstock Bimota. The move brings World Superbike heritage to BSB. Davide Tardozzi won the first-ever WorldSBK race, held at Donington Park, onboard a Bimota in 1988, and would win four further races that year. Fast-forward to 2000 and the late Anthony Gobert won at Phillip Island on the Bimota SB8R. Keeping the Kawasaki link Since joining the BSB grid in 2016, the ZX-10RR has been the weapon of choice for FS-3, and the team became the official entry in…

ROUND 10 OULTON BSB CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 RYDE 445pts 2 RAY 415pts 3 HASLAM 344pts 16 Jackson 61 17 McPhee 53 18 McConnell 49 19 Swann 47.5 20 Hedger 23 21 Van Sikkelerus 7 22 Harrison 7 23 Todd 6 24 Hickman 5.5 25 Talbot 4 26 Tessels 2 27 Kerr 1.5 BSB POSITIONS RACE 1 16 Van Sikkelerus +1.36.686 17 Iddon +1.37.463 18 Baker +1 lap 19 Hickman +1 lap 20 Jackson +1 lap 21 Redding +1 lap 22 McPhee +2 laps DNF Davis 5 laps, G Irwin 11 laps BSB POSITIONS RACE 2 16 Hedger +15.337 17 McPhee +19.65 18 Swann +20.08 19 Van Sikkelerus +30.205 20 Davis +36.107 21 Baker +38.865 22 Kerr +1 Lap DNF Jackson 1 Lap BSB POSITIONS RACE 3 16 Todd +20.468 17…

One piece of kit noticeably missing from Ducati’s touring catalogue is a semi-auto gearbox to rival that of BMW’s ASA, Honda’s long-standing DCT and Yamaha’s Y-AMT. Speaking with MCN, the Ducati Head of Product Communications, Giulio Fabbri, confirmed that Ducati are actively developing such a system, but that its release is not an immediate priority. “We [have been] looking at this [for] some years. Honestly speaking, making an automatic system, it’s pretty easy if you want,” Fabbri said. No details could be revealed on when such a system may be revealed, however, with Fabbri simply concluding: “We are looking at different technologies. I can say that if and when it will arrive, it will be a proper Ducati [solution].”…

SAVE £5955 £11,995 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR Beautifully made, combining sensible ergonomics with strong performance and track-ready handling, all mixed in with a smattering of Triumph’s inimitable style. If you want searing performance without the blustery ride of a super-naked and without the need to fold yourself onto a superbike, the 1200RR could be the one for you. www.lind.co.uk SAVE £1980 £15,695 Kawasaki ZX-10R Kawasaki’s ZX-10R is as sporty as they come, with a powerful motor and pin sharp handling, and yet, it’s still surprisingly real-world friendly too. www.cobbandjagger.co.uk ● Engine 998cc ● Power 200bhp ● Weight 207kg ● Seat height 835mm SAVE £1800 £15,499 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa It’s getting a little long in the tooth now, but Suzuki’s cult classic Busa is still among the best in the…

Bonneville in TT test Soggy scramble defeats floods 65 years of pricing changes When it came to assessing the 1961 Triumph Bonneville T120R, MCN decided to give it a road test with a difference. Instead of tackling local routes to produce a verdict, Peter Howdle rode the bike to and from the Isle of Man. Once on the island, the bike was handed to Manx Grand Prix travelling marshal, Peter Crebbin, who tackled a lap of the Mountain course under racing conditions -hitting a speedo-indicated 110mph at the bottom of Bray Hill. “Pulling up for Quarter Bridge I became aware of the immense stopping power of the new floating shoe brakes,” Crebbin recalled. “In fact, with surprisingly small effort, the front tyre could be made to squeal in protest. “I…

KTM have revealed their 2026 300 EXC Hardenduro, adding upgraded WP suspension, tweaked cooling and fresh graphics to their flagship two-stroke enduro. Constructed around race-winning hardware used by multi-time world champion Manuel Lettenbichler, the bike retains last year’s full suite of extras including factory wheels, a ribbed seat, a full suite of protective add-ons, a radiator fan, and CNC triple clamps. Prices start at £11,599.…

HJC RPHA 71 Cozad £299.99 Stock up for your next adventure It’s easy to overthink things when planning a bike tour: ‘When was my oil last changed? Do I need a spare throttle cable? Maybe I need to pack a couple more jumpers…’ But some things are worth spending a little cash on before you set out on that great escape. Thanks to this week’s bargains, upgrading to a new set of quality tyres or an intercom-ready helmet doesn’t have to cost the earth. Have a look at this list of touring essentials we’ve put together; you might be surprised at just how little you need to spend to be touring-ready – even if you aren’t planning to set off until next spring. At £150 off the RRP, this helmet…

The range extender isn’t the only eco-friendly tech KTM are developing, as the company have also filed patent applications for an electric supercharger to boost the performance of small combustion engines. While Honda are expected to launch their V3R E-Compressor (pictured, right) with an electric blower in the near future, KTM add another layer to the idea because their electric supercharger can also be driven by the engine. At low engine revs, the supercharger uses an electric motor, via a planetary gearbox, to keep spinning fast for instant boost. As the engine revs rise a clutch engages to connect the supercharger to the crankshaft, using the engine to power it directly, and the electric motor becomes a generator to recharge the system’s battery.…

Q ‘Can I lodge an appeal?’ Two years ago I had an accident and started a compensation claim. I attended a court hearing last week which lasted two days. My claim was against an SUV driver for injuries and loss of earnings plus some property damage. However, completely unexpectedly, I lost the case. My dad says I could possibly appeal the court’s decision and have a retrial. The car turned across my path right in front of me! The judge believed the car driver’s version of events, which was not true. Can I appeal? Simon R, email A You only have 21 days from the date of the court decision in which to lodge an appeal with the court. To be successful you will have to satisfy the appeal court…

The only tinkering on my bikes I’ve done recently is to my Pan European. The brake pads wore out, and when I took the calipers off to change them, I noticed how corroded the pistons were. So I popped the pistons out and discovered the seals were in a poor state. You get a load of white corrosion behind the seals, don’t you? That needed removing, so I’ve got this little flat-blade screwdriver that I’ve bent at 90 degrees which fits perfectly in the groove so you can clear out all the oxidisation. After that, I got a caliper refurb kit from Wemoto: four shiny new stainless steel pistons, all the seals plus grease in a kit for £70. It’s phenomenal quality and beautifully packaged, like a jewellery box –…

THE UK’S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite short routes North Wales has truly spectacular riding and this 180-mile, five-hour-ish ride has it all. Starting at Shrewsbury and heading an to Lake Vyrnwy, the reservoir makes a stunning diversion from the usual route into North Wales. Taking the west bank north (the best side) to Rhiwargor takes you onto a breathtaking unclassified road over the Berwyn mountains to Bala. Go south to Llanuwchllyn and take the mighty Bwlch y Groes (Pass of the Cross), also known as Hellfire Pass, and evoke memories of Triumph and BSA hillclimb-testing here way back in the early days. At Dinas Mawddwy hang a right to Cross Foxes, feel the need for speed on Mach Loop before taking the A493 to the beautiful seaside…

FIRST RIDE KTM are renowned for making big capacity adventure bikes, that can tackle just about anything on and off-road. But their previous 390 Adventure R never followed in that vein; think of it more as a road bike, with a slightly more rugged set of plastics thrown on. But for 2025 that has all changed, as KTM have given their mini adventurer a new chassis, a bigger single-cylinder engine, some new tech and most importantly a 21in front wheel with more ground clearance. The result? The 390 Adventure R is now a fully fledged adventure machine that punches well above its 176kg kerb weight. 1 It’s the real deal The 2025 390 Adventure R isn’t just an adventure bike in name; it’s an adventure bike in its stance and…

Back in 2010 MCN was offered the chance to race an S1000RR in the Brands GP round of the MRO Powerbike championship. No media had ridden anything other than a standard RR at that point, so we jumped at the chance. I’d also be teaming up with my old mate and number one rider, Steve Mercer. It was in superstock spec and run by the BMW Park Lane dealership. I’d raced a Bob Farhnam tuned R1 the year before, but the RR was a revelation and unbelievably quick. That race meeting led to a ride for the rest of the season and carried on all the way until 2022, as the team evolved to Prime Factors Racing. During that time, I was lucky enough to race all the RR evolutions:…

Replacing head race bearings is normally a bread-and-butter job for any mechanic – but when a Multistrada S rolled into Zenith Motorcycles, London-based workshop boss Karen Neill found herself staring down one of the biggest strip-downs she’d ever seen just to replace a handful of tiny parts on the Ducati. “Basically, it’s three-quarter strip-down at the front of the bike. You wouldn’t believe how much you have to remove,” she said. “It’s one of the most labour-intensive bikes I’ve come across to do this job on. It took around five hours for the total turnaround. “So that’s £350 just in labour alone to replace two bearings and two races.” And that’s before you factor in the hardware. “Ducati OEM parts, which use ball bearings rather than rollers, cost £188.94 including…

At the heart of the MotoGP paddock for over 35 years ‘Is he taking Ducati down the HRC path?’ Ducati’s factory bikes had a terrible weekend in Indonesia. The top GP25s got well and truly Lombocked! Or were the wounds self-inflicted? New world champion Marc went from hero to hospital with as yet unconfirmed damage to his right shoulder, after his worst qualifying of the year. He was innocent victim of Sprint winner Marco Bezzecchi’s first-lap blunder, but he’d been struggling all weekend, and even had the embarrassment of having to fight through Q1, the realm of the struggling rider. Former champion Pecco Bagnaia, double winner (from pole) just the week before, went from untouchable to unbelievable, crashing out of a second successive last place. He looked like he was…

Does Ducati genius Gigi Dall’igna looked more worried these days? Hell, yeah, because Aprilia, Honda and KTM are finally challenging his Desmosedici. This is MotoGP’s new concession rules in action, because Ducati are allowed less testing than the others and no wild cards with their test riders. Meanwhile Aprilia have made mighty progress. The RS-GP has always excelled at fast, flowing circuits, but struggled at stop-go venues. Now it’s fast everywhere. “We are working hard, day by day, and the bike is improving more and more,” said Mandalika Sprint winner Marco Bezzecchi. “The bike’s stability in fast corners was always our strong point, now we are as good as the others in stop-and-go corners,” said Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez, who took his first front row of 2025 at Mandalika. “In…

He may have been outshone by his teammate. But Alex Marquez was delighted to strengthen his hold on second overall as he took his tenth podium of the year. The Catalan didn’t have a smooth weekend. He crashed twice before Sunday and was unable to engage his start device, which meant he was in ninth through the first chicane. But he remained patient and executed a series of strong moves to climb to third. “I started to feel better, I did everything with patience. On paper this was one of my weakest tracks, so we’re in a really good mood,” he said.…

A 2016 Indian Springfield once owned by French rock legend Johnny Hallyday is set to go under the hammer at the Zoute Sale hosted by Bonhams. The 1811cc Thunder Black model, ridden by Hallyday during preparation for his 2016 Route 66 road trip, carries an estimate of €30,000-€50,000 (roughly £26,179-£43,623). With under 13,000 miles on the clock, it comes with full documentation. Petrol pricing concerns grow Pump prices crept up in September despite no meaningful movement in wholesale oil costs, according to RAC Fuel Watch. Petrol climbed by 77p to 135.41p per litre, while diesel increased by 95p to 143.14p. Prices remain below February’s 12-month highs, but the RAC says retailer margins are still “far above historic levels”, highlighting cheaper averages in Northern Ireland where petrol is 7.6p lower than…

Surrey-based Honda dealership Doble Motorcycles have teamed up with 5Four Motorcycles to create a limited numbered run of special edition CB1000 Hornet SPs, priced at £15,454. 5Four Motorcycles is a custom house fronted by television personality Guy Willison, who regularly appears in programmes alongside Henry Cole and MCN columnist Allen Millyard. He has previously built specials based on the CB1100RS and CB1000R. “Having worked alongside Guy on his previous projects with Honda and talking about this new one for so long, it’s fantastic to see it come to life,” Paul Styles of Doble Motorcycles said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result. I want one myself.” The first of the finished builds is now available to view at their Coulsdon showroom and builds on the £10,099 mass-production Hornet SP.…

Jonny Davies has reclaimed the title for world’s fastest handlebar wheelie (known as a ‘high chair wheelie’) -reaching a mind-boggling 127mph at Elvington Airfield in York. The high-speed stunt sees a rider sit on the fuel tank with their legs draped over the bars, before hoisting the front wheel. Jonny originally set a since-beaten record of 109mph five years ago, and returned to the fray to reclaim his crown. The new benchmark was achieved at Straightliners Speed Week with a run of 127.047mph – beating the existing record of 125.9mph. After overcoming high cross-winds and technical troubles, the north east rider says he’s hoping to raise the record to over 130mph next year when he will also have his sights on another fastest speed – riding backwards as rapidly as…

Oxford Aqua Pro luggage from £99.99 Oxford have updated their popular Aqua range of waterproof luggage with a host of improvements. All items use 1000D tarpaulin as an extra rugged base material, while the four-point adjustable roll-top closure comes with an air valve to help pack the bags down – and keep them packed – as tightly as possible. www.oxfordproducts.com ELEVEIT X Legend EVO £439.99 The Italian firm’s premier off-road riding boots are now available in two fresh colour schemes; the subtle ’Total Black’, and eye-catching ’Lava Grey’. Designed in-house at Eleveit’s styling department, they’re already available at retailers, with no price increase from the original colours. eleveit.it/en Merlin Hydroshield waterproof £99.99 The Hydroshield from Merlin should cloak you from the storm without getting too clammy inside. Made from an…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER R www.zerofit.co.uk Saved many pennies to buy my 1996 FireBlade and also pay for the insurance! This was 26 years ago. Nigel Balfour This was taken on the Antrim coast when Killian was only 11 and riding pillion. Ian Robb Same bit of coast ten years later and now Killian has passed his A2 and bought his first bike, the Kawasaki Z500. Ian Robb This was my 1981 Honda MB50, gave me complete freedom but is a very rare bike now. Peter Bredael My Honda 125 twin cost £65 in 1969 when I was 16 years old. Tony Knight My girlfriend/wife on my BSA 500 Gold Star – this picture was taken in 1967. Rob Day 1986 on my…

1 October 12 Moto-Union If you’re a fan of classic Italian and Japanese motorcycles then get yourself down to the South of England showground, Ardingly, this weekend (RH17 6TL). With a new off-road zone, you can get down and dirty for a ticket price of £12 on the day or £10 in advance. motounion.co.uk 2 October 11-12 Weymouth Beach Race The days of sunning on the beach may have passed this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have just as much fun at the seaside this weekend. Get yourself down to Weymouth beachfront for a hardcore race where bikes and riders risk it all to be crowned victorious. www.facebook.com/beachmotocross 3 October 11-12 Stars at Darley The final round of the Darley Moor championships is this weekend and, as usual,…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop ‘Picture perfection’ TONY THORPE My Yamaha SR500 at The Devil’s Staircase, Abergwesyn. Because of the nature of our business (Riverbank Bed and Breakfast), I don’t get the opportunity to get out often. ‘Low power, high mileage’ PHIL RANSON I’ve just ridden 5300 miles in 13 months… But I did it all on a 50cc through 18 countries and three continents. ‘There’s a real chill in the air’ MIKE TAYLOR Taken after riding up to the glaciers in Norway. ‘Good parking… for ducks!’ NICK Little bit of an issue with the parking at the lake at Bala today! ‘Full-on puddle jumping’ HARRY HAWKINS Great run with the Furness VJMC today in perfect weather. 130 smiles with great mates and only a few very…

‘A huge step up by KTM’ The 2025 390 Adventure R is a huge step up from the previous generation, and a welcome shot in the arm for the brand. Off-road, the 390 has all the makings of a capable and confidence inspiring machine for riders of all levels, with a light, well-balanced feel and a great level of componentry. Yet what’s most impressive is how KTM have managed to retain an impressive level of road manners, which is what makes the 390 Adventure R an accomplished machine for everything from motorways to B-roads and open fire tracks, to tough, technical lanes. Throw in the additional tech and it really is a well-rounded package for an affordable asking price. THE FACTS £6699 KTM 390 Adventure R…

‘It’s bloody fabulous’ The fact that it makes the V4 S and S1000RR appear ordinary to the eye speaks volumes. But the Bimota’s outstanding finish, sublime handling and exclusive image come at a cost. Three, in fact. Firstly, there’s the £37,777 asking price – only the seriously well-heeled need apply. Secondly, the KB is currently available in the UK as a track bike only. And thirdly, its ZX-10RR engine is showing its age, particularly against European opposition. But on track, away from its rivals, it is simply bloody fabulous. THE FACTS £37,777 Bimota KB998 Rimini…

MCN Jonathan Rea may have more wins and more titles, but for many, Carl Fogarty will always be the king of World Superbikes. The Blackburn legend got involved in the series when it was in its infancy and was right at the heart of it when Sky Sports started showing every round live on television in 1992. By the time he took his first title in 1994, Britpop and Cool Britannia were gaining momentum and Foggy was swept along with it. He was one of few riders to transcend the sport and become a household name. “Before Carl there were no British riders doing anything in World Superbikes,” says 2003 WSBK champion Neil Hodgson. “We’d had no-one in contention for a world championship since Barry Sheene, so he opened the…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 12 months ON TEST Oxford Atlas T20 Advanced Tourpack £99.99 ‘Ultimate versatility’ Tested by Ben Clarke for 12 months, 4000 miles The highest praise I can give a piece of bike luggage is that it is simple to use, and Oxford’s Atlas Tourpacks most certainly fit that description. I can’t stand fiddling around with pannier back plates or ill-fitting under-seat Velcro and I’ve scratched many of the frames on my own bikes with a bungee at the extremes of its elasticity – trembling with the potential energy required for a swift eye removal… Once you’ve fitted the Oxford Atlas system’s frame straps, you can just tuck them away and forget about them until you next come to use the luggage. Then the G-hooks…

In the workshop world, there are very few things worse than being halfway through a job and suddenly – snap! Every heavy-handed wrencher has been there at least once, and even with a torque wrench and delicate touch, it’s still possible for old age to get the better of a fatigued bolt. While it’s sometimes unavoidable, there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of breakage. Firstly, apply a penetrating lubricant before removal, as this will allow the bolt to come free more easily. Use a firm, and steadily increasing pressure at the correct angle when removing the bolt; sudden jerks can easily snap tired metal. Apply a small amount of copper grease to your bolts before reinstallation (unless your manual specifies to use Loctite or to avoid…

Revealing our expert-picked awards shortlist SCAN THE QR CODE AND VOTE NOW! www.motorcyclenews.com/vote/ What a year it’s been so far… the season’s not over yet but we are kicking off voting for MCN Rider of the Year early so that we can crown the winner at Britain’s biggest bike show – Motorcycle Live at the NEC from November 15-23. Scan the QR code (top right) to cast your vote. 1 Michael Dunlop: 33-time TT winner Dunlop’s first North West 200 wins in eight years were followed by four more successes at the TT. Doubles in the Supersport and Supertwin categories moved Dunlop onto 33 career wins. The Northern Irishman received an MBE before doing the double in his first Tandagree 100 appearance since 2013. 2 Dean Harrison: TT double winner…

In a moment of Mandalika madness Marco Bezzecchi went from hero to villain in a calamitous exit from the Indonesian GP. And not just with Marc Marquez fans after his recklessly ambitious overtaking move dumped both riders into the gravel just seven corners into the race. Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola pondered that Bezzecchi squandered the untouchable performance advantage of the RS GP with its superior corner speed backed by braking and acceleration. Bezzecchi’s first lap panic attack ended any chance of repeating his Silverstone GP win. It came after failing to capitalise on a record pole position with a woefully sluggish start, a repeat of his tardy getaway in the Sprint. Bezzecchi had untouchable race pace, demonstrated by his commanding come-from-behind last lap Sprint win. “It’s something we don’t like…

ROUND 18 MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 MARQUEZ M 545pts 2 MARQUEZ A 362pts 3 BAGNAIA 274pts 16 Viñales 72 17 Ogura 70 18 Miller 60 19 Rins 51 20 Martin 34 21 Oliveira 32 22 P Espargaro 16 23 Nakagami 10 24 Savadori 8 25 Fernandez A 8 26 Chantra 6 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP 11 Oliveira +19.769 12 Zarco +27.597 13 Chantra +48.035 14 Miller +55.54 DNF Bastianini 15 laps, Bagnaia 20 laps, Mir 25 laps, Bezzecchi 27 laps, M Marquez 27 laps FINAL POSITIONS SP RACE 11 Miller +15.905 12 Rins +16.226 13 Marini +17.621 14 Bagnaia +29.393 DNF Quartararo 1 lap, Zarco 4 laps, Acosta 7 laps, Bastaianini 11 laps, Chantra 13 laps FINAL POSITIONS MOTO2 11 Binder +19.352 12 Agius +19.501 13 Sasaki +22.632 14 Lopez +23.648…

Ethan Sparks was crowned British Talent Cup champion at Oulton Park after finishing second in the final race of the season. The 2023 MCN Young Rider of the Year remained calm and did what he needed to do in order to become champion, taking the crown with an advantage of 13 points. Already a race winner in the ESBK Moto4 Championship and twice a champion in the FIM Austrian MiniGP series, 14-year-old Sparks could be Britain’s next big Grand Prix hope. ‘Now we hope to enter Red Bull Rookies’ Sparks has had a superb support network over the years, including Michael Laverty, Danny Webb and former Isle of Man TT winner Chas Mortimer. “I’m so happy, my first year and I’ve come in and won it,” Sparks said. “It was…

For the Rule Breakers. Reigning British and World Superbike Champions Josh Brookes became the oldest-ever BSB race winner aged 42 years, 159 days at Oulton after claiming DAO Racing’s first-ever win. Brookes takes the record held by Leon Haslam, who became the record holder at Oulton Park earlier this year aged 41 years, 339 days. John Reynolds held the record for oldest race winner from 2004 with his victory at Oulton Park aged 41 years and 77 days. “I think it goes without saying how everybody is trying so hard in the team to get somewhere closer to a position where I can fight for podiums and wins,” Brookes told MCN. “It’s a fantastic surprise; you normally wouldn’t say a surprise with a result but obviously the circumstances were unique.…

The BSB weekend was a great advert for racing. In the first race you had the wily old foxes Brookes and Haslam running the intermediate tyre. I was watching and the grid was chaos with riders trying to figure out what tyres to run, but those two stuck to their guns and finished first and second. The second race was as exciting as hell with Bradley coming through. It was sh** or bust and he got it done – just wow! With two laps to go he was way behind and you would never have had a tenner on him winning… but he did. And the final race was just brilliant. There were a couple of Kawasakis and couple of Hondas, a BMW along with the Yamahas and Ducatis. It…

Going behind the 2025 Showdown headlines TOP STORY On the track it was Bradley Ray who got the better of Kyle Ryde for the first time in a long time on Sunday, but ultimately, the 2022 champion left Oulton Park having clawed back just one point overall. The gap sits at 30 points with 105 up for grabs at the Brands Hatch finale next weekend, meaning Ryde remains firmly in the driving seat. However, whilst it’s advantage Ryde, the momentum is with Ray after he finished first and second on a Sunday afternoon once again affected by changeable weather. In typical British Superbike fashion, multiple obstacles affected both riders across the weekend. Ray on the rise Ray fought from 14th on the grid to take victory in an eight-lap race…