Table of contents for 15 March 2023 in MCN

‘Great looking, fun, and with just the right amount of character’ THREE BRITISH ICONS DO LONDON TO BRIGHTON ON TEST Reliving the glory days of Brit bikes When is a British bike not a British bike? Well, that's a rather good question… All three of these beauties were designed and developed in Blightly, but if we bring company ownership or production location into the mix, the story gets more complicated. But when you're thudding down a twisty B-road on a sunny Sunday in the midst of summer, you won't give such distractions a moment's thought. We take three reborn icons from the Ace Cafe to Brighton's seafront to see which gives the best vaLue for your modern money. PAGE 31 ON TEST Honda Transalp climbs mountain It's all too easy…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘FIM chief is right on aero’ FIM President Jorge Viegas’ view on aerodynamics (MCN, March 1) where he stated that he is against them got me thinking. Do we need wings and things on a street bike in the real world? In my opinion they are expensive and potentially dangerous for other road users. It made me remember the time when I had a car with a wing on the boot. (No, I didn't fit it). It served no purpose, made the boot a bit heavier to open and the only use was as a scratching post for my cats. I think the ‘trays’ that have been fitted to motorbikes are ugly and we don't need them. Graeme Martin, Kent STAR LETTER Write something that spikes…

March 18 Triumph Woburn classics day Proving popular throughout the year, the Triumph dealership in Woburn is hosting its monthly classic car and bike day. www.facebook.com/PureTriumphWoburn March 19 No Limits trackday This Sunday, Donington Park is hosting a standard trackday. You can blow away the winter cobwebs from £179 per person. The day has a maximum of 98dB. www.nolimitstrackdays.com March 19 Run What Ya Brung Take on the quarter-mile dragstrip with your own set of wheels this weekend at Santa Pod, Northamptonshire, santapod.co.uk…

SATURDAY March 18 5pm, BTS2, FIM X-Trial World Championship Austria. Highlights SUNDAY March 19 2am, QUEST, World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides: The Australian Badlands-Part 1 MONDAY March 20 6am, BTS2, MotoGP Highlights from Qatar 2022 8am, EUR2, Motocross World Championship from Argentina: MX2 Race 1. MX2 Race 2 at 9am 4pm, BTS2, MotoGP Highlights from Portugal 2022 TUESDAY March 21 8am, EUR2, Motocross World Championship from Argentina: MXGP Race 1. Race 2 at 9am KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT-DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC - DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD - DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS - EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD)-EUROSPORT1 (2, HD) MOT - MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 - CHANNEL4 CH5-CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI - BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN-ESP N CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST-DISCOVERY TURBO SHEDDISCOVERY SHED INST-INSIGHT SS1 (2.30R X)-SKY SP0RTS1(2,30R EXTRA) QUEST BTS1-BT SPORT1 BTS2-BT…

THE MCN TEST £6800* BSA Gold Star • 652cc liquid-cooled single DOHC 4v • 44.4bhp @ 6500rpm • 213kg kerb weight • £107.28 a month on PCP £16,499** Norton Commando 961 SP • 961cc air-cooled parallel twin pushrod 4v • 75.7bhp @ 7250rpm • 230kg kerb weight • PCP not currently available £9595*** Triumph Bonneville T100 • 900cc liquid-cooled parallel twin SOHC 8v • 64.1bhp @ 7400rpm • 228kg kerb weight • £127.29 a month on PCP Right now, if you want to ride a British bike, you are spoiled for choice. Obviously we have to use the term ‘British’ with a slight pinch of salt as a fair few actually come with a degree of overseas intervention. Nonetheless, if you want to buy a new Triumph, Norton, BSA, Royal…

‘Updates are small’ The R1250R is a really good bike that delivers a high level of tech, performance and comfort. Although lacking in wind protection it still makes fora good tourer but generally is far more suited to shorter A- and B-road jaunts. Although hard to fault, the updates for 2023 are incredibly small and that makes you question if buying a cheaper ex-demo or Low-mileage used 2022 model would make more financial sense. THE FACTS £12,330 (£14,580 SE £19,285 as tested) BMW R1250R SE…

It's not just the ravages of winter that are responsible for binding brake calipers. Anyone's who's ever had to recommission a bike that has been derelict will know how the calipers are often in a diabolical state, especially if the bike's been left outside and exposed to the elements. In this situation, corrosion will have caused much more damage that can be dealt with at home. For example, if the pistons are so knackered that the hard chrome has started to flake off or the outside surface of the caliper has gone all fuzzy, you probably need to opt for a full refurb. Luckily there are a couple of specialist companies out there that'll do a brilliant job of refurbishing calipers with new seals, pistons and will refresh the body…

‘We j ust want to go out and race’ Things are looking a lot more positive, but the whole road race situation still feels delicate. If you look in the support classes at BSB there are a load of good, young Northern Irish racers who are choosing not to go down the road of road racing. Even riders that have had the opportunity to go road racing aren't taking it, so if we did end up in a situation where some of the smaller road races didn't happen, what chance have we got of getting them into the roads? It's hard to find sponsors and support and if there aren't even local events it's going to be very difficult. But let's cut to the chase; there's something wrong isn't there?,…

Ryan Vickers’ test started just as positive as OMG Racing teammate Kyle Ryde's (see right) but came to a premature halt due to injuries sustained in a day one crash. Vickers went down at turn 14 after touching a white line and dipping a bit of the kerb. He lost the front of his R1, only for it to suddenly re-grip and throw him over the front. Whilst he continued to test, and improve his lap-time, Vickers woke up the following day with a bruised wrist and swollen knee. ‘We went a lot faster without even trying’ “I tried sitting on the bike this morning and I couldn't even get my foot to the foot pegs,” Vickers said. Despite the setback, Vickers has been adapting well to the R1 during…

A terrifying video of an explosion caused by a charging motorbike lithium-ion battery in a home in Halifax, has been released by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The incident happened on February 24 and shows a man descending the stairs to popping sounds at around lam. According to the fire brigade this noise is created by batteries failing due to ‘thermal runaway’ - the production of too much heat while on charge. The video has been released with the approval of the home owner as a way to educate the public to the dangers of charging lithium-ion batteries indoors.…

Oxford Exhaust Heat Shields £19.99 Protect your clothing and kit from hot exhausts with these heat shields. Manufactured from stainless steel, they're available in four different designs-sport, street, scrambler and café, damps to fit pipes from 4560cm diameter are included. www.oxfordproducts.com Schuberth E2 Adventure Touring Helmet from £569.99 This all-new flip front has been wind tunnel tested for aerodynamics and acoustics, boasts dual. homologation and is certified to the new ECE 22.06 standard. www.bikerheadz.co.uk WeiserTechnik Turn Signals for BMW from £239 Designed and manufactured in the UK, these multifunction indictors are available for BMWs from 1969 to 2023, CLaimed ten times brighter than OEM, they can be configured to operate as brake, tail, turn and dipped or main beam running lights. www.weisertechnik.co.uk Touratech Guardo Rambler GTX £151.90 These three-season touring…

‘The price will create a buzz’ The other week I tested the new CB750 Hornet, which I have to say was far more spirited than I expected. It's affordable too-at £6999 I'm certain they will sell like hot cakes. But is it really a Hornet? I've ridden my fair share of the older Hornet models and they all have their own unique character. And that character revolves around a buzzy inline four engine that loves to be revved, which is a complete contrast to the new model's smooth and punchy parallel twin. Does it really matter that Honda have decided to completely swap the motor's configuration and also the bike's inherent character? Not really, and to be fair to Honda, at least the name doesn't refer to the engine -…

Q ‘Should I take the loan bike?’ I recently left hospital following an accident with a car and have received a call from a company offering a replacement bike while mine is being repaired. I'm still recovering, so I am not sure I could even ride at this moment in time. What should I do? Mel, email A When considering whether to accept any replacement hire vehicle it is important to know whether it is on a ‘courtesy’ or ‘credit hire’ basis. If the former then it is relatively straightforward as the vehicle is Llikely being paid through your insurance and not arranged through a separate company. If the latter, you need to be careful. Credit hire is the supply of a like-for-like vehicle on a credit basis, which means…

00500 ‘A couple of days in the Lakes’ JON HARRIS A fab couple of days riding around the Lake District with friends covering a couple of hundred miles. 01800 ‘Out in Gloucestershire’ MICHAEL BROWN Riding with my daughter Olivia. We went from her home in Bristol to Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm Shop. ‘Riding to Africa’ ATTILA WINSTANLEY Day 6 of my trip and I fell off the bike! Nothing dramatic, fell off whilst doing an off-road manoeuvre. 01900 02050 ‘Irish Photo Rally’ SEAN COLLARD A day out in the sunny south east taking pictures for the Irish Photo Rally. Yes, we do get sun occasionally! 03206 ‘Tackling Gran Canaria’ PAUL ROBINSON February was epic! I did 701 miles on Gran Canaria with Canary Motorcycle Tours. The perfect winter break!…

Since making their Mountain Course debut in 2009, Ben and Tom Birchall have revolutionised sidecar racing at the Isle of Man. The Mansfield brothers have won 12 three-wheeler TT races and were the first crew to lap the fabled 37 ¾ miles at 117, 118 and 119mph. Younger Birchall, Tom, is now the most successful TT sidecar passenger in history. Meanwhile, only 17-times winner Dave Molyneux has more TT victories under his belt than big brother Ben. And the sibling racing duo are primed for even greater things this year. “We are on our way to Spain for some testing,” Ben explains to MCN, as the duo prepare for a return to the world sidecar series where they were champions in 2009, 2016, 2017 and 2018. “Having won the British…

TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT 3750 miles ON TEST Heat, glorious heat. In the depths of winter, it's impossible to overstate how welcome the enveolping warmth emanating from this jacket really is. Every ride, whether a 20-minute commute or a 500-mile day is transformed by the simpLe action of plugging in and setting the degree of toastiness desired. This gear from Keis (say Kice) is the hottest in their range, delivering a claimed 25% more output than their J501RP from a full-sleeved fleece-like jacket designed to be worn beneath normal kit. While you can use their most powerful battery packs for a wireless solution, I use the battery connection loom, and plug-in to the bike. This means no range anxiety, no recharging, and a limitless supply…

Daytona Roadster GTX boots £449.99 When I got these boots, they were £350 a pair While I was instantly imoressed by their comfort, build quality and waterproofing, I quietly thought the price was a bit steep. Fast forward 12 years and, even with the £100 price rise, I now know that as well as being exceptional boots, they're exceptional value. I do a lot of miles but at least half the time, I wear these Daytonas. They have great feel and are unfailingly comfortable. They have a tough toe-box, a solid shin plate and an adjustable leather upper with two zips. Being Gore-Tex, they've always kept my feet dry. Even after all these miles, they have loads of life left in them too. Quality Value www.bikerheadz.co.uk 150k miles ON TEST…

You can't beat the old-school rasp of a two-stroke engine, even on a 20-year-old Vespa PX125 scooter, but they can nip up without too much warning, which is why this one ended up at Mo-Tech Motorcycles and Scooters in Newcastle. Mo-Tech boss Paul Hamilton said: “When we took it into the workshop the owner mentioned that he thought it had ‘a bit of a gearbox oil leak’ too. Although the engine itself was clean and dry.” The gearbox in a two-stroke is separate from the piston and conrod, and when the piston and bore didn't show any signs of a seizure, Paul dug deeper and split the cases to get at the gearbox to find the main shaft bearing cage had failed and dropped in between the gear teeth, causing…

Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin were left with big smiles on their faces after getting their hands on the new 2023 PBM Ducati V4 R at Navarra. Both were making their official debuts with the eighttime BSB champions following their respective moves from Oxford Products Ducati and Honda Racing UK, and both finished inside the top five. “I'm being able to ride with plenty of ease, Bridewell told MCN. “I don't feel like I'm having to stress, or that I'm having to override or manhandle the bike to make the lap-time. I'm just riding well within myself to just try and understand the bike. “I didn't want to set the bike up for here, I wanted to work on the weaknesses and positives and understand them. Leaving here it was…

Danny Kent got Life as a Honda-powered rider off to a positive start in Spain as he ended the same three-circuit test programme undertaken by Irwin. Kent heads into 2023 in search of an injury-free campaign, and he enters the year with a new team having joined forces with personal, sponsor, L&P LoveLL. Like Kent, the team around him has spent the Last two seasons working on a Suzuki. “I'm quite an adaptive rider. You jump on a Honda you try to find the strengths and weaknesses of that, and try to adapt to it. My first initial. feeling based on the three tests is that it's much easier to be consistent on the Honda, and the lap-times are coming much easier compared to the Suzuki.” The lap-times are coming…

Triumph's 2023 test ride fleet will visiting dealerships in a nationwide tour between March 18 and July 29 and will feature their limited-run Chrome Edition modeLs. The tour will be visiting 15 deaLers starting with Destination Triumph Dorset this Saturday. Riders can sign up to one of six riding sessions taking place throughout each day at each location. To book yourself a test ride place, visit www.triumphontour.co.uk today. Buells go to Barber Swedish Buell Specialist NCCR have announced a project to donate three EBR 1190 race bikes to the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum with a raffLe to win a 2013 race-ready bike. The Splitlath Racing EBR 1190RS #93 - was raced from 2013 at the Isle of Man TT, and Macau Grand Prix and is one of 100 items being…

Back in January 2019, two charismatic Geordie bike racers Chrissy Rouse and Dominic Herbertson sat down to record the first episode of their Chasin’ The Racin’ podcast. It was to be a new show providing fans of the sport an inside line into all facets of racing, with Chrissy set to compete in that year's British Superstock 1000 Championship, and Dom lining up for another year on the roads of Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. “We were a couple of Geordie gibbering gobsh***s with no media training at all,” Dominic reminisced. “I'm a road racer, and he was doing Superstock 1000 and we were like ‘what are we doing?’ “We were living at each other's houses and meeting up every week and we were ringing each other all…

SAVE £2462 £25,995 H-D FLHXS Street Glide Special The Street Glide bagger range is one of Harley's best-sellers and the Vivid Black Special pumps out more power and torque from its MilwaukeeEight 45-degree V-twin than a standard Glide, as well as extended panniers, traction control, satnav, panniers, immobiliser, cruise control, crash barsand ABS. www.southamptonharley-davidson.co.uk SAVE £1004 £4995 Benelli TRK502 The Benelli is a credible attempt at an adventure bike with a rocksolid engine that's A2-compliant and cheap to buy and run. www.mandp.co.uk • Engine 499cc • Power 47bhp • Weight 235kg • Seat height 840mm SAVE £801 £8999 Yamaha MT-09 The MT-09 is fast, light, punchy and affordable and you get a MotoGP-likeshriek too. www.mottmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 889cc • Power 117bhp • Weight 189kg • Seat height 825mm SAVE £500…

The Suzuki Hayabusa is the latest bike to gain protective products from GB Racing with new secondary alternator and clutch covers added to their range. The company have also added clutch and lever guards with all products madeto FIM racing spec. Prices range from £76.28 for the lever guards to £264 for the clutch cover from www.gbracing.eu. Kawasaki on tour Kawasaki Dealer Demo Days are returning, giving riders the chance to experience the latest 2023 models and the programme is set to be the biggest yet. Beginning on April 1 at Completely Motorbikes Gloucester, the 26-date tour runs throughout the summer months and ends on September 9 at JW Groombridge Motorcycles. Booking will go live shortly, with more information available at kawasaki.co.uk. MT-10 gets luggage Motorcycle luggage manufacturer Ventura have…

THIS WEEK Retired electrical engineer Joe Cowell has developed a one-size-fitsall indicator alarm for the inevitable times we sail down the road blissfully unaware the orange bulb is blinking and is looking for investors. The Eskaz device wires straight into the indicators and a 90dB alarm, contained in a waterproof box, is attached to the handlebars or suitable mount. “It came about because I know I am forgetfuland I do forget to cancel, the indicators, as do many other people I see on the road,” said Joe. “So I put a buzzer across the indicators, which worked fine, but it is most annoying. So I thought: ‘What if I put some sort of delay on this?’. Next I set about designing my own system, which I did over a couple…

OUT AND ABOUT Start your day with a pit-stop at the Original Tea Hut in Epping Forest. Head down the hill to the roundabout taking the first exit on Epping New Road. From here you rise up and head over the top of the M25 before taking the road directly through Epping. Take the B1393, Epping Rd, to skirt round the North Weald Airfield and into Tyler's Green where you take a quick right turn to join the A414. As you reach Chipping Ongar take the first exit at the roundabout to join the B184. This is the Ongar Rd, which becomes Dunmow Rd as it reaches the village of Fyfield. Twist and turn along the wiggLy Dunmow Rd to Dunmow, through the town to the B1057. This is a…

Staying warm on a motorcycle can be challenging. You are exposed to the elements, often for long periods of time, and the faster you go, the colder wind chill makes you feel. Traditionally humans use insulation to stay warm, wrapping ourselves in layers of clothing, to trap body heat. However, this has drawbacks when motorcycling; it can be difficult to fit lots of layers under your riding kit and they can restrict movement, impacting on your comfort and safety. And wind chill often blows out any warm air trapped between the layers. Fortunately most textile bike jackets, trousers and gloves have a waterproof and windproof liner, so providing you adjust them to fit snugly, the wind shouldn't be able to creep in. For warmth without bulk, many come with thermal…

‘It's friendly but it barks’ Much of the credit for the Transalp's success is down to its gutsy new parallel, twin-cylinder engine. It wowed us in the new Hornet and is just as impressive when wrapped in adventure clothes. The Honda is a friendly, forgiving, easy-to-ride all-rounder but it'll also go like stink and bark like a ‘crosser. Despite its rugged looks, it's low, soft and manageable, handles superbly on tarmac and is happy plodding along light trails. It doesn't do a lot wrong, although it could do with cruise control. But, for the way it's finished and equipped, it's cracking value for money. THE FACTS £9499 Honda XL750 Transalp…

1500 miles ON TEST RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor Motojean Straight Blue Riding Jeans £99.99 When I first tried ‘motorcycle’ jeans about 15 years ago, I didn't like them. I found them bulky, heavy and uncomfortable. On top of that they looked awful, with awkward, poorly-fitting armour creating Lumps and bumps. These straight-cut riding jeans from Motojean have changed my mind. Not only are they as comfortable to wear on and off a bike as regular jeans (the supple LeveL 2 CE-rated armour moulds to your knees and hips as it absorbs body heat, so you barely know it's there), but they also-crucially-look Like normal jeans, instead of Kevlar pantaloons. They're also light, being single-layer denim (AA rated for abrasion), and the fit is comfortable thanks to the…

Litelok Core Moto £199 I'm a full-time worrier and the thought of some toerag making off with my pride and joy in the middle of the night sends a shiver down my spine. To ease my troubled mind, I've tested countless chains and disc locks, from tiny pocket-sized devices to hefty chains that are a real workout to muscle around the garage. The £199 Core is said to offer something in the middle, with Litelok claiming it to be up to 50% lighter than a conventional chain, with the flexibility to be portable. It's found a home on at least four bikes in our time together and can be yours in a choice of black, orange, or red-with the ability to dip them together for more length, should you need…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Unseize stoppers Free your brakes from winter's ravages with a caliper overhaul 1 Scuzzy and seized? Now's the time of the year where, if you've been using your motorcycle overwinter, you might want to look at giving your calipers a clean. If you've not been using your machine regularly, you may even find that the brakes have seized on, especially if the bike got damp the last time it was used. Fear not, there is an easy fix. BRUCE'S TIPS Before you start, order new seals and O-rings 2 Dunk and scrub Undo the caliper bolts then give the caliper a decent scrub with bike cleaner, a bucket of water and a brush. The idea is to remove the heaviest deposits of road dirt and brake dust.…

STEPHEN DAVISON INSIGHT Our man reporting from the heartof the road racing scene STOP PRESS Road racing fans and riders have this week been given a glimmer of hope as news of a fresh deal that could save Northern Ireland's bike sport - including the NW200 - has emerged. MCN reported in February how soaring public liability insurance rates in the wake of Covid and huge compensation payouts threatened to wipe out Irish motorcycle sport during 2023. The reported price hike in the premium, from £170,000 to £410,000, forced the sport's governing body in Northern Ireland, the Motorcycle Union of Ireland Ulster Centre, to declare all two-wheel sport had been cancelled for this season. But in recent days news of a much lower insurance quotation has thrown events like the…

Christian Iddon's return to the Ducati V4 R wasn't a simple one due to bike issues and then a crash. Electronic gremLins were “detrimental” on Saturday before he became quite content with his morning session on Sunday. But like severaL other riders he was caught out by a greasy circuit as temperatures increased and crashed in the afternoon. Kennedy and Barbera in the mix Jack Kennedy and Hector Barbera were both inside the top 10 during the three-day tests ahead of their respective returns to BSB. Kennedy achieved a test-best of sixth on Sunday, whilst Barbera was seventh on day one. Sadly, Kennedy's test came to a premature end when a crash caused substantial damage to his Mar-Train Yamaha R1. Rookie watch The three-day test allowed four of the six…

Reporting from pre-season BSB tests at Navarra BSB TESTS Kyle Ryde ended his Spanish test programme in style by not only being stunningly quick, but by also getting through plenty of new parts and settings. Ryde, who has previously been to Navarra in the CEV Spanish Championship, was the man to beat from the very start. Pleased with his Rl, Ryde produced a 1:37.586 on the final day and was the only rider in the 1:37s. I felt great on the bike at Andalusia, and it's rolled on to here straight away,” Ryde told MCN. “We've tried lots of things, good and bad, and came up with a good package. I'm feeling really confident at the minute so I'm trying to not go outside of the window I ‘m in…

SPORT It's a basic rule of racing: do not read too much into test times. A rule that last weekend in Portimao was blown into the weeds. The omens are writ large in the time sheets, and backed up by the riders’ words. Many of which are simply repetition: Ducati, Ducati, Ducati… They do not make comfortable listening for Honda. Take Marc's comment to the cameras: “This is the best feeling I've had all pre-season.” Talk about damning with faint praise. He went on to predict race results in the lower half of the top ten. The comments came after he had rejected the latest of a slew of new chassis, reverting to that he'd used to place 10th at the previous Sepang tests, and reeled off 147 laps over…

A week before the test, KTM Sporting Director Pit Beirer asserted his men were well on track to fuLfill lofty top-three expectations this year. “We'll be ready for the Portimao race,” he said at GASGAS Tech3's team presentation. Yet the Austrian factory still appears quite some distance off the Ducatis. After the Sepang test, riders and engineers had agreed upon the combination of engine and aero parts. The aim in Portugal, was to hone set-up and get cLoser to the front than any KTM rider managed in February. But there weren't many positives to take from Portimao. Rear grip remains the main deficiency, affecting corner entry and exit. ‘Binder was riding on the ragged edge’ “We're just missing a bit of natural, grab from the rear tyre,” explained Brad Binder.…

Clearly the best of the rest at Sepang last month, Aprilia's fortunes were slightly more complicated here. Their four riders ooked fast at certain moments across days one and two. But bosses were nervousy awaiting the results from Aleix Espargaro's medicaL checks on Monday morning after a suspected case of fibrosis in his right arm slowed the factory's testing programme down on Sunday. The factory's ‘Captain’ had to cut his test short due to the issue, which he suspected was brought on by testing new aeros on Saturday. “With the full aero configuration, the downforce was huge, the corner speed in the last corner and the climb super high,” he explained. “I have no strength on the arm, and I can do just two to three Laps and have to…

12 0 Japanese bikes inside the top 12 13TH Best-placed Honda rider (Mir) Riders beat the existing lap record of 1:38.725. 1 Rider in the 1:37s (Bagnaia) 2 12-Lap Sprint simulations by Bagnaia 1:37:968 Fastest Lap (Bagnaia) 1:39:435 2022 Race Lap Record (Fabio Quartararo) 9 Laps under the race record during Bagnaia's first 12-lap sprint race simulation 6 Laps under the race record during Bagnaia's second 12-lap sprint race simulation 184 Most laps Morbidelli Fewest laps A Espargaro 112 0.812s Gap between Bagnaia and Marc Marquez…

SPORT It's not looking like Ducati will have to wait another 15 years before winning another MotoGP title. Reigning World Champion Pecco Bagnaia signed off pre-season testing in Portimao last weekend with a recordbusting performance to show why he and Ducati will take some shifting from top spot in 2023. Ducati's first World Champion since Aussie legend Casey Stoner in 2007, Bagnaia showed precisely why his stunningly effective GP23 will sport the number one plate when the season kicks off later this month. The first ever 1.37 lap of Portugal's rollercoaster Algarve International Circuit was some statement of intent from Bagnaia. His inspired fastest lap of 1.37.968 trampled the opposition, with only Ducati stablemate Johann Zarco able to get within 0.3s of Bagnaia's frightening one-lap speed. But it's not just…

‘We're quite happy…’ Ducati boss Paolo Ciabatti emerged as an early contender to win the understatement of the year award in 2023 in Portimao. “We are quite happy,” said the Bologna factory's Sporting Director, when asked about another Ducati romp in the final pre-season showdown in Portugal. Ducati are oddson favourites to win a fourth consecutive constructor prize in 2023 and Pecco Bagnaia is the bookies tip to become the first Ducati rider in history to retain a MotoGP title. And Ciabatti added: “Pecco has been super-fast, and all the Ducati riders are extremely comfortable. Both the 2022 and 2023 are super competitive.”…