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100 Articles

7 DAYS IN 60 SECONDS

MOTOGP 2025 IS GO! Get set for the new season! • Exclusive: Martin on 2025 • Marc vs Pecco: the rivalry • Mat Oxley talks GP tech WIN A Suzuki GSX-8R simply by getting a quote at www.mcncompare.com DEEP DIVE Buzz or bluster? Honda's kept us on tenterhooks since revealing their new CB1000 Hornet SP in late 2024. The intrigue was upped when they finally announced the price… £9999 for the Öhlins-clad, 155bhp supernaked. The bike impressed on its world launch in sunny Spain… but, how does it fare on the wet, potholed roads of the UK? We put it to the test on dyno and drag strip to bring you the definitive verdict. PAGE 33 FIRST RIDE Supersport steal! Supersport sportsbikes are well and truly back, and there's now…

7 DAYS IN 60 SECONDS

'Don't wait for tomorrow to get your kicks'

Well, there's one thing I can cross off the bucket list – and not in a good way. With the news this week (page 5) that motorcycles are now banned from the Nürburgring's famous Touristenfahrten sessions, it's a sad day for anyone who's not yet had the chance to experience the 12.9 miles of 'Green Hell' for themselves, as well for those who make an annual pilgrimage as part of a touring trip. The days of turning up to the legendary circuit, buying a ticket, and enjoying the freedom of a lap are now consigned to the history books. The circuit operators say bikes have been banned for safety reasons and I can swallow this reason given that every story I've heard from riders who've ridden the 'Ring involves some…

'Don't wait for tomorrow to get your kicks'

Blood Bike rescued

A stolen blood bike has been recovered in just one day after an appeal by SERV OBN Blood Bikes. The charity, who operate across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Northants, reported the theft of the BMW R1250RT, named 'Margo McCaffery', on February 19 via Facebook. The post was shared over 13,000 times and the bike was tracked down after public help. Catch Henry live across the UK Henry Cole's 2025 Theatre Tour kicks off in Swindon on March 8, before heading to Southend on the 11th and Newark on the 13th, wrapping up in Chatham on November 18. Hosted by Steve Parrish, each show explores Cole's passion for all things two- and four-wheeled. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, unseen photos and post show meet-and-greets. Visit henrycole.tv for tickets. KTM double warranty period KTM…

Blood Bike rescued

Net zero: what is happening?

TOP STORY Representatives from the UK motorcycle industry are once again urging ministers to deliver a clearer roadmap to decarbonisation, as well as consider an open-source approach to the future of two-wheels. Bosses from a number of leading manufacturers met politicians and key industry experts at the annual MCIA (Motorcycle Industry Association) Industry Conference in London on February 18. The day-long event, which featured speakers from both sides of the House of Commons, covered a number of topics – including the need for more details on plans for decarbonisation in order to allow brands to prepare for life after conventional combustion. “After years of discussion, and formal consultations with Government, it looked like 2024 would be the year where we would get commitments we needed to plan further ahead and…

Net zero: what is happening?

Ring restriction

Motorcyclists planning to take a lap of the world-famous Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany in 2025 have been restricted to just five days all year, all under the supervision of trained guides. Announced as part of a safety restructure at the challenging 12.9-mile track, the move does away with shared sessions between bikes and cars and could have a knock-on impact to tourism – with the venue being a popular destination on European motorcycle tours. “The safety of all participants is our top priority,” Nürburgring Managing Director, Ingo Böder said. “We have taken a very close look at the situation regarding the simultaneous participation of cars and motorcycles in tourist trips. 'Safety of all participants is our top priority' “Motorcyclists are particularly at risk because, unlike car drivers, they have…

Ring restriction

It's a real shame that bikes can't access the public sessions, because that was the magic of the Nürburgring: you got the freedom to experience one of the best tracks in the world whenever you wanted. But this was always going to happen – they've cut down on bikes before, particularly when it was very busy. Anytime a bike crashes they have to stop the session to clear the bike up, whereas cars are a lot easier to sort out. I've got a lot of good memories there; I went there first in 2000 and I've done a pilgrimage every Easter with my friends, and my final lap was last year with my girlfriend as pillion. So that bookends my Nürburgring career.…

Expect more hit singles

Triumph's single-cylinder Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X have proved massively popular since their first official reveal in mid 2023. An accessible blend of thudding character, heritage looks, and a sub-£6000 price, they have been consistent sellers for the Hinckley brand and are built in partnership with Indian firm Bajaj Auto. Now it looks as if two more machines are coming to market, again powered by the firm's A2-friendly 398cc single-cylinder engine – with these spyshots appearing to show both a café racer and more rugged retro variant. Despite their heritage appeal, both models were photographed being ridden on a racetrack in warmer climes – spinning laps as part of their ongoing development process. This is not the first time we've seen a glimpse of the café racer model either,…

Expect more hit singles

FTR packs its baggers

Indian's flattrack-inspired FTR range has come to an end, with the focus now revolving around the tourer, bagger, and cruiser markets. Launched for 2019 with a 19in front and 18in rear tyre, before moving to road-friendly 17in rims as of 2021, the 1203cc FTR family has seen multiple variants come and go – with the bike bridging the gap between a retro and a muscley roadster. “The FTR was an important step in our brand's history,” Indian Vice President, Aaron Jax told MCN. In late January, the firm announced an expansion of their water-cooled PowerPlus family, upping its capacity to 1834cc, and moving both the Chieftain and Roadmaster over from their air-cooled 1890cc Thunderstroke platform. Indian have also upped their commitment to King of the Baggers racing for 2025, drafting…

FTR packs its baggers

DEALS OF THE WEEK

SAVE £12,001 £31,999 Norton V4SV Norton's high-end V4SV isn't the sharpest superbike available, but anything it lacks in outright performance, it more than makes up for in terms of sheer bling factor and exclusivity. This one isn't quite brand spankers, having covered a very modest 250 miles, but with more than 12 grand off, it's got to be worth considering. motorcycles.juddracing.com SAVE £3900 £14,495 Kawasaki H2 SX Kawasaki's blown hyper tourer mixes effortless grunt, all-day comfort and unflappable stability to create an incredible mile-muncher. www.cobbandjagger.co.uk • Engine 998cc • Power 197bhp • Weight 260kg • Seat height 835mm SAVE £2200 £9899 Kawasaki Z900RS Kawasaki's retro-roadster is more than just a pretty face. The RS mixes competitive performance with excellent attention to detail. www.shirlaws.com • Engine 948cc • Power 109bhp •…

DEALS OF THE WEEK

Spec-up your GSX-8

Akrapovič have launched a new two-into-one road-legal full exhaust system for the Suzuki GSX-8S naked, and GSX-8R sportsbike. Both models use the firm's 776cc parallel twin, producing a claimed 82bhp as standard. The new exhaust is available to pre-order through Performance Parts Limited and will cost a hefty £1310. For that money, the unit is said to be plug and play without need for mapping, with a claimed power increase of 2.5bhp at 9500rpm, and an extra 1.03lb.ft of torque at 5500rpm. Weight is also down by 2.2kg. Sub-£3k scoots Piaggio have confirmed that the recently updated Liberty range is ready to hit dealers, with prices starting at £2665. Available as a four-stroke 50 or 125, updates include a five-inch colour display, LED headlight, and new handlebar layout to increase…

Spec-up your GSX-8

Fuelling the past

Historic automotive and aviation centre, Brooklands Museum, have successfully trialled sustainable fuel in a batch of their vintage motorcycles – further underpinning the energy source's potential. The test, backed by fuel supplier Sustain, saw six vintage bikes take to the track on bio-based petrol made largely from waste feedstocks. All ran faultlessly, with no mechanical changes needed. Sustain say that while combustion is often seen as the problem, in reality, the issue lies with fossil-based petrol consumption, arguing that traditional motors will be around for decades to come, and that they may be a better, and more environmentally friendly solution than electrification. The firm suggest that their products – along with other renewable alternatives – largely offset tailpipe emissions by capturing carbon during the production process. “Sustainable fuel provides the…

Fuelling the past

Attack of the clones

The Metropolitan Police are battling vehicle cloning while urging motorcyclists to be aware of the threat when buying used. Cloning occurs when a legitimate number plate is used on another vehicle to hide the fact that it's not road legal, stolen, or to misrepresent its engine size. To highlight the issue, the Met took a cloned Vespa scooter to the recent Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show. Small to mid-sized bikes and scooters are prime targets due to often having shared components across capacity brackets. This allows criminals to pass off higher-powered machines as 50-125cc models able to be ridden on L-plates, while actually operating machines beyond their qualification – simply by swapping in a different plate. “It's mainly inexperienced people riding these on provisional licences – someone who doesn't…

Attack of the clones

Alice wins the Pinhard

Trials rider Alice Minta has been awarded the prestigious Pinhard Trophy for 2024, following an outstanding year of national and international success. The 21-year-old from Telford has been riding since the age of four and has steadily worked her way to the top of the trials scene. Her standout achievements include helping Team GB secure victory at the Trial des Nations for the second consecutive year, finishing 30 marks ahead of their second-place Italian rivals. She is also the reigning Ladies Trial Champion and was the highest-placed female rider in the gruelling Scott One-Day Trial. “I am truly honoured to receive this award,” said Minta. “To not only represent Great Britain but win the Trial des Nations for two years in a row is a very special achievement.” 'Past winners…

Alice wins the Pinhard

Ducati Stoke shake-up

Ducati's dealership presence in Stoke comes under new ownership from the midpoint of 2025, bringing with it a change of premises. The new venue will continue to offer Ducati's full range of new machines, as well as test rides, used bike sales, branded apparel, accessories and servicing. Staffordshire Triumph owner Bob Sheldon will take over the enterprise, marking the local ex-miner's first foray into Ducati. “I'm incredibly excited to start this new chapter with Ducati Stoke. Ducati is an iconic brand, and I can't wait to welcome both existing and new customers,” said Sheldon. Ducati Manchester Group's Chris Booth added: “We've had great success with DMC Stoke and created wonderful memories with our clients. We're delighted to pass the baton to Bob, and confident he will enjoy the same success.”…

Ducati Stoke shake-up

Classics for a good cause

A pair of classic Moto Morini twins have sold at auction, raising £7705 for a leading UK multiple sclerosis (MS) charity. The bikes, a mostly original, unrestored 1981 500 Sport and a 1978 500 Strada recommissioned in 2021, went for £3220 and £4485, respectively at the recent Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show at the ExCel arena. The Strada has covered 13,500 miles, whereas the slightly newer Sport is showing 23,400 miles on the clock. Both are original UK models with correct frame and engine numbers, and both feature near-identical 478cc V-twin engines. The sale took place at the show on Sunday, February 16 with historic vehicle specialists Iconic Auctioneers hosting proceedings. All funds raised were donated to the MS Society charity, with Iconic waiving their fees. The cause is…

Classics for a good cause

Racing out of Africa

A custom motorcycle builder is creating a run of four air-cooled café racer retros based on the BMW R1200GS Adventure. Sean Sohrab, who owns the Original Café Racer Company based in London, created the first 'BMW GS Street Racer' following an adventure ride through Africa with Charley Boorman and later decided to create more in a limited production run. Only the final bike remains available, priced at £16,500 when based on a donor bike in good condition. Numbers of these are limited by the R1200GS becoming water-cooled since 2013. “I've been customising café racer bikes for 20 years or more, and in 2018 I went on a trip with Charley Boorman in Africa,” Sohrab explained. “I was riding a GS at the time, and when you're travelling through the desert…

Racing out of Africa

'Brand-new boxed Blade bought' I read with disbelief about a crated zero-mile 2005 CBR1000RR Fireblade in Repsol paint that was in the auction at the Devitt Insurance MCN London Show. It had a guide price of £10,000 to £15,000, which, in my book, is utter madness. I simply don't understand why anyone would want to buy this bike – or any zero-mile bike for that matter. You can't do anything with it aside from sit there and look at it, in which case you may as well buy a used one and disconnect the battery so no one can read its odometer. As soon as you start a zero-mile bike you have destroyed its value – and even if you do fire it up, the chances are its engine will…

THE FIGHT AGAINST FAKE BIKE KIT

Just how do you test kit? The testing process is a mystery to many riders – and that includes not only consumers, but some manufactures too! So, what is actually involved? First, the manufacturer must decide which of the 35 approved testing and certification bodies they wish to work with, based on costs and lead times. Next, they submit samples for assessment. This will be at least one complete garment, one pair in each size of gloves, and three different sizes of boots. In addition, representative samples (swatches) of materials and constructions are submitted, and it is these that are physically tested. Chemical innocuousness test evidence is also required, to ensure compounds that can be harmful to health are absent. Nickel, which can be found in metal components, can cause…

THE FIGHT AGAINST FAKE BIKE KIT

THIS WEEK'S HOT DEALS Arai Quantic Space £419.99 Go on, why not treat yourself? Not only does a motorcycle helmet protect your brainbox in the event of an accident, it also makes travelling at speed a far more enjoyable experience, providing you with a cosseted control room from which to focus on your ride. It's something you should think about replacing on a regular basis, because from the moment you take a lid out of the box it begins to degrade, with sweat, road grime and UV rays all conspiring to reduce its lifespan. Keeping your head both comfortable and safe is the ideal combo, so to help you stay on your game we've bagged a flurry of deals on full-face helmets. Arai's Quantic was one of the first certified…

NEW KIT JUST IN

Ruroc Eox Cyberstrike £459 One of four new colourways for the range-topping EOX helmet, this über-bright design is typical of Ruroc's unique approach to standing out from the crowd. An array of mirrored visors is also available to complement or contrast the bold look. ruroc.com Sidi Orion GTX £299.99 A triple-layer Gore-Tex membrane gives this all-new touring boot the highest level of waterproofing and breathability, so your feet should stay dry come rain or shine. Upper construction is microfibre, with extensive reinforcements for protection. sidiselect.co.uk Zerofit IceSkin Baselayer £59.95 Engineered to keep you cool and comfortable in up to 40°C heat, the IceSkin baselayer is the latest in Zerofit's range of body temperature regulating gear. The technical fabric absorbs and disperses moisture to create a cooling effect. zerofit.co.uk ASV Levers…

NEW KIT JUST IN

Treading carefully

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH Tyres might not be the most distinctive component of any bike but they're the subject of a vast amount of research and development as manufacturers search for the ideal mix of compound, construction and cosmetic configuration. In the heat of competition choice of rubber can be the difference between first and last – and the challenge of creating an off-road tyre is made even more complex by the varying terrain/traction levels the rubber needs to deal with. Pirelli's new Scorpion MX32 Mid Soft, introduced for 2025, carries over the name from its predecessor but represents a substantial step forward and its racing debut in the Italian championship saw immediate success. As the name suggests, the Mid Soft is aimed at medium to soft terrain (there are…

Treading carefully

NASA-tech for your backpack

Motorcycle backpack experts Kriega have partnered with British armour company Rheon to create a flexible new slot-in back protector. The £55 Back Protector Insert achieves a CE Level 2 rating, weighs 300g, and comes finished in a rectangular shape to slot into a designated pouch in every current Kriega rucksack, barring the £125 Hydro-2 hydration bag. Some older Kriega products may also be compatible, with the armour measuring 15.5cm across in width. The material itself was initially developed by motocross fan Dr Daniel Plant while working on a NASA space shuttle project looking into replacing the use of foam on the vehicle. He then spent the next 15 years working on the idea at Imperial College, London, before branching out to form the Battersea-based company. It's a non-Newtonian material, meaning…

NASA-tech for your backpack

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews 'Do meet your heroes! They always say never meet your heroes… This pic goes back to TT 2024 when I bought this plate with '26 wins' on it. Always remember sitting with my wife, looking at it, and saying to her: “He's going to smash the record and I'm going to get him to correct the wins and sign it.” We were sitting at a café overlooking the bay and the nosey guy on the next table butted in: “Yeah, 'course you are mate.” Well, he can eat his words because I bumped into Michael Dunlop at Billown and he was more than happy to strike a line through '26 wins' and put '29'. Top bloke. Andy Tomlinson, email MCN has teamed up with Zerofit –…

Q 'Lawyer needs to U-turn' Back in October I was riding to work outside Newport. I approached a queue of slow-moving traffic, so decided to filter past on the right. I was riding at about 30mph and the limit for the road was 60mph. There were no junctions at the collision point. After I passed some cars one pulled across my path to do a U-turn in front of me with no indication, causing a collision. My lawyer tells me I should accept a 50/50 liability offer. Is this right? Ryan Evans, Cardiff A Each case turns on its own facts and I would need to see the police report, any witness statements and any video/cctv footage to give you meaningful advice. However, your case is aligned to the situation…

YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST BIKE

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Here's my first bike. It's taken me on lots of adventures around Wales and up into Yorkshire. Paul Nightingale…

YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST BIKE

THE FACTS 'Corner speed makes it a real smile machine' Just weeks after one lucky MCN winner picked up the keys to their brand new motorcycle, we're about to make dreams come true once again. This time you've got the chance to win our reigning Sportsbike of the Year, the Suzuki GSX-8R, simply by ticking a box when you get a bike insurance quote with us. It's as simple as that – just head to MCNCompare.com to be in with a shot. Not only will you be smug in the knowledge you've found a great deal on your insurance, but you'll also enjoy the tantalising prospect of potentially becoming the owner of this sensational parallel-twin performance bike. A worthy winner Want to know why we named the GSX-8R our Sportsbike…

'If I ran the Nemesis with the side cover off, it'd blow the whole engine up!' The Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show was brilliant, I really enjoyed the whole weekend and it was wonderful to chat with so many of you. Plus, I'm so pleased with how the Nemesis performed. It started on the button every time, revved up nicely to 8000rpm, and there were no leaks or oil smoke either. In the eight start-ups I did at the show, the fuel level in the tank only dropped by half an inch, which is a massive improvement over when I ran it at the National Motorcycle Museum back in October, where it used a whole tank of fuel in two days! I also figured out why it was burning…

'NO EXCUSE FOR MOT FAIL'

The Pan European's been for its MoT. I gave it its pre-test check over and a good clean, because I think it's rude taking a dirty bike for an MoT. It passed. I've been going to the same MoT station, Des Helyer Motorcycles in Tadley, since 1977! In fact, the current tester was a child when I first went in there, and he's now grown up and taken over the business. I don't think I've ever had a bike fail – my dad used to say there's no excuse for failing an MoT as your bike should be in good condition at all times, otherwise it's not safe to ride. If I see a bit of rust on one of the brake nipples, I'll clean it off before an MoT…

'NO EXCUSE FOR MOT FAIL'

'We've got proper sausage!'

Ride further in 2025 with a little help from our one-stop event guide JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS • Mon-Sun 9am-4pm • www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places/orton-scar-cafe/ • Orton Rd, Penrith, CA10 3RQ If you're out between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, then Orton Scar Café makes the perfect place to revel in the marvellous countryside. “We've got a lovely location, says owner Kate Parsley. “It's on the way to Appleby so it's the perfect stop for bikers.” The café was originally a deli where Kate worked, but when she took over 11 years ago, she transformed it into the biker-friendly venue it is today. To entice new customers – mainly bikers – through her front doors, Kate had a brainwave. “When I first opened,…

'We've got proper sausage!'

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Maka Jerycho / Alchemoto / Cheshire adventure / Leon / Butcher The ride Attempted winter camp Glen Lyon How many miles? 850 Tell us about the trip… A winter camp would have seen us head to the Moffat area and camp around St Mary's Loch on Friday evening, then on to Glen Lyon valley on Saturday wild camping along the enclosed Glen area. However, on the morning of the trip Storm Eowyn hit with 100mph winds. We had booked time off work, prepped our bikes and readied our camping equipment, so decided we would brave the storm but slowly follow its path from the tail, rather than ride directly into it. As we got to the England/Scotland border we came across the devastation the…

1 March 1-3 Crunchy Sleeping Bag Rally The BMF (British Motorcycle Federation) are hosting their annual 'back to basics' rally at The Heneage Arms in Lincolnshire (LN8 6LX). More like a traditional rally, there's food, a bar, music and toilets – but no showers. Tickets can be bought in advance, £20 for members, or £23 for non-members. www.bmf.co.uk 2 March 2 Santa Pod Run What Ya Brung The famous quarter-mile is back in operation after its winter hiatus. This Sunday it's back with a Run What Ya Brung so you can test to see what your two-wheeler can do. Prebooking is a must, and it only costs £66 all in. santapod.co.uk 3 March 1 Rufforth Autojumble It's the first Saturday of the month and spring is just around the corner…

MILEAGE HUNTERS

'London calling' DAVID NEALE A little jaunt into London, along with other military veterans and their supporters. This was on February 5 for Op-Endex 2. 'Up the mount' IAN SPEIGHT Four of us rode up to Oliver's Mount cafe, Scarborough the other day. It was cold but dry and thoroughly enjoyable. 'Asian adventure' MARK MCGUINNESS Riding in Rajasthan and this was taken in Nawalgarh as we headed west towards Pakistan. 'Taming the dragon' CHRIS HILL Started the year with a new engine in my C90 and attending the Dragon Rally. It's all about the journey and the company! 'Scoot over' ALISON SILCOX 2025 has been made up of commutes and a trip to London. I wrapped up and swapped the car for the Forza. 'Anyone home?' STEPHEN LEE Shortish 100…

MILEAGE HUNTERS

Supersport thrills for just £6699

CFMoto's new 675SR-R costs just £6699. That's a bargain for an inline three-cylinder, 675cc supersport weapon with rider aids, aero, quality chassis parts and a raucous engine note befitting of a Triumph Daytona 675 or MV Agusta F3 675. It also has a four-year warranty, a year's roadside assistance and a further free year when you get your 675SR-R serviced regularly at a CFMoto dealership. That can carry on for another eight years. The Chinese-built machine is due to arrive on these shores in the summer, but in the meantime we've been given the chance to test it at its world launch, at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. The real deal There's nothing about it that feels cheap, or indeed Chinese. It's no secret that some Chinese-built bikes we've tested…

Supersport thrills for just £6699

The 675SR-R is powered by a 675cc inline triple. It's CFMoto's first three-cylinder engine – and it fits neatly in a sportsbike line-up that includes the single-cylinder 250SR and 300SR, parallel twin 450SR, and a funky inline four-cylinder 500 called the Voom, which we don't get here but looks like an MV Agusta Super Veloce. They also unveiled a 1000cc V4 superbike engine at last year's EICMA show, but details as to what it'll go in have not been announced. Also used in the 675NK naked, the SR-R's inline triple makes 87bhp at 11,000rpm and 50lb.ft @ 8250rpm in Euro5+ trim. Non-Euro versions that don't need to adhere to such tight emission controls benefit from juicier engine mapping and make slightly more power and torque (93bhp and 52lb.ft). CFMoto claim…

'It will shine on UK roads'

The 675 SR-R is an exciting, fully loaded, hugely capable supersports weapon that costs peanuts compared to its rivals. Riding it will change your view of Chinese-made bikes. Handling is its strong point, with front-end feel that any mainstream sportsbike would be proud of. It may not have huge power, but it makes all the right noises, spins up quickly and grunts cleanly. It has more than enough power to put a smile on your face, whether you're an experienced rider or stepping up from an A2 licence. It's forgiving, easy to ride and never feels lost on a big circuit like Portimao but will shine on UK tracks and the road. It has a few quirks, but none are enough to spoil your day. THE FACTS £6699 CFMoto 675SR-R…

'It will shine on UK roads'

Creating a buzz

£9999 Honda CB1000 Hornet SP • 1000cc l/c DOHC 16v inline-four • 155bhp @ 11,000rpm (144.6bhp @ 11,100rpm tested) • 79lb.ft @ 9000rpm (74.7lb.ft @ 8600rpm tested) • 212kg wet (214kg tested) Honda seem to have struggled when it comes to building a successful big-capacity naked. When they entered the class in 2001 with the CB900F Hornet, they left buyers cold. Upping the game, the quirkily styled 2008 CB1000R should have fared better, but its overly-smooth engine didn't appeal to those wanting a naked bike thrill. And even when the CB1000R received a café racer look in 2018, sales never took off. But the signs are much more promising for 2025. The all-new CB1000 Hornet has just landed in the UK, alongside its higher-spec sibling, the CB1000 Hornet SP. On…

Creating a buzz

'It's not very comfortable but it is fun'

“The Hornet's tail is small and thin, making getting on the back simple because there are no panniers to negotiate. It also feels pleasingly low so there is no need to stand on the pillion peg – you can just swing a leg over and climb on, much like a sportsbike. And that's not the only similarity to a sportsbike. “On the back the pegs are high and the seat tiny and very firm, it's 100% a sportsbike's pillion seat and not very comfortable at all. Despite the seat strap, there is basically nothing to hold onto so you are cuddling the rider and that can put extra strain on their arms and back as well as your thighs. It's good because you are very connected to the rider but…

'It's not very comfortable but it is fun'

DIVE IN TO THE DETAIL

£9999 Honda CB1000 Hornet SP ON THE DYNO Producing a genuine 144.6bhp with 74.7lb.ft of torque, the Hornet certainly has the minerals when it comes to road riding. It is interesting to see the effect of the Revolutionary Controlled (RC) exhaust valve, which produces a noticeable kick at 5700rpm. You can also see how strong the Hornet's torque is when you let it rev, with a stack of grunt between 7500rpm and 10,000rpm but it is also impressively torque-laden low-down between 3000rpm and 5000rpm. PERFORMANCE DATA FUNCTIONALITY AND FEATURES OPTIONS AND EXTRAS Pillion seat cowl £175 The pillion provisions on the Hornet aren't great (see boxout, left) so why not just forget about passengers and instead spend £175 on a colour-matched pillion seat cover to tidy up the rear end.…

DIVE IN TO THE DETAIL

'It belies its low price…'

Looking at the Hornet SP's price, I was expecting it to feel like it had a few corners cut – but nothing could be further from the truth. The SP responds, drives and handles like a bike costing considerably more than the £9999 Honda are asking. And it does so with finesse and a wonderfully assured nature that again, belies it wallet-friendly status. Naturally there are a few compromises but once you have sorted the most obvious (that horrible can…), it's easy to live with the lower-spec electronics package. Unless you provoke them, the safety assists are perfectly acceptable in their response for 99% of road-riding situations. And that's the key to the Hornet SP, it's a road bike and not a track bike. Honda have created a road-going super-naked…

'It belies its low price…'

JEFFREY HERLINGS

What's the secret to becoming the world's most successful motocross rider? Passion, says Dutchman Jeffrey Herlings. “I really like my job, I enjoy it, I want to win. I think that helps, when you have a lot of passion” – but it's not just purely about that, as lot of skill and effort goes into it too. Herlings holds the record for the most motocross Grand Prix wins in MXGP history, which is currently standing at 107. He also has five world championship titles. The previous record holder, the legendary Stefan Everts held the record at 101 wins. Herlings has beaten that by six, and is almost certain to increase that gap. “I've got all the records. He [Stefan Everts] retired at 34 and I had already broken the record…

JEFFREY HERLINGS

'Battling to a nail-biting finale'

Jeffrey Herlings has had many seminal moments in his career, but one of his best has to be taking the 2021 FIM Motocross Championship at the final race of the season. In the run up to 2021, Herlings had a tough stretch. His 2019 season was seriously disrupted thanks to an ankle injury sustained at the beginning of the year, made worse when the same ankle was run over following a sighting lap crash at the MXGP of Latvia. Although he came back for 2020, that wasn't much better either and Herlings missed the final seven rounds of the championship due to more injuries. In 2021, Herlings enjoyed a strong start to the year and was on track to be at the top once again. However, another rider landed on…

'Battling to a nail-biting finale'

One Man and his Dax

Making a Beeline With limited space for mounting a bulky satnav, or even a smartphone, the Beeline navigator is perfect for small bikes. It runs off an app where you can create custom routes, and displays just enough information to get you where you want to go. 'Campsite is kept secret until the day as it's about making the journey' There's nothing like that feeling of setting off on an adventure - the anticipation of ending the day somewhere other than where you started, hoping you've got everything you need, knowing you're the one in control and ready to enjoy the freedom that comes with being a genuine saddle tramp, even if it's just for a couple of days. I've ridden thousands of miles in various far-flung places around the…

One Man and his Dax

'They are a real leveller'

It seems a disproportionate number of Dragon-goers ride small-capacity bikes, but it's not just about doing something different for this annual rally – as YouTuber Dean Lambert of Monkey Dix Adventures explains. “I've not owned a big bike for five years now. I've had a BMW R1200GS Adventure, Triumph Speedmaster and Pan European, but all I've got now is a Honda Monkey, CT125 and a C90. It was the Monkey first, I just fell in love with it and have never gone back. It made me feel like a kid again. So I started a YouTube channel, Monkey Dix Adventures, to show people how fantastic they are.” A Facebook group, Monkey Revolution, followed – and that created a community that's now 3000-strong. “There's no one-upmanship or anything,” says Dean. “Everyone…

'They are a real leveller'

Braking brilliant

Despite braking being the skill that's most likely to save us if things go wrong, it gets remarkably little attention. That's understandable – we ride to go places not to stop – but our brakes are crucial, not just for pulling up before we hit a car bonnet, but also in creating grip and generating confidence. MCN's second video in our new series on better biking – made in conjunction with Rapid Training and BikerTek – gives you all the information you need to improve your braking. It starts with a fascinating test that demonstrates how your front brake will pull you up over twice as quickly as the rear in an emergency stop. It also shows how crude some ABS systems are. “No matter what bike you ride, the…

Braking brilliant

'Touring ready'

ESSENTIAL KIT RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor THE MCN SHOWCASE ALL-WEATHER TEXTILE GEAR Big on practicality and protection but which kit is the best for you? 10 months ON TEST • Fit and comfort rated • Design, construction and CE scores rated • Waterproofing tested in real world riding Tested by Saffron Wilson for 2331 miles I have to say, it's lovely to have kit that fits, especially when it's all-weather gear that can sometimes make you feel like Bibendum. I usually go up a size in my textiles so I can pop jeans or extra jumpers on underneath, and the same goes for this suit. But I've always found Alpinestars kit to be on the smaller end of the rail, and this kit is no exception –…

'Touring ready'

Triumphant scrambling

WIN A Suzuki GSX-8R simply by getting a quote at www.mcncompare.com And just like that, the Scrambler 400 X has gone back to Triumph and I'm left scratching my head, trying to make sense of the last year. There have been ups and downs during my time with the baby Trumpet, but my opinion has generally swayed depending on the kind of riding I did last. By the end of the test, commuting to the office was starting to feel like a real drag. The 33bhp (tested) single just isn't up to an hour plus of 60/70mph riding in a straight line. I only have to make the trip once a week but a daily commute would have left me dreading the sound of my alarm. This kind of use…

Triumphant scrambling

It's superbly effective

'Would you buy one?' It's a question I get asked a lot, especially from bikers who have never spent any considerable time on a GS. And the answer has to be 'yes' – because for all that the latest creeping evolution of the GS dynasty isn't perfect, it still delivers a class-shaping level of performance that makes it one of the very best bikes you can buy. Having now returned the GS to BMW just before Christmas, I've been riding a Voge DS900X and Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer through the first part of the year – which has brought the qualities of the GS into even sharper clarity. The things I'm missing about the BMW have surprised me, too. The most prominent feeling of loss is the 1300's cheeky…

It's superbly effective

Top end check up

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician 1 Time to check clearances Valve clearances need checking to maintain an engine's efficiency, and the mileage at which they need checking will be detailed in a manual. Familiarise yourself with the procedure and make sure you are confident to carry out the task. With the bike cold, remove all panels needed to gain access to the engine cam cover, then remove the spark plugs. BRUCE'S TIPS Clearances are usually checked around 16,000 miles 2 Lifting the lid Undo the bolts that secure the cam cover and move them safely to one side. Gently lift the cover away and keep an eye on the rubber gasket that seals the perimeter. This needs to either remain on the engine or come…

Top end check up

'High time for new gaskets' As it turned out the valve clearances on this 1998 Honda CBR600 were all within spec. Had they been out of spec, I would've had to order in the correct-sized shims and fit them to bring the clearances back into spec, and this process involves removing and refitting the cams – it can be quite a job. Anyway, fortunately our Honda's were all good – however, its cam cover gaskets and seals needed to be changed, as there were early signs of oil starting to weep out. In all fairness the gaskets were probably the originals, so after countless heat cycles over 28 years it was time for new ones to be fitted. As mentioned in the steps, it is critical to make sure the…

'It's a mystery how the linkage became so badly warped'

Have you ever had a niggling feeling that something isn't quite right, but you just can't figure out the culprit? One Yamaha XSR700 owner went through just that when his new-to-him retro roadster was handling with all the grace of an overloaded dumper truck – especially when tasked with carrying a passenger. As it turns out, the previous owner had sent the Yamaha through a particularly nasty pothole, causing remarkable damage. Then, for whatever reason, they'd failed to fix the issue and left it to someone else to figure out. Luckily, Karen Neill, owner of Zenith Motorcycles, London, was on hand to put an end to the conundrum. “The client had owned the bike for about six months and in that time, they'd always felt that something wasn't right, and…

'It's a mystery how the linkage became so badly warped'

NEIL MORRISON INSIGHT Reporting from the final round of pre-season testing 'We'll only get stronger, there's no point rushing' As a number of riders pushed to show their hand at Moto2's final preseason test, Jake Dixon was taking another approach. The Englishman remained calm through the three days in Andalusia, played down expectations and set modest targets for the opening races of the year. The 29-year old ended the test in ninth place, 0.6s off pace setter Aron Canet as he and new team Marc VDS continued their adaptation to the Boscoscuro chassis. And unlike the past two pre-seasons, Dixon wasn't pushing for fast times and called for patience as he understands his new package. “It's nice to be with the Marc VDS Team,” he told MCN. “Everything's working well.…

Moto3 Brits hit the ground running

Optimism abounded for Moto3's British contingent in Andalusia, as Scott Ogden and Eddie O'Shea found comfort with their 2025 packages, and placed tenth and 23rd overall. For the first time in his World Championship career, Ogden is racing with KTM machinery and feels the adaptation has been “a lot easier than expected”. Despite running an old engine with heavy mileage on the first few days, he was pleasantly surprised to see his name consistently in the top ten places. “I'm super happy, the testing's been perfect,” he told MCN. “I've been fast when riding alone. In Portimao I did a really good lap time. We weren't able to do so many laps without the engine overheating. I'd have got flustered and angry in the past, but my speed has helped…

Moto3 Brits hit the ground running

Dunlop named Rider of the Year

Thanks to a huge public vote, Michael Dunlop has claimed his second consecutive MCN Rider of the Year Award at the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show. 2024 was an historic year for Dunlop as he became the most successful Isle of Man TT rider of all-time, securing four victories to take him to a grand total of 29. That's three more than former record holder, Dunlop's uncle, Joey Dunlop. “Joey's record has been a massive thing, so to break that is probably the big reason behind this award,” Dunlop told MCN on stage in London. “It's something very special for me to keep the record in the family. “It was there to be broken, I was there to break it. When I matched Joey's record on the Saturday, I…

Dunlop named Rider of the Year

Vickers in the points

Ryan Vickers made the step up from BSB with three finishes and points in both long races. Despite a high-speed crash in practice, the Motocorsa Ducati rider finished 13th in Race 1 and 15th in Race 2 for four points in total. Fellow rookies impressed too, Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motox Yamaha) scoring on his debut. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Ducati) was even better, with top nine Sunday results. Disappointing start for Gerloff Garrett Gerloff's emotions are like a yo-yo, the American having come off a pre-season high when he praised the Kawasaki's front-end feeling and engine torque. A testing crash at Phillip Island's high-speed Hay Shed section shattered his confidence, while being harpooned by Tetsuta Nagashima's Honda in the Superpole Race didn't help. The Texan ended the weekend with three points…

Vickers in the points

Booth-Amos is Triumph-ant

GREG HAINES INSIGHT Reporting direct from the opening WSBK round of 2025 'God Save the King' proudly played out over Phillip Island on Sunday as Tom Booth-Amos broke his duck on his 63rd attempt in the World Supersport Championship. The glorious victory, following a front row qualifying position and second place in Race 1, signals the maiden victory for the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS and a return to the top for PTR Triumph Factory Racing, which last won with Stefano Manzi in 2022. The Supersport races in Australia were nothing short of mayhem as multiple riders contested the wins on a selection of different bikes. There were some frightening accidents en route, not least as 2023 Moto2 World Champion Jaume Masia (Orelac Ducati) ran up the back of Valentin…

Booth-Amos is Triumph-ant

The challenge is real for Bimota

Bimota considered their performance satisfactory as the Italians returned to World Superbike 25 years after their famous Phillip Island victory with late Australian, Anthony Gobert. The last time Bimota had been on the grid was in 2014 when Christian Iddon and Ayrton Badovini ran the bikes. For 2025, the Rimini-made KB998 machines are sporting a half-steel trellis frame while powered by the same Kawasaki engines that propelled Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani when in green last year. Lowes scored 19 points to Bassani's 14, both of the white bikes finishing inside the top ten and collecting valuable data in all three races. Lowes had the best results, with eighth place in the long races and seventh in the Superpole Race. It wasn't quite the double victory for Kawasaki a year…

The challenge is real for Bimota

GREG HAINES INSIGHT Going behind the headlines at the opening round of 2025 TOP STORY Sport needs characters and the fact Scott Redding has returned to the sharp end is nothing but great news for the World Superbike Championship. After losing six kilograms (almost a stone) in weight over the winter, the Englishman is revelling in his new role as team motivator in a single-rider Bonovo squad. He's paying for his ride while hoping to regain factory status in the future, starting off in great style with results of 5th-4th-4th in the Phillip Island season-opener. It's hard to forget the scenes in the opening round of the 2022 season at Aragon in Spain, Redding furiously beating the tank of his BMW in a truly miserable start to his three-year tenure…

Fernandez subs for injured Rea

To say Jonathan Rea's season has already been wrecked may be an overstatement but it certainly took a massive knock when he crashed in testing last week. Extremely fortunate to escape life-threatening injuries, the six-time World Champion's left foot was smashed to pieces when he was struck by his cartwheeling bike after he lost control exiting the Southern Loop. Having left the circuit in an ambulance last year, history had a horrible way of repeating itself. By Friday, Rea had already gone under the knife in Belfast as Dr Michael McMullan of the Kingsbridge Private Hospital performed a procedure to stabilise the bones in his left foot which is now protected in a huge cast. The Northern Irishman is ruled out of Round 2 at Portimao as well as the…

Fernandez subs for injured Rea

Iannone is best of rest

Riding the distinctive yellow GoEleven Ducati, Andrea Iannone put in a strong opening weekend to manage two podiums and a sixth place to go third in the series, one point behind Aruba's Alvaro Bautista. Like championship leader, Nicolo Bulega, Iannone was lucky not to be struck by the wayward BMW of Razgatlioglu on the opening lap of Sunday. “We are small and strong,” Iannone says of his private team, lamenting a Race 1 issue which MCN has learned was a clutch problem. “Thanks to Ducati for helping us, it's been a great weekend. The start of the Superpole Race was scary; fortunately, nothing happened. I lacked some grip so for Race 2 we adjusted the setup. Yes, Phillip Island is a Ducati track, but the Ducati riders bring a good…

Iannone is best of rest

BMW gets battered

GREG HAINES INSIGHT Reporting direct from the opening WSBK round of 2025 Toprak Razgatlioglu was a shadow of his usual self as the new World Superbike season kicked off in Australia last weekend. The Turkish superstar suffered a series of crashes and further near-misses as he scored just 20 points from a possible 62 and departed Phillip Island eighth in the championship. It was obvious things were going to kick off this year, with new regulations threatening to give Ducati a serious advantage, and the bad feeling and negativity amongst rivals has already come to the fore. It culminated in Razgatlioglu refusing to give interviews on Sunday afternoon, eventually being grabbed back to face the press and television cameras. “All of the Ducatis are at the front and this is…

BMW gets battered

Bulega leaves 'em for dead

Only two riders who finished the three Phillip Island races inside the top six were not on Ducati machinery. The Bologna bullets have always been strong in Australia – but 2025 feels different. For this season, fuel flow regulations have been introduced as a way of balancing performance; that also means fuel tank size is unlimited and so is RPM on the engines. Ducati revelled in that, further proving the Panigale V4 R is the best package. In a nutshell, how did Toprak win last year's crown? Because he is one of the most talented motorcycle racers ever, combined with the fact Alvaro Bautista was injured and feeling victimised due to his weight penalty while Nicolo Bulega was still in his rookie season, less experienced and making mistakes. Fast-forward to…

Bulega leaves 'em for dead

JOHN McGUINNESS

'The writing is on the wall…' Well after a weekend like that we need three columns to get everything I want to say in, but unfortunately we've only got one! Starting with Tom Booth-Amos, his ride was just epic. He lost a bit of time in the pits, but he was clever and didn't make any mistakes, unlike a few of the rookies. They all got ahead of him but he was super patient and then he out-rode them at the end. So it was a British rider on a British bike winning one and then the new Yamaha R9 making its debut winning the other. In WSBK, Ducati completely dominated and the way Bulega rode was a joke. There were parts of the track where he didn't even look…

JOHN McGUINNESS

Ready for a clash of the GP titans

When Marc Marquez lines up on the grid for the opening race in Thailand we'll be witnessing the best rider on the planet on the best bike in the world. It's a mouth watering proposition for MotoGP fans and for the first time since his Repsol Honda glory days, the 32-year-old has all he needs to secure title number nine. But while it's unquestionably a match made in heaven it's not going to be easy. His biggest threat comes from within. Ducati's golden child Pecco Bagnaia, a two-time MotoGP champion himself, is at his peak and in a position where he can cement himself as a great – but only if he can find a way to beat Marquez! By all accounts Marquez has already disrupted the Bologna status quo,…

Ready for a clash of the GP titans

BURIRAM WEEKEND SCHEDULE (UK TIMES)

STOP PRESS Martin to miss opening round Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin will miss the opening round in Thailand this weekend after suffering a training accident. His withdrawal was officially confirmed as MCN went to press on Monday evening. It's another bitter blow to his title defence, having already missed the majority of testing after crashing in Sepang earlier this month damaging both his foot and hand. FASTEST PRE-SEASON LAP: ALEX MARQUEZ 1:56.493 Sepang three-day test February 2025 FASTEST PRE-SEASON LAP: MARC MARQUEZ 1:28.855 Buriram two-day test February 2025…

BURIRAM WEEKEND SCHEDULE (UK TIMES)

GENTLEMEN, PLACE YOUR BETS…

Michael Guy, MCN Sports Editor 1 Pecco Bagnaia 2 Marc Marquez 3 Jorge Martin Standout Marco Bezzecchi Josh Close, MCN Sports Reporter 1 Marc Marquez 2 Pecco Bagnaia 3 Pedro Acosta Standout Fabio Quartararo Neil Hodgson, 2003 World Champion 1 Marc Marquez 2 Pecco Bagnaia 3 Jorge Martin Standout Fermin Aldegeur Colin Young, Paddock veteran 1 Marc Marquez 2 Pecco Bagnaia 3 Jorge Martin Standout Fermin Aldegeur Michael Scott, Paddock veteran 1 Marc Marquez 2 Pedro Acosta 3 Pecco Bagnaia Standout Alex Marquez Neil Morrison, Paddock insider 1 Marc Marquez 2 Pecco Bagnaia 3 Pedro Acosta Standout Alex Marquez…

GENTLEMEN, PLACE YOUR BETS…

EXPLAINER: MOTOGP CONCESSIONS RULES

MotoGP first introduced technical concessions regulations in 2015, to help struggling Ducati compete with the dominant Japanese manufacturers, Honda and Yamaha. How things have changed. Last year the regulations were heavily rewritten to help struggling Honda and Yamaha compete with dominant Ducati! The latest concessions rules place each manufacturer in one of four groups, depending on how successful they are. Ducati are in the top (A) division, of course, there is no manufacturer in category B, with Aprilia and KTM in category C and Honda and Yamaha in the lowest category D. Honda and Yamaha can use as many different engine specs as they like, whereas the others are allowed no upgrades. Honda and Yamaha are also allowed an additional aero update and can do much more testing and field…

EXPLAINER: MOTOGP CONCESSIONS RULES

It's been lauded as MotoGP's dream team – and with good reason. Going off preseason, Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia will surely be the fight that decides this year's title. With Ducati showing few signs of relinquishing their stranglehold on the series during the off-season, it's easy to see why. Only the Valentino Rossi-Jorge Lorenzo (2013-'16) and Marquez-Lorenzo pairings (2019) had more combined titles in the four-stroke era than this one. And with 11 world titles and 126 GP victories residing in one garage, this could be one of the fights of the century. MCN analyses where each rider may gain an advantage over the other. Pecco Bagnaia has faced a few challenges in his time. Overturning a 91-point deficit in 2022 to claim the crown was one. Fending off…

Ducati have won the last five MotoGP constructors championships, but could this be the year that the mighty Bologna empire finally begins to crumble? Factory riders Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez didn't have the easiest time in testing, rejecting Ducati's 2025 engine and chassis and they may even spurn its 2025 downforce aerodynamics. Thus they will race GP24.9s (Bagnaia's nickname for the mongrel Desmosedici), while rival manufacturers have undoubtedly made forward strides since 2024. This could be great for fans, because the racing should be tighter and less of a Ducati cup. In theory at least, because Ducati have improved performance by signing a better nut to hold the handlebars! Marquez is happy he's not gambling on a 2025 engine. “Ducati took a smart decision to go with the '24…

'Not everything new is better'

Ducati could send their entire development department on holiday for a year and they would still be leading the way, that's how far ahead they seem to be. Races are won on excellent motorcycles, but titles are won on well-balanced packages. In the opening test of 2025 at Sepang came the expected new engines, chassis and aero advancements along with updates to the ride height systems and starting devices. But not everything that's new is better, and that's what we saw happen with Ducati's new 2025 engine and chassis. Interestingly, the '25 engine was indeed smoother and stronger, but it was still rejected. Why? Because it 'cooperates' less well during braking. And although it was tested extensively, this disadvantage could not be remedied and so the choice fell on the…

'Not everything new is better'

Time to get the number one back

It's still hard to believe that Pecco Bagnaia won 11 GPs last year but didn't take the title. As has often been the case throughout all of Bagnaia's competitive years, the Italian simply made too many mistakes. Eight of them to be precise. Ironically enough, one of those came very early in the year when he wiped out 2025 teammate Marc Marquez at Portimao. It's Marquez's arrival that's the biggest talking point for Bagnaia's upcoming season. Can Bagnaia fend off Marquez and keep his position at the head of the table at Ducati Corse? It's perhaps a little unfair that so many are putting Bagnaia on the losing side in the upcoming factory squad duel. This is the man who has truly dominated in the red of Ducati. He's made…

Time to get the number one back

Just as everybody had hoped and predicted, Pedro Acosta was a breath of fresh air in MotoGP last season. Exciting to watch, Acosta wasn't scared of anybody, whether that be Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia, or his fellow KTM riders. He pushed the RC16 to the limit from day one. Off the track, Acosta was open, honest and fun. He wasn't scared to ruffle feathers and openly admitted that he wants to bring some fire to MotoGP and give the fans something to be excited about. At the end of the day, we all love rivalries. He's quite the character too, one that even spends time in the media room chatting away to journalists and photographers. Despite his personality, Acosta was brutal with his own assessment of his debut campaign, giving…

KTM's RC16 goes into its ninth MotoGP season under the cloud of the company's money troubles, but all the talk of financial woes doesn't seem to have slowed the bike down. In fact the RC16 seems to have taken a step forward in the hands of new factory rider Pedro Acosta, who's contesting his second premier-class season. During both pre-season outings – at Sepang and Buriram – the youngster halved his 2024 time-attack deficit. The RC16 is best at stop-and-go tracks, so Acosta was less than three tenths slower than pace-setter Marc Marquez at Buriram. KTM's biggest problem last season was massive chatter from Michelin's latest, super-grippy rear slick. The latest RC16 has a Ducati-style tuned mass damper. “We are trying with the setting, the balance and everything to help…

'Tail unit hides a mass damper'

Last year, out of all the bikes, the KTM's performance was probably the most compromised due to Michelin's new and much grippier rear tyre. From the moment the new tyre lost its initial edge grip it started to misbehave, causing the rear of the bike to bounce and chatter when there was only minimal load on it. The issue was at its worst when going into fast corners on a closed throttle with very little or no brakes. The character of the tyre, combined with the KTM's weight distribution, lack of a mass damper and crude engine brake strategy made their riders suffer badly last year. Acosta simply changed his lines, from round to sharp Vs and decided to always use either throttle or brake. Miller struggled the most but…

'Tail unit hides a mass damper'

PUNDIT PREDICTION

Will Acosta win a full-length race for KTM in 2025? Yes. He came agonisingly close in his rookie year, which was some feat. From the results in testing, KTM still seem a fair way off Ducati. But there have been small improvements. And with a season of MotoGP experience under his belt, Acosta should be a more complete racer. He's been working on weaknesses – qualifying, riding with a full fuel tank – all through winter. His speed and hunger are without question. If Marc and Pecco slip up in any way, expect Pedro to take full advantage.…

PUNDIT PREDICTION

'I cannot guarantee I will be winning, but I can guarantee 100% determination'

Who said life gets easier when you become MotoGP World Champion? Jorge Martin, Aprilia's new captain and leader, has quickly found out everyone wants a piece of you when your star is rising. Add in the painful start to testing in Malaysia, and it's fair to say the new number one is immediately on the back foot having missed nearly all of this year's testing to date. Not that it's dulled his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead. As MCN found out when speaking to the Spaniard in late January, Martin is more motivated than ever to make a success of this new chapter. On his current feeling compared to pre-season in 2024 when he suffered a massive crisis of confidence… “It's very different compared to one year ago. One year…

'I cannot guarantee I will be winning, but I can guarantee 100% determination'

71 It is 71 races going back to Catalunya 2021 since KTM won a dry Grand Prix with Miguel Oliveira 3981 The 22 riders on the MotoGP grid this season have made a combined total of 3981 GP starts between them 9 Nine riders… Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez, Pedro Acosta, Marco Bezzecchi, Maverick Viñales, Enea Bastianini, Jack Miller, Miguel Oliveira and Franco Morbidelli have changed teams for 2025 1 Somkiat Chantra will be the first Thai rider in history to race in MotoGP 122 Luca Marini, Raul Fernandez, Somkiat Chantra, Pedro Acosta, Fermin Aldeguer, Alex Marquez and Ai Ogura are bidding to be the 122nd rider to win in the premier class 28 Pedro Acosta crashed more times than any other rider in MotoGP last season with 28 13 Ai Ogura…

Can Martin work his magic?

3 With Jorge Martin opting to run the number one plate it means the number has featured on the grid for three consecutive seasons Jorge Martin acted quickly last year when he was dumped by Ducati in favour of Marc Marquez, just a few days after being offered the factory job himself, and jumped ship to Aprilia. The Spaniard was furious with the decision and proceeded to complete part one of his revenge tour by winning the 2024 title and taking the number one plate with him to Aprilia. That's right, the number one will appear on an Aprilia RS-GP this year. People would have laughed at you just a few short years ago if you'd have predicted that. Of course, now comes the hard part. Martin must now attempt…

Can Martin work his magic?

APRILIA TEAMS Aprilia Racing Jorge Martin Marco Bezzecchi Trackhouse Aprilia Raul Fernandez Ai Ogura 2025 TESTING Sepang 9th Bezzecchi . . . . . . +0 .835 14th Ogura . . . . . . . . . +1 .261 22nd Savadori . . . . . . +2 .676 Out – Martin Out – Fernandez Buriram 3rd Bezzecchi . . . . . . +0 .205 11th Ogura . . . . . . . . . +0 .781 13th Fernandez . . . . . +0 .877 21st Savadori . . . . . . +2 .352 Out - Martin…

This is supposed to be the year Aprilia finally challenge for the MotoGP crown. The Noale factory have world champion Jorge Martin and a new technical director, former Ducati and KTM engineer Fabiano Sterlacchini. And yet Aprilia's preparations for 2025 went pear-shaped on the very first day, when Martin crashed and ruled himself out of testing. When he starts practice at Buriram he will have done just 13 laps on the RS-GP. This should've been a disaster, but Martin's teammate Marco Bezzecchi proved that the 2025 RS-GP is a rocket-ship. His time attack at Buriram was only two tenths slower than pace-setter Marc Marquez and half a second faster than the top Aprilia qualifier in last year's Thai GP! The former VR46 rider, who rode a Ducati GP23 last season,…

'Martin can breathe a sigh of relief' Aprilia's RS GP has shown it can be a winner, but history shows that it lacks consistency. Whether that is the bike or the rider is something we'll find out this year. In addition to more consistent performance, the aims for Aprilia engineers are for it be much faster at the starts and have more horsepower. And of course, without ruining the current character of the bike and its sublime feeling from the front. At Sepang, Aprilia had 12 different engine configurations ready for their #1 rider Jorge Martin. Unfortunately, his impatience caused him to crash twice within 13 laps and to withdraw injured from the tests. The comparison and evaluation of the new Aprilia and all possible adjustments fell on the shoulders…

PUNDIT PREDICTION

Can Jorge Martin make the difference at Aprilia? Only with the right help. He has the talent and determination. But he can't do it alone… and here's the rub. Teammate Bezzecchi is new to Aprilia, likewise (obviously) satellite-team rookie Ogura, though Raul Fernandez does have one year's experience. Tech guru Romano Albesiano and key rider Aleix Espargaro, who steered Aprilia's development, have gone to Honda. New engineer Fabiano Sterlacchini has extensive Ducati and KTM experience. But, like Martin, he's also a learner at Aprilia.…

PUNDIT PREDICTION

Yamaha's new dawn

'Yamaha are throwing everything at their MotoGP project' 1 2024 was the first season that Fabio Quartararo failed to record a single podium since joining the premier class in 2019. Fabio Quartararo was a frustrated man for 99% of 2024. Many would include the Frenchman when naming their top three riders on the grid, but even a rider of Quartararo's ability was unable to work miracles with the M1. Thirteenth overall with no podiums and his worst points return since joining the MotoGP grid in 2019, it was also Yamaha's first year without a podium since 2002. It came as a huge surprise that Yamaha's prized asset opted to stay for another two seasons, especially given that he'd been so vocal about the Japanese giants' problems. Perhaps he knows something…

Yamaha's new dawn

YAMAHA TEAMS Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team Fabio Quartararo Alex Rins Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Jack Miller Miguel Oliveira 2025 TESTING Sepang 3rd Quartararo . . . . . +0 .231 10th Rins . . . . . . . . . . +0 .858 12th Miller . . . . . . . . . +0 .959 17th Oliveira . . . . . . . +1 .467 Buriram 8th Quartararo . . . . . +0 .731 10th Miller . . . . . . . . . +0 .762 17th Rins . . . . . . . . . . +1 .207 19th Oliveira . . . . . . . +1 .234…

Yamaha are in a unique position, developing three different MotoGP bikes: the current inline-four YZR-M1, an all-new 1000cc V4, which may not race until 2026, and an 850cc V4 for 2027, when new regulations kick in. This is a huge challenge, following their worst season since the mid-70s. Factory number-one Fabio Quartararo finished 2024 down in 13th. Quartararo raised hopes at the opening Sepang tests, where he was third fastest, but Buriram's horsepower-heavy layout pushed him down to eighth. “We have improved top speed,” says the 2021 champ. “But unfortunately we haven't improved traction grip, plus we missed corner speed with the new front tyre at Buriram.” In other words, he may have to wait for Yamaha's V4 before he can really think about getting back to the front of…

'Laying down the foundations' Yamaha's biggest issue in 2024 was failing to get a fast lap time in qualifying. Not starting in Q2 is a huge problem and even more so on the M1 because the bike is fast through the corners but down on top speed. It makes battling a field of fast V4s a mountain that not even Quartararo can climb. Their quest for more top speed in 2024 made the bike harder to use. It lost its user friendly smoothness, which in turn made riders more prone to mistakes. Small errors had big consequences for the lap time. With Pramac now switching from Ducati to Yamaha, the Japanese manufacturer not only have four bikes on the grid, but also a team that know how to become champions.…

PUNDIT PREDICTION

Can Yamaha win races in 2025? I'd love to say yes to this, but in reality it has to be a no. Quartararo remains one of the very best riders in the world and his pace in testing has been a revelation - especially on the high-grip Sepang circuit. But being the only inline four on the grid means they have to ride differently making it hard to fight over a full race distance. And with Ducati's mind-blowing line-up to beat plus Acosta on the KTM and the world champion on the Aprilia I think a win is just a step to far. I'd be happy to be proved wrong though……

PUNDIT PREDICTION

Time to rebuild

47 Joan Mir has only accumulated 47 points since joining Honda in 2023. You can't help but feel sorry for Joan Mir. The Spaniard is a shadow of his former self after two tough, confidence-zapping, campaigns onboard the troublesome RC213V. It's not like Mir, MotoGP World Champion in 2020, made the decision himself to join Honda in 2023. He had no choice after Suzuki pulled the plug on their MotoGP project. Both he and Alex Rins needed new homes, and both ended up on Hondas. Both crashed their brains out, hurt themselves, and missed races through injury. Mir crashed 24 times in 2023, adding another 17 to his record last season. The 2024 project started positively back at the Valencia test in November 2023. “This is the first time I've…

Time to rebuild

'Closer than we've been since I joined Honda…' How the mighty have fallen. MotoGP's all-time most successful manufacturer – with more than 300 MotoGP wins and almost 50 world titles – have finished last-placed constructor for the last three years. So is 2025 the year Honda finally get back in the game? Pre-season testing suggests that it may be. Honda's best time attack at Sepang was seven tenths off the top, nine tenths closer than at last year's Malaysian GP. And their best at Buriram was half a second down, instead of a full second at the 2024 Thai GP. Honda won't be winning races just yet, but they finally seem to have found the right way forward in MotoGP's new aero era. New downforce aerodynamics look to have made…

'Taking unprecedented steps'

Honda's MotoGP project is in a dark place, and it has been for a number of years now. Put bluntly the 2024 bike had poor traction under acceleration as well as being seriously down on power; an area where once HRC were the kings of the class. They were also backmarkers in the aero arms race, seemingly years behind pioneers Ducati and Aprilia. Communication and speed of developing new parts is another area where Honda have struggled. The relationship between Japanese and European engineers has also had an impact, meaning decision making is slower than it should be, which in turn has seen them fall further behind their rivals. This situation came to a head in 2024 and the big 'H' took the unprecedented step of poaching Romano Albesiano from…

'Taking unprecedented steps'

PUNDIT PREDICTION

Have HRC really made a step? A race weekend is completely different to testing, but all signs point to HRC riders being able to challenge higher up the grid this year. Mir and Marini are happy with the upgrades, quick over a single fast lap and on-par with Yamaha in Sprint race simulations. “This is the best Honda I've ever ridden,” Mir said in Thailand. Admittedly, the bar is set low on that front, but the mood is a positive one. The arrival of Albesiano and Espargaro to the project is also key. Top speed and grip remain issues to fix.…

PUNDIT PREDICTION

Moto2's new superstar

Much like Pedro Acosta in 2022, all eyes will be on young gun David Alonso in Moto2 following his unbelievable, record-breaking Moto3 campaign last season. Alonso made Acosta's Moto3 campaign look average. With 14 victories, the Colombian beat the previous single-season record of 11, set by the GOAT himself Valentino Rossi in his 1997 125cc title-winning campaign. By the end of the year Alonso was unstoppable, winning the final seven races. The star remains with the Aspar team having first joined their ranks aged 11, going on to become a Spanish 85GP, European Talent Cup and Red Bull Rookies champion. The natural talent is there for all to see. Alonso topped multiple practice sessions throughout 2024 and was extremely difficult to beat over a single lap in qualifying. His race…

Moto2's new superstar

Moto3 spotlight

#36 Angel Piqueras (MT Helmets – MSi) Angel Piqueras put his name on the map last year in his rookie season when he won the San Marino GP despite a double long-lap penalty. Piqueras made four more podium appearances. The 2023 JuniorGP and Red Bull Rookies champion moves to the MT Helmets – MSi team, switching from Honda to KTM power as a result. #99 Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Antonio Rueda remains with Red Bull KTM Ajo for a third Moto3 campaign. Rueda, the first rider to do the JuniorGP-Red Bull Rookies double back in 2022, secured his maiden victory at Aragon, adding three more podiums at Portimao, Barcelona and Sepang. Now it's time for Rueda to put a title challenge together. #64 David Munoz (Liqui Moly…

Moto3 spotlight

MOTOGP PREVIEW 2025 CALENDAR

ROUND 1 Chang International Thailand February 28-March 2 • Length 2.83 miles • Width 12m • Longest straight 1000m • Corners 7 right/5 left ROUND 2 Termas Rio Hondo Argentina March 14-16 • Length 2.99 miles • Width 16m • Longest straight 1076m • Corners 9 right/5 left ROUND 3 Circuit of the Americas USA March 28-30 • Length 3.43 miles • Width 15m • Longest straight 1200m • Corners 9 right/11 left ROUND 4 Lusail International Qatar April 11-13 • Length 3.34 miles • Width 12m • Longest straight 1068m • Corners 10 right/6 left ROUND 5 Circuit de Jerez Spain April 25-27 • Length 2.75 miles • Width 11m • Longest straight 607m • Corners 8 right/5 left ROUND 6 Le Mans France May 9-11 • Length 2.6…

MOTOGP PREVIEW 2025 CALENDAR

New wheels for 2025…

Spring is very much on the way now (hopefully!) – and all the best manufacturers are battling to get their hands on your money. That means they're making it as easy as possible for you to have a new bike in your life. We've unearthed 82 of the hottest tempters on the market. So what's the deal? The overall outlay is less with PCP, just as long as you don't pay the final settlement figure. Equally, if you want to change machine during the contract period that's easy, too. It's a surprisingly affordable route to ownership. Just look at the likes of the MT-07 on p9. It could be in your garage for £89 per month. Or how about the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT for an amazing £85 per month (p22)? With…

New wheels for 2025…

Naked for the masses

Suzuki GSX-8S £7499 | 776cc | 202kg (kerb) | 81.7bhp | 810mm seat height In the competitive naked middleweight class, Suzuki's GSX-8S manages to do enough to allow it to stand out from its rivals. In fact, MCN were so impressed with it that it scooped the 2023 MCN Award for Naked Bike of the Year, which is massive when you look what it was up against. So what makes it special? A big factor in what makes the GSX-8S so appealing is its engine. The 776cc parallel-twin has a lovely feel and sound about it as well as more mid-range punch than most of its rivals. This extra drive makes the Suzuki wonderfully easy-going and also means gearchanges are reduced, not that this is much of an issue as…

Naked for the masses

Fighting in the streets

Hot pick The higher-spec S model costs £16,162 and adds Öhlins suspension as well as a few extra electronic gizmos as standard and a 2kg weight reduction. Like the Streetfighter V2, it only comes in red! Ducati Streetfighter V2 £14,162 | 890cc | 193kg (kerb) | 118.3bhp | 838mm seat height When you look at its spec sheet, the all-new Streetfighter V2 certainly promises to live up to its 'troublemaker spirit' billing – in a very good way! At the heart of the Streetfighter V2 is Ducati's all-new 890cc V-twin, which features variable intake valve timing for the first time. With a claimed 118.3bhp and 69lb.ft of torque, it certainly isn't shy in terms of performance but outright figures aren't what makes the new generation of middleweight Streetfighter so impressive…

Fighting in the streets

Budget brilliance

The naked thriller that's more than the sum of its parts Hot pick The MT-07 can be specified with Yamaha's Automated Manual Transmission (Y-AMT) for an extra £350, giving you the option of push-button gear changing alongside an auto mode. Well worth taking for a test ride. Yamaha MT-07 £7700 | 689cc | 183kg (kerb) | 72bhp | 805mm seat height Yamaha have given the MT-07 a comprehensive refresh for 2025 and although the bare bones remain similar, it has been armed with an updated chassis and electronics package to allow it to compete with the latest middleweights. Considering how successful the previous model was, you would be a fool to bet against this new generation not being a smash-hit in showrooms. Retaining the parallel-twin CP2 motor, the MT-07 now…

Budget brilliance

The king of retros

Hot pick The Speed Twin RS comes in two colour options but while Sapphire Black is stylish, the Baja Orange / Sapphire Black is by far the better-looking of the two. If you have an RS model, you want to stand out… Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS £14,495 | 1200cc | 216kg (kerb) | 103.5bhp | 805mm seat height Triumph's retro roadster has been updated for 2025, but the big news is the introduction of the new RS. If you are a fan of this underrated model, as many are, and have been waiting for a higher-spec sportier variant to upgrade to, your prayers have finally been answered! And it has been worth the wait. Retaining the same chassis as the updated base model, the RS version moves the whole…

The king of retros

Grab a track-bred scalpel

Hot pick The Carbon Edition Fireblade SP (£26,749) not only has selected fairing panels and its mudguards made from carbon, it looks knock-out in all-black – with only limited stock available. HOT DEAL Make use of Honda's exclusive track package MY 24 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP £23,499 | 1000cc | 201kg (kerb) | 214.6bhp | 830mm seat height Honda's range-topping sportsbike was upgraded last year and is the most technologically advanced Fireblade ever built, especially the range-topping SP. While the Blade uses the same basic design of inline four as before, the semi-cam gear motor received a new tune for 2024 to deliver even stronger mid-range acceleration as well as a wallop of extra top-end power, taking it to a claimed 214.6bhp which is barked out of an Akrapovic exhaust.…

Grab a track-bred scalpel

Fighting spirit

MY 24 Hot pick The Ninja 500 SE version ups the ante through a TFT dash with connectivity as well as a keyless ignition, USB-C outlet and flashier paint schemes but costs £6638. If you can stretch to another £500, it's a price worth paying. HOT DEAL Get an unbeatable 0% APR on HP with a minimum £999 deposit Kawasaki Ninja 500 £6138 | 451cc | 171kg (kerb) | 44.8bhp | 785mm seat height Kawasaki entered the mid-capacity segment last year with two new twin-cylinder models – the Z500 and Ninja 500. If you are a fan of Kawasaki's sportsbike family and are the holder of an A2 licence, the Ninja 500 could be right up your street. Sporty and yet still more than accessible, the Ninja 500 is powered…

Fighting spirit

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