How rona riders may self-incriminate

With riders facing hefty fines for breaking the coronavirus Home Confinement Direction, some have suggested rona riders should reserve their rights to silence when pulled over by police.

While exercising your right to silence is usually a good idea, it might not be of much assistance here, says Brisbane lawyer Andrew Evans.

Under the law, police have the power to ask you basic questions and you’re breaking the law if you refuse to answer.

Those basic questions are: 

  • Your name and address; 
  • Date and place of your birth (in drug matters); 
  • Other questions regarding broken traffic laws or whether you’ve seen an accident; and
  • Other questions police can ask under special laws.

“So if you refuse to say where you are going, the police cannot prove you have committed an offence,” suggests one reader.

Unfortunately where you are going is not an element of the offence; it’s leaving your place of residence and if they have found you out riding then they can make out that element regardless of what you do or don’t say.

Click here to complete our three-minute survey on attitudes to the pandemic!

Standard practiceCops police speed speeding extended

Andrew says standard legal advice is to exercise your right to silence “because they will use anything you say against you”. 

For instance, if you get pulled over speeding there is a standard series of questions police ask:

  • Do you have a reason for speeding?
  • Do you know why I pulled you up?
  • Did you know you were speeding”

“All of them are intended to illicit a response that indicates guilt so you are always better off saying nothing,” he says. 

“This is because ordinarily when you go to court it is up to the police to prove your guilt not for you to prove you are innocent.  

“If you get caught speeding and you stay silent, go to court and there is an issue with the evidence so you get the radar evidence thrown out they then have nothing.  

“If you don’t to give any evidence, their case fails, but if you made an admission at the time of the offence that can come back to bite you.”

Rona riders

However, rona riders should be aware the current situation under the Home Confinement Direction is “a bit different”, Andrew says. 

“It makes it unlawful to leave your residence unless you meet the criteria for leaving set out in the direction,” he says.

“So if a police officer asks why you are out and you refuse to answer you are almost guaranteed to get fined because he or she will assume you have no reasonably necessary reason to leave.

“That doesn’t mean you are compelled to answer. You can refuse. But it probably increases the risk of getting a fine rather than a caution.

“So if you have a justifiable reason, like going to the shops or going to work, you should tell them as it will most likely save you having to deal with it at court later.

“If you don’t have a reason then you might be better off exercising your right to not answer and then take legal advice about any fine they issue.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Yamaha and Serco reach 20th anniversary milestone

News 8 Apr 2020

Yamaha and Serco reach 20th anniversary milestone

Championship-winning collaboration celebrating two decades together.

Image: Foremost Media.

Yamaha Motor Australia and Serco Motorsport are celebrating their 20th season of competing together in 2020.

The partnership became official in 2001, with the Queensland-based Serco organisation becoming the factory ‘Lites’ team in 2004.

“YMA and Serco have been in racing for the long haul and the commitment we have to each other and racing has been strong,” explained Serco owner Gavin Eales.

“We see a lot of teams come and go, but look at Yamaha’s consistency in racing, each team has been around for some time and built up a good knowledge and infrastructure base that can’t be replicated in just one or two seasons.”

Serco Yamaha’s first MX Nationals MX2 title was won by Cameron Taylor in 2005, with Jake Moss (2007), Luke Styke (2013), Luke Clout (2014) and Wilson Todd (2018) also capturing the 250 class crown. In addition, Brenden Harrison claimed the MXD title in 2013.

In the Australian Supercross Championship, the first title came when Styke completed the double in 2013, before Jackson Richardson went back-to-back during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Source: MotoOnline.com.au

19 years ago today Valentino Rossi took Honda’s 500th GP victory

500 GP wins for Honda

Honda notched up their 500th victory in Grand Prix motorcycle racing on April 8th, 2001.

It was a 22-year-old Valentino Rossi that took the chequered flag on that momentous occasion which unfolded at the opening round of the 2001 season at Suzuka.

Loris Capirossi had taken pole, also on a Honda, while Rossi qualified seventh.  25 riders entered the race, including three Australians, the aforementioned Garry McCoy who took second, while Mark Willis and Marcus Payten failed to finish the race. Almost half the field failed to finish the race that day, which serves as a reminder as to just how challenging the two-stroke era was. 

We include our full race report from that event below so you can re-live the event now, almost two decades later. 


2001 Grand Prix 500
Round 1 – Suzuka – Race Report

As written live by Trevor Hedge during the race back in 2001

A perfect run for Honda so far today with wins in both 125 (Masao Azuma) and 250 (Daijiro Kato) to set up the possibility of the company taking it’s 500th GP win.  And if they can do it here today on their home soil then the achievement would seem that much sweeter I am sure.  But a whole bunch of Yamaha riders will be out to stop them including Max Biaggi and Garry McCoy.  Suzuki’s Kenny Roberts and Sete Gibernau have been struggling a little this weekend and it seems unlikely that either of them will be front-runners in this race.

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Kenny Roberts

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Kenny Roberts

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Kenny Roberts

Loris Capirossi stunned all in final qualifying yesterday by going eight-tenths quicker than any one else, but can he hold that type of speed in the race? That is the largest gap between P1 and P2 qualifiers since Doohan’s pole at the Czech GP in 1997.

The 500 season is underway! 

They all got away well, Biaggi leading them through turn 1 but Capirossi moved through to the lead in turn as Nakano, Abe, McCoy, Roberts, Barros, Haga gave chase. Chris Walker was in the dirt.  Nakano then went through on Biaggi for second, and McCoy moved up to fourth.

McCoy nearly made a pass on Biaggi into the 130R turn which would have been absolutely amazing if he pulled it off, but decided to wait a couple more corners before making his move, he then did so and took that third place from Biaggi.  Criville ran off into the dirt but managed to rejoin.  McCoy then went around the outside of Nakano, the boy from Camden is on fire!

Capirossi still out in front but being stalked by McCoy, there we go, McCoy through for the lead on lap two.  Rossi is fighting his way through the field and now up to fifth, a lap later he makes another move and takes fourth.

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Valentino Rossi

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Valentino Rossi

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Valentino Rossi

McCoy, Nakano, Biaggi, Rossi, Capirossi, Abe, Ukawa is the race order.  McCoy is really throwing that Red-Bull Yamaha around.  Valentino tries to put a move on Biaggi but could not make it stick.  Haga makes a fantastic fast move into fifth. 

Through the chicane Biaggi and Rossi were leaning on each other, then onto the straight Biaggi forced Rossi out on to the dirt with elbows right out, an obvious aggressive move to force Rossi into the dirt but all is fair in love and war and Max can’t be criticised for that.  Haga and Ukawa are having a great battle and swapping places for 5th. 

Rossi tries again on Biaggi but Max simply closes the door again which slowed Valentino and allowed Ukawa to challenge him, but the Italian held him out. 

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Tohru Ukawa

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Tohru Ukawa

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Tohru Ukawa

Rossi finally gets through with an aggressive move on Biaggi in retaliation for the earlier elbows incident, great racing, get stuck in boys.  Rossi even hung a finger at Biaggi when he got in front of him.

Rossi through on Nakano for 2nd and rushing into the corners so hot, he nearly put a move on McCoy as well.  It looks to be a matter of time, there he goes, Rossi hits the lead.  McCoy slip-streams him down the straight and nearly gets him back but Rossi holds him out.  Biaggi up into 3rd and Haga 4th.

Lap 7 and Ukawa through on Haga for 4th.  Rossi opening a gap now at just over one-third race distance.  Biaggi through on McCoy for second, if he can catch up to Rossi stand-by for some serious elbow action, bring it on…..

McCoy makes a bit of a mistake and Haga is right on his case now, the Red-Bull Yamaha’s look to be joined at the frame.  Biaggi is trying really hard, it looks as though he has decided he will catch Rossi or crash trying.

Rossi, Biaggi, McCoy, Ukawa, Haga, Abe, Nakano is the race order now after nine of the 21 laps.  Biaggi the fastest man that time around.  Ukawa through on McCoy for third.

Somebody in the dirt, Haga maybe, yep Haga in the dirt it looked as though he lost the front, the same as he did yesterday during qualifying and making it three crashes for the weekend.  Haga looks unhurt.

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Tohru Ukawa

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Tohru Ukawa

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Tohru Ukawa

Ukawa now the fastest man on the track and hounding Biaggi, this will of course help race leader Rossi.  McCoy falling a bit behind the leading trio now.  Reigning world champion Kenny Roberts in 9th.  Ukawa and Biaggi fighting hard, Ukawa forces his way through, an aggressive move.

The next lap Ukawa ran a little wide which left him off line for the next turn which allowed Max to go round the outside of him.  This battle for second is doing great things for Rossi’s lead which is now well over two-seconds.

Ukawa through on Biaggi in the chicane for second.   Biaggi looks to be fading a little, perhaps his tyres worn out from the chase, McCoy should take him shortly.  Six-laps remaining.

McCoy through on Biaggi for third at the end of the main straight.  Let’s hope McCoy has got his second wind and can make some ground on Nakano.   

Mark Willis in the pits with what looks like mechanical problems.  Bad luck for Mark, but at least they completed plenty of laps to give them some direction for the bikes development.  Only 15 riders now left in the race.

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Mark Willis

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Mark Willis

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Mark Willis

Rossi has over three-seconds on the now second placed McCoy who just relegated Ukawa to third. 

Ukawa, HUGE highside, I saw it from the onboard rear-facing camera on McCoy’s bike and it looked savage, a chill went down my spine with the force of that impact.  He is hurt but conscious, god knows how….  Biaggi had to do a major emergency braking maneuver to avoid the ensuing carnage.  That happened so quick and Ukawa had absolutely no chance of saving it, a crash like that will surely take some getting over both physically, but maybe even more importantly, mentally…

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Valentino Rossi

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Valentino Rossi

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Valentino Rossi

Rossi has 3.5-seconds over the second placed McCoy.  Abe through on Nakano for third.  Biaggi pushed back to fourth by Abe.

Two laps to run and Rossi still has over three-seconds on McCoy, who now has around half-a-second over the third placed Abe.  Biaggi just went so sideways on the way out of a left hander, not the fastest way around but absolutely beautiful, I could watch that all day.

Final lap and Rossi has this thing wrapped up if nothing untowards happens.  What sort of celebration will we see? 

Biaggi on a last lap charge, through on Abe and after McCoy.  Hold on Garry….  Abe is coming back at Biaggi. 

Rossi has a look behind him as he exits the chicane, Rossi wins, McCoy 2nd, Biaggi 3rd.

Rossi will be the golden boy tonight in the Honda camp.  Honda’s 500th GP win.

Watch it on MotoGP.com

MotoGP 500cc 2001
Round One – Suzuka – Race Results

  1. Valentino Rossi – Honda
  2. Garry McCoy – Yamaha +0.724
  3. Max Biaggi – Yamaha +0.956
  4. Norick Abe – Yamaha +1.176
  5. Shinya Nakano – Yamaha +3.256
  6. Alex Barros – Honda +14.515
  7. Kenny Roberts – Suzuki +22.876
  8. Loris Capirossi – Honda +28.732
  9. Alex Criville – Honda +34.478
  10. Carlos Checa – Yamaha +53.765
  11. Jurgen vd Goorberg – Proton KR +58.688
  12. Haruchika Aoki – Honda +77.338
  13. Leon Haslam – Honda +77.681
    DNF – Jason Vincent – Pulse
    DNF – Tohru Ukawa – Honda
    DNF – Mark Willis – Pulse
    DNF – Akira Ryo – Suzuki
    DNF – Olivier Jacque – Yamaha
    DNF – Noriyuki Haga – Yamaha
    DNF – Sete Gibernau – Suzuki
    DNF – Barry Veneman – Honda
    DNF – Johan Stigefelt – Sabre
    DNF – Jose Luis Cardoso – Yamaha
    DNF – Chris Walker – Honda

2001 Grand Prix 500 – Round 1 – Quotes – Suzuka

Valentino Rossi – 1st – “This is the first time I ever had any luck at Suzuka, now I finally had some good luck and my thanks to Honda and my team. I’ve only won three GPs for Honda but now I will be in the history books!  “I got a good start but after a few laps I felt pretty tired, so I just kept pushing. I had a big fight with Nori (Haga, Yamaha), Alex (Barros, West Honda Pons) and Max and then finally I had the track to myself. I found it hard to pull away but suddenly I saw I had 3.5 seconds on everyone. I had a few scary moments touching other riders, including one time when I went on the grass! The 500 class is so tough now, no one wants you to overtake, especially guys like Haga, Barros and Biaggi. As soon as they see you, they let their brakes off!”

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Valentino Rossi

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Valentino Rossi

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Valentino Rossi

Garry McCoy – 2nd – “I think I just left it all a little too late, I knew this wasn’t a track where you could really make a break and pull away so I opted to sit back and settle into a rhythm. When I started seeing everyone else moving around I felt it was time to make my move and went after Rossi. I felt comfortable, and I could see I was catching him, but I just couldn’t do it in the time I’d left myself.”

Max Biaggi – 3rd – “I’m glad to have finished this race, it was hard racing out there and no one wanted to give anything. There were many different lines out there, and plenty of contact going on, so I’m more than happy with third. “For the past two years I have not scored points at the first GP. It’s been on my mind that I must finish the first two races without injury. Since it was the first race of the year, and the last race here at Suzuka for a two-stroke only GP, there was a great deal of pressure.”

Norick Abe – 4th – “It has been a very difficult weekend and I’m not too happy because my goal was to win, you can be fast in qualifying but the important issue is to be fast in the race. For me it was rear grip problems making it difficult to overtake.”

Shinya Nakano – 5th – “The start was good today, but I did play it safe and let Biaggi through to second. For the first half of the race my bike was perfect, but after that my front tyre started to feel tired and I settled for fifth place, we’ll have to get used to racing with harder compound tyres in the future, but I’m very happy with our debut.”

Kenny Roberts – 7th –  “I had some sort of a vibration problem from the warm-up lap – I asked the guys to check to see if the tyres were out of round on the start line, but that wasn’t it. I guess some of the other guys also had chatter problems. We also have a problem of a lack of development to the motorcycle. In spite of a lot of hard work, we need to keep working to improve. Adding it all up, I got lucky. I should have done worse, but other people falling off gave us places.”

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Kenny Roberts

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Kenny Roberts

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Kenny Roberts

Alex Criville – 9th – “I started well, but at the end of the main straight, I had to hit the rear brake, and several other riders got past me. I overtook Gibernau in the following lap, and when I found myself riding behind Checa, I upped the pace a bit in order to stay with him and the group in front of me, and I ran off the track. I managed to hold on and stay upright, but obviously I dropped far back. From this moment on, all I could do was to maintain a consistent pace and pass other riders, which finally rewarded me with ninth position. The result isn’t good, but at least I’m leaving this Grand Prix with confidence, and it is clear to me that this was only the beginning.”

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Alex Criville

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Alex Criville

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Alex Criville

Carlos Checa – 10th – “We’ve had some issues this weekend, namely the fever I had during the first two days, after I had dealt with Kenny Roberts I had my sights set on Barros. I tried to make up time in other areas of the track because the bike didn’t feel quite right in the chicane, but as it ended up I lost the front anyway. I think we can hope to do much better at Welkom.”

Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh – 11th – “It went more or less as expected, and the points are very welcome. We were at a disadvantage all weekend, with just four hours of practice to get the bike set up, where the others already had three days. We had a reasonable set-up, but the standard of 500 racing is so high now that you need a good set-up to get a good result. The best part was how I was able to stay with Alex’s Honda until I lost his draft. Until then I could stay with him on the straight. Then I was alone again, and the lap times were not so good. The most important thing was to finish and get some points. I’m really looking forward to the next round in South Africa. We will start off more equal, because nobody has tested there – and the track should suit us well.”

Tohru Ukawa – DNF – “Fortunately, I didn’t break any bones, I’m just bashed and bruised all over my body and my left ankle is hurting. Today was a great day for Honda, because they could celebrate their 500th victory in Grand Prix racing at their home event. Today was my first race in the 500 class, and I realised quickly that it has nothing to do with 250 racing. In the 250’s, there were only four or five riders able to fight for victory, but in the 500 class, there are many more competitive riders. I had a lot of fun during the race today, and I did the fastest lap just before I went down. I thought I could make the break and get away from this group, but then I crashed. That’s racing, but I will be perfectly okay for the South African Grand Prix.”

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Tohru Ukawa

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Tohru Ukawa

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Tohru Ukawa

Sete Gibernau – DNF – “The first laps were chaos, and without the horsepower I was having trouble passing people. Then I started to push the front and rear tyres real bad. Without more development, the bike wasn’t ready to race with the leading group, and I understood that and decided to follow Kenny and go for a finish. Then I kept making the same mistake out of the chicane, taking neutral instead of second gear, which was losing me almost a second every time. That really upset my rhythm, and I was trying too hard to make up the time again each lap. That’s why I ran off at another point on the track.”

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Sete Gibernau

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 - Round One - Suzuka - Sete Gibernau

MotoGP 500cc World Championship 2001 – Round One – Suzuka – Sete Gibernau

Olivier Jacque – DNF – “I got a good start, but the idea of being surrounded by others, especially into the first corner was pretty stressful. For the first few laps I spent more time looking behind me before I realised I was strong enough to rider harder. But after eight laps my wrist support started to bother me, so I pulled in.”

Noriyuki Haga – DNF – “I’m disappointed. I did the best with what I had on the day but when I hit the white line there was nothing I could do to save it.”

Jean-Luis Cardoso – DNF – “I had made a good start and was getting settled in when suddenly a bike hit me as I went into the chicane and I crashed. That’s racing and these things can happen, but I hope not to me, again.”

Source: MCNews.com.au

Mugello and Catalunya MotoGP rounds to be rescheduled

News 8 Apr 2020

Mugello and Catalunya MotoGP rounds to be rescheduled

Additional postponements made to 2020 world championship.

Image: Supplied.

Additional postponements to the 2020 MotoGP World Championship calendar have been made, with Mugello and Catalunya to be rescheduled to later dates.

The Italian grand prix was scheduled from 29-31 May, while the Barcelona round in Spain was due to be held between 5-7 June.

“As the situation remains in a state of constant evolution, new dates for these grands prix, as well as the recently-postponed French and Spanish GPs, cannot be confirmed until it becomes clearer when exactly it will be possible to hold the events,” a statement read.

A revised calendar will be released once possible, with the next potential date on the calendar being Sachsenring, Germany, on 19-21 June due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Will pandemic travel bans ever end?

At what time should police and authorities judiciously reconsider the hastily-drafted travel bans that have promoted a police state and are heightening the public’s anxiety and depression?

The current Draconian laws across each state have apparent sunset classes, but can be extended, as we have already seen overseas.

However, as “the infection curve” is now flattening in Australia, should people be allowed to exercise their liberty, use their commonsense and pursue harmless, non-contact hobbies and sports that can be practised in ones and twos?

virusConfirmed cases of COVID-19 (Source: Our World In Data)

They could include, but not be limited to, golfing, fishing, boating, hiking, surfing and, of course, motorcycling, so long as they are also practising good hygiene and personal distancing.

After all, why should the long-term mental fitness of all be jeopardised by criminal laws directed at the inconsiderate behaviour of a minority?

All laws and rules have updates, modifications and amendments, so why not these hastily drafted travel restrictions?

How about a gradual easing of restrictions, to stem this jackboot culture where police harass and fine citizens without warning for sitting on park benches, mums teaching their kids to drive or riders go for a solo ride through the hills?

How about giving us the benefit of having some commonsense like they do in Sweden? Rather than the government telling people what to do or fining them, they are asking Swedes to do the right thing, and giving them the liberty to prove they are responsible citizens.

Unfortunately, appealing to the Swedes’ sense of doing the right thing hasn’t worked and the government is now planning tighter measures.

Click here to complete our three-minute survey on attitudes to the pandemic!

Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Norway are opening up from lockdown as cases have greatly dropped. It will be interesting to see how their infection curve develops.

Sunset clause on travel bans

Travel bans Will pandemic travel bans ever end?MBW asks a police officer about the travel restrictions

The various travel bans around the country seem to have “sunset clauses”.

In NSW, the Police Commissioner says the bans will be in place “at least until the end of June”. But he didn’t rule out a continuation of the bans at that time.

(By the way, how did the police suddenly get legislative powers to make and amend laws?)

Queensland’s home confinement direction is in place “until the end of the declared public health emergency, unless they are revoked or replaced”.

So there really is no guaranteed sunset clause written into the laws.

When do the laws end and what is the mechanism for winding them back?

Obviously the sooner we respond to staying home and getting the infection curve flattened, the sooner we may quash this Orwellian Big Brother state.

Orwellian state

Or could we end up with a long-term or permanent erosion of our civil liberties as we witnessed with the introduction of Draconian anti-terrorism laws after 9/11?

The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001 still exists and has been the source of much government abuse and overreaching.

The 300-page Act sailed through US Congress seven weeks after the attacks with scant dissent; just like our hastily drawn-up pandemic restrictions.

Already these rules have resulted in police harassing innocent Australians doing such “criminal” behaviour as sunbathing in a park a healthy distance from other people.

We can imagine the police will do their utmost to hold on to as many of their new-found powers for as long as possible.

We have already seen that with the updated so-called anti-bikie rules that replaced Queensland also hastily-drafted VLAD laws.

When it comes time to revoke or revise these restrictions, police will no doubt cite the inevitable reduction in the crime rate and road toll as reasons to continue at least some of their new powers.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Pandemic travel bans prompt depression

Travel restrictions that include a virtual ban on motorcycle riding could lead to a rapid increase in anxiety and depression that outlasts the pandemic, according to data and analytics company GlobalData.

The company says the enforced social isolation rules, along with the death threat from Covid-19 and financial disruption are a catalyst for the increased prevalence of mental disorders such as depression across a variety of age groups.

GlobalData pharma analyst Magdalene Crabbe says sales of drugs for psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder are expected to reach $US27.4bn (about $A45bn) this year, up $717m from the previous year.

The effects could continue long after the coronavirus pandemic, she says.

Pandemic of depressionDrugs depression

“Sales are then expected to increase from $27.4bn in 2020 to $40.9bn in 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4%,” she says.

Allowing people to pursue a select group of solo and duo pastimes and therapies will go a long way to helping alleviate anxiety and depression.

“Personalised treatment strategies are important for treating psychiatric disorders, which may be exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis,” she says. 

“It is important that people realise that depending on pharmaceutical drugs is not necessarily the solution to the negative impact that Covid-19 will have on people’s mental health.”

Happy riders

Clubs Sharon Ledger peerSharon Ledger

Psychologist and reborn rider Sharon Ledger says riding makes people feel happy because of the release of certain chemicals in the brain.

“There are more than 10,000 chemical reactions going on in the brain every second,” she says.

“The chemicals that make you feel happy – oxytocin, dopamine, endorphin and serotonin – are produced by the endocrine system.

“Not all of these chemicals are released at the same time and each has a different outcome.

“However, more of these chemicals are produced when we look forward to doing something we enjoy; we get up early, we go outside in the sunshine and fresh air, we challenge ourselves, we meditate, we concentrate on an activity that requires skill and generally do things that motivate us.

“That pretty much sounds like motorcycling to me,” she says.

Let’s hope it’s not long before we can again experience that happy feeling.

If you are experiencing mental issues, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Lifeline Australia on 131114.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Honda Releases Info on CB-F Concept

Honda CB-F Concept.
Honda CB-F Concept. Images courtesy Honda.

This darn coronavirus is just mucking everything up. Virtual unveilings and press releases just don’t have quite the same impact as dramatically pulling a sleek black sheet off a new model, bright lights and flashbulbs popping off the paint, at an international auto or motorcycle show. Honda had originally planned to unveil its CB-F Concept, a CB1000R-based homage to “Fast” Freddie Spencer’s ’80s superbike, at the 36th Osaka Motorcycle Show and 47th Tokyo Motorcycle Show, both of which have been canceled.

Don’t fret, Honda, we still think this is a gorgeous machine, and we hope it becomes more than just a concept bike. Continuing the CB’s 60th anniversary theme, the CB-F Concept hearkens back to the classic air-cooled inline four CB900F and CB750F (famously raced by Freddie Spencer), complete with a cool white, silver and blue livery that should look familiar to anyone who remembers Freddie’s Daytona race bike.

Honda CB-F Concept.
Honda CB-F Concept. Images courtesy Honda.

Of course, this isn’t an old-fashioned tubular steel-framed, carbureted, air-cooled machine; it’s based around the potent CB1000R, with its 998cc DOHC, 4-valve-per-cylinder inline-four, high-tensile steel mono-backbone frame, single-sided aluminum swingarm and inverted fork.

What do you think? Should Honda turn this CB-F Concept into a production bike? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Akrapovič Releases New Exhaust For The Honda CBR1000RR-R

Honda’s CBR1000RR-R isn’t even here yet, but Akrapovič has an exhaust ready once it comes.

Begin press release:


With development completed in January, Akrapovič has launched a fully racing-oriented Evolution Line Kit (Titanium)* exhaust system for the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade that uses the HRC Race Kit and has been developed at the recommendation of the R&D department of Honda Motor Corporation.

The Evolution Line Kit (Titanium) is aimed directly at racing teams and riders using the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade on the track and under competition regulations, and it has been developed exclusively for use with Honda’s latest track-focused motorcycle. The full system, with its race-inspired design, featuring a relief-imprinted muffler, is specifically adapted to meet the exacting demands of racing. The routing, diameters, positioning, and all specifications of design are solely designed for the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, an expertise that Akrapovič provides through the entire manufacturing process.

Constructed entirely from low-weight titanium alloys, with complex parts cast in Akrapovič’s in-house titanium foundry – the only one found anywhere in the world in an exhaust manufacturers’ premises – the Evolution Line Kit (Titanium) is a totally bespoke system and displays an attention to detail that is seldom seen on an aftermarket product for a race-bred motorcycle. Each part of the four headers that connect the system to the engine is cast in the foundry and formed to achieve an optimum configuration, ensuring that the fitment is perfect. This devotion and the use of state-of-the-art lightweight materials means the system weighs less than 5 kg. Optimal performance is achieved because the system delivers a perfect throttle response right through the rev range for the 1,000 cc engine.

The relationship between Akrapovič and Honda Motor Corporation has resulted in the Slovenian exhaust specialist becoming the official manufacturer and supplier of the exhaust for the new 2020 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. In addition, the R&D department of Honda Motor Corporation recommends the Evolution Line Kit (Titanium) exhaust for the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade with the official HRC Race Kit.

* THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT MEET EMISSION COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR STREET OR HIGHWAY USE





The post Akrapovič Releases New Exhaust For The Honda CBR1000RR-R appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Not only the greatest, but a true legend

In 1961 he was the youngest ever winner of a premier-class World Championship race with victory at the TT on the Norton. That same year he became the youngster ever World Champion bringing Honda the 250cc title, the first ever for a Japanese factory. Six years later he won three Grand Prix races in one day at Assen. His wins in the 250, 350 and 500cc races came after 436 kms of racing flat out round the legendary venue. When he switched to four wheels, he won the European Formula Two Championship. In 1973 he was awarded the George Medal, Britain’s second highest bravery award, when he pulled Clay Regazzoni out of a burning Formula One Car with his own overalls on fire during the 1973 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. In 1978 eleven years after his last motorcycle Grand Prix appearance he returned to two wheels to race at the most demanding and dangerous motorsport venue in the World and won. Hailwood was 38 years old when he returned to the 60.721 kms mountain circuit to send the Isle of Man crazy with the most highly acclaimed victory ever in the illustrious history of the TT races.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Ducati Corse Steps Into The eSport World With The Current MotoGP World Champion AndrewZh

Since there’s no actual racing going on right now, Ducati is turning its attention to e-sports instead.

Begin press release:


Ducati is pleased to announce the born of the official Ducati Corse team of eSport. The line-up of the new squad will see current World Champion Andrea Saveri, also known as AndrewZh, attempting to confirm the world title conquered last year, now as an official rider of Ducati Corse eSport.

AndrewZh confirmed yesterday his participation to the final challenge of the World Championship after finishing eighth in the “ProDraft” classification, and he will be part of a group of 11 gamers that will compete for the title this season.

It was quite natural that Ducati and AndrewZh were meant to cross their paths. Andrea was born in Bologna 19 years ago. He is a motorcycle enthusiast, he lives a few kilometres away from Borgo Panigale, and his family has always been “Ducatista”.

Since his debut in the eSport, AndrewZh has always been a key player in all the MotoGP World Championship editions. In 2018 he classified third, and last year he finished first, controlling a Desmosedici GP bike, even if at that moment he still wasn’t an official Ducati rider.

This year Ducati and AndrewZh’s goal is to keep the world title conquered last season in the final meeting in Valencia. In the two races held, he was able to master the pressure put on him by his rivals taking the final victory with two points on the second classified.

Apart from following all the battles on the screens, fans will be able to know more AndrewZh during the season at some promotional events organised by Ducati.

Paolo Ciabatti, (Ducati Corse Sporting Director):
“eSport is an entertainment platform that has grown quickly during the last years: innovation, progress and technology are part of Ducati DNA, and that is why we have decided to commit in this new adventure. We were already discussing to officialize this relationship with Andrea before he became World Champion in order to be able to dress him with the official colours of Ducati Corse, riding a virtual Desmosedici GP bike, for the 2020 World Championship. Andrea isn’t just an extraordinary eSport rider, but also a true Ducatista. He comes from Bologna; he lives a few kilometres away from Borgo Panigale, he rides a Ducati Monster, and that is for us an added value. We wish him good luck, and we can’t wait for the new championship to begin”.

Andrea Saveri aka AndrewZh:
“When the eSport World Championship began I wouldn’t have imagined reaching a similar goal. Becoming an official Ducati rider and wearing the colours of the squad from Borgo Panigale is a dream that comes true. Especially for a youngster from Bologna like me, who is a big motorcycle enthusiast since I was a kid and that knows what it means being a Ducatista. Although it is a tough moment for the world, we were able to compete to decide the ProDraft of the classification, and it was not easy to gain access to the final challenge, as this year the level is very high. It will be a special season, during which I hope to be able to repay all the trust that Ducati put on me by getting good results”.

We still don’t know what will be the fate of the final 2020 calendar, as it is currently affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. The 2020 eSport World Championship will see four head-to-head battles between the gamers, each composed of two races.

Last year the three races of the eSport World Championship were shown by 15 TV broadcasters in 5 continents for a global audience of 64 million viewers (Source: Dorna Sports).

The post Ducati Corse Steps Into The eSport World With The Current MotoGP World Champion AndrewZh appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.