Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia would like 1000 riders do the survey.
“They don’t have to be Tasmanians,” spokesman Damien Codognotto says. “They just have to have visited Hobart at some stage.”
There have so far been about 400 responses to the survey, most of whom (70%) aged 51 to 70 and 84.5% are male.
Preliminary results show two out of three respondents are Tasmanians and one in five are Victorians, followed by Queensland with 7% and NSW and SA 2.7%.
About 19% visited Hobart less than once a year, with 29% on holidays and 17.5% visiting for entertainment.
So motorcycle tourism is an obvious drawcard to the city with 90% bringing their own bike, 5% hiring a bike and the others buying a bike in the city.
That is why the MRAA is seeking more interstate respondents.
A whopping 86.9% say there is not enough on-street motorcycle and scooter parking in Hobart and 77.8% say there isn’t enough off-street parking.
Only one in five uses the Hobart City Council’s website map to find bike parking and half of respondents didn’t even know it existed.
More than 90% have also called for more secure bike parking at the airport.
Sam Sunderland achieves his second Dakar win by keeping cool, calm, and consistent. Big congrats to Sam and the folks at GasGas Factory Racing.
Begin Press Release:
HE DID IT! WE DID IT! SAM SUNDERLAND AND GASGAS ARE DAKAR RALLY WINNERS!
HISTORY MADE WITH FIRST EVER DAKAR RALLY VICTORY FOR GASGAS FACTORY RACING
Sam Sunderland and GASGAS Factory Racing have won the 2022 Dakar Rally! Delivering exactly the kind of mature, considered performance we’ve come to expect of him over the last two weeks, in finishing eighth in today’s final stage, Sam has claimed overall victory at the 44th Dakar Rally. And, at the end of 12 grueling days of racing across the Saudi Arabian desert, he’s handed GASGAS our first ever victory at the world’s most iconic rally raid event!
Sam Sunderland wins Dakar Rally 2022!
GASGAS Factory Racing claims first Dakar title!
Two stage wins for Daniel Sanders before injury
Sam Sunderland:“Wow. What a feeling! That 10-minute period waiting at the end of the final stage to see if I’d won felt like a lifetime. But this feeling, knowing I’ve won a second Dakar, will stay in my memory forever. This win feels better than the first as this victory was anything but easy. The times were so close this year and there was no time to let off the gas, it was a really close race, right to the end. All of the hard work, the sacrifices, and everything that the GASGAS team has done for me makes it all worthwhile. It’s been five years since my first Dakar win, and it’s been a long time to wait! I’m super happy to get another win and claim the first one for GASGAS. Everyone on the team has worked so hard to achieve this and it’s a true team effort – together we got the job done. Amazing.”
Leading the race from stage two through to the end of stage six, the Dakar began perfectly for Sam. Riding flawlessly throughout the two-week event, he delivered the goods on multiple occasions when the pressure was well and truly on. Competitive from the very beginning, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Sam Sunderland is 2022 Dakar Rally champion!
Sam’s second Dakar victory is not just an incredible personal achievement, it also marks the return of the title to the KTM AG Company. With 19 wins in the last 22 years, Sam’s victory re-affirms the group’s commitment and ongoing success at the world’s toughest rally raid.
While it’s all about Sam right now and his amazing achievement, it wouldn’t be right to sign off from Dakar 2022 without giving Daniel Sanders the credit he deserves. Our second GASGAS Factory Racing star taking on this year’s event, Chucky claimed two amazing stage wins, and on the final day of racing in week one, led Sam home for a GASGAS one-two. A crash on stage seven resulted in a fractured elbow and wrist, but the good news is that’s he’s had surgery and is now well on the way to making a full recovery. He’ll be back at the Dakar in 2023 for another run at the title.
Congrats guys, enjoy the party!
Norbert Stadlbauer – Rally Team Manager: “Amazing, simply amazing! This Dakar was a really challenging race, right until the very end, so to win, it’s an incredible achievement. Throughout the whole event Sam was smart, strong, and his speed was exceptional. I’m really happy for him and the whole of GASGAS Factory Racing. The entire team has worked so hard to be successful and it’s a really special moment. There’s no feeling like it. I’d like to thank all of the team’s sponsors and partners, everyone in Austria, and now, after a two tough weeks, it’s time to celebrate!”
Results (provisional): Dakar Rally 2022, stage 12
1. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:40:00
2. Toby Price (KTM) 1:40:18
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 1:40:29
8. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 1:43:25
After leaving the shores of the Red Sea on 1 January, 109 riders made it back to Jeddah with 8,000 kilometres under their belts.
With less than three-and-a-half minutes between Sam Sunderland and Pablo Quintanilla it was the slimmest margin at the top of the leader board since 1994, when Orioli finished just over a minute ahead of Arcarons. Sunderland back to his winning ways after a drought stretching back to 2017.
In the Original by Motul category for bikers without assistance, the 2022 podium was almost the same as last year’s. Lithuanian Arūnas Gelažninkas retained the title, while the battle-hardened Czech Milan Engel was runner-up and Frenchman Benjamin Melot defended his third place.
How the Aussies fared
Toby Price looks set to play the long game in the 2022 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship this year, having never really recovered from his opening stage navigation issue, which was compounded by a waypoint that failed to register in Stage 11. However, a strong performance in the final stage saw the Australian finish second for the stage to end Dakar 2022 on a high note despite a lowly, for him, tenth place outright. Without those earlier issues Toby would have been well placed to battle for victory, but as they, that’s racing and anything can happen…
Toby Price
Price now looks ahead to the remainder of this year’s FIM World Rally-Raid Championship.
Toby Price – P10 (Stage P2)
“I’m always happy to reach the finish here at the Dakar, it’s been a really tough race this year. Losing time on that first day put me on the back foot a little for the rest of the stages, and the way things are now, any mistakes can lose you a lot of time on the others because things are so close. The terrain here in Saudi makes for a really fast race too, a lot of the stages are sprints to the finish, but the atmosphere is good and it’s a good place to be. I’m excited for 2023 already!”
Toby Price
Toby was the only Aussie to successfully finish the event while countrymen Daniel Sanders and Andrew Houlihan were forced to watch the latter half of Dakar from the sidelines after sustaining injuries.
With two stage wins to his name at this year’s event, Daniel Sanders still unquestionably stamped his mark on Dakar 2022. Sanders was third in the provisional standings up until stage seven when the Aussie fractured his elbow and wrist in a fall on the transport run to the start of the special stage in the dark. He’ll be back at the Dakar in 2023 for another run at the title.
Countryman Andrew Houlihan was forced to withdraw from the event after the fifth stage by medical officials refused him start clearance on the back of his previous rib injuries being dangerously inflamed.
Sam Sunderland wins 2022 Dakar Rally
Sam Sunderland and GasGas Factory Racing won the 2022 Dakar Rally after delivering a mature, considered performance, that ended with a measured eighth-place finish in Friday’s final stage, handing the manufacturer their first overall victory at the event at the 44th Dakar Rally.
Sam Sunderland – 2022 Dakar Rally Champion
“Wow. What a feeling! That 10-minute period waiting at the end of the final stage to see if I’d won felt like a lifetime. But this feeling, knowing I’ve won a second Dakar, will stay in my memory forever. This win feels better than the first as this victory was anything but easy. The times were so close this year and there was no time to let off the gas, it was a really close race, right to the end. All of the hard work, the sacrifices, and everything that the GasGas team has done for me makes it all worthwhile. It’s been five years since my first Dakar win, and it’s been a long time to wait! I’m super happy to get another win and claim the first one for GasGas. Everyone on the team has worked so hard to achieve this and it’s a true team effort – together we got the job done. Amazing.”
Sam Sunderland
Leading the race from stage two through to the end of stage six, the Dakar began perfectly for Sam. Riding flawlessly throughout the two-week event, he delivered the goods on multiple occasions when the pressure was well and truly on.
Sam’s second Dakar victory is not just an incredible personal achievement, it also marks the return of the title to the KTM AG Company after Honda wrestled the mantle from their grasp a couple of years ago.
Pablo Quintanilla wins final stage for Honda
Monster Energy Honda Team’s Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla wrapped up the Dakar Rally on Friday in Jeddah with a well-deserved second place. Quintanilla, who started Friday morning in second place in the general standings, 6’52” behind Sam Sunderland, attempted to close the gap over the 150 kilometres of timed special that involved some tricky, fast-paced navigation. Pablo earned the final stage victory, finishing 3’27” short of clinching the outright Dakar 2022 title.
Pablo Quintanilla
Pablo Quintanilla joined Monster Energy Honda Team last May, finishing on the Andalucía Rally podium in his first outing. Later, in October, he would clinch top honours in the Rallye du Maroc. Today’s runner-up position marks a third finish on the Dakar podium for Quintanilla. Furthermore, Honda took a total of five stage victories (Barreda 2, Cornejo 2, Quintanilla 1) in this edition.
Pablo Quintanilla – P2 (Stage P1)
“I am very happy with the result and my performance throughout the whole race, especially during the second week, which I managed well, making up time with a steady performance. I am very pleased and I wish to thank the whole Monster Energy Honda Team for their incredible work over these weeks. It was a really tough race, with a lot of tension, but I’m happy. Today there was second place at stake and there was even a chance of winning the race. It didn’t turn out that way, but I’m still happy with the second place finish. Now it’s time to enjoy this moment.”
Pablo Quintanilla
Lying third going in the final day of racing, Matthias Walkner put in a superb performance on Friday’s stage to finish seventh fastest and secure an overall podium result.
Matthias Walkner – P3 (Stage P7)
“I feel super happy and also lucky to be here healthy at the finish line. It feels great to be back on the podium too after a couple of difficult Dakars the past two years. It’s been a super long and hard Dakar as always, but this year has been special because of the level of navigation needed every day. We saw right from the first day that you can win or lose so much time on each stage. Because of that I really tried to focus on my roadbook, and concentrate on my navigation for the whole race. The first week went really well for me, and then into the second week, everyone was pushing really hard, so you had to give your best every day as the times were so close. The new bike has been brilliant, and the team have put so much effort into making sure we had the performance needed to finish on the podium, so thank you to them. Now it’s time to celebrate!”
Matthias Walkner
Equalling his best overall finish at the Dakar, Adrien Van Beveren placed an impressive fourth overall at the 2022 edition of the iconic event. Leading the race on two separate occasions this year and placing no lower than fourth overall throughout the entire rally, the Frenchman was undoubtedly in fine form throughout the competition. Delivering pin-point accuracy with his navigation day-after-day, Adrien delivered one of the stand-out performances in the motorcycle category.
Adrien Van Beveren – P4 (Stage P15)
“The race is over and I have mixed feelings about it, but on the whole it has been a really positive race for myself and the team. I’m really happy to have finished the race, the first time since 2017, so I’m really pleased about that. But on the other hand, it looked certain that I would podium or maybe even take the win. But with the issue yesterday, that’s just part of rally racing and it wasn’t meant to be. I’m really happy for the team. Everyone has worked super hard and my bike was amazing. I have no regrets about anything and I gave it everything that I had. To be fighting for the win at the Dakar, it was an amazing experience and now I’m looking forward to the future.”
Adrien Van Beveren
Spain’s Barreda, fourth on the final stage, finished fifth overall, equalling the result he achieved in 2017.
Joan Barreda – P5 (Stage P4)
“The result of this Dakar is a fifth place with a broken collarbone from a week ago and after losing 40 minutes at a waypoint on the first day. I’ve kept the mentality and the ambition that I’ve had all year, in spite of the adversities. Not giving up and going all the way to the finish. In racing sometimes things go well and other times not so well. But the important thing for me has been to be able to show all the hard work that’s been done. We’ve been working for seven months for the Dakar, now it’s time to rest a bit and then we’ll think about the new goals, knowing that the ambition and motivation has to be 100%. In this Dakar, every day that I’ve been on the bike I’ve had unique sensations.”
Joan Barreda
‘Nacho’ Cornejo, third on Friday’s stage, consolidated his sixth place in the final rally classification.
José Ignacio Cornejo – P6 (Stage P3)
“We finished the Dakar with a good stage; I am very happy with this final stage, without any mistakes and marking some good pace. I am satisfied to have finished the Dakar like this, but not in the overall balance, because, although I recovered several positions this last week, the mistake early in the race conditioned the end. I think I should have been further ahead. This year it was our turn to suffer, but we will be back again. The team in general was very solid and I want to congratulate all my team-mates for the great work done these days.”
José Ignacio Cornejo
Brabec took seventh spot overall in this edition of the Dakar.
Ricky Brabec – P7 (Stage P21)
“The last day we tried to push. There was navigation and a lot of rocks. He hoped to make up time and see if someone else stumbled. We didn’t give up until the end. I’m happy and healthy and ready to go home. There was not much else we could do. We tried to come back from an hour down. The first stage killed us. After the first week it was definitely hard to pick up the pieces. We’ll be back next year to try and win this thing. Anything else other than winning is unacceptable. We’re going to come back next year and hopefully try to win.”
Ricky Brabec
If not for a frustrating navigational error on stage one, which affected him as well as many of his rivals, Andrew Short may well have joined Adrien in the top five overall. After losing considerable time early on, the 39-year-old was faultless through the remaining stages at the Dakar as he worked his way up the leaderboard. At the end of 12 stages and almost 40 hours of racing, Andrew secured eighth overall, narrowly missing out on placing seventh by just five seconds.
Andrew Short – P8 (Stage P13)
“I’m so happy to have reached the finish line. The Dakar is such a crazy race that finishing is a great achievement in itself. The final stage was pretty cool, a bit tight a twisty with some nice terrain. Before the rally I hoped to finish higher and it wasn’t through lack of effort – it was solely down to the issue I had on stage one. I did the best I could after that but that’s just how rally is sometimes. The team have been amazing. They built a great bike for me, which didn’t miss a beat all race and I’m happy that we had two guys in the top 10.”
Andrew Short
Mason Klein P9 as top rookie
Completing his 2022 Dakar campaign with an excellent fifth-place result on stage 12, KTM-supported privateer Mason Klein not only finished as top rookie, but also claimed an outstanding ninth overall. The 20-year-old American has shown incredible navigation and roadbook skills over the course of this year’s event, as well as the speed to back it up.
Luciano Benavides successfully completed the Rally with a strong performance in 13th overall, claiming sixth fastest on the short timed special.
Luciano Benavides – P13 (Stage P5)
“I’m really happy to complete this year’s Dakar, it’s been a really tough event both mentally and physically. It was hard to lose time on the first stage, but since then I have been giving my all to work my way back up the standings. The bike has been great and with a few changes as the race has gone on, I’ve found a setting I feel comfortable with and because of that the results have been improving throughout the rally. Getting to the finish of such a long and intense event feels amazing. It would have been good to get inside the top 10 by the finish, but I’m still happy with my performance. The result and the finish have really improved my confidence and now I’m looking forward to the rest of the year and seeing what we can do in the world championship, before preparing for Dakar 2023.”
Luciano Benavides
Kevin Benavides showed impressive speed throughout the whole 2022 Dakar Rally. Unfortunately, after suffering a technical issue on stage 10, the Argentinian was forced to withdraw. Returning to complete the final two stages of the race, Benavides was immediately back up to speed, claiming a stage win on day 11 and finished the final stage in P12.
Kevin Benavides – (Stage P12)
“I have enjoyed this final day at the Dakar – I opened the stage, which was great, and it feels good to finally get to the finish. Obviously, it’s frustrating to have had the problem on stage 10, up until that point my race had gone really well, and I believe I had the pace to challenge for the podium. These last two days have shown that, too. There are many positives I can take from this year’s race and I’m really happy with how I rode and navigated through the stages. Part of the Dakar is all about learning and improving and so I’ll take that away from this year and try to come back even stronger in 2023.”
Luciano Benavides
Making not only his Dakar debut, but also his first ever competitive rally-raid appearance at the 2022 Dakar, Danilo Petrucci raised a few eyebrows around the paddock with his consistent display of speed and skill on his Tech3 KTM 450 Rally, including taking a stage win after being unable to finish a stage and being ineligible to be counted in the final standings.
Danilo Petrucci
“I am so happy to finally reach the finish line and to complete the goal I set out to do. It’s been a tough time both leading up to the event and the race itself, but to complete my first ever Dakar feels amazing. I’m really happy with my performance but over the last couple of days I have had some crashes and feel quite sore at the moment. Thanks to all the team for their hard work, it has been an amazing experience and one of the hardest things I have ever done.”
The 2022 Indian Motorcycle lineup has been announced, covering Challenger, Chieftain, Roadmaster, Indian Springfield, and Scout models.
Indian came out of the gate early last year with an all-new Chief platform and a revised FTR lineup for the 2022 model year. The full 2022 Indian Motorcycle lineup features an updated Ride Command system and fine-tuned traction control on select models, as well as new colors and accessories.
Indian’s Ride Command System has been updated for 2022.
Ride Command-equipped 2022 models now feature a speed limit overlay, reminding users of the current speed limit on a street-by-street basis. The system also benefits from faster loading times and expanded Bluetooth connectivity this year. The new features are included on 2022 models and available as a software update on 2020-2021 Indians.
2022 Indian Challenger
In addition to the robust Ride Command system, Indian also retuned the PowerPlus 111-powered Challenger’s traction control for smoother engagement. The platform has been refreshed with new colors as well.
The standard Challenger comes in Black Metallic and Titanium Smoke with an MSRP of $23,999. Starting at $27,999, the Challenger Limited is offered in Black Metallic, Maroon Metallic, Spirit Blue/Black Metallic paint options. The Challenger Dark Horse, on the other hand, retails for $28,499 in Black Smoke, Bronze Smoke, and Indy Red/Black Metallic colorways.
2022 Indian Springfield, Chieftain, and Roadmaster
Indian’s Thunder Stroke models also receive fresh liveries for the 2022 model year. Starting at $21,999, Springfield buyers can choose between Maroon Metallic/Crimson Metallic and Black Metallic/Dirt Track Tan color schemes. Additionally, the Black Smoke and Quartz Gray paint options complement the Springfield Dark Horse’s black finish and starts at $22,499.
2022 Indian Springfield
2022 Indian Springfield Dark Horse
The Chieftain goes back to basics with Black Metallic paint job and a $21,999 MSRP. However, at $27,999, the Chieftain Dark Horse amps up the options with Black Smoke, Ruby Smoke, and Quartz Gray paint jobs. The top-of-the-line Chieftain Limited commands $28,749 but sweetens the deal with premium Silver Quartz Metallic and Deepwater Metallic colorways.
2022 Indian Chieftain
2022 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse
2022 Indian Chieftain Limited
The Roadmaster returns in Black Metallic or Maroon Metallic/Crimson Metallic paint and costs $29,999. At $30,499, the Roadmaster Dark Horse boasts Black Smoke, Polished Bronze, and Silver Quartz Smoke liveries while the Roadmaster Limited comes with a $30,749 price tag and Black Azure Crystal and Crimson Metallic colorways.
2022 Indian Scouts
Indian doesn’t forget the Scout family either, bringing back the Scout (MSRP $$11,999), Scout Sixty (MSRP $9,999), Scout Bobber (MSRP $10,999), Scout Bobber Sixty (MSRP $8,999), and Scout Bobber Twenty (MSRP $11,999). The base-model Scout now features Black Metallic, White Smoke, Maroon Metallic, and Silver Quartz Metallic/Black Metallic paint while the Scout Sixty keeps it simple with Black Metallic and Storm Blue color schemes.
2022 Indian Scout
2022 Indian Scout Sixty
2022 Indian Scout Bobber Sixty
The Scout Bobber line take the paint options to the Nth degree with 2022 Scout Bobber Sixty offering Black Metallic, Black Smoke, Quartz Gray, and Ruby Smoke. The Scout Bobber now comes in Black Metallic, Alumina Jade Smoke, Maroon Metallic Smoke, Stealth Gray, Silver Quartz Smoke, and Titanium Metallic, while the Scout Bobber Twenty is available in Black Metallic, White Smoke, Maroon Metallic, and Silver Quartz Metallic/Black Metallic.
2022 Indian Scout Bobber
2022 Indian Scout Bobber Twenty
Accessories
Along with the model updates, Indian expands its accessories catalog with Spirit Lake Luggage Collection, LED lighting add-ons, and hard fairing lowers for the Indian Challenger platform. The Scouts also benefit from the extensive collection with new piggyback rear shocks and a 5.75-inch Pathfinder Adaptive LED headlight.
New Pathfinder Auxiliary LED Saddlebag Lights do not require any drilling, but rather feature a convenient peel-and-stick adhesive for easy and quick install.
Indian’s new Spirit Lake Luggage Collection includes a Rack Bag, Day Bag and Touring Bag (shown).
A classic design idea, updated. Monocoque frame integrates the 150kW motor and battery as a stressed member. (Damon Motorcycles/)
On paper or in pixels, the Damon HyperSport is the finest electric motorcycle yet. Two hundred miles per hour, 200 hp and a claimed 200-mile range will do that. No electric bike in current production can touch those figures. Of course, right now neither can anyone who’s put in a preorder for a Damon.
The tech world is defined by bluster before results. Assuming Vancouver, Canada-based Damon can deliver, the HyperSport will be paired with the HyperFighter, Damon’s latest potential streetbike. Up first is the $35,000 (or so) limited-edition HyperFighter Colossus; Damon claims that bike will be followed by two future HyperFighter Unlimited models, trimmed of the Colossus name and about $10,000 from the sticker. Only 100 Colossuses are planned for production.
Clean tail design incorporates a camera that feeds data to the Copilot advanced warning system. (Damon Motorcycles/)
Damon says that, as with the HyperSport, the HyperFighter Colossus will feature Copilot, Shift, and HyperDrive, all proprietary systems that push various envelopes of what electric motorcycles can be. The HyperDrive powertrain is a monocoque-mounted battery and motor said to be capable of 200 hp (150kW), 146 miles (235 kilometers) of range, and a 20kWh battery. Claimed top speed is 170 mph. The Copilot system is a 360-degree advanced warning system using radar and cameras to give visual and haptic warnings to riders. Claimed to be capable of tracking up to 64 objects at a time, it could be a game changer for urban riding. The dash provides a rearview look at what’s behind the rider.
Subtlety need not apply. Front fascia boldly puts the nameplate to the wind, above the front-facing camera that feeds data to the Copilot advanced warning system. (Damon Motorcycles/)
But the star of the promotional materials is the Shift system, which Damon says will allow for on-the-fly ergonomic adjustments. That’s a fancy way of saying that ride height, handlebar position, and footpeg placement can be changed with the push of a button. Technically speaking, your HyperFighter could become a standard bike, a tourer, or even track-ready at rider command.
But the show-me-the-money specs are charging time and curb weight. A 110V power supply will take a claimed 15 hours to fully charge, while a built-in fast charger is claimed to charge up to 80 percent in as little as 45 minutes. Weight wasn’t disclosed, but the HyperSport weighs in at a claimed 440 pounds.
The prototype unveiled at the 2022 CES show in Las Vegas was likely unfinished, as COO and co-founder Dom Kwong pointed to a nearby HyperSport to demonstrate the Shift system in action. Curiously, the word “commuter” came up often in CEO and co-founder Jay Giraud’s remarks. But he also made reference to “traffic Ninjas,” so streetfighters haven’t gone completely mundane.
Purely from the point of view of a marketing exercise, a streetfighter is a smart move. That’s not necessarily a slight; marketing is a tool for moving product, and unveiling a new model at CES puts Damon back into the news cycle and drives additional interest. And it shifts focus from other potential narratives, such as “Exactly how many HyperSports has Damon actually delivered?”
TFT display integrates dashboard with rearview camera and directional warnings. Handlebars convey haptic warnings to riders. (Damon Motorcycles/)
Ambitious dreams and amplified hopes should meet with healthy skepticism. A streetfighter is, by definition, a quick-and-easy adaptation requiring little more than a design face-lift. Plus, the existing HyperSport platform means its ergonomics can remain unchanged, Shift system use notwithstanding. Still, as things sit now, any Damon HyperSport or HyperFighter that leaves the factory for delivery will be a win for motorcycling. Any optimistic skeptic wants to be proven wrong.
And one cause for optimism, left unmentioned save for a brief shoutout at CES, is 23-year-old Italian designer Noemi Napolitano, who penned the HyperFighter. It’s her first-ever new motorcycle design, and therefore, brava. Even if the bike is delivered in 2023, you might not see one of her 100 HyperFighter Colossus designs in the flesh. But you should definitely be looking for it.
Raising eyebrows with a consistent display of speed and skill on his rally debut with Tech3 KTM 450 Rally, the two-time MotoGP™ race winner added a stage win at Dakar to his lengthy list of achievements. The 31-year old becomes the first MotoGP™ rider to ever take a stage a win in the rally, doing so on Day 5 of this year’s event.
“Maybe it was the most difficult time of my career. This is now the 4th winter that I’ve had an injury. First, the right shoulder, then the left shoulder, then the arm and, just when it looked like everything was getting better and better, another injury arrived after I’d won in Austin and Misano and I was feeling good, but in life you never know. It’s true that it’s been hard. I don’t want to wish this on any rider or any person, to have these kinds of feelings.
The intermediate class are well represented too, as reigning Moto3™ World Champion Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and former Champion Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto2) continue on from joining Martin in Almeria, while Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) and Fermin Aldeguer (Speed Up) join their Moto2™ colleagues.
Watching a Grand Prix while helping to save lives in Africa. This is Andrea Coleman’s mission through Two Wheels for Life
Some events change lives forever, passions that mark our existences and insights that have the power to change for the better the lives of people we don’t know but for whom we are willing to commit so that they have a better existence.
For Andrea Coleman, the motorcycle is a life companion: both as a means of competition and as a work tool, but above all as a ‘medium’ to savour freedom in its purest essence.
At the same time, Andrea has always been concerned about making medical care within reach for those who live in poorer countries, where access to healthcare is a real luxury, reserved for the few.
In this story, the motorbike is a constant that marks the end but also the rebirth. Andrea has found in her irrepressible desire to transmit courage, hope and love of life the fuel that has seen the birth of Two Wheels For Life, a non-profit organization where Randy Mamola joins her in being committed to the front line, and which has allowed hundreds of health workers to reach the most remote areas of Africa, using the agility of two wheels to assist thousands of people every year, since 1991.
“I have always loved motorcycles. Ever since I was a little girl. They represented something connected to freedom for me,” says Andrea. “I liked the speed, I rode knowing that I was doing something that I had chosen to do. Then, when I was 19, I went on a trip to Mexico and saw people living in very harsh conditions, in poverty. That sparked a desire in me to help others”.
It was with an unconditional love for sports and a desire to do her part to make the world a better place when Andrea entered adulthood. “I didn’t want to go to college, I was just thinking about racing. For a few years, I worked to save up the money to compete and travel. Later I worked for Chelsea Football Club then I married Tom Herron, a professional motorcycle racer. Travelling with him around Europe I learned how to manage a team and how to get sponsorships. In 1979 Tom lost his life riding a works Suzuki at the North West 200 race in Northern Ireland. At that time there were many risks and dangers. Dorna Sports, together with FIM and IRTA have transformed Grand Prix Racing by putting safety at the centre of this sport”.
Following the death of her husband and with two year-old twin girls to raise, Andrea moved away from the world of racing. Until one day Randy Mamola, who knew Andrea’s story, contacted her: “He needed someone to take care of his public relations. I was scared to go back to the race paddock but when Randy proposed that I work with him, I thought that together we could do something good, showing that motorcycles can be a way to save the lives of many people“.
It was working alongside Randy Mamola that Andrea found a way to “connect the dots” by making competitions a resource for supporting initiatives: “I came up with the idea of creating fundraising, asking riders for items such as their boots, gloves and so on and then holding fun auctions for fans. The proceeds allowed me to raise the funds we needed to create an organisation, using motorcycles, that would help people in need”.
So, in the 80’s, Andrea together with her new life partner Barry Coleman and her good friends Randy Mamola and Kenny Roberts Snr they gave life to the Day of Champions a day organized during the Grand Prix of Great Britain where they raised funds for non-profit organizations. Then they made their first trip with Save The Children to get to know some of the people receiving their aid and to find out what their needs were. On that occasion, they realized that there was a lack of help focused on transportation: “Motorcycles, ambulances and other vehicles were sent, but they often broke down and this became a waste of resources that endangered the lives of many men, women and children. At that point, we made sure that the motorcycles became a useful means of saving the lives of so many people who lived in rural areas”.
From that moment on, they founded a new charity Riders For Health to train health workers how to ride and maintain motorcycles to ensure care and medical visits for as many people as possible in every corner of the continent of Africa.
“In 1996 Barry went to Gambia where he met a young man named Ali Ceesay, who was maintaining a few motorcycles with no replacement parts and very few tools. Barry helped him develop his skills and he became the first Riders for Health staff member in Africa. We relied on Ali and then gradually we found more and more local, talented people to manage these programs. A few years later, the oil company Castrol asked us to manage 16 of their motorcycles in Lesotho and from there, our initiative began a real expansion. That programme is now led by an amazing woman called Mahali Hlasa“.
In the early 2000s, after the arrival of Dorna Sports as the promoter of the MotoGP™ World Championship, Andrea asked for and obtained a meeting with the CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta to explain the mission of Riders For Health to him: “What we were doing was received with great enthusiasm and we became the non-profit organization of reference for the Championship. With Carmelo’s full support we changed our name to Two Wheels For Life. Being supported by MotoGP™ and the fans of the sport gives us great visibility and support. Every time we add one more motorcycle to our fleet we create access to healthcare for more than 5000 people. At the same time, the fans who support us can live unique experiences during the Grand Prix, where, despite being immersed in a context focused on competition, they have the chance to live a moment of maximum humanity”.
Over the years, representatives from Dorna Sports have visited Gambia and Lesotho, two places where Two Wheels for Life operates, getting to know riders with an unstoppable spirit. In Africa, the finish line is never the same, but at every pit stop these riders-operators bring hope, along with their care.
The motorcycle, an instrument of freedom and rebirth
Fear of disease, contagion, marginalization, and death have broken into everyone’s daily lives with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. But thousands of people in Africa have been living with these fears for much longer. Some diseases weigh like stigmata on African communities and, in the case of contracting these infections, the price to pay is removal from the community and, most of the times, women suffer the heaviest consequences.
A person’s existence can be saved in many ways. Andrea and Two Wheels For Life have identified motorcycles and training as two useful tools to offer a new beginning to those who would otherwise be condemned to segregation: “Motorcycles offer people independence and visibility – says Andrea – Years ago we taught a group of women in Kenya with HIV how to ride and maintain their bikes so that they could reach several villages, demonstrating that despite being positive for a similar disease it is possible to contribute to the welfare of others by explaining to them the importance of nutrition, prevention and transmitting confidence to other women. In addition, having become excellent motorcycle riders are helping to diminish the many prejudices that there are against those who have HIV”.
In the communities of rural Africa, women are important because they take care of their families but are rarely valued for their talents. In this case as well, Andrea tells of those who have seen their lives change for the better: “One of the women we trained told us that she gained more respect and consideration from her husband and her entire community after learning to ride and manage her motorcycle, thus becoming a reference point and valuable resource for her village”.
On a continent where roads and infrastructure are often a utopia, as is the ability to obtain treatment and medicine, Two Wheels For Life is committed to ensuring that those living in the most isolated areas of the continent can find comfort by hearing the distant roar of a motorcycle approaching their village: “Over the past 30 years there have been many stories of people who, thanks to the intervention of our ‘Riders’ are still alive – says Andrea, mentioning one episode in particular – One day the director of the program in Gambia called us to express the thanks of a man who lived in a remote part of the country. Without medical care reaching his community, his wife would have died in childbirth while trying to give birth to twins. If, of all people, that mother and those two babies are safe, it’s thanks to the entire MotoGP™ motorcycle community and that’s something to be very proud of”.
In the birth and growth of Two Wheels For Life, the contribution of co-founder Randy Mamola has been immense, as Andrea points out: “His ability to communicate and relate to people of all ages is incredible. His commitment has been unparalleled in managing and building relationships with Dorna and everyone in the paddock.”
Get the first gear to go far away
To ride a motorcycle, you need balance and concentration, Andrea knows it well, but these two characteristics are powerful even once you take off your helmet: “Sometimes life puts you in front of challenging situations that are so complicated that they take your sleep away. But the fact of being alive is precious – she points out – Art, like sport, music or books can be of great inspiration representing the stimulus we need to say: go ahead“.
Listening to Andrea I think that perhaps this is the key to her story: she kept going on maintaining balance and concentration, finding in difficulties the roots to give life a new beginning.
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These two custom motorcycles borne from the bones of BMW’s R 18 are the result of a collaboration of BMW Motorrad Italy and two different customisers.
BMW R 18 M
The R 18 M is a project developed by Italian Magazine LowRide and created by American Dreams.
The R 18 Aurora, was created by Garage 221 that was engaged by BMW Motorrad Roma.
BMW R 18 M
M is the letter that distinguished the sport versions of BMW four-wheeled models, and today it also includes two-wheeled vehicles.
BMW R 18 M
The source of inspiration for the BMW R 18 M project by the editorial staff of LowRide is the following: the idea is to give the BMW Cruiser a more streamlined and sportier look, avoiding exaggerations and especially without forgetting the reference to the BMW R 18 retro lines.
BMW R 18 M
“Stability, long wheelbase and readiness of the 1800 cc big boxer instigate lightning starts and deserve, in our opinion, a sporty and retro look. In the R 18 M design, we find suggestions from BMW Motorrad tradition and cues from the four-wheelers: M stands for Motorsport” as Giuseppe Roncen, director of LowRide and a great expert of the world of specials, described the BMW R 18 M project.
BMW R 18 M
The work has focused on chassis, suspension set-up, bodywork, and accessories, leaving mechanics and electronics unchanged as the natural strengths of the R 18.
Lightened and with a different riding position, the BMW R 18 M promises to be even more fun to ride: “We remain curious to experience its potential. Significantly lightened, the bike should also be easy to handle due to its riding position, which is more compact and forward loaded, without exaggeration.”
BMW R 18 M
The R 18 M project was made possible by BMW Italia and was born in the wake of the emotions that this bike can give: a fun cruiser, powerful and lively, with a big heart and an infinite torque.
LowRide has involved some of the best Italian craftsmanship and companies specialised in the sector.
The realisation of the sketches was entrusted to designer Oberdan Bezzi, already a partner of LowRide in the past. He has managed to make it an exciting power cruiser without upsetting the essence of the BMW R 18.
BMW R 18 M
American Dreams handled the assembly and coordinated the work; Elaboratorio, specialising in prototyping and modeling, created tail, tip and fiberglass windshield from scratch.
BMW R 18 M
Carbon Italy handled the head covers, intake ducts, and other carbon fiber details.
BMW R 18 M
The short exhaust pipe, designed to make the line more compact and allow greater lean angles, bears the signature of ER Exhaust Revolution.
The short exhaust pipes also give greater prominence to the splendid uncovered nickel-plated shaft, an evocative detail that deserves to be highlighted.
BMW R 18 M
L.R. Leather covered the saddle in leather, while the paintwork was entrusted to Dox Art Factory.
BMW R 18 M
Rizoma provided mirrors, grips, and universal indicators for the accessories, perfectly in line with the bike’s character.
BMW R 18 Aurora
The idea and desire of Garage 221 to create a custom bike based on the BMW R 18 found its origins a while ago, at the presentation of the bike at EICMA 2019.
BMW R 18 Aurora
The lines of the new BMW cruiser, innovative and at the same time faithfully traditional, deserved “complementary elements and an even more Heritage spirit, starting from the soft lines of the tank to the characteristic shapes of the boxer,” in the opinion of Pier Francesco Marchio of Garage 221.
The project initially focused on the study of the different sections of the bike, keeping in mind the need to connect the new elements in a unique harmony of lines, taking inspiration from the cruisers of the 1970s, which have always particularly involved Pier Francesco “for their impressive aesthetic fluidity.”
BMW R 18 Aurora
Distinctive elements of the BMW R 18 Aurora by Garage 221 are the wraparound fenders and adherent to the wheel, like the “batwing”, to leave space and thus highlight the central area of the bike.
BMW R 18 Aurora
The modifications that led to the R 18 Aurora stem from Garage 221’s experience in the BMW world and indeed all used elements come from other models of BMW Motorrad.
BMW R 18 Aurora
The saddle was borrowed in its entirety from a BMW 1200 C of 2005, the Batwing supports were made using the supports for indicators of a BMW R 100 of 1982 and a part of the rear frame of a BMW K 75 of 1991.
BMW R 18 Aurora
Even for the colour of the body, the code of a 1983 BMW RT 100 was taken as a reference, customising the graphics in its shades and intensity.
BMW R 18 Aurora
The front and rear fender supports, saddle supports, and license plate holder arms are entirely hand-made.
BMW R 18 Aurora
The exhaust pipes were made in collaboration with Leo Vince, for an even more full-bodied and captivating exhaust note. Their design has been specifically studied to give a very personal and muscular line to the central part of the R 18.
BMW R 18 Aurora
The R 18 Aurora’s oil cooler grille gives a classy natural touch, inspired by the grille of BMW’s cars from the 1960s.
BMW R 18 Aurora
“It was a lot of hard work,” said Pier Francesco, “but the result is truly stunning. The textured paintwork of the cylinder head covers, the injection housings, the central crankcase and our oil cooler grille make everything look homogeneous, creating a unique effect with the cylinder block and the bevel gear.”
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