This year’s Selection Event saw drier skies than last year, allowing the young hopefuls maximum track time to show what they’ve got. Nearly 90 riders were put through their paces throughout the day around Sepang Go-Kart track, before the Selection Committee made their final decisions in the afternoon. The committee, led by Talent Promotion Director Alberto Puig, selected riders from Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan and Turkey to either join the grid next year or be on the reserve list.
Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo set a new lap record of 1:59.027 in MotoGP™ FP1 at the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix to lead teammate Franco Morbidelli at the team’s home race. Fellow Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) claimed P3 as the leading trio were split by less than two tenths.
After overnight rain the Sepang International Circuit had dried for the intermediate class, and it was Marquez who was the early pacesetter. That didn’t last though as a shadowing Nagashima took top spot from the Spaniard in the closing stages, with title contender Binder also jumping above Marquez just before the chequered flag waved. All four Moto2™ title contenders were inside the top five, thanks to Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) finishing 0.6 off Nagashima.
The session started in the worst possible manner of Ayumu Sasaki at the Petronas Sprinta Racing squad’s home round after the Japanese rider crashed heavily at Turn 10, requiring a trip to the medical centre but has subsequently been declared fit. Lap times began to tumble in the final ten minutes with Migno’s final lap enough to take top spot, 0.351 seconds clear of Sterilgarda Max Racing Team’s Aron Canet.
2+4 two-day drive/ride event with BMW M cars and BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad and BMW M will offer customers the opportunity to take control of high performance BMW two-and four-wheeled vehicles at Phillip Island this December in a world first initiative.
The two-day program will allow customers to experience the rush and improve their skills driving the celebrated BMW M and M Performance line-up followed by riding the BMW Motorrad range including the exhilarating S 1000 RR superbike while receiving expert tuition.
Combining BMW M and BMW Motorrad in this unique initiative also serves as a reminder of the new global association that will see the legendary BMW M brand integrated in packages, parts and the branding of machinery such as the S 1000 RR.
The two-day ride and drive experience program is priced at $1,395 (inc. GST) per person, per day.
Entrants must hold an unrestricted driver’s licence to participate in the BMW Driving Experience program, while participants for the BMW Motorrad Track Experience are required to have at least a Provisional licence and a minimum level of motorcycle protective gear, though this can be provided upon request.
The BMW Driving Experience element includes the following dynamic elements over the course of the day:
Visually assisted lecture on safe driving techniques from the BMW Driving Experience team
Steering technique and seating position
Motorkhana exercise
Paced circuit laps
Hot lap of Phillip Island in a M3 by a BMW Driving Experience instructor
BMW M and M Performance vehicles will be incorporated, with model specifics to be confirmed at the time of booking confirmation.
The BMW Motorrad Track Experience by the eminent California Superbike School allows participants to ride BMW Motorrad product without limits at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit – home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Senior instructors will be on hand to provide tuition for riders of all levels.
Two very rare classic motorcycles — an RC30 and a Walter Wolf special — are coming up for sale at the Shannons Sydney Spring Auction on 18 November 2019.
The 1989 Honda VFR750R RC30 ‘Homologation Special’ and 1986 Suzuki RG500 ‘Walter Wolf Special Edition’ come from the same private collector.
They are among 11 classic race bikes and on and off-road motorcycles dating from 1943 to 1989 on offer.
This 1989 Honda VFR750R RC30 was developed as a homologation special for the World Superbike Championship, using cutting edge technology.
It has had just two private owners and is believed to have covered just 17,100km from new.
The RC30’s roots date back to the Honda’s RVF factory racer of 1985 that Australian Wayne Gardner rode to victory in the Suzuka Eight-Hours races of 1985 and 1986 and later scored further Suzuka victories when paired with fellow Aussie legends Mick Doohan and Daryl Beattie respectively in 1991 and 1992.
Costing almost twice the price of a standard 750 sport bike at the time, the RC30 was the Formula 1 racer of motorcycles, with its 360-degree 748cc liquid-cooled four-stroke V4 engine featuring 16-valves, gear-driven double overhead camshafts, titanium conrods, forged alloy pistons and a close-ratio six-speed gearbox.
The RC30’s current Sydney owner purchased the bike two years ago with 16,350km on its odometer and it is now showing just 17,100km, making this incredibly original Honda RC30 a wonderful collector’s bike at its estimated selling range of $40,000-$45,000.
Rare Walter Wolf Special Edition
The 1986 Suzuki RG500 ‘Walter Wolf Special Edition’ is an original example of the 99 built in the early 1980s to celebrate theRG500’s success in the Canadian National Pro & Amateur 600 Production Championship, when Walter Wolf was the principal sponsor.
Imported in 2012, the RG500 is one of very few to exist in Australia and is in very original condition.
Its current Sydney enthusiast owner has invested almost $9500 on its mechanical restoration between 2016 and 2018.
Because of its global rarity, Shannons believe the RG500 will be sought-after by international enthusiasts. They are quoting a guiding range of $30,000 – $35,000.
Sale highlights
Other motorcycles on offer at no reserve include:
A Pre-Unit Triumph T120R Bonneville fully restored to a high standard by a specialist workshop in Melbourne several years ago. It has 285 miles on the odometer and was recently serviced. It is expected to bring $25,000-$30,000;
An unrestored early ‘die-cast’ 1969 Honda CB750 KO with no reserve is expected to fetch up to $20,000;
1972 Laverda 750SF bought by a Sydney fan in 2016 has been restored to a high standard and should fetch more than $15,000. It has matching frame and engine numbers and done just 920km since restoration. It is expected to sell in the $15,000-$20,000 range;
1943 Malvern Star Autocycle formerly in a museum ($2000-$3000);
Rare British c1948 Excelsior Universal 125cc ($3000-$4000);
Circa 1959 BSA Bantam ($4000-$6000);
1949 Matchless G80 500cc ($6000-$8000); and
1961 Matchless G12 CSR ($8,000-$10,000).
Off-roaders on offer include a 1980 Yamaha DT175 Enduro (no reserve $1000-$2000) and two early three wheeler ATVs – 1980 Yamaha YT125G and 1982 Honda 185S. Both are unrestored and offered for sale with no reserve for $1000-$3000.
The future for backyard, independent and even multi-brand motorcycle mechanics may be a little brighter if the coming mandatory data sharing law is widened to include motorcycles.
The law will allow owners the freedom to choose their mechanic as well as provide the backyard or independent mechanic access to service and repair information at a fair price.
Currently, manufacturers charge exorbitant annual prices for such information.
They also partially lock their ECUs which, for example, prevents independents mechanics turning off the “service light”.
It is a move to not only tie down owners to their approved dealer network, but also to prevent owners tampering with LAMS bikes that have ECU power restrictions.
Owners should note that LAMS bikes that have been de-restricted by any method may have their warranty cancelled and could void their insurance.
Data sharing law
This week the Australian Government announced it will introduce a mandatory data sharing law for all passenger cars.
Meanwhile, some motorcycle companies intimidate owners with threats to cancel their warranty if they have their bikes serviced at non-approved dealers.
However, The Australian Competition and Consumer Act 2010 prevents automotive dealers from tying you into servicing or voiding your warranty if you service it yourself or have it done by an independent mechanic.
Similar laws protecting consumers against restrictive trade practices, such as this, exist in many countries.
However, your warranty can still be voided if you or your mechanic use inferior consumables (such as oils) or parts; if the servicing isn’t as regular as prescribed in the manual; or if you don’t follow proper servicing procedures.
You can tell there is even more tension in the air than normal here at Sydney Motorsports Park today. The temperature too is rising as the mercury is heading towards the low-mid 30s today, with track temperatures likely to be over 50-degrees at times as this final round of the Motul Pirelli ASBK Championship plays out in Western Sydney.
51-points are up for grabs this weekend in the Superbike category and there are six riders in with a shot at the championship with the top three separated by less than five points.
Troy Herfoss, Wayne Maxwell and Mike Jones are that highest ranked trio but Cru Halliday, Josh Waters and Bryan Staring are still in the race for the title.
With the competition so tight, and the riders and machinery so closely matched, it is not only skill, fitness, bravery, guile and cunning that will decide the outcome, lady luck is also sure to play its part. Riders have fallen in and out of favour with that lady at various times this season and she can be a fickle beast…
Track temperatures had already passed 41-degrees despite the early 1030 start of FP1 and was rising rapidly as a smoky haze cast a grey shadow over Sydney Motorsports Park.
All superbike riders were getting plenty of laps in as they tested tyre longevity, and suspension settings to extend that longevity. With hot conditions also forecast for tomorrow, before a cooler change on Sunday that will bring with it a high probability of heavy showers, it is going to be a very interesting weekend with that weather factor sure to increase the already palpable tension yet further.
YRT’s Cru Halliday set the pace throughout FP1, using his local knowledge to good effect to secure top spot with a m1m30.752s.
Wayne Maxwell got close to that marker later on in the session but was P2 ahead of Troy Herfoss at the chequered flag. The top three all put in 14 laps during the session.
Daniel Falzon was fourth quickest and on the pace with a 1m31.042 ahead of Mike Jones and Daniel Falzon while Josh Waters was seventh.
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time
1
Cru HALLIDAY
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m30.752
2
Wayne MAXWELL
Suzuki GSXR
1m30.790
3
Troy HERFOSS
Honda CBR SP
1m30.980
4
Daniel FALZON
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m31.042
5
Mike JONES
Ducati FE
1m31.206
6
Mark CHIODO
Honda CBR SP
1m31.684
7
Josh WATERS
Suzuki GSXR
1m32.026
8
Matt WALTERS
Kawasaki ZX10R
1m32.140
9
Bryan STARING
Kawasaki ZX10R
1m32.486
10
Glenn ALLERTON
BMW S RR
1m32.518
11
Alex PHILLIS
Suzuki GSXR
1m32.889
12
Lachlan EPIS
Kawasaki ZX10R
1m33.063
13
Damon REES
Honda CBR SP
1m33.071
14
Brendan MCINTYRE
Suzuki GSXR
1m34.210
15
Ben BURKE
Kawasaki ZX10R
1m34.368
16
Arthur SISSIS
Suzuki GSXR
1m34.519
17
Sloan FROST
Suzuki GSXR
1m34.558
18
Jamie STAUFFER
Ducati V4R
1m35.072
19
Dominic DE LEON
Kawasaki ZX10R
1m35.608
20
Heath GRIFFIN
Suzuki GSXR
1m36.345
21
Matthew TOOLEY
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m36.886
22
Nathan SPITERI
Suzuki GSXR
1m37.758
23
Michael EDWARDS
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m37.930
Supersport
In the Supersport ranks the championship has already been decided with Goulburn teenager Tom Toparis crowned at Phillip Island after a faultless year that saw him dominate almost every outing. He looks set to do the same here after setting a 1m33.023s in FP1, 1.7-seconds quicker than the rest of the field…
Second placed Broc Pearson has a 38-point advantage over Nic Liminton thus is in the box seat to claim the #2 plate.
An interesting addition to the Supersport field this weekend is young Tommy Edwards, who has returned from World Supersport 300 duties to chance his hand in stepping up to the 600 Supersport ranks this weekend. He was seventh in FP1 on a 1m35.676s.
Pos
Name
Bike
Time/Gap
1
Tom TOPARIS
Yamaha YZF-R6
1m33.023
2
Jack PASSFIELD
Yamaha YZF-R6
+1.745
3
Aidan HAYES
Yamaha YZF-R6
+1.854
4
Nic LIMINTON
Yamaha YZF-R6
+1.910
5
Oli BAYLISS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+2.149
6
Broc PEARSON
Yamaha YZF-R6
+2.288
7
Tom EDWARDS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+2.653
8
Callum SPRIGGS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+2.729
9
Ty LYNCH
Yamaha YZF-R6
+3.424
10
Brodie MALOUF
Yamaha YZF-R6
+4.223
11
Jack HYDE
Yamaha YZF-R6
+4.323
12
Luke MITCHELL
Yamaha YZF-R6
+4.425
13
Dallas SKEER
Suzuki GSXR
+4.789
14
Chris QUINN
Yamaha YZF-R6
+4.842
15
Rhys BELLING es
Yamaha YZF-R6
+5.048
16
Richie DIBBEN
Suzuki GSXR
+5.283
17
Andrew EDSER
Kawasaki ZX6R
+5.491
18
Avalon BIDDLE
Yamaha YZF-R6
+5.644
19
Callum O’BRIEN
Kawasaki ZX6R
+8.223
Supersport 300
Max Stauffer had looked on course comfortable victory in the Supersport 300 Championship, but in the most recent round at Phillip Island his points margin was eroded by Senna Agius, who has closed to within 16-points of Stauffer. Yannis Shaw topped FP1 this morning ahead of Agius and Hunter Ford while Max Stauffer was sixth.
Pos
Name
Bike
Time/Gap
1
Yannis SHAW
Kawasaki EX 400
1m44.833
2
Senna AGIUS
Kawasaki EX 400
+0.566
3
Hunter FORD
Yamaha R3 321
+0.837
4
Brandon DEMMERY
Yamaha R3 321
+1.013
5
Ben BAKER
Yamaha R3 321
+1.174
6
Max STAUFFER
Yamaha R3 321
+1.413
7
Kyle O’CONNELL
Yamaha R3 321
+1.518
8
Ryan SMITH
Yamaha R3 321
+1.776
9
Luke JHONSTON
Kawasaki EX 400
+1.871
10
John LYTRAS
Yamaha R3 321
+2.641
11
Zylas BUNTING
Kawasaki EX 400
+3.307
12
Peter NERLICH
Kawasaki EX 400
+4.499
13
Laura BROWN
Yamaha R3 321
+4.892
14
Jimmy BROADBENT
Kawasaki EX 400
+5.223
15
Seth CRUMP
KTM RC 390
+5.305
16
Noel MAHON
Kawasaki EX 400
+6.717
17
Matt RINDEL
Yamaha R3 321
+8.586
18
Zak PETTENDY
Yamaha R3 321
+8.799
19
Caleb GILMORE
Yamaha R3 321
+8.875
20
James JACOBS
Kawasaki EX 400
+9.201
21
Harry PARKER
Yamaha R3 321
+9.325
YMF R3 Cup
The YMF R3 Cup has produced a see-sawing contest between Hunter Ford and John Lytras, the two riders swapping the points lead several times over the last couple of rounds. At Phillip Island, Ford scored two wins but Lytras kept his chances alive with a trio of third-place finishes, and is only 13 points behind Ford. Max Stauffer is only a further five-points behind and is still in the game. Ford set the early pace in FP1, topping the session from Stauffer and Demmery with Lytras fourth.
Pos
Name
Machine
Time/Gap
1
Hunter FORD
Yamaha YZF-R3
1m45.020
2
Max STAUFFER
Yamaha YZF-R3
+0.151
3
Brandon DEMMERY
Yamaha YZF-R3
+0.459
4
John LYTRAS
Yamaha YZF-R3
+0.878
5
Ryan SMITH
Yamaha YZF-R3
+0.989
6
Kyle O’CONNELL
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.192
7
Ben BAKER
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.518
8
Jacob HATCH
Yamaha YZF-R3
+3.084
9
Patrick BOGNAR
Yamaha YZF-R3
+3.837
10
Archie MCDONALD
Yamaha YZF-R3
+4.239
11
Caleb GILMORE
Yamaha YZF-R3
+4.590
12
Harry PARKER
Yamaha YZF-R3
+5.143
13
Tony SIMS
Yamaha YZF-R3
+5.866
14
Matt RINDEL
Yamaha YZF-R3
+6.048
15
Hunter DIPLOCK
Yamaha YZF-R3
+6.944
16
Zak PETTENDY
Yamaha YZF-R3
+6.963
17
Dominic FLETCHER
Yamaha YZF-R3
+7.535
18
Patrick LI
Yamaha YZF-R3
+2m52.998
DNS
Laura BROWN
Yamaha YZF-R3
-1:45.020
Superbike Masters
The Superbike Masters category appeared earlier in the season at the Morgan Park ASBK round, and encompasses a range of Period 5 (1976-82) and Period 6 (1983-1990) motorcycles.
John Allen leads Alex Pickett by 15-points but it was Aaron Morris who topped FP1 here at SMP this morning by a huge 6.8-seconds after putting in a 1m35.515s on the C&M Motorcycles FZR 1000. Morris did not race with the Superbike Masters at their previous round as he was otherwise engaged riding a NextGen BMW Superbike.
Suzuki is tipped to unveil a revamped V-Strom range with an updated and maybe bigger engine with a cosmetic makeover to match the reborn Katana.
The company’s latest teaser video clearly shows the flagship 1037ccc model in all its glory with a squared LED headlight to reflect the more angular styling of the Katana model.
Does this mean more models in their range will follow this new design philosophy?
There is a clear shot of an updated tablet-style fully digital instrument panel which could mean updated connectivity and electronic wizardry.
It’s a blank screen and it looks like it doesn’t handle glare very well!
The windscreen looks taller, the seat is now split, it appears to have LED indicators, there’s an engine guard and is that a bigger fuel tank?
We also note different engine casings and a fatter exhaust pipe in the video which means they have likely updated the engine for next year’s tougher Euro5 emissions requirements.
That could also mean a bigger engine than the current 1037cc twin.
We won’t have long to wait to find out as the bike will be unveiled on Tuesday at the EICMA motorcycle showing Milan.
V-Strom 650 update?
This video only shows the flagship model, but we suspect the three 650 models will also get an update.
Why?
Because Suzuki Australia is currently offering great runout deals on both the 1000 and 650.
There may be some other treats from Suzuki at EICMA.
After years of teasing, Suzuki might unveil a turbo model, perhaps even a turbo Hayabusa or Katana. More likely it will be something in the mid-range engine capacity.
There will probably be a concept bike and an electric.
Some have even suggested a smaller version of the recently released Katana.
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