Black Dog Cycle Works skid plate on KTM 790 Adventure.
Outfit your KTM 790 Adventure with the rough, tough ADV-ready accessories from Black Dog Cycle Works. Its Ultimate Skid Plate ($349) will take a beating and protect your bike’s vulnerable underbelly; its Traction Footpegs ($229) give you more purchase in wet, muddy conditions; its Rear Rack ($175) is a conveniently large, flat platform for attaching luggage; and its Trail Stand ($42) makes road- or trailside tire repairs easy. More accessories are available online.
A new generation of HJC helmets has arrived with the F70, with a fresh, unique design and must-have features. The F70 includes a fiberglass shell, a unique curved shield, two top vents, a mouth vent, five exhaust vents, an aggressive-looking breath guard and an integrated drop-down sun shield, and it’s compatible with the SmartHJC Bluetooth system. Available in sizes XS-2XL in a variety of solid colors ($269.99-$279.99) and graphics ($299.99-$319.99).
The newest addition to Michelin’s lineup of V-twin cruiser and touring tires, the Commander III, is designed to deliver exceptional wet grip and extraordinary durability, exceeding its predecessor’s performance on both counts with new tread compounds. The distinctive tread patterns and patented velvet-textured sidewall designs of the Commander III will also enhance the styling of all V-twin motorcycles. Available in a variety of popular sizes, the Commander III will go on sale in early 2020.
In Moto3™, meanwhile, it was another of those coming into their own who topped the timesheets: Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia). The Japanese rider came on song mid-way through 2019 and appears to have kept the momentum rolling right through winter, breaking the lap record at Jerez. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was only 0.050 off though, with Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) completing the top three ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was next up in fifth, creating another interesting stand off between experienced veterans and sophomore pacesetters in the Moto3™ class.
Round 1 of the 2020 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship kicked off today at Phillip Island as a huge weekend of motorcycling gets underway on MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship weekend.
Practice sessions for Kawasaki Superbike, Motorsports TV Supersport, and YMI Supersport 300, and two practice sessions for the Oceania Junior Cup all got underway under overcast conditions.
Cru Halliday came out on top in Kawasaki Superbike, whilst Tom Toparis and Harry Khouri took Supersport and Supersport 300 respectively. Fastest in the Oceania Junior Cup was Angus Grenfell.
Kawasaki Superbike
Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1) emerged fastest in Kawasaki Superbike, the fastest of a red-flag interrupted session with a 1:32.500. On a track where the Yamaha rider hasn’t been as strong as he would like in the past, Halliday starts the season marginally ahead of his rivals Wayne Maxwell (Boost Mobile Ducati V4R, 1:32.610), Josh Waters (JW Racing Suzuki GSXR1000, 1:32.973) and YRT teammate Aiden Wagner (1:33.563).
Cru Halliday
“It’s a little bit surprising, I wasn’t hitting the lines I wanted to be, but I’m still doing faster times than I did in the test. We are on the 2020 bike, and I think I’m just gelling with it. It feels really comfortable to ride, the power’s a lot better, and the bike gets off the corner a lot faster than the ’19 model- I think that’s where we were lacking a lot last year. It’s only FP1, you know all the other boys are going to be on it tomorrow, but it’s a good way to start the weekend.”
Cru Halliday – Image by TBG
Despite regularly running at the front last year, Halliday’s lack of a race win in 2019 ultimately proved fatal to his championship chances. Could this be the weekend he finally breaks through for a victory?
Cru Halliday
“If it’s not this weekend, it’s got to be this year. You always have the announcers saying ‘Halliday hasn’t got a race win’ and at first I didn’t really care because I was up there in the points, but when I start to fall back behind in points I started to get a bit frustrated hearing it – you don’t want to hear about a factory rider still without a race win. Hopefully this year we can get more than one!”
Motorsports TV Supersport
Many in the Supersport field will be glad to see the back of Tom Toparis (Benro Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) when he heads to Europe to contest the European rounds of the World Supersport Championship, as he left the field in his dust once again today to emerge fastest in Free Practice 1 with a 1:36.609.
However many of those competitors may have had a hand in Toparis’ session-topping performance, after Toparis crashed his bike last Sunday in testing.
Tom Toparis
“Really last-minute we got a Yamaha (to use this weekend) and, on Sunday I crashed it… pretty much wrote it off! So I borrowed parts from half the paddock to get it together for this weekend! We have no spares, no anything, we’re just here to ride I’m so grateful for everyone who’s helped us get here, and now it’s just a little bit of prep before we go overseas next week.”
Tom Toparis – Image by TBG
In second spot was an impressive Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF R6) with a 1:36.937. He’s free of his World Supersport duties for today and can concentrate on ASBK, but it will be interesting to see if the youngster can maintain the frenetic pace of his double-duty weekend. Jack Passfield (Stay Upright Yamaha YZF R6) maintained his good form from pre-season testing to finish third fastest with a 1:37.775, he will be one to watch this year.
Australian World Supersport 300 rider Tom Edwards (Bikebiz Yamaha YZF R6, 1:39.360), making a guest appearance in the ASBK before returning to Europe, was sixth fastest.
YMI Supersport 300
Harry Khouri (Addicted to Track Yamaha YZF R3) topped the timesheets in Supersport 300, the only rider in the 1:48s for the session with his time of 1:48.643. He finished ahead of Luke Power on the Kawasaki Ninja 400 (Proworx, 1:49.791) and Luke Jhonston (Proworx Kawasaki Ninja 400, 1:50.596).
Harry Khouri – Image by TBG
Edwards’ World Supersport 300 ParkinGO Kawasaki teammate, Italian Filippo Rovelli joins the ASBK this weekend along with Edwards. He is campaigning the ParkinGO/BCperformance Kawasaki Ninja 400, and finished the session fifth fastest.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Bookending the ASBK sessions for today were two practice sessions for the Oceania Junior Cup, with a number of new riders joining the familiar faces from the class of 2019. The youngsters showed plenty of improvement between the two sessions, with lap time differences from the first session to the second in the order of three to four seconds for many riders.
Victorian Angus Grenfell was quickest on the number 36 Yamaha YZF R15 (2:12.986) ahead of New South Welshman Cameron Dunker who joins the program this year (2:13.352). Third was the returning Marianos ‘Nos’ Nikolis sporting the famous number 46 (2:13.688) ahead of NSW’s Tom Drane (2:14.219) and Queenslander Lucas Quinn (2:14.660).
Round 1 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship continues tomorrow with Qualifying for the Oceania Junior Cup commencing at 8:25am.
The first session for Kawasaki Superbike kicks off with Timed Practice at 9:05 on Friday, and World Superbikes hit the track for the first time this weekend at 10:30 for their first practice session of the weekend.
A rider has died in a hit-and-run crash with a truck in Sydney this afternoon in a tragic five days on the roads in several states.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command have established a crime scene at Ultimo following the latest fatal collision.
The crash happened at 2.40pm (27 February 2020) when the rider was struck by a white truck on Abecrombie Street at Ultimo.
The truck failed to stop after the collision.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at hospital.
UPDATE: Police have now arrested a man near the scene at 4.50pm today and taken him to a hospital for mandatory testing. A truck has been seized for scientific examination.
There are no further details available at this time.
Policer are appealing to anyone who might have been in the area at the time of the collision, particularly anyone who may have captured dash-cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au
Tragic days
It follows a tragic five days on the roads for riders:
Our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who died and our best wishes to any injured riders for a full and seedy recovery.
Halliday goes fastest in Thursday ASBK practice at Phillip Island
Section: Competition
Maxwell and Waters round out the top three in the opening session.
Image: Russell Colvin.
It was Cru Halliday who topped the opening practice session on Thursday at Phillip Island’s first round of the 2020 Mi-Bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
The Yamaha Racing Team rider set a 1m32.500s in the closing stages of the session, edging out Boost Mobile Racing’s Wayne Maxwell, who set a 1m32.610s aboard his Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Josh Waters, who’s making his debut under his own JW Racing team, was third fastest, recording a best-lap of 1m32.973s. The top five was rounded out by Aiden Wagner (Yamaha Racing Team) and Glenn Allerton (Maxima BMW), the pair setting 1m33.563s and 1m33.806s times respectively.
Yamaha-mounted privateer Daniel Falzon was sixth, followed by Matt Walters (Kawasaki Connection), Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing), reigning champion Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati) and Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance).
In the Supersport category, reigning champion Tom Toparis was fastest on Kawasaki machinery, lodging a 1m36.609s to top Cube Racing’s Oli Bayliss, who’s performing double duties this weekend by contesting WorldSSP. His best-lap was 1m36.967s.
Jack Passfield (Yamaha) was third with a lap of 1m37.775s, while the top five was concluded by Jack Hyde (Yamaha) and Nic Liminton (Yamaha). Harry Khouri (Yamaha) went fastest in Supersport 300 ahead of Luke Power (Kawasaki) and Luke Jhonston (Kawasaki).
The Oceania Junior Cup saw Angus Grenfell (Yamaha) emerge fastest in the combined times over Cameron Dunker (Yamaha) amd Marianos Nikolis.
Ducati and Piaggio (Aprilia, Vespa, Moto Guzzi) have closed their museums due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus (coronavirus) in Italy, but their factories are still operating.
Chinese motorcycle factories were closed for a prolonged period over the Chinese Lunar New Year, but many, including Honda and CFMoto, have now restarted.
In the case of CFMoto, the factory is at around 80% due to workers still returning from extended new year celebrations with 100% production capacity expected over the next two weeks.
CFMoto factory
Supply chain
However, many component factories that supply automakers around the world have not reopened.
And now the virus has moved from a Chinese emergency to one that involves South Korea, Japan and Italy, three major manufacturers of motorcycles, cars and automotive parts.
The impact on motorcycle manufacture and supply of components could now be affected with Fiat-Chrysler the first to warn it could halt production at a European plant in weeks.
Data and analytics company GlobalData automotive editor David Leggett says this is an “inevitable consequence” on the automotive supply chain.
“Many factories in the Wuhan and Hubei province have been on lockdown since the start of the Chinese New Year holidays,” he says.
“The emerging problems for FCA outside of China are likely to be mirrored by other vehicle manufacturers and reflect both the long-run internationalisation of parts supply-chains and the predominance of ‘just-in-time’ lean manufacturing processes that keep inventory low.
“The next few weeks will be critical for automakers. The typical car is made up of 20,000 parts, and there is an elongated supply-chain of parts and sub-assemblies put together in complex sequence to create the finished vehicle.
“Korean manufacturers were the first to show up as impacted by China supply-chain disruption reflecting shorter shipment distances between China and Korea, but the FCA news indicates that impacts across the world are now coming over the horizon on shipment transit schedules.”
Museums close
Moto Guzzi museum’s big red doors will remain closed
As of yesterday, Italy had 374 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 12 deaths.
The epicentres of Covid-19 contagion in Italy are in Lombardy and Veneto regions where most of the auto factories are located.
Ducati’s factory in Bologna is just outside these central regions.
Public institutions and venues in these regions have been closed and mass meetings cancelled, including Ducati and Piaggio museum and factory tours.
The companies have notified the public that they have closed their museums for several weeks, but both confirm their factories are still operating.
We have not heard from MV Agusta which is near Milan in Lombardy, but their Facebook page has no reference to any closures.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the Geneva Motor Show, one of Europe’s premier motoring events, have confirmed the event is still due to take place as scheduled next week despite the first case of coronavirus in Switzerland.
Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday has laid down a marker at the start of the 2020 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship season, quickest in Free Practice 1 at Phillip Island on the new 2020 YZF-R1. Halliday set the early pace of the weekend, his 1:32.500 a great start to a season where he is more determined than ever to break into the ASBK winner’s circle.
Cru Halliday – Image by TBG
Grey skies greeted the teams and riders, with the notorious Phillip Island weather once again testing the riders. Offshore wind would ensure fast speeds through the speed trap down the main straight, with all the riders looking to get their weekends, and their seasons, off to a good start.
Riders had only done two laps in the session before a red flag stopped proceedings. Glenn Scott’s BCperformance Kawasaki had spilt fluid on the racetrack through turns 3, 4 and 5, requiring a lengthy cleanup for the session to continue. Once the session resumed Cru Halliday was the first rider to dip into the 1:32s, his 1:32.836 putting him to the top of the leaderboard with 15 minutes to go. Wayne Maxwell was the only rider daring to match him at that point, his best of 1:33.097 the next fastest.
With three minutes to go Josh Waters joined Halliday in the 1:32s with a 1:32.973, a great start for the privateer on his team’s first outing in an ASBK round. Maxwell improved on his best to a 1:32.988 leaving him third.
As the final flurry of laps came in before the chequered flag, Halliday further improved his mark to a 1:32.500, ahead of Maxwell (1:32.610) and Waters. When the chequered flag fell to end the session that’s how they stayed, Halliday fastest ahead of Maxwell and Waters, Aiden Wagner on his first outing as a factory Yamaha Racing Team rider in fourth (1:33.563). Glenn Allerton on the brand-new 2020 Maxima BMW S1000RR was an impressive fifth (1:33.806) while CAT Yamaha privateer Daniel Falzon was sixth (1:34.096).
ASBK Season Launch
Speaking at the launch event for the 2020 ASBK this morning, Halliday and teammate Wagner said they were impressed by the speed of their new 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1.
However Halliday said there’s also improvement needed in his riding to truly take the fight to Troy Herfoss, Maxwell and Mike Jones.
Cru Halliday
“This is the year I need to start winning races. I just think I need to get more aggressive in the races and understand where these other riders are faster than me at some of the tracks where I really need to pick up the pace- and this is one of them.”
Cru Halliday – Image by TBG
Also speaking at the season launch, Desmosport Ducati’s Mike Jones was confident of getting his 2020 championship defence off to a good start.
Mike Jones
“The pace that we’ve got’s quite good, we finished up second quickest at the test and heading into this weekend we’ve got good race pace. I feel like the races are going to be just as hectic and intense as they were at the end of last year. It brought the level of the championship up, the depth of field’s getting more and more, the level of the championship’s getting higher and higher.”
Penrite Honda’s Troy Herfoss has plenty of new elements to his race package for 2020, with a new tyre in Michelin and a new Crew Chief in Paul Free. But the biggest change for Herfoss is still to come, with the 2020 Fireblade still on the way pending the import numbers to make the bike eligible for ASBK.
Troy Herfoss
“I’ve been watching the (WorldSBK) testing and all I care about is that the two fastest bikes (through the speed trap) are the Hondas! I’ve seen the bike, I’ve sat on the bike, I’ve started the bike, it’s got my name on it, it’s sitting there ready, the parts are ordered, they’re available, but we’re just waiting for the bikes to arrive in the country. Realistically it’ll be (here) the last half of the season.”
Boost Mobile Racing’s Wayne Maxwell has switched over from Suzuki to Ducati and has been impressed with the performance of the new-for-2020 V4R.
Wayne Maxwell
“It was really fast, that was the first impression! Just the way it accelerates, the bike is super-fast compared to the Suzuki, it accelerates a lot harder. Turning on the throttle… not only has it got a really strong engine the chassis also suited my style.”
Meanwhile over at Kawasaki BCperformance Bryan Staring says no news is good news.
Bryan Staring
“Nothing’s really changed for us, which is from my point of view a big positive. Same bike, same tyre, same team, same personnel. The racing (in ASBK) is really hard at the moment, and it’s also really good. Parity between the bikes is all quite good, and even with the tyre competition there’s a lot of brilliant things there.”
For Josh Waters this weekend marks his 100th race start in the ASBK, and his first with his own team. Waters announced his privateer effort officially only last Monday, and has been much more hands-on since departing Suzuki’s factory effort last year.
Josh Waters
“It’s a lot different for me this year because my program is back to the grass roots. A lot of late nights over the last month, but I’m doing it because I love it. I’m fortunate to have some great sponsors on board and we’ve got a good little team behind us so just try and enjoy it and try our hardest.”
Maxima BMW have also taken delivery of their 2020 S1000RR ready for Round 1. Glenn Allerton feels that while the team have been struggling to come to grips with the new machine, it’s only a matter of time.
Glenn Allerton
“We’re in a development phase with this new bike. I’m lucky enough to have a lot of support from BMW, but at the moment we’re on the back foot. It’s only going to get better from where we are. The potential of this new bike’s really high, we just haven’t been able to get the thing to handle in some of the corners especially on corner exit. It’s something that will only get better, and I’m looking forward to when we get on top of it.”
Round 1 of the 2020 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship began today, February 27, and runs until March 1 at Phillip Island.
Race Direction at Phillip Island have announced that the Sunday afternoon World Supersport race has been shortened to 16 laps, with a compulsory pit-stop for all riders to change their rear tyre, no later than lap 10. In the event of a wet race the race duration will also be 16 laps, with no mandatory pit stop if using racing wets, however the maximum number of laps on a dry tyre still needs to be observed.
World Supersport at Phillip Island
The announcement mirrors a similar situation in 2019, where a mandatory pit stop was also added to the World Supersport race due to Phillip Island’s highly abrasive surface.
The World Superbike class is uneffected, and will race as normal.
Here’s the full release from Race Direction:
The World Supersport Race (Yamaha Finance Australia Round) will have a compulsory pit stop. The race distance will be 16 laps for a ‘dry’ race.
– No more than 10 race laps are allowed for any rear dry tyre.
– The Riders must enter pit lane to change tyre no later than the end of lap 10.
– The race tyre that is fitted on the grid and will start the race MUST have a tyre sticker fitted.
The second tyre does NOT require a tyre sticker.
A race started as ‘wet’ the race distance will be 16 laps. No mandatory pit stop is required, provided the conditions below are met:
– A wet rear tyre is used for the complete race
– In the case of starting the race with a wet rear tyre, the team may decide to change to a dry rear tyre but must respect the maximum limit of 10 racing laps for that tyre.
Any rider doing more than 10 laps with a rear dry tyre will be black flagged (sighting, warm up and slow down laps are not counted).
In the case of a restarted race, the maximum number of laps to be covered will be 10.
The Superbike Races will remain at their originally published race distance.
Moto Guzzi museum’s big red doors will remain closed
