The Piaggio One marks the arrival of a new generation of e-scooters which the Italian brand describes as light and easy to ride while still delivering the traditional content of Piaggio scooters – quality, reliability and a robust chassis. It has just been launched in Beijing on Tik Tok, targeting younger riders.
Piaggio One e-scooter
The Piaggio One features technology such as a digital colour instrument panel with a sensor to adapt the background and luminosity to ambient conditions, full LED lights, a keyless start system, two motor maps.
Piaggio promise a comfortable riding position, a low seat, a flat roomy footplate, plus practical and robust pull-out footpegs for the passenger.
The Piaggio One is also the only e-scooter in its category to provide a capacious compartment below the seat. The Piaggio ONE will be available in several versions offering different powers (moped and motorcycle) and different ranges, all powered by an electric motor whose lithium ion batteries can be easily extracted for recharging at home or in the office.
Piaggio One e-scooter
We’re still waiting for more details, but the Piaggio One looks as though it could be a popular entry level option for younger riders. It looks pretty good, and that’s a great start, particularly for the youth market it is aimed at. We will wait and see how likely it is that the machine will be offered in Australia.
When Jonathan Rea first set foot in the World championship paddock back in 2008, to contest his debut season in the then World Supersport category, few could have imagined the impact the amiable Northern-Irishman from Ballymena would have. Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Luigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager: “We are delighted to be able to announce that we will continue with Miller also in 2022. In this first season, Jack has shown great talent, professionalism, and strong determination. He was able to secure two important victories in different conditions after a tough start to the season. For sure, he is one of the riders that better knows how to understand our Desmosedici GP to fully take advantage of its potential in any condition, as the recent success in Le Mans has demonstrated. As always, our goal remains the Championship title, and we believe that with Jack and Pecco, we will be among the main protagonists of the 2022 title charge.”
Title contender misses out on points advantage after sanctions downgraded.
Image: Foremost Media.
CDR Yamaha Monster Energy rider Luke Clout isn’t dwelling on the penalty saga that unfolded after Canberra’s second round of the 2021 Penrite ProMX Championship, despite being a major beneficiary had the initial sanctions been upheld.
However those penalties, which would’ve knocked Duffy off the podium and allowed overall winner Clout to make up significant ground in the points, were later downgraded following a further investigation, which was largely based on the fact riders and teams were unaware they could be penalised post-event upon reviewing the TV broadcast.
Acknowledging the points haul would’ve been a boost for his championship campaign while disagreeing with the officials’ decision, Clout is looking to put it behind him as the series heads to Gillman this weekend for round three.
“At the end of the day, it is what it is and the officials made the call,” Clout said to MotoOnline.com.au. “Those extra points would’ve been nice, obviously, but it wasn’t to be. I don’t really want to go into it, but jumping on a red-cross flag is really the worst thing you can do, and no penalties were given.
“I don’t think the call was the right one – people have definitely been penalised for less. I’m just doing my own thing – I’m training and riding really well at the moment, so I’m just looking forward to getting behind the gate, going racing and doing my thing.”
The New South Welshman is ranked fourth in the championship standings, just 13 points behind red-plate holder Duffy.
PRA No. – 2020/18785 Date published – 24 May 2021 Campaign number – TI 11_1827836
Supplier – HQVA Pty Ltd (KTM Group) Traders who sold this product – Authorised Husqvarna Motorcycle dealerships Where the product was sold – Nationally
Husqvarna Motorcycle Model EE-5
Model Year 2021 Children’s electric motocross motorcycle
The battery vent valve may be missing on some motorcycles, allowing water intrusion.
What are the hazards?
If the vent valve is not fitted, water could enter the battery and result in a short circuit, affecting the vehicle operation. A short circuit can increase the risk of an accident, causing injury or death to the rider or others.
What should consumers do?
All affected motorcycles that have not been sold will be inspected and repaired (if needed) before sale. If affected, consumers will be contacted by dealerships, advising them of the recall and asking them to contact an authorised Husqvarna dealer to arrange an appointment for inspection of their motorcycle.
For further information, consumers can contact Husqvarna Australia on 1800 644 771 or find their nearest authorised dealer using the dealer search option at https://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/au
GasGas MC-E 5
Motorcycle Recall Notice
PRA No. – 2021/19009 Date published – 24 May 2021 Campaign number – TI 11_1827847
Supplier – KTM Australia Pty Ltd Traders who sold this product – National authorised GASGAS Dealers Where the product was sold – Nationally Dates available for sale – 6 May 2021 – 7 May 2021
GASGAS Model MC-E 5
Model Year 2021 Electric-powered competition mini motorbike
The battery vent valve may be missing on some motorcycles, allowing water intrusion.
What are the hazards?
If the vent valve is not fitted, water could enter the battery and result in a short circuit, affecting the vehicle operation. A short circuit can increase the risk of an accident that can result in injury to the rider and others.
What should consumers do?
Any unsold motorbikes will be checked to ensure the vent valve is fitted before sale. Consumers may be contacted by direct mail advising of the recall and asking them to contact an authorised GASGAS dealer to arrange an appointment for inspection of their motorcycle.
For further information, consumers can contact KTM Australia on 1800 644 771 or find their nearest authorised dealer using the dealer search option at https://www.ktm.com/au
Saratoga is horse country and thoroughbred farms abound. The Triumph Street Triple packs a few horses of its own.
Several times a year I ride north from my home in New York City to Saratoga Springs to visit family. Like any motorcyclist worth her salt, I’ve sussed out some truly glorious roads and turn what is normally a 350-mile roundtrip into a meandering 500-plus miles. Saratoga Springs and the surrounding area make for a great escape from the city, or a worthy destination in their own right. Options for entertainment run the gamut from arts and culture to gambling, outdoor adventures and gourmet dining — there’s something for every rider in your group.
The easiest way to get out of the city while still enjoying the ride is to take the Taconic State Parkway north. Long stretches of the roadway are in rough shape, and some of the worst patches are in big sweeping curves. Should you choose to roll on the throttle through those curves, I recommend good suspension and extra Vitamin I (ibuprofren). Or you can test your handling skills by navigating a slalom course between the potholes, like I do on my Triumph.
Allow me a moment to wax rhapsodic about my Street Triple. I used to ride a Bonneville, and while the beautiful Bonnie will always have a place in my heart, as a smaller, lighter rider, a sportier bike suits me better. The Street Triple is the very definition of “flickable,” and while my 2015 doesn’t have a ton of low-end torque, the smooth acceleration through the upper rev range makes getting there a pleasure. There is little that can compare to the distinctive pop-pop-pop of that throaty triple, mine made even rowdier with a Two Brothers slip-on exhaust.
Upstate New York is rife with bucolic scenery.
Now, where was I? Right, potholes on the Taconic.
The 104-mile parkway took 40 years to build, from the mid 1920s until its completion in 1963. Parts of the road were designed by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his tenure as head of the Taconic State Park Commission, and we can thank him for insisting those sections follow the natural landscape instead of powering through in a straight line. Built in a simpler time, the Taconic has narrow lanes and minimal shoulders. Posted at 50 and then 55 mph, the nimble Street Triple is perfectly suited to slip through bottlenecks created by drivers white-knuckling along at 40 mph. Though a state parkway, it isn’t boring and has plenty of gentle curves, but do be on the lookout for accidents and state troopers.
A view over Saratoga Lake so beautiful even a hummingbird needed a moment to take it in.
The Taconic ends at the junction with Interstate 90, but a better choice is to take back roads up to Saratoga Springs through farm and horse country. The town is home to the Saratoga Race Course, one of the oldest horse tracks in the country, dating to 1863. The annual meet runs from mid-July to Labor Day, but there is harness racing year-round. Saratoga is famous for its mineral springs and bath houses, and there are plenty of excellent restaurants and vibrant nightlife to enjoy. Its extensive, elegant historical district showcases many pristine Victorian mansions.
View from a hill south of Amsterdam. In the distance, I-90 powers west through the Mohawk Valley.
To head south back to New York City, I start by cutting 30-odd miles west to Amsterdam on State Route 67. There are rolling fields of corn and that upstate staple, Stewart’s Shops, where you can stop for a quick coffee and a warm-up. Even midsummer mornings can be chilly this far north. Amsterdam’s story is like that of many upstate towns, especially those along the Erie Canal. Industry boomed and then died, and now these places are trying to reinvent themselves for the modern era. Some are faring better than others, but almost all of them retain a shadow of their former glory in architecture and design, which makes a trip through this area feel like a trip back in time.
Route 67 runs into Route 30 near the intersection of all the major arteries in the area, including the muscular Mohawk River. A primary tributary of the Hudson, the Mohawk looks serene in the summer but is prone to dangerous floods, particularly in spring when the snow melt comes roaring down. Take Route 30 over the river and over the Thruway, and then civilization quickly gives way to the lovely curves and hills of the Schoharie Valley.
The original Blenheim Covered Bridge dates to 1829 and has been painstakingly restored. It claims the title as the longest single-span wooden bridge in the world, though it no longer connects to anything.
You don’t have to enjoy the smell of cow barns but it won’t hurt if you do, as Route 30 runs through mile after mile of farmland. Every 20 miles or so you’ll slow down from 55 to 45 to 35, one small town after another like links on a chain. If you’re fussy about filling up with 93 octane you may have to wait a minute to find a station, but they do exist.
These little towns are a living history of the ups and downs of upstate New York. Some look a lot worse for the wear while others have managed to thrive, hanging baskets of petunias cheerily welcoming just as you see the 35 mph sign. But all the parts of Route 30 are rife with historical markers and sites, including several covered bridges. Drop a kickstand and look around.
The Schoharie County Courthouse, beautifully preserved since 1870.
The upper portion of Route 30 often mirrors the curves of Schoharie Creek, making for a meditative, hypnotic ride. The Schoharie turns east just outside of the ambitiously named Grand Gorge, south of which are the headwaters of the East Branch Delaware River. Here the road flirts along with the creek as it gradually builds in volume, both you and the waters being drawn south.
I recommend stopping for a break in Margaretville. Ice cream at the Bun n’ Cone is optional, but however you refresh, you’ll want to feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed before you hit the next section of the road. Follow the signs to stay south on Route 30 and enjoy 30 miles of pure happiness as the road undulates along the Pepacton Reservoir. My favorites are the big sweeping horseshoe curves, the kind motorcyclists dream of — the ones that seem to go on forever and challenge even the most experienced riders to hold their line, creating that perfect harmony of rider and road and machine.
A quiet back road in the Catskills.
The road along the reservoir is in fair to very good condition, some stretches recently repaved. I’ve seen all manner of bikes on this road and can pretty much guarantee that whatever you ride, it’ll feel like it was made for the Pepacton. In addition to those glorious sweepers, there are lovely views of the reservoir and, as the western shore marks the Blue Line boundary of the Catskill Park, the surrounding forests are thickly green in the summer and a riot of color in the fall.
You may well be tempted to make the run down to Downsville and then back up to the top once or twice, and there’s no shame in pursuing that desire. It’s a gorgeous road and deserves to be enjoyed. When you’re about out of gas, or it’s dark, or you were supposed to be home three hours ago, I recommend heading east on Route 206, another pretty little road that pops you over a hill and down into the town of Roscoe, which has staked its claim as Trout Town, USA. There are several breweries and distilleries in the area, which makes a compelling case for booking a room and making Roscoe your home for the night.
Roscoe, New York, aka Trout Town, USA, has a homey, small-town feel to it. Decades ago the New York Ontario & Western Railway used special “trout cars” to carry millions of hatchlings to stock local rivers and streams.
Roscoe has several small-town attractions, including a railway museum and a bridge handy for watching fly fishers ply their trade. If I’ve hit Roscoe by 1 p.m. or so I usually take the long way home — Route 30 down to Deposit and Route 97 along the Delaware River to Port Jervis. If you’ve spent your day riding Pepacton over and over again, you can pick up Route 17 and deadhead it about 80 miles back to the city.
The next time you ride out to Pepacton, add Route 10 along the Cannonsville Reservoir to your itinerary. There’s little in the world like the feeling of taking one of those big sweepers, the road unspooling ahead and the bike humming beneath, your hand on the throttle and your eyes up toward the exit, chasing that white line rolling away before you, the exhausting thrill of knowing you have so many more excellent miles to go.
Following the previous round which took place under the constantly changing weather conditions of Le Mans, the MotoGP paddock are now heading south and hoping for more predictable weather at another iconic race circuit – the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in Italy, for the Gran Premio D’Italia Oakley.
Located in the beautiful Tuscan countryside near to Florence, the 5,245m (3.259 miles) Mugello circuit comprises nine right-hand corners and six left-handers, along with a high-speed 1,141m (.709 miles) straight. The all-time lap record is held by Marc Marquez and dates from the last race here in 2019, while the all-time top speed record of 356.7 km/h is held by Andrea Dovizioso, also set in 2019.
This complex circuit is one of the fastest and most demanding of the year, where the tyres will have to handle hard acceleration and heavy braking zones, combined with off-camber corners and medium-severity asphalt, all of which place very specific demands on the tyres.
Mugello Map
Ducati head to their home turf on the back of two 1-2s in a row, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the top step in both and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) taking a second place apiece, make quite a statement. The three are all in the top four in the standings too – something Ducati have never had before – and Bagnaia is only a point off the lead. That would be enough to grab some attention in itself but the next track up, unfortunately for the rest, is also the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.
Jack Miller and Team Ducati celebrating Le Mans victory
The Italian venue is a rider and fan favourite for a reason, a stunning enough landmark in itself even before adding the spectacle of one of MotoGP’s most golden of eras carving its way through the Tuscan hills. Fast, flowing and fast becoming a place synonymous with Ducati glory, yes it’s home turf. But it’s also somewhere Borgo Panigale machinery has won the last three editions and been on the podium since 2015.
The favourite to keep the roll going must be Miller. With his win in Le Mans in tough conditions, and that despite two Long Lap penalties, he followed up his Jerez stunner in style and it seems safe to say the Australian will now read the stats about Mugello with glee rather than pressure. Miller is a key architect of the momentum behind the manufacturer and the monkey some saw on his back after the first three rounds of the season is nowhere in sight now, whichever way you want to spin it. Can he make it three in a row? Or can his teammate fight back?
Miller definitely back in the good graces of Ducati after a difficult first opening few rounds of 2021
Bagnaia has been impressive in 2021 and led the standings for the first time just before Le Mans, with speed at every venue and few mistakes to go with it. With less premier class experience than Miller, he could have been forgiven for a few too. His French GP was a solid statement of intent, however, as the Italian somehow found himself down in 19th just after the start… then rode back through to fourth in conditions that caught out the very best, and again, like Miller, despite two Long Lap Penalties. If there was a day to lose your head, it was leading the Championship and sinking to the bottom of the top 20 early doors. But he didn’t.
Pecco Bagnaia was second in both Portugal and Spain. This is the team celebrating at Portimao
And what about Zarco? The Frenchman hunted down another podium and moved back up to third overall, so what does he have in the locker? A Pramac win on home turf would be a popular one and the number 5, like Bagnaia, hasn’t yet tasted the top step in the premier class although he’s been close. His teammate this weekend could also be one to watch complicating the lives of a few riders who could find themselves on the cusp of Q2 too as Michele Pirro steps in to replace the injured Jorge Martin. Pirro knows both track and machine, and has impressed aplenty on wildcards.
Johann Zarco and Fabio Quartararo on the podium at home last time out
All that said, it’s far from a foregone conclusion that Ducati will take their fourth Mugello win in a row. Three in the top four they may have, but it’s Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) back on top – and the Frenchman’s there despite his tough plummet down the order after arm pump in Jerez. He took a well-earned home podium at Le Mans despite coming back from surgery, and before Ducati started to assert their dominance at Mugello it was Yamaha territory. Jorge Lorenzo took the most recent wins but Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was on the podium in 2018 and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) the year before that. With a dry, less chaotic weekend hopefully ahead, what can they – and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – do?
Dry and less chaotic will likely be a hope for Team Suzuki Ecstar too. A double DNF in France saw reigning Champion Joan Mir fall outside the top five in the standings, and left teammate Alex Rins with an even bigger hill to climb to get back into real contention. The Hamamatsu factory have form at Mugello though, with Rins only two tenths off the podium in 2019 as he hung on to the Marquez-Ducati fight and almost managed to ruin the party for all of them. The Suzuki works well around the majority of the venue and Rins will be out to show that and bounce back, as will Mir – but the reigning Champion also has a fair bit less experience of the track on premier class machinery, with MotoGP having not visited Mugello last year.
Suzuki’s MotoGP Championship defence has not got off to a good start in 2021
Aprilia are another who, like Ducati, will be both optimistic and riding on home turf. The Noale factory have taken a big step forward in 2021 and their bike should prove a good fit for Mugello. It may have been heartbreak at Le Mans but Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) just keeps impressing, and teammate Lorenzo Savadori was a serious threat in the damp. Can he take another step forward, and can Aleix Espargaro pick up where he left off? Aprilia also have Andrea Dovizioso confirmed as doing more testing throughout the season, whose record at Mugello is one of the best in recent years. He’s also already ridden the RS-GP there, although the weather didn’t play ball…
Mugello, meanwhile, was also a place where Honda really hammered home their top speed gains in 2019 as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) went toe to toe with the Bologna bullets and was absolutely not left in the dust. Marquez’ win in 2014 at the track is the only non-Ducati win for a rider still on the grid since then too, and his 2019 battle at the front against the factory Ducati duo at the time was a stunner. The French GP saw flag-to-flag master Marquez make an uncharacteristic mistake and crash out, but there were more flashes of his former self as his comeback continues. What can he do?
We are seeing glimpses of the bravery and skill that made Marc Marquez an eight-time World Champion. Will Mugello be where he pulls it altogether and gets back on the podium…?
LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami and LCR Honda Castrol teammate Alex Marquez both took solid results in France too after a tougher start to the season, and Nakagami equalled his best ever result in Jerez just before that. Alex Marquez won at Mugello in Moto2 last time he rode there as well, although this is his first taste of it in the premier class. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) was also gaining ground in France, so they can’t be counted out of the increasingly tough fight for Q2 and more.
The last time MotoGP visited Mugello it was Danilo Petrucci that took top honours
That also goes for KTM. It’s been a tougher start to the season but Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) equalled the best result of the Austrian factory’s year so far at Le Mans, and he knows the top step at Mugello, although in red. Teammate Iker Lecuona also impressed in France, so can both start to cut the gap to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira? There have been flashes of speed from them since Binder’s fifth in Portugal, but it’s not all come together on race day for either since. Binder and Lecuona have also not yet ridden at Mugello in MotoGP though, so that could also factor in to the weekend. Can KTM push back towards the bigger points hauls? Let’s see what Tech3 KTM boss Herve Poncharal has to say.
Hervé Poncharal – Tech3 KTM Team Manager
“After the great Le Mans result for the team, it’s now time to head to beautiful Mugello, which is a track I believe the whole paddock loves. Danilo was the last MotoGP winner in Le Mans under rainy conditions and we did a good result there. I would like to remember that Danilo was also very last MotoGP winner in Mugello on the dry last time we raced there in 2019. So, hopefully he’s got good memories!
“This is a track he likes and he goes fast, which is obvious, as he won the last race out there. Of course, it’s going to be very interesting to see, what he can do on a different bike and how he evaluates the KTM compared to what he was riding in 2019. All the team and Danilo have some great memories of the Italian GP and being Italian, he will of course hope to be able to shine at home.
“Regarding Iker, it’s a bit of the same story because although he never rode a MotoGP bike in Mugello and he is not last MotoGP winner, he is still coming from a very strong weekend in Le Mans, where in both, dry and wet conditions, he was very competitive. Clearly, Iker made a step in his ridings and his confidence since the Monday test after Jerez and we believe that he will also arrive in Mugello with a positive frame of mind and willing to try to be one more time in top 10, which is his target at moment.
“Mugello is a very beautiful circuit, but also very demanding, where you have almost everything coming together on one fast lap; engine, acceleration, stability on braking, corner speed, fast chicanes… If we manage to deliver a decent performance there, I believe we will be able to understand our bike even more. We just can’t wait to arrive there after we haven’t been racing in Mugello with KTM for a long time. I guess everyone inside the KTM family is eager to see where we stand compared there to our competitors.”
Danilo Petrucci has won with Ducati at Mugello but is yet to gel with the KTM
Tuscany is one of the world’s most emblematic destinations, and MotoGP is lucky enough to have Mugello nestled right in the middle. The paddock returns to the venue in 2021 looking quite different to the last time we were there, but the track remains the same stunner for man and machine.
MotoGP Championship top five:
Pos
Rider
Bike
Points
1
Fabio QUARTARARO
Yamaha
80
2
Francesco BAGNAIA
Ducati
79
3
Johann ZARCO
Ducati
68
4
Jack MILLER
Ducati
64
5
Maverick VIÑALES
Yamaha
56
Moto2
After another stunner from Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the Moto2 rookie is now just a single point behind his veteran teammate atop the Moto2 standings as the paddock heads for Mugello. But given its absence on the 2020 calendar, the Tuscan venue is one where Fernandez has quite a few fewer laps than his rivals: he’s only raced there as a Moto3 rookie in 2019. The Spaniard came home 11th, however… already proving his CV as a fast learner. So will he be leading from the front or playing catch up this time round?
His team-mate Remy Gardner will be pushing to make sure it’s the latter. The Australian is on a supreme run of form stretching back to even before the start of 2021, and that’s exactly how he finds himself at the top of the table. With his rookie teammate proving such a force to be reckoned with, already winning two races, Gardner knows he has to strike when Fernandez is on the back foot and take the maximum points when he isn’t. So far so good on both counts, but Mugello will be another test of his so far exemplary judgments on Sundays.
Remy Gardner is on top of the Moto2 standings and is riding with great maturity this season
Waiting in the wings there are two riders with even more motivation at this particular racetrack, however: Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2). The former is on a podium run and the latter already a race winner this year, but both will want victory on home turf. Bezzecchi hasn’t had all the pieces come together perfectly so far this year but is proving super consistent since we left Qatar, whereas Diggia is somewhat the opposite. The Gresini rider created himself a new postcode in the lead at Jerez to win his first Moto2 race in style, adding to a podium first time out in 2021, but in the other three races it’s been up and down. Can the home heroes make a push for the front again?
For Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) meanwhile, it’ll be a different challenge. The Brit bounced back well from a DNF in Portugal and said it was important to do so, with no OTT heroics and solid points. That will likely be the mission as he aims to hit back at Mugello following a crash in France: take points. Get on or near the podium. Claw back a little deficit. But the Brit is also one of the fastest men in the intermediate class on any given Sunday, so he can’t be counted out.
Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)
The next two riders in the standings likely have similar goals though: Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed from the front in France and Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) earlier than that, although they’re holding on as the next two in the standings after the fastest five so far this season. What can they do? Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) is now equal on points with Canet too, and the German will want to build momentum after a solid result.
Recent Mugello history also says Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) could be up there in the top five again, and he’ll want some redemption after Le Mans followed some good steps forward, but speaking of… the king of those in France must surely be Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP). Le Mans was a stunner from the rookie Italian, so has he got more in the locker at Mugello on home turf?
Gardner has the consistency and the experience. Raul Fernandez is a fast learner. Bezzecchia and Diggia want some home turf glory, and Sam Lowes needs some good points. Who’ll come out on top?
Moto2 Championship top five:
Pos
Rider
Bike
Points
1
Remy GARDNER
Kalex
89
2
Raul FERNANDEZ
Kalex
88
3
Marco BEZZECCHI
Kalex
72
4
Sam LOWES
Kalex
66
5
Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO
Kalex
60
Moto3
The course of a Moto3 race rarely did run smooth, but Le Mans was even more drama than normal. With Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) taking his first win of the year, second overall and first for GASGAS, it was a different face on the top step to the one we’d become accustomed to seeing in 2021. But Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), despite taking a tumble in the difficult conditions, still got back on and took a good haul of points – and finished far ahead of those who’d previously been his closest challengers to boot. The result? An even bigger Championship lead.
Sergio Garcia
For the veterans on his tail – Garcia, and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) – the good news is the experience they all have at Mugello, and for the most part, their CVs there too. The Italians will also be fired up on home turf as we return to the track for the first time since 2019. The slightly worse news is that, unlike Le Mans, Acosta does actually have a track record at Mugello: a second place in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies race at the venue in 2019, the year he came runner up overall before going on to annihilate the competition last season. So it’s new turf on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine… but it’s not a shot in the dark.
The Italians will be gunning hard though, as will Garcia after a good shot of confidence from his win in France. Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) too, and home hero Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride) after their first podiums. Both will be wanting more good points. Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) remained on his consistent roll of top finishes too despite the different conditions in France, and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) got some good points on the board just ahead of his former teammate. Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and fellow rookie Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) also took their best finishes of the season so far, and confidence goes a long way.
Darryn Binder
Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), meanwhile, will be on an opposite mission: bouncing back. After the South African got skittled out at Jerez through no fault of his own, a crash in France put paid to solid points and he’s now down in eighth overall. Can he fight back before summer break and get back into the upper echelons of the Championship? He’ll be aiming to start that at Mugello.
The kilometre-long straight at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello always provides one of the greatest Moto3 spectacles of the season.
As Egon Spengler famously warned in Ghostbusters, “Don’t cross the streams … It would be bad … Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.” No, I wasn’t building a proton pack in my garage, but I did need to ride our KTM 890 Adventure R to the Indian FTR S press launch in Phoenix. There I was on an off-road-ready adventure bike, wearing a helmet without a dirt-bike peak, a cruiser-style leather jacket, riding jeans, and high-top riding shoes.
Every Gore-Tex-clad, Instagram-famous ADV rider who passed me going down the road probably laughed so hard that Starbucks French Roast spewed out of their nose. Clearly I had violated rules of proper sartorial etiquette and must be banished.
Whatever.
I needed to get the hell out of the house and put some serious miles on the KTM, and I wasn’t about to wear one set of gear on the bike and carry another for the press launch. I’m not (that) vain. But I did need a place to stash my slinky black cocktail dress, laptop and other necessities for a two-night stay.
Standard equipment on the KTM is a luggage rack with burly passenger hand-holds and tie-down points — the ideal perch for Nelson-Rigg’s Sahara Dry Duffle Bag. Part of the Rigg Gear Adventure line of luggage, the Sahara is made of heavy-duty, waterproof 24-ounce tarpaulin PVC with heat-welded seams. Internal stiffeners help the bag keep its shape regardless of what’s inside, and a roll-top keeps the elements out. The bag has a 39.33-liter capacity and measures 20” L x 10” W x 12” H. A pair of adjustable compression straps further secure the outside of the bag, and it has a removable carry handle and reflective accents.
Four durable webbing straps with loops on each end attach to adjustable buckles (two on the front and two on the back) to secure the bag to the bike. The straps don’t stretch, so they required additional tightening as the bike’s vibration introduced a bit of slack. Being the paranoid sort that I am, no matter what bag I put on the back of a motorcycle, for extra security I always double up with a pair of Rok Straps since their built-in bungees maintain constant tension.
Although I didn’t encounter any rain or ectoplasmic slime on my journey, I dealt with some desert dust storms and nary a particle got into my gear. Overall, this is a solid piece of kit that will be part of my ADV arsenal for years to come. It’s available in Black or Yellow/Black for $114.95.
For more information: See your dealer or visit nelsonrigg.com
This is the first time I’ve purchased heated gear and only my third time ever using a heated accessory on a motorcycle. That has more to do with the fact that I live in Florida than with me being immune to cold. Here in the Sunshine State we’ve had an unseasonably cold winter, and living so far south, my blood is thin.
Being a compulsive “farkler,” my inclination would be to add heated grips. But I own more than one motorcycle, so that gets complicated and expensive, especially when I won’t use them much. Heated gloves offer more versatility, but which kind: wired or battery-powered? My bikes have pigtails for maintenance chargers, but wired gloves still require being wired to the motorcycle, and they need to be connected to a heated jacket and a controller. Battery-powered gloves are the easiest and cheapest solution, but they don’t provide as much heat for as long as wired gloves, and having a battery embedded in each gauntlet makes them bulky. Life is about trade-offs.
I ordered a pair of Highway 21 Radiant Heated Gloves, which use 7-volt rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to power the heating elements. I opted for size large based on the sizing chart, but they didn’t fit right so I exchanged them for mediums. As winter gloves, the Radiants are thick and bulky due to a layer of 100G Thinsulate thermal lining and a Hipora waterproof membrane. The fingers are pre-curved and I was able to operate the bike’s controls, but not with the same dexterity as with summer gloves.
The gloves’ outer is made of leather, with a double layer at the heel of the palm, a hard knuckle protector, a stretch panel at the wrist and a hook-and-loop closure on the gauntlet. I’d like to see a more robust slider on the palm and the bulky gauntlet is difficult to get over the cuff of my jacket, but I appreciate the compatibility with a smartphone touchscreen. Highway 21 says the Radiants are breathable, but due to their thickness I didn’t really notice much.
Two large buttons on the gauntlet control the three levels of heat, identified with an LED indicator. Felt heat did the job, but it can depend on size so make sure they fit properly. Battery life was 4 hours on low, 3 hours on medium, and 2.5 hours high heat. Overall, the Radiant gloves offer the warmth and versatility I need for a reasonable price. They’re available in sizes XS-4XL for $209.95.
For more information: See your dealer or visit highway21.com
Due to the continued and anticipated rainfall at Texas Motor Speedway, the 2021 Texas Half-Mile has been cancelled. Despite the dedicated efforts of the Progressive AFT track prep crew, the heavy rainfall expected to continue throughout the evening will prevent the event from continuing on Sunday.
Fans who have purchased tickets may receive a credit to be used for any race promoted by AFT Events within the 2021 calendar year – including the June 18-19 OKC Mile doubleheader – or a refund for the cancelled event. Customers who have purchased advance tickets will be contacted directly by AFT Events with further information.
Progressive AFT will continue its season next season with the Chicago Half-Mile in Joliet, Ill. on Saturday, May 29 at Dirt Oval Route 66.
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2021 Warsaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland cancelled
Due to the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 in Poland, the 2021 Warsaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland, scheduled to take place on August 7, 2021 at the PGE Narodowy stadium has been cancelled.
Michał Sikora – President of the Polish Automobile and Motorcycle Association
“We are very sorry to have to cancel the event and assessed all possibilities before coming to this tough decision. Unfortunately, the ongoing pandemic with the restrictions on fans being able to watch safely has made this impossible. I would like to reassure fans that all tickets for the Warsaw SGP will remain valid or refunds will be issued and we ask for patience and understanding going forward.”
SGP of Poland cancelled for 2021
Paul Bellamy – Senior Vice President of Motorsports Events at IMG
“We’re sad to not be returning to Warsaw in 2021 and know the event will be missed by riders and fans this year. We fully support the PZM in their decision. The ongoing uncertainty around social distancing, venue capacity and other pandemic-related restrictions posed multiple challenges to staging an event of this scale and installing a temporary track in a multi-purpose stadium.”
The FIM Speedway Grand Prix series is set to return on July 16 and 17 as the 2021 season kicks off in Prague with a double-header at the Anlas Czech Republic FIM Speedway Grand Prix, taking place at Marketa Stadium.
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Jeffrey Herlings wins British MX Round 2 at Lyng
Jeffrey Herlings scored a 2-1 result to finish as the overall winner at Lyng for the second round of the 2021 ACU British Championship, marking his first race appearance of the year.
Jeffrey Herlings
The 26-year-old elected to travel to the UK to compete in the second date of the national series in the absence of other pre-season events and with the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship delayed twice. Herlings last rolled into a start gate at the Grand Prix of Citta di Faenza, September 2020.
The Dutchman used his factory KTM 450 SX-F to head Timed Qualification by over a second around the shallow hillside course. In the first moto he ran out of time to chase down the figure of native racer Ben Watson after having to stop briefly to dislodge a stone from the rear end of the bike.
He collected a solid runner-up finish. In the second outing he hounded his MXGP peer and made the move to lead the field. Less than a second split Herlings and Watson at the flag and thanks to his victory he reached the highest step of the podium even though they tied on points.
Jeffrey Herlings
“It was a good day of racing. I had a bit of a problem in the first moto and lost around ten seconds while I sorted out the stone. I came back through the pack but the track wasn’t easy for passing and I finished on the leader’s rear wheel. In the second moto I had to come back from 6-7th at the start, although I could reach 1st place this time. I had a few issues with arm-pump but I guess that’s normal after eight months away from a race! We’ll keep working from here and hope to get a bit better each week until we go to Russia.”
Jeffrey Herlings
The Grand Prix of Russia opens 2021 MXGP in three weeks.
ACU British Motocross Championship MX1 overall result, Round 2, Lyng
Pos
Rider
Man.
Points
1
Jeffrey Herlings
KTM
47
2
Ben Watson
Yamaha
47
3
Tommy Searle
Honda
36
4
Adam Sterry
KTM
33
5
Jake Millward
KTM
33
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2021 Southwick National moves to July 10
Following newly lifted COVID-19 restrictions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the annual visit to New England which was originally scheduled for June 26, will now commence on July 10 as the fifth round of the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
2019 AMA Pro Motocross – Southwick
The decision to move Southwick to a later date is in an effort to better accommodate event organizers at The Wick 338. Due to previous concerns in the ongoing communication with state and local health officials in Hampden County to host large public gatherings, preparations for this year’s event were briefly halted.
However, following the latest announcement from Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to lift the state’s remaining restrictions, the staff at The Wick 338 has resumed its efforts to welcome the anticipated return of American motocross, following the event’s cancellation last season.
Roy Janson – Managing Director at MX Sports Pro Racing
“We want to commend Rick Johnson, Keith Johnson, and the team at The Wick 338 for their resiliency over the past year. They have faced quite a difficult task navigating the state’s mitigation strategies, but have remained steadfast in doing everything possible to successfully host the Southwick National for the 2021 season. Fortunately, their patience has allowed them to reach this celebratory juncture in which fans will be openly welcomed to watch the world’s fastest racers tackle the hallowed sands of Southwick, albeit at a slightly later date than originally planned.”
The 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will begin on Saturday, May 29, with the Fox Raceway I National in Southern California. With its new date on the calendar, the Southwick National will move from Round 4 of the season to Round 5, following the RedBud National over the Independence Day holiday.
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Sherco boasts extensive Hattah line-up for 2021
The Pirelli Motul Sherco Racing Team has assembled a potent blend of youth and experience for the 2021 running of the prestigious Hattah Desert Race in Victoria from July 2-4.
The traditional follow-up to the Finke Desert Race will see off-road legend Ben Grabham, former motocrosser turned enduro rider Justin Carafa and Tasmanian hotshot Jonte Reynders all competing for the distributor-backed team in the event near Mildura, while Nathan Trigg will also hit the energy-sapping scrub and sand on a Sherco.
Grabham, 39, is already a multiple outright winner of the Hattah, and this year he’ll compete in the Veterans class on a 450 SEF Factory, while Reynders will campaign the 300 SE Factory two-stroke that has already taken him to a slew of top three results in the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) over the last two years.
Ben Grabham
Carafa will make it three different French-built Shercos under the Pirelli Motul Sherco Racing Team banner on the company’s big bertha – a 500 SEF Factory.
Grabham, or ‘Grabbo’ to the motorcycle racing set, is a part-time racer these days as he devotes most of his energies towards a coaching business specialising in one-on-one riding tuition.
Racing will always remain a part of his DNA, though, and he recently competed in round two of the Australian Hard Enduro Championship for the Motul Pirelli Sherco Racing Team, finishing in a strong fourth position.
However, the Hattah will see him return to his bread-and-butter – pushing to the limits in vast open spaces. It’s a storied career which has taken him all the way to a top 15 finish in the famed Dakar Rally.
Ben Grabham
“I’m on bikes quite a lot these days with my coaching business (Grabbo’s Trail and Track) and I’m over a niggling arm injury so why not give the Hattah another go. I’ve really loved riding the Sherco two-stroke in the extreme enduro events, so now I’m jumping on the big four-stroke to give that a go.”
Reynders, 24, is really hitting his straps in 2021 after a second place finish in the AORC opener and then dominating round three of the Tasmanian enduro series.
He’s back at Hattah for the second time and failing to finish the rain-lashed event in 2019 because of a mechanical problem on the final lap – a bitter pill to swallow after leading his class by as much as five minutes. His chance for redemption in 2020 was then scuppered by a Covid-enforced cancellation.
Jonte Reynders
“I am super keen to get to Hattah this year and hopefully do a full four-hour race in the usual conditions. I’m looking forward to the long race and seeing what we can achieve on the 300 two-stroke. I think the 300 will be great in the tighter sections of the track but won’t obviously have the top-end speed on the straights. I’m aiming to win the 300 class and finish top 20 outright.”
Jonte Reynders
Carafa returns to the Sherco factory operation after competing for the brand during the tail end of the last decade, which included an eyebrow-raising victory on the 125 SE-R enduro bike in a support class at the Australian Motocross Championship!
Justin Carafa
“I’ve raced at Hattah 10 times and, even though I keep telling myself I won’t do it again, I keep changing my mind!” said Carafa, who runs a thriving concreting business on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. When (team manager) Derek offered me a ride on the 500, I coldn’t resist and it’s also a good chance to push hard in the outright battle on the big four-stroke. I’d like to think I’m easy to work alongside as well, so I’m hoping that it’ll be a great event for us.”
Meanwhile, Trigg (450 SEF Factory) knows the Hattah landscape like the back of his hand, with the farmer living just down the road from the race epicentre at Ouyen.
The 27-year-old was fourth in the over 450cc four-stroke class in 2019, and seventh overall, and he’ll be riding the Mallee Motorcycles-backed 450 SE Factory that he’s using in the Finke Desert Race on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
The 2021 Hattah Desert Race begins with scrutineering and sign-on in Red Cliffs – 25km north of Hattah – on Friday, July 2, followed by the prologue on Saturday to determine the starting order for Sunday’s competition. For the senior riders, racing will encompass eight laps of a 37km circuit, while juniors will also be in action.
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2021 Australian Classic Motocross entries open
Nowra Motoplex will soon come alive in July when hundreds of competitors descend on the venue for the 2021 Australian National Post Classic Motocross and Classic Motocross. The Australian Classic Motocross Championship will be held on July 9-11, and the Australian Post Classic Championship will be held July 16-18.
The Heaven VMX Club Inc will host the Championships which will see the best senior solo and sidecar classes in Australia compete at Nowra Motoplex, Braidwood Rd, Yerriyong, NSW.
With more than 20 classes of competition in the Classic Motocross Championship and more than 30 classes in the Post Classic Championship, the action is expected to deliver sensational racing over both weekends.
Both weekends kick off with practice on the Friday, before on-track action gets under way Saturday from 8.15am with racing kicking off at 9.30am. Sunday race action kicks off from 8.30am.
Join reigning MXGP world champion Tim Gajser as he shows you around his new track, Tiga243land. The Team HRC rider competed here as a 65cc kid but decided to buy this facility this year in order to step-up his training regime, as he attempts to win his fifth world motocross title.
You can also check out a full lap of the track below:
May madness for GYTR YJR
The month of May has been a hectic one for the GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing Team riders with nearly every state in action over the past few weekends. Races spread from Perth in the west, Tasmania in the south and Queensland in the north and with GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing making their presence felt.
Tasmania
The month kicked off with the Penguin circuit hosting round two of the Tasmanian Motocross Championships and the duo of Angus Pearce and Jay Jennings looking to build on their round one results.
Angus Pearce
Angus led the way with his round win in the 13-16 years 125/250cc class with 3-1-1- results on the day. Angus had just returned from injury as he battled his way back into form but he managed to take the win on the day and increase his lead in the championship to 13 points.
Jay Jennings did battle in two divisions, the 10-12 years 65cc and the 9-11 years 85cc and proved to be ultra-consistent in both classes. He finished with second place in both and racked up six second place results to keep him well placed in championship as the series progresses. He leads both classes with a 16 point lead in the 65cc and a 21 point lead on the 85 proving his consistency is paying off.
Western Australia
Round two of the WA Junior Motocross Championships hit Hendley Park on the same weekend with both Jake Rumens and Deegan Fort ready to do battle across four classes in a busy weekend for the team. Rumens on board his YZ85 and YZ125, while Fort handles the 65 and 85cc duties.
Jake Rumens
Rumens finished the day with a win on board his YZ85 taking 1-3-1 results and close in on the series leader. He backed that up with a third place finish in the 125 class in what was a strong day for the young gun.
Deegan Fort also wanted his slice of the podium action and did that by securing a second place finish on his YZ65 in the 10 – 12 years group and a third place in the 9-11 years 85cc making it a big weekend for the team with a podium result in all classes contested.
After two rounds of the championship, Rumens sits second and fifth on his 85 and 125 respectively, while Fort holds down second place on both his 65 and 85.
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New South Wales
The Maitland round of the East Coast MX series in New South Wales got under way in May and despite the event having wet weather issues in recent times, conditions were good for round two of the popular series and the event was well attended with a big rider turnout over the weekend.
Rhyder Kingsford
Flying the YJR flag at the event were the Kingsford brothers, with both Ryder and Kayd in action. Ryder was doubling classing it, contesting the 13-15 years 125 and 13-15 years 250cc while Kayd held things down in the 12-15 years 85cc division.
Ryder claimed the win in the 250 class with 3-1-2 results. A fall in races one and three cost him the perfect score in the class but he was able to quicky rebound in each race to salvage good results and take the round win on the day.
He also secured third place on his YZ125, making it another trip to the podium for the day. He finished with 3-2-3 results and wasn’t happy with how he rode this bike on the day and is determined to get things back on track next outing.
For younger brother Kayd, he took the win on his 85 with two race wins and a second place in a good days racing. Kayd has battled injury in recent times but is now starting to build some continuity into his riding and the results are starting to show.
Queensland
It was round four of the Sunshine State Motocross Series at the Warwick circuit recently and that track proved to be one of the more challenging in recent times. Lead up rain left it wet and thick all the way through but with a fine and sunny weekend, the track become rutty, technical and sorted out the men from the boys.
Kobe Drew
Kobe Drew continues his outstanding form in 2021 with another two class victory at Warwick. He won all three motos on his YZ125 in the 13-15 years 125cc class after having to charge his way through the pack in each moto.
On the 250, he almost made it the perfect weekend for the second round running but come up just short finishing with 2-1-1 results but still enough to claim the round win. The success in both classes saw Drew extend his lead in the series and with one round remaining just needs to use his smarts to secure both series victories.
Jake Cannon showed he knew how to handle the ruts and bumps at Warwick as he dominated the 12-15 years 85cc class. Cannon won all three motos on his YZ85 with a comfortable gap over his rivals. He also proved consistent in the 125cc class, taking fourth place.
Cannon holds the lead in the 85cc class and second place on the 125, right behind teammate Drew.
Victoria
The Victorian junior Motocross championships continued Warrnambool over the weekend with round two taking place. As many as five of the YJR team riders converged for the event and again posted impressive results.
Jake Jennings
Jay Jennings and Angus Pearce from Tasmania as well as Jake Rumens from WA, joined the Victorian pair of Pat martin and Jobe Dunne at the event.
Jobe Dunne took a hard fought win in the 9-11 years 85cc class with 1-3-1 results to finish a handful of points clear of Tasmanian counterpart Jay Jennings in second with his 3-2-2 finishes. Jennings made it a double podium day when he took the victory in the 10-12 years 65cc class with 1-2-2 results.
In the bigger bikes, Angus Pearce charged home with a second place in the 13-15 years 125 cc class and racked up a third place finish on the 250 with another consistent and strong performance.
Pat Martin was just a hair behind Pearce in both divisions where he finished fourth on the 250cc machine with 6-5-4 moto scores and fourth again on the 125 taking 5-4-2 results. Jake Rumens chimed in with a fifth place result in the 12-15 years 85cc class and improved as the day went on.
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Silk Way Rally 2021 route revealed
On May 19, the final route of the 11th Edition of the 2021 International Silk Way Rally was officially unveiled during a presentation in Moscow. With just over a month to go before this key event in the summer off-road calendar, preparations have entered their final phase.
Silk Way Rally 2021 route revealed
It is from Omsk, Russia, a city situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Irtysh and the Om, that the Silk Way rally 2021 Start Ceremony will take place on July 1st, 2021.
At the end of the 10 days of this adventure through spectacular landscapes; forests, steppes, deserts, sandy tracks and wadi crossings, the caravan will reach UlaanBaatar, the capital of the country of the blue sky.
The finish and the podium ceremony of this 11th Edition will take place on July 11 in the Mongolian capital, on their National Day that marks the beginning of the famous Nadaam festivities.
Silk Way Rally 2021
The route of this Silk Way Rally 2021, which promises to be particularly demanding, will cover some 5,500 kilometres, including more than 3,500 kilometres of selective section. And while the first stages in Russia will serve essentially as a warm-up, with a total of 329 timed kilometres, the arrival on Mongolian soil will signal the start of hostilities with stages featuring between 340 and 540 kilometres of daily selective sections.
Another novelty of this new route is a radical shortening of liaisons (untimed sections). In 2021, the aggregate length of liaisons will make up only 37% of the total race distance which represents a record figure in the history of the transcontinental Silk Way Rally.
The rally schedule still includes the most demanding stage of the race – the marathon. On this stage participants will have to repair their cars and bikes on their own, with it being strictly forbidden for any other team members to approach the vehicles. The day of the marathon stage will be a kind of a day-off for the tech support teams – they will be based at another bivouac and stay off the race on that day.
