A 54-year-old female rider has died after being hit by a car allegedly turning on to the Kennedy Highway from Malone Road, Mareeba, through a stop sign about 8am today (2 December 2019).
Police are investigating the circumstances of the fatal traffic crash, but the Google Maps image above shows a stop sign at the end of Malone Rd.
The female rider was taken to Mareeba Hospital in a critical condition where she later died.
Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.
The 63-year-old female driver of the car suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash.
The Kennedy Highway will be closed later today to allow officers from the Forensic Crash Unit to continue investigations.
There is no word yet from police on any charges. We also don’t know whether the rider was turning or indicating.
Motorists are advised to take extra care when travelling through the area and to allow extra travel time.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Ride like you’re invisible
The accident is a sobering reminder that we can be in the right and still be dead.
We have to ride as if no other motorist can see us. Asa if we are invisible.
American Chris Blose rates earning the SX2 title in the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship as a career highlight after securing the crown with runner-up honours at Saturday night’s Monster Energy AUS-X Open Melbourne.
Entering the season-finale four points behind former leader Josh Osby (Raceline KTM Thor), Blose rode flawlessly throughout the night with a 2-1-4 scorecard for second overall.
The title, which marked a Penrite Honda Racing whitewash in the series as Justin Brayton earned his fourt-straight SX1 championship, comes as a great reward for the AMA Supercross regular following a trying start to the season.
“This rates up there probably in the top one,” Blose declared to MotoOnline.com.au. “I came over here in ’17 and I won the AUS-X Open, I was supposed to come last year to ride for Yarrive [Konsky] and I ended up getting hurt – this year we made it happen.
“It feels really good to get the championship, that was our overall goal all year. It kind of started out a little rough, but you know what, we made it happen.
“We fought at the last few races, and tonight was an awesome night – I went second behind my teammate Mitchell [Oldenburg] for the first main event, I took the joker lane in the second main event and ended up winning that.
“I knew where I was mathematically, and seeing [Josh] Osby and something happening to him, so I just let those guys have it – we won the war, not the battle. I played it smart in that last main event.”
Blose is understood to be piloting Honda machinery in next year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
As the 31 riders assembled on the congested grid for the start of Race 1, a clean start brought polesitter Haziq into the lead at Turn 1 with the rest of the grid in hot pursuit. The intensity of the title chase had ramped up the action in the Underbone 150cc Race 1. At the end of the first lap, the top 11 riders came across the finish line within the same second.
Unfortunately for championship leader Mohd Akid Aziz, mechanical failure forced him out of the race on Lap 2. More carnage ensued on the same lap when Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni, Syahrul Amin, Richard Taroreh and Muhamad Iqbal Abdul Malek got involved in a big pile-up at Turn 4. Thankfully, all the riders were able to walk away from the crash.
Seasoned campaigner Ahmad Fazli Sham used every bit of skill in his arsenal to lead the group across the finish line for most of the eight-lap race. Three laps to go, Fazli continued to mix things up at the front, championship hopeful McKinley Kyle Paz was meanwhile tucked into the front group on P6.
McKinley’s team mate Fernando Masato sprung a surprise on the last lap when he stormed past Fazli and into the lead. The Filipino rider held on to his advantage for two more corners but lost the lead to Fazli as they exited Turn 3. Team tactics came into play at this point when the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team riders bunched up together to squeeze Masato out of the front. Fazli got onto the lead with the aid of their slipstream.
Another crash at the same corner gave Fazli the space he needed to pull ahead of the group. The Malaysian rider kept his momentum for the rest of the final lap and notched his second win of the season. Wahyu Aji Trilaksana made it a ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team 1-2 when he crossed the line in second place. Fernando Masato settled for third place.
McKinley Kyle Paz took control of the title chase when he finished tenth in Race 1. McKinley leading Akid by only two-points. The Underbone 150 title chase now down to five riders including Haziq Fairues, Ahmad Fazli Sham and Aldi Satya Mahendra ahead of the final race on Sunday.
Underbone 150 Race 2
McKinley Kyle Paz was disappointed not to qualify on the front row but in the Underbone class, the UMA Racing Yamaha Philippine Team rider knew that grid position is not everything. The 18-year-old, who was one of five riders still in the running for the 2019 title, knew that all he had to do was hunker down within the front group and bide his time for a last lap, last corner attack.
However, in the sheer unpredictability that is so characteristic of Underbone racing, pre-drawn plans and strategy went flying out the window the moment the 8-lap race was flagged off. Haziq Fairues and Akid Aziz were among the early leaders at the start of Race 2. At the end of Lap 1, 28 out of 31 were still bunched up in one big group, attacking the corners six abreast.
The first title contender to drop out of the race was Aldi Satya Mahendra. Aldi crashed out of the last turn along with Mohd Rozaiman Said. Haziq Fairues was very nearly swept along by the incident and lost eight positions to drop down to the back of the group.
On Lap 4, championship leader Akid Aziz retired from the race, his title hunt derailed again by mechanical failure. This left 20 riders in the leading charge, among them, McKinley Kyle Paz, Ahmad Fazli Sham, and Haziq Fairues.
McKinley’s bid for the title faltered when he crashed in the mid-section of the 4.554km circuit. Refusing to give up, the young Filipino rider was back on his bike in a flash even though he had lost touch with the front pack.
The leading group had not shrunk noticeably by the final lap. With the notorious Buriram Turn 12 looming, Ahmad Fazli Sham began to slipstream his way past Richie Taroreh, Mohd Izzat Zaidi and Wawan Wello. The seasoned campaigner was all set to take control of the final corner until he got skittled by Syahrul Amin.
Mohd Izzat Zaidi led the group across the finish line but was later penalised for exceeding the track limit at the last corner. Izzat’s penalty handed the win to Richie Taroreh who claimed his first win of the season with 16’23.670s. Wawan Wello and Wahyu Aji Trilaksana made it an all-Indonesian clean sweep in the Underbone 150 Race 2.
15 seconds behind, McKinley Kyle Paz finished just outside of the points in 16th place. Clueless about what had happened in front of him, the disappointed young rider had no idea that his title contenders had been taken out one by one in the intensity of the race. It was only when he returned, dejected, to the pits that he found out he had officially entered the history books as the first Filipino rider to become the FIM Asian Underbone 150cc champion with 121 points to his name.
Akid Aziz, despite two DNF finishes in the final round, stayed in second overall with 119 points while his team mate Haziq Fairues closed the season in third with 113 points.
While the UMA Racing Yamaha riders were busy celebrating their personal achievements, the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team had quietly triumphed over UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team in the UB150 Team Awards.
Thanks to Wahyu’s steady performance, the Malaysian-based team won the team award by 190 points. UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team dropped to second with 178 points while UMA Racing Yamaha Philippine Team was ranked third with 139 points.
Penrite Honda Factory Racing emerged Victorious at the conclusion of what was the biggest Supercross event held on Australian soil at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
The annual SX-Open Supercross moved from its original home in Sydney down to Melbourne for 2019. Over 35,000 spectators made the trek from around the country to witness the final round of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship.
SX-Open went off with a bang in Melbourne
In what turned out to be a night to be remembered for more than just the on-track racing. The large crowd soaked up the atmosphere and watched the changing of the guard as long-time Australian SX hero Chad Reed announced that this would be his last race as a professional on home soil, while on the same night, upcoming talent Jett Lawrence made his professional SX debut. The youngster dsiplayed the talent to run with some of the best in the world at just 16 years of age.
MotoGP rider Jack Miller was on hand to check out the SX-Open in Melbourne
The gates to Marvel Stadium opened early for VIP ticket holders, who had the opportunity to watch the entire event, starting with the afternoon qualifying session. With only a single point separating the series leaders coming into the round. Australia’s Monster Energy CDR Yamaha’s Luke Clout, and American Penrite Honda’s Justin Brayton the main title contenders.
SX1 Qualifying
One big-name rider had already been ruled out of the nights’ action before qualifying even got underway after newly signed JGR Suzuki racer Joey Savatgy suffered a big crash in the practice session. The highly respected American injuring his ankle after coming up short on a big rhythm section after hitting neutral off the face of a jump.
Joey Savatgy went out early in Melbourne after sustaining an ankle injury
When the qualifying session got underway; Clout, sporting the red plate to signify his championship leader status, got straight down to business. The 25-year-old topped the qualifying session as the only rider to break the 44-second lap barrier on his way to out-qualify championship rival Brayton by less than two-tenths of a second.
2018 American Supercross champion, Jason Anderson was just over four-tenths of a second further back with the third-fastest time aboard his Rockstar Husqvarna, with Monster Energy CDR Yamaha duo Daniel Reardon and Josh Hill rounding out the top five.
Josh Hill and Justin Brayton
Chad Reed, who was still dealing with damaged ribs sustained in a crash three weeks prior in Paris, had to settle for the 11th fasted time aboard his Penrite Honda backed Honda CRF450R.
With the Pit Party over and the 35,000 plus supercross fans inside Marvel Stadium, the lights dimmed as the top riders were introduced ahead of the action that lay ahead.
Chad Reed
While many were on hand to watch some tremendous international talent, the star of the show was once again Australia’s Chad Reed. CR22 was introduced with an emotion filled highlights package of his career, followed by an announcement from Reed himself that this event would be the last time he raced in Australia as a full-time supercross athlete, announcing his plans to hang up the boots from full time racing in 2020.
Chad Reed and Luke Clout
With the crowd on a high and wanting nothing more than to see Reed in action, the stadium once again lit up as riders hit the start gates for the first time in a full-sized indoor AFL stadium.
Chad Reed
SX1 HEAT 1
In the opening SX1 heat race it was Penrite Honda Factory Racing’s Brett Metcalfe who stole the early race limelight, claiming the holeshot and leading the opening lap from team-mate Brayton.
SX1 Heats
While things were going well for the Honda duo up front, Yamaha’s Reardon ran into trouble early in the race with a crash leaving his bike bent up. Though able to continue in the race, the early season championship contender was forced to head to the last chance qualifier for his shot at making it into the main event.
Up front, Brayton took control of the race on lap two and was never headed, cruising to victory ahead of Metcalfe and Rockstar Honda’s Jackson Richardson.
Empire Motorsport Kawasaki’s Lawson Bopping finished fourth, earning a direct spot in the nights three final format, along with KSF Racing’s Gradie Featherstone, Honda privateer Joel Wightman, SB Motorsports ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jayden Rykers and veteran racer Justin Carafa.
SX1 HEAT 2
In the second heat, Anderson kicked his intensity up a gear, grabbing the Knobby Holeshot and leading the field through the first lap.
Much to the crowd’s pleasure, Reed sat in second position followed by Yamaha Yamalube’s Richie Evans, with a fast charging Clout hot on his heels.
Richie Evans
By lap two Clout had moved his way into third, then quickly reeled in Reed and moved into second position before setting his sights on race leader Anderson.
Despite his efforts, Clout had to settle for second, with Anderson finishing just two-seconds ahead of the New South Welshman. Reed held on to fourth just ahead of a fast-finishing Josh Hill.
Chad Reed
Joining the four lead riders with a direct path to the nights final was Evans who held on for 5th ahead of Empire Motorsports Kawasaki’s Dylan Long, Husqvarna backed Todd Waters and SB Motorsports Suzuki Ecstar racer Cody Dyce with his 8th place finish.
SX1 LCQ
With little time between the heats and the LCQ, Reardon and his team went to work to straighten out his YZ450F. To no one’s surprise Reardon then dominated the LCQ to take his spot in the nights final and keep his bid for a final championship podium result alive.
Oil Piping systems backed Jesse Madden finished second ahead of Dylan Wood, while Jono Krusic was gifted the final transfer spot into the night’s big show after Chirs Camilleri crashed in the second to last straight while in position to qualify.
SX1 MAIN ONE
With all the festivities over, including Jayo Archer claiming the nights big trick gold medal with a massive double backflip, and the KTM Junior 50 racers back in the stands after taking their shot of replicating their hero’s on a full-size supercross track, the nights entertainment kicked into overdrive as the SX1 field lined up for their three back to back to back main event races.
Jayo Archer won the freestyle competition despite Josh Sheehan going larger, the home crowd went wildest for local boy Archer
Like the SX-Open event in Auckland, the riders would also have to contend with the Joker land, which they could use just once in one of the three main event racers, meaning a little strategy would once again be in play. However, unlike the Auckland short cut lane that gave riders close to a ten-second advantage, the short cut lane in Melbourne was worth one to two-seconds at the very most.
Kids also got in on the act at SX-Open
When the gates dropped in the first final, it was Anderson who raced to the holeshot and subsequent race lead with all in the stadium expecting him to run away for an easy race win, but that was not to be the case.
SX1
Brayton followed Anderson through the first two corners in second place but was quickly relegated to third position after Reed snuck up the inside of him after the triple.
At the end of the next straight Clout also tried to make a move up the inside of Brayton, but instead of gaining a position, tucked the front wheel, crashing into the turn and relegating himself to near last, and in the process putting a big dent in his championship aspirations.
If the first lap was not exciting enough the roof was lifted off the stadium early in the second lap as the crowd roared into life when Reed put a block pass on Anderson for the lead in a move that not only left Anderson on the ground, but also caught Clout out once again as he crashed for a second time trying to manoeuvre between other downed riders.
Luke Clout
Reed, with a clear track ahead of him, tried to distance himself from the field further, opting to use the Joker lane when it first opened at the start of lap two.
At the end of lap four Brayton all but cruised past Reed for the race lead as Reed swung wide, with Brayton running on to win the opening race comfortably.
Reed held on to finish second less than half-a-second ahead of Hill, with Metcalfe in 4th and Reardon in 5th.
Anderson was able to recover to finish 7th while Clout had to settle for a 10th place finish.
SX1 MAIN TWO
In another exciting start, Anderson grabbed the holeshot and early race lead ahead of Brayton; however, it was Clout who was on the charge, passing both riders in quick succession to take control of the race lead by the end of lap one.
Luke Clout
The lead was short-lived, as Anderson blasted down the whoop section at the start of lap two to reclaim the lead. On the following lap, Brayton took full advantage of the Repco Short Cut Lane to rocket himself from third position all the way into the lead, further enhancing his position to take his fourth straight title.
On lap six, Anderson who had been stalking Brayton for four laps made his move for the lead, making the pass stick on the slick track then going on to take the race win.
Brayton held on for second, ahead of the trio of CDR Yamaha’s with Clout in third, Hill fourth and Reardon 5th.
SX1 MAIN THREE
In a chaotic first turn, it looked as though leading privateer Joel Wightman was going to grab the knobby holeshot until he was pushed wide and went down, while a handful of riders burst straight through the blocks at the tight first corner.
Emerging first after everything had settled down was Brett Metcalfe leading the way head of Anderson, Brayton, Evans and Hill, while Clout was left deep down in the pack.
SX1
Hill used the Repco short cut lane to his advantage to move into third position ahead of Brayton, while at the same time, Anderson blitzed through the whoops to pass Metcalfe for the lead.
Both Hill and Brayton then made their move around Metcalfe to sit in second and third spots.
Out front Anderson was unstoppable, taking his second straight win for the night. Hill held on to second position. Still, all attention was on the man behind him with Brayton crossing the line in third position, which was enough to see him win his first SX-Open event and more importantly his fourth straight Australian Supercross Championship.
Justin Brayton
“I’m stoked I got the win – the last few weeks have been so tough, so to get this championship means a lot. I love this country, thank you so much for welcoming me, and I hope that I’ve done your country proud coming over here and winning four straight.”
Justin Brayton the SX1 Champion once again. Luke Clout #2 and Daniel Reardon #3
Anderson’s 1-1-7 result was enough to finish second overall for the night and also clinch the 2019 Australasian Supercross Championship which was contested over the course of the two SX-Open events held in Auckland and Melbourne.
Jason Anderson
“This title is sweet; it’s rad I was able to get it done. The track was slick, racing was tight, but my Rockstar Husky was locked in. Thanks to all the AME boys for putting this on. I love coming down under, and really plan on doing it for some time to come.”
Jason Anderson
Hill on the back of his second-place finish in the final race rounded out the nights SX1 podium, with Metcalfe and Reed tied for 4th position on 14 points each.
In the final points standings, Clout despite finishing 7th on the night, held on to second position ahead of team-mate Daniel Reardon, with Metcalfe in 4th and Dylan Long holding on to 5th on the championship charts.
Richie Evans held on to finish 6th in his first year in the SX1 class, while Joel Wightman’s 10th place finish at the final round was enough to see him finish the season as the leading privateer with a fantastic 7th place championship result.
The experience of racing the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Melbourne on debut as a professional has proven to be vital for Jett Lawrence as he embarks on his rookie season in the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship.
Lawrence, just 16 years of age, was impressive all throughout the night show inside Marvel Stadium, leading a number of laps and almost securing victory in the final encounter, ultimately recording a 4-3-2 scorecard for fourth overall.
The Geico Honda rider fell victim to two last corner manoeuvres which denied him of landing on the podium, although the popular teenager could only draw positives from the night.
“It was so good to kind of get all the nerves out before A1, so it’s helped a lot in my road to A1,” Lawrence explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “It was so fun, I had a blast. The boys were on it – there was some good racing, and I had a few sketchy moments – I barely kept it on two wheels, but I came out of it in one piece – I’m pretty pumped with that.
“My first pro race was pretty good, I think I went 4-3-2. I’m pretty happy with this. I wish I could’ve won the last one, but Mitchell Oldenburg got me in that last turn – I was bummed about that. If I won that, I would’ve been on the podium – it put me down a place, it was bummer and it is what it is.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is scheduled to commence on 4 January at Anaheim.
Luke Clout has confirmed he will depart CDR Yamaha Monster Energy ahead of the 2020 season, strengthening speculation that he’ll join Penrite Honda Racing with an opportunity to contest the opening rounds of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship next year.
Clout, who finished second in the Australian Supercross Championship after a difficult night at the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Melbourne on Saturday, has been in public over the last two rounds that he’ll race at least the opening six rounds of the American series.
Following his seventh overall placing inside Marvel Stadium, the New South Welshman elaborated on his 2020 plans, indicating the opportunity to race overseas was key in luring him away from the powerhouse CDR squad after what has been his most successful campaign in the premier class.
Clout has been widely-linked to the role, which is understood to see him return to Australia for the MX Nationals aboard a CRF450R alongside Brett Metcalfe, while it’s tipped Kyle Webster will join the outfit in the MX2 category.
“It’s kind of sad to say, but this will definitely be my last ride for CDR tonight,” Clout revealed to MotoOnline.com.au. “I just want to take the time to thank everyone that’s involved – Yamaha, CDR, Dacka, and just everyone in the team – I really appreciate everything they’ve done. They’ve helped me out tremendously and I’m really thankful for what they’ve done.
“I want everyone to know that from the bottom of my heart – they’ve kind of mentored me in who I am today. But, I’m moving on and I’m going to something that I think is the best fit for me because there are opportunities for me to head back to the US.”
The popular SX1 contender entered Melbourne’s season-finale with a one-point lead in the championship and went onto set the fastest time in qualifying and claim Superpole, however a series of unfortunate events in the triple crown main events denied him the chance of challenging Justin Brayton (Penrite Honda Racing) for the crown.
“I’m happy with how the year went, and I was stoked with how today went,” Clout continued. “I felt like when the track was at its best, I was probably the best rider out here. Those three races, just whatever I did, it seemed to go wrong.
“I had about four or five riders fall on me, I had a guy stall when I had the hole-shot in front of me – it was just chaos. It was just not my championship to win – we started off great today with qualifying fastest and Superpole. My speed is there, I just need to finish it off in the end.”
We know it was not done by McQueen – not because he couldn’t do it, but because the filmmaker’s insurance company wouldn’t let him.
Many believe it was done by his friend and bike fettler Bud Ekins who died earlier this year and has been honoured with special edition T100 and T120 models.
However, there remains some doubt.
Several endurance riders who were competing nearby at the European motocross championship were invited by McQueen to visit the filming.
Tim Gibbes
They included Australian Tim Gibbes and another unnamed Aussie rider who had a go while the cameras were rolling, so it is not clear which take was used.
Australian safety and comfort ratings system for motorcycle clothing, MotoCAP, has won a Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) road safety award.
The award, presented this morning (2 December 2019) in Monaco along with 40 other recipients, has been applauded by Australian Motorcycle Council chair Guy Stanford.
“We are very pleased with the FIM award which demonstrates the value of the MotoCAP program worldwide,” he says.
“Clothing manufacturers’ advertising is not always a credible source of what is useful when a crash happens or heat fatigue arises in the Australian summer.”
MotoCAP gives clothing two separate star ratings – one for protection and one for heat management (“comfort”).
AMC Protective Clothing sub-committee chair Brian Wood also points out that MotoCAP tests the whole garment, unlike European Protective Clothing Standards which only tests samples of fabrics, fastenings and stitching.
“(It) gives the motorcycle community more information when they are making choices about the clothing they wear when riding,” he says.
MotoCAP history
MotoCAP is the outcome of almost 20 years research and consultations, led by Dr Liz de Rome, with the support of the Australian Motorcycle Council. The key milestones include:
2003 – The Motorcycle Council of NSW (MCC) obtained a grant from the Motor Accidents Authority of NSW (MAA) to investigate the features of effective motorcycle personal protective equipment (PPE).The outcome was a report and the establishment of websites for the MCC and the Accident Compensation Commission (NZ) to provide information about protective clothing and other motorcycle safety issues to riders in Australia and New Zealand.
2005 – A national PPE industry seminar was held by the MCC with the support and funding of the MAA to consider the implications of the European Standards for PPE. A proposal to establish an Australian star rating scheme for PPE was canvassed and supported by the participants.
2006 – The roads authority of Victoria (VicRoads), commissioned a report investigating the options for a star rating scheme compared to industry standards for PPE.
2007 – The National Roads and Motorists Association (NRMA) funded a survey of novice riders to establish their knowledge, information sources and usage of PPE.
2008 – Swann Motorcycle Insurance funded a study of the injury reduction benefits of the clothing worn by injured and un-injured riders involved serious crashes. The study confirmed the potential for PPE to reduce the risk and severity of injuries, but also identified high rates of garment failure under crash conditions. The study also validated the impact risk zones framework of the European standards against clothing damage and rider injuries in real world crashes.
2008 – PPE researcher invited to give a presentation on protective clothing research to members at the AMC Annual Conference.
2009 – AMC successfully lobbied Federal Government for funding to publish and distribute a guide to riders on the features of effective motorcycle protective clothing ‘The Good Gear Guide’.
2010 – 2012 – The State of Victoria, Parliamentary Road Safety Committee convened a series of meetings to “inquire into, consider and report… on motorcycle safety.” The formation of a star rating scheme for motorcyclists’ apparel was supported by Recommendations 51 – 53. (Parliamentary Road safety Committee 2012)
2011–-The Australian and New Zealand Government Injury Insurance agencies commissioned industry consultations and research into the development of a model for providing riders with reliable information when buying motorcycle protective gear.
2011 – The Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC) organised a series of state-wide seminars – entitled “What’s Safe?” – which covered the testing and other assessments of motorcyclists’ clothing, of which riders, retailers and clothing suppliers were amongst the interested parties who attended.
2012 – The TAC conducted feasibility studies including community and industry consultations to establish support for a PPE ratings program.
Motorcycle gear tested in a thermal chamber with (from left) research assistant Liz Taylor, volunteer rider Dr Greg Peoples, Liz de Rome and Nigel Taylor.
2014 – The AMC formed a Protective Clothing Sub-Committee which developed a Position Statement on Protective Clothing from a rider’s perspective.
2014 2015, 2016 – AMC Annual Conferences invited PPE researchers to provide updates on research progress on protective clothing.
2015 – The AMC collated and listed CE approved gear available in Australia on its website to assist riders in choosing suitable gear. The AMC joined the Australian and New Zealand Working Group tasked to develop a 5 Star Rating scheme.
2015 – The Motorcycle Protective Clothing working group formed, consisting of 10 members from government agencies and motoring clubs, led by the TAC.
2015 – NSW Parliamentary Stay Safe Committee Inquiry into motorcycle safety recommended that a star rating scheme for motorcyclists protective clothing be developed (Staysafe Committee 2015).
2015 – The NSW Minister for Roads, announced the establishment of a national project to develop a consumer rating program for motorcycle protective clothing and to encourage manufacturers to provide a range of more effective protective clothing suitable for Australian conditions (NSW Government 2015).
2016 – The science program ‘Catalyst’ produced a segment on motorcycle protective clothing, this was broadcast by the national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC)
2016 – The Transport for NSW, Centre for Road Safety (CRS) assumed the lead role for the Motorcycle Protective Clothing working group and commissioned the development of test protocols for a PPE star rating scheme in consultation with industry (de Rome et al 2016). The CRS actively sought interested parties, and the consortium grew to 20 members.
2016 – Dr Liz de Rome and Dr Chris Hurren from Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials were contracted to the consortium to develop test and rating protocols for motorcycle protective clothing.
Chris Hurren and his Honda GB400
2016 – The test protocols were distributed for comment to the motorcycle accessories industry in Australia and New Zealand including local manufacturers and importers.
2017 – Liz and C hris were contracted to trial the test protocols fr a 12-month period, allowing time for industry to respond. Product test results were released on a confidential basis to the relevant local manufacturer or importer.
2018 – The doctors were contracted to the consortium to conduct testing of motorcycle protective clothing for publication under the MotoCAP program.
2018 – The Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program, or MotoCAP, and the accompanying website, www.motocap.com.au, were launched in September by the MotoCAP working group, with products tested at the Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials. At launch, there were 20 products rated on the website. At the time of this submission, there were 128 products on the website, with the site frequently updated.
Under MotoCAP, the National Association of Testing Authorities-accredited laboratory at Deakin University, led by Dr Chris Hurren, tests and rates the protective performance and thermal management of a random sample of the motorcycle jackets, pants and gloves available in Australia and New Zealand.
The CRS publishes the results on the MotoCAP website on behalf of the consortium.The ratings use the same test methods as current European standards, and rather than using a simple pass/fail score, they allow products to be ranked and rated on their relative performance, allowing riders to choose the most appropriate gear for their riding conditions.
The draft test protocols have been distributed widely across the Australian and New Zealand industry, including to importers and manufacturers, to enable industry to test their own products against the MotoCAP requirements.
MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.
While drink riding may be rare, it does happen, but not if a Taiwanese smart helmet fitted with a breathalyser becomes available.
The “Bluetooth Alcohol Detection Smart Motorcycle Helmet” was designed by Taipei City University of Science and Technology and has won best invention at the recent Seoul International Invention Fair.
It includes a breathalyser to test the blood alcohol content of the rider’s breath when they put on the helmet.
The helmet is also connected via Bluetooth to the motorcycle and prevents it starting if it detects alcohol on the rider’s breath.
Obviously the bike would be set up to only start in the presence of the helmet, but that doesn’t stop a rider having it as a spare or the pillion wearing it!
Drink driving and riding
This helmet is similar to the Saab-invented Alcohol Interlock which requires a driver to blow into a tube to activate the ignition.
Mind you, that didn’t stop him winning the 2019 Kenneth A Stonex road safety award after advocating wire rope barriers, lower speed limits, mandatory hi-vis rider vests and mandatory electronic rider aids.
Honda smart helmet
It’s not just Taiwanese science students who think this helmet tech is the answer.
Some simple maintenance, which can be easily incorporated into the routine of a motorcycle owner, will help – a lot – to prevent damage and to maintain the paint of your two-wheeled vehicle. It is important to keep the paint clean to avoid damage when resold – even minor damage to the frame can devalue any vehicle or result in a lot of workshop costs.
Avoiding scratches, wear and tear on paint is not an impossible mission, but it is first important for the owner to know the type of paint that is done on his motorcycle. In some older models, it is still possible to find solid paint without varnish, which is currently of little use because it is less resistant to time action. Solid varnish paint is widely used by manufacturers today, featuring brighter colors and giving the motor a brighter appearance. If this is a painting done on your motorcycle, the focus is conservation of the varnish, which is responsible for the protective coating of paint that is applied to the parts being painted.
Look at useful tips and simple steps that prevent damage and maintain your motorcycle’s paint:
Cleaning
Keeping the bike clean is the most important. Accumulation of impurities is a major cause of risk. Don’t wait for the rinse to get rid of dust, dirt or grime from your motorcycle, otherwise the friction of the dirt collected with paint will damage the varnish and the damage will not be avoided. Clean your motorcycle with a wet cloth if possible, but be careful: Use only water or certain motorcycle cleaners, neutral soap is a good choice and you can even use it to clean your helmet. General detergents are abrasive and damage paint. Never use a dry cloth that will only pull dirt through the bodywork and cause scratches.
Store your bike well
Keep your motorcycle protected from rain and sun. You might consider materials like those used in cheap car wrap. The acidity of rainwater erodes the varnish, and prolonged exposure to the sun alters the pigmentation of your motorcycle’s paint, giving it an aged and worn look. If your garage is not covered, use a cover to protect it from the action of these natural factors, as well as dust and dirt accumulation.
Wash calmly and carefully
A very common mistake is washing motorcycles with pressurized water equipment. Pressure causes water to seep into the electrical parts, as well as using varnish. Ideally, always wash with cold water, which should be spread gently using a sponge or soft cloth. Use only shampoo for this purpose and rinse as soon as possible. We recommend washing the motor in the shade to avoid stains that may be caused by the sun when the motor soap. Clean the motorcycle with a very soft cloth (e.g. cloth diaper), and leave it on the stand until all the water flows from the powder section, carefully doubling the chrome side to prevent rust. Be careful when using kerosene to clean the engine and wheels: if it comes in contact with plastic and rubber parts, it can cause dryness, and if it touches the paint, the result will be a stain that can only be dried by tinkers.
Wax
If the paint is in perfect condition, use liquid colorless automotive wax. Paste waxes are effective in removing small scratches and are therefore somewhat abrasive, so only use them if you have extreme skill at the time of application, or varnish wear will be inevitable. And whatever wax is used, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
MotoCAP is the outcome of almost 20 years research and consultations, led by Dr Liz de Rome, with the support of the Australian Motorcycle Council. The key milestones include: 
