Andrea Dovizioso is focused on defending his runner-up position in the MotoGP World Championship rankings ahead of Motegi this weekend, the Ducati Team rider currently holding down a comfortable 48-point advantage over third’s Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
With Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) already securing his sixth premier class crown in Thailand, Dovizioso is eager to finish the season the strongly, particularly in Japan this weekend where he believes the circuit will favour him.
“With the title already assigned in Thailand, our main aim now is to hold on to second place, and this is what we’ll be fighting for in the next four races,” Dovizioso explained. “Motegi is one of those special circuits where in the last few years we have been very competitive.
“Last year we missed out on the podium while fighting for the win, and I think that we will again be fast this year. We must continue to work hard to improve in all conditions and on all tracks and we’ll be giving our all in these last four races.”
The real fight for in the championship is the battle for the third, which sees Rins, Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Danillo Petrucci (Ducati Team) separated by just five points.
2020 MXGP World Championship calendar made official
Section: Competition
Complete 20-round schedule confirmed for next season.
Image: Supplied.
The 2020 MXGP World Championship calendar has been made official, confirming 20 rounds will take place next season.
The opening venue will be at the fan-favourite Matterley Basin, being the MXGP of Great Britain – the first European GP to start off the MXGP season since 2012. The second stop will be the following weekend on 8 March in the sandy track of Valkenswaard in the Netherlands, followed by Neuquen in Patagonia-Argentina.
Then MXGP will return to Europe to visit some of the most emblematic tracks in the calendar such as Pietramurata in Trentino, St. Jean d’Angely in France, Teutschenthal in Germany, Orlyonok in Russia and Kegums in Latvia.
The 2020 calendar also features big comebacks, such as the one of Spain, whose venue is still to be announced, or the one of Maggiora where the 2020 MXGP of Italy will be hosted.
In June the MXGP paddock will travel overseas for the back-to-back Indonesian rounds, being Jakarta the new host of the first stop while the second one will mark the return to Palembang for the second year in a row.
After the Indonesian trip, MXGP will move to one of the old school venues of the calendar, Loket in Czech Republic, followed by the sandy circuit of Lommel in Belgium and the hillside track of Uddevalla in Sweden.
Round 17 of the 2020 season will take place at the brand-new KymiRing circuit in Iitti, Finland, and afterwards MXGP will visit Turkey and China for rounds 18 and 19. The final round of the 2020 season is set to be held in Imola for the MXGP of Emilia Romagna.
The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) will be hosted in Ernee, France, on 27 September.
2020 MXGP World Championship calendar: Rd1 – 1 March – Matterley Basin, Great Britain Rd2 – 8 March – Valkenswaard, the Netherlands Rd3 – 22 March – Neuquen, Argentina Rd4 – 5 April – Trentino, Italy Rd5 – 19 April – TBA, Spain Rd6 – 26 April – Agueda, Portugal Rd7 – 10 May – Saint Jean d’Angely, France Rd8 – 17 May – Maggiora, Italy Rd9 – 24 May – Teutschenthal, Germany Rd10 – 7 June – Orlyonok, Russia Rd11 – 14 June – Kegums, Latvia Rd12 – 28 June – Jakarta, Indonesia Rd13 – 5 July – Palembang, Indonesia Rd14 – 26 July – Loket, Czech Republic Rd15 – 2 August – Lommel, Belgium Rd16 – 16 August – Uddevalla, Sweden Rd17 – 23 August – KymiRing, Finland Rd18 – 6 September – Afyonkarahisar, Turkey Rd19 – 13 September – Shanghai, China Rd20 – 20 September – Imola, Italy
I didn’t really know what to expect with this one. It’s been nearly 20 years since I rode a ‘Murican bike. And I’m pleased to say the Indian is nothing like the ultra-wide-fat-bob-shovel thing that I thought belonged in a bin all those years ago. Polishing chrome is not my thing. Bikes are to be ridden.
Indian FTR 1200 S
I’ve been a fan of the dirt track styling and history behind the Indian ever since it resurfaced. The FTR 1200 S has genuine brand pedigree born from the 750 flat tracker it looks so much like – and it does feel authentic.
Indian Motorcycles Melbourne
Speaking of brand – the showroom in Melbourne is a nice place to spend some time. Awesome fit-out, nice exposed brick, lots of character and jam packed with stacks of top looking bikes and friendly staff. It’s not a sterile surgical showroom as others can be. I dig it. Take your favourite caffeinated beverage along and soak up some joy.
The Indian Motorcycles showroom in Melbourne
So – the Indian FTR 1200 S. ‘Get some photos before you get it dirty’ said Trev. ‘Hey whaddya take me fo.. Oh yeah, fair enough’. So I dutifully got some morning shots just a few hundred metres up the road on the edge of the National Park.
Then decided it was such a nice morning I might just trundle up a little further to see if I could find another good spot for some more shots. Next minute I’m ripping skids down local tracks getting my King Kenny on. Its that kinda bike.
As far as doing what it says on the box, this is a fun time waiting to be had. Its nice and low, has big, wide Pro Taper bars and plenty of steering lock to keep things pointing where you want them. And yes I had to wash it again straight away when I got home… and I was still smiling.
The FTR 1200 S features wide Pro Taper bars
The dirt track style translates well when you’re back on sealed roads too. I’ve decided it has a bit of a Jeckyl & Hyde personality actually. Happy as a pig in it to lope along, completely unfussed, enjoying the scenery, but at the twist of the mitt there’s a whole world of shove and its party time.
When you want it to, that cruisey little porker is ready to bolt. The little piggy reference seems apt actually. I remember being told once that pigs are the fastest accelerating animal in terms of standstill to flat-out in two strides (I have no idea if that’s true by-the-way but it seems plausible – anyone?) and the FTR will go from cruisey to full noise in a heartbeat. Or two crank revolutions. Whichever is quicker.
You never really forget the fact that you’re sitting on two dirty big slugs and a giant crank. It’s the heart and soul of the bike in every way. From 3500rpm there’s major, instant mumbo. Grunt peaks at 6000rpm with a healthy 120Nm, and holds nicely right up until the redline arrives at 8000rpm. There’s no drop off at higher revs either – a really nice power curve. A touch over 120-odd horsepower. That’ll do.
1203cc V-twin, 120 horsepower at 8250rpm and 85 foot-pounds of torque at 6000rpm
That heavy crank makes it practically un-stallable on the go. It was actually idling itself up fairly steep hills in first gear as I was mucking about exploring the local National Park trails on it. Traction control works nicely in the dirt too for something with so much roosting ability on tap.
The clutch is nice and light – almost ridiculously so. And the box is a joy to use. Relatively short throw, buttery smooth – but firm shifts. It can get a bit caught up in itself on deceleration, and the transition back onto the throttle could use a bit of tweaking, but it’s nothing dramatic. It’s just a big grunty twin and needs to be ridden as such.
Indian FTR 1200 S
It comes with four ride modes: Rain, Standard, Sport and Track (only track lets you turn TC and ABS off). These modes are selected via the dash – either through a multi-control button on the left stalk or via the screen itself – as its a touch screen. Yep, touch screen dashes are a thing. I’ll come back to the dash in a sec.
I found the standard mode to be spot on for everyday riding and commuting. Fuelling is nice, it suits the cruisy nature of the Jeckyl side of its personality, I didn’t actually rate the sport mode all that much, fuelling felt a little more nervous with not enough gain for me – it felt a little too prone to surging.
Could be that the FTR 1200 S I was riding was apparently still running a US fuel map, but it didn’t gel with me. Track mode on the other hand was ace. It didn’t seem prone to surging at all, and with the electronic fun stoppers turned off you were able to let the inner hooligan Hyde come out and play.
The front comes up at a whim, worth noting that the big crank requires a bit of practice to find the right amount of input for someone like me who doesn’t use the rear brake when lofting it up – and it will seriously drift for days on the dirt.
Many long, lurid, silly grin-inducing slides were laid down. With so much torque, you can be almost walking along in say… third gear, wind the throttle open and the lock on, weaving from one side of the track to the other for a couple of hundred metres at a time… All in the name of research. It’s a tough gig.
Like hell it is.
That dash I mentioned – has two displays that you can choose from that you can change at the swipe of your finger. I found the overall dash design and controls a little wanting but that’s the sort of stuff I do in my other life when I’m not writing about bikes, so I’m particularly anal there.
A touch screen TFT display is featured with different display options
If you use the buttons to change modes (as opposed to the touch screen) it takes more than half a dozen interactions to change from standard to track and turn the traction control off. On the go, thats too many things to do and takes your attention away from the road for too long. Stick a button up on the right stalk to cycle through modes please. Given that you have to close the throttle to activate the new mode anyway… You know it makes sense.
The dash also includes a compass… because… Actually I dunno. And like too many manufacturers the distance to empty meter changes from a useful number, to ‘LOW’. Which helps no one in the real world. So there’s some work to do there, but nothing that’s particularly concerning.
It does take a while to cycle through to being ‘ready’ on first start, but I was told to let it warm up to 60 degrees before getting moving anyway due to the US fuelling map. Good thing too. That map didn’t like the cold much and would stall a handful of times until it was up to temp. I did have some particularly cold nights that week (got down to three-degrees twice), and there were no such issues once up to temp.
The ‘tank’ is actually the airbox, with fuel carried lower, but only offering a relatively small 12.9L capacity and being difficult to fill at speed
Other FTR 1200 S niggles? It doesn’t have a lot of range. I was having to fill up at about 200 kays. Which meant twice for me on some days commuting. And the fueling up process got old pretty quickly. The fuel tank actually sits under the seat (that’s actually the airbox sitting under what looks like a tank), and so the filler tube angles back and curls under the seat.
The result of that is that there’s not a lot of return breathing for the fuel as it goes in. So it’s a slow process as it gets towards the top. I struggled to know for sure where the ‘top’ was.. As the sticker said not to fill it up into the neck.. You’d fill it up, it’d bubble back down. Fill it up some more.. Rinse and repeat.
I found myself putting about 12 litres in after those 200 kays, but was never too sure how much was left or how full I was filling it. Takes 12.9 litres to fill apparently, so I couldn’t have been far away from empty… No doubt if you owned it, you’d figure that stuff out with a bit of time. But definitely worth mentioning. Put a couple of return breather hoses in there please folks. And another litre or two fuel capacity would be nice.
The seat on the FTR 1200 S is also deceptive… but firm and comfortable
Even though the bars are wide, there’s still plenty of weight to the steering – it’s surprisingly meaty, and plenty accurate too. The seating position is upright, and the seat is firm but comfortable. That seat isn’t actually the shape it looks like either… that’s a cunning ruse.
The curve behind where the rider sits is more pronounced than the seat covering suggests – as the cover actually hovers above the ‘real’ seat cushioning by an inch or so. So it forms a much firmer more upright ‘back’. It’s still comfortable mind you – and certainly helps stop you sliding about when you crack the gas. I wonder how that covering will wear, being stretched like that? Time will tell. There’s no doubt it’s a nice shape.
That low overall seating position on the FTR 1200 S also necessitates a modest travel suspension setup – 150 mm at both ends. While it’s no long travel setup – it’s fine for tarmac or smooth dirt roads, I didnt need to even touch the clickers on this one.
Suspension travel is a modest 150mm on each end
Just don’t expect it to cope with gnarly potholes or corrugations at speed all that well… Having said that, I rode it up some access tracks in the bush while exploring, that I had no real right to be riding up. Got to the point where it was seriously dirtbike only stuff, so I turned around and found my way back. Another excuse to do more skids!
The FTR 1200 S brakes are fine. I’d probably have preferred a little more power from the front, but for something that’s designed to play in the dirt a little it’s probably about right. I found that the lever came in quite a way after a few days mucking about on it. I reckon that’s just a new bike needing a bleed after its first few rides though. Again, nothing major, but worth mentioning.
An LED headlight is found on the FTR 1200 S
Elsewhere on the bike there are plenty of nice design details, paint and fit and finish is excellent. The more you look the more there is to like. Little touches here and there have been well considered and executed. Even the footpegs look cool. I like its quirkiness.
Plenty of branding in place. In the headlight and taillight, and both sides of the engine. And there’s no doubt that from just forward of side profile it cuts a fine pose.
The FTR 1200 S cuts a fine figure
One of my neighbours has recently picked up a Kato dirt bike. He occasionally wheelies past my front door and I give him a wave and a smile, I kindly return the gesture by ripping skids at his letterbox. After a week on the FTR it looks like Mr Squiggle has been delivering his mail…
I like the FTR 1200 S. I like the styling of the other Indians too while I’m at it. Yes there are things I’d want to change, but the guts of this bike have a real appeal – the Jeckle and Hyde thing tickles my fancy.
Indian FTR 1200 S
With that said, my personal commute is pretty extreme and the miles I ride don’t really lend themselves to the range the FTR 1200 S gets. But.. I liked my week or so on this one. At 25 grand or thereabouts for the top of the range model it’s not cheap. And it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But for me that adds to the appeal as well.
Why I like the FTR 1200 S:
Looks tops. I love the styling and finish.
Big grunt on tap. Everywhere.
Rips skids for days.
Riding position is great.
Split personality. Happy to cruise along, yet…massively hooligan friendly.
Skids are good eh.
Trev testing the Indian FTR 1200 S Rally Replica earlier in the year
I’d like it more if:
Not a bad exhaust note, but I’d have to go the Akro’s.
Could do with a bit more range… and that tank filling process is a bit painful.
Dash takes a while to boot up… and could do with a redesign.
I’m assuming the AU fuel map fixes the propensity to stall while it’s still warming up.
LCR Honda drafts in Zarco for final three MotoGP rounds
Frenchman released by Red Bull KTM to replace Nakagami.
Image: Supplied.
LCR Honda Idemitsu has drafted in embattled former KTM rider Johann Zarco for the final three rounds of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship in place of Takaaki Nakagami, who will undergo shoulder surgery following the Japanese grand prix.
While the Frenchman was set to remain under contract for the rest of the year on the sidelines, the Austrian manufacturer has released him from his commitments, enabling the former podium challenger to take on the opportunity aboard an LCR Honda.
“What an opportunity to have the last few races of the season on the LCR Honda Idemitsu bike,” said Zarco. “I’m really thankful to have this chance, and I will do my best to pick up some good results and to enjoy the time, because these could be the last three races I can do for a while.
“I would like to thank KTM for releasing me so that I can do these races on another bike. Let’s see what I can do. First of all I know that I will enjoy the Phillip Island track, it’s a fast circuit and I think the feeling could be good.
“We’ll cross our fingers that it can be, and we will see what is possible. The target is to ride at a good pace, and rediscover some of the good feeling I’ve had before.”
Official statistics compiled by Dr. Thomas Morsellino
MotoGP Facts and Stats
At the Thai GP, Marc Marquez has won for ninth time this year so far, which is the same total as the whole 2018 season. Only once has Marquez won more races in one season since he stepped up to the MotoGP class and that was in 2014 when he won 13.
Marquez topped the Thai podium from a close Quartararo and distant Vinales
Marquez has won at least nine GPs per season in five different seasons of his GP career, equalling Giacomo Agostini. Only Valentino Rossi did better with at least nine wins per season over eight years.
In Thailand, Marquez made it 12 successive races on the podium for the first time since he finished on the podium 12 times in a row from the last two races of 2013 through the opening 10 races of 2014, which is his record in the MotoGP class.
Marquez is now leading the Championship by 110 points ahead of Andrea Dovizioso; this is the highest margin after the opening 15 races of the season in the premier class since 2005.
Marc Marquez with the Honda brass and the 8 Ball….
Honda head to Motegi with a 77-point lead over Ducati in the MotoGP Constructors World Championship and could clinch the title in Japan if the first Honda rider across the line doesn’t concede more than two more points to the first Ducati rider.
Fabio Quartararo was second in Thailand for his fifth podium finish in his rookie season. Since the introduction of the MotoGP class in 2002, only three rookies have had more podium finishes: Marc Marquez (16 in 2013), Dani Pedrosa (eight in 2006) and Jorge Lorenzo (six in 2008), all on factory bikes.
Fabio Quartararo
Quartararo‘s podium at Buriram equals Pierre Monnerat in fourth place on the list of French riders with most premier class podium finishes behind Christian Sarron (18 podium finishes), Raymond Roche (9) and Johann Zarco (6).
Fabio Quartararo was the highest-placed Yamaha rider across the line for the fourth time this year, along with Catalunya, Austria, and San Marino and the top Independent Team rider. He is leading the Independent Team rider classification, 24 points ahead of Jack Miller and 41 ahead Cal Crutchlow.
Fabio Quartararo
Maverick Viñales crossed the line in third at the Thai GP, which is his 62nd podium of his Grand Prix career, equalling Marco Melandri and three less than Wayne Rainey.
Viñales stood on the podium for sixth time so far this year, one more than his whole 2018 season. Since he stepped up to MotoGP class in 2015, 2017 is the only season where he has stood on the podium more than six times (seven podium finishes).
With Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Viñales, this is the third time this year there were at least two Yamaha riders on the podium along the Dutch TT and San Marino GP with the same riders. The last there have been more than three races with at least two Yamaha riders on the podium was in 2017 (four times).
Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo were on the podium last time out in Thailand
This was the sixth time since Marc Marquez stepped up to the MotoGP class in 2013 that he was the oldest rider on the podium, along with the Assen last year and Spain and Silverstone this year, with Alex Rins and Maverick Viñales, and Assen and San Marino this year with Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo.
Fabio Quartararo is still leading the fight for the Rookie of the Year with 143 points, ahead Joan Mir (58 points), following by Frances- co Bagnaia (34) and Miguel Oliveira (29). Now 85 points clear of his sole rival for the title, Joan Mir, Quartararo must be more than 75 points ahead of the Spaniard after Motegi.
Only one rider has now scored points in all 15 of the MotoGP races in 2019: Danilo Petrucci, who crossed the line in ninth place in Thailand, his best result since he was seventh at Silverstone.
Danilo Petrucci
Valentino Rossi, who crossed the line in eighth place in Thailand for the second successive time and as the fourth Yamaha rider, has not won since Assen back in 2017, 42 successive races. The last time he failed to win in more than 42 successive races was from Portugal/2010 to Catalunya/2013 (44).
The only one of the four rookies in the MotoGP class this year to have previously won at Motegi in any of the smaller classes is Francesco Bagnaia in the Moto2 class last year. He did, however, cross the line in second behind fellow rookie Fabio Quartararo… but the Frenchman was later disqualified for a technical infringement.
Along with Bagnaia, Miguel Oliveira is the only other of the four rookies who has stood on the podium at Motegi, second in Moto3 in 2015 and third last year in Moto2. In addition, Francesco Bagnaia is the only one of the four rookies to have previously qualified on pole position at Motegi, last year in Moto2.
Francesco Bagnaia at Motegi last year in Moto2
Grand Prix racing at Motegi
The Twin Ring Motegi circuit was first added to the Grand Prix calendar in 1999 and has hosted an event every year since. This will be the 21st occasion that a Grand Prix event has been held at the Twin Ring Motegi.
A total of 60 Grand Prix races for solo motorcycles have been held at Motegi since 1999 as follows: MotoGP –17, 500cc–3, Moto2 –9, 250cc–11, Moto3 –7, 125cc–13.
Since the introduction of the MotoGP class in 2002, Honda have had eight Grand Prix wins in the class at the Motegi circuit including victories in 2015 with Dani Pedrosa and 2016 and last year with Marc Marquez.
Marc Marquez – Motegi 2018 – AJRN Image
Ducati have had five MotoGP wins at the Twin Ring Motegi, the last of which was with Andrea Dovizioso in 2017 in wet-weather conditions. The other two Ducati riders to have won at the Japanese track are Loris Capirossi (2005, 2006 and 2007) and Casey Stoner (2010).
Yamaha have won the MotoGP race at Motegi on four occasions, the last of which was in 2014 with Jorge Lorenzo. The last podium finish for Yamaha riders at Motegi was in 2015 as Valentino Rossi took second followed by Jorge Lorenzo in third.
Motegi MotoGP 2014
Suzuki and Kenny Roberts Jr. won the first premier class Grand Prix (500cc) held at Motegi in 1999 and repeated the win in 2000. Since the introduction of MotoGP class in 2002, Maverick Viñales’ third-place finish in 2016 and Alex Rins’ third-place last year are the only podiums for Suzuki at Motegi.
The best result for an Aprilia rider in MotoGP at Motegi is a seventh-place finish, with Alvaro Bautista back in 2016 and Aleix Espargaro in 2017.
In 2017, Pol Espargaro crossed the line in 11th place at Motegi, which is the best result for KTM at this track in the premier class of Grand Prix racing.
Then-Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo is the last rider in MotoGP to have won after qualifying on pole position, in 2013. The last pole position for a Honda rider came with Casey Stoner back in 2011. Last year, Andrea Dovizioso qualified on pole position; his most recent.
Dani Pedrosa is the rider with most GP wins at the Motegi circuit with five (3 x MotoGP, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc) followed by Marc Marquez with four (1 x 125cc, 1 x Moto2, 2 x MotoGP). Five other riders have had three GP victories at Motegi: Loris Capirossi (3 x MotoGP), Toni Elias (2 x 250cc, 1 x Moto2), Mika Kallio (2 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc), Jorge Lorenzo (3 x MotoGP), and Alex Marquez (2 x Moto3, 1 x Moto2).
Dani Pedrosa rode a superb race to take victory at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan in 2015 while Rossi extended his lead over Lorenzo to 18 points.
Home riders have taken eight GP victories at the Motegi circuit: Masao Azuma(125cc/1999), Shinya Nakano(250cc/1999), Daijiro Kato(250cc/2000), Youichi Ui (125cc/2001), Tetsuya Harada(250cc/2001), Makoto Tamada(MotoGP/2004) and Hiroshi Aoyama (250cc in 2005 and 2006).
The last Japanese rider to finish on the podium at Motegi in any of the three classes is Hiroshi Aoyama, second in the 250cc race in 2009.
The nine Moto2 races that have taken place at Motegi have been won by eight different riders: Toni Elias (2010), Andrea Iannone (2011), Marc Marquez (2012), Pol Espargaro (2013), Tom Lüthi (2014 and 2016), Johann Zarco (2015), Alex Marquez (2017) and Francesco Bagnaia (2018).
The seven Moto3 races that have taken place at Motegi have been won by six different riders: Danny Kent (2012), Alex Marquez (2013 and 2014), Niccolo Antonelli (2015), Enea Bastianini (2016), Romano Fenati (2017) and Marco Bezzecchi (2018).
Motegi Moto3 2018
Marc Marquez is 2019 MotoGP World Champion
Marc Marquez is the youngest-ever rider to win six premier class titles, at the age of 26 years and 231 days, taking the record from Giacomo Agostini, who was 29 years and 25 days old when he won his sixth premier class title at the 1971 East German GP.
Marc Marquez
Marquez is also the youngest rider of all-time to reach the milestone of eight World Championships, taking the record from Mike Hailwood, who was 27 years and 112 days old when he won his eighth title, the 1967 350cc crown, at Brno.
Marquez has joined Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini as one of only three riders to have taken six or more premier class World Championships.
Marquez is one of only six riders to have taken eight or more World Championships over all classes, the others being Carlo Ubbiali (9), Mike Hailwood (9), Valentino Rossi (9), Angel Nieto (13) and Giacomo Agostini (15).
Marquez has won all his MotoGP titles riding Honda motorcycles and moves above Mick Doohan as the rider with the most premier class titles with the Japanese manufacturer (5).
Only one Spanish rider has won more world titles than Marquez: Angel Nieto, who won 13 World Championships (seven in the 125cc class and six in the 50cc class) between 1969 and 1984.
Marquez has won at least five GPs per season over the past ten years, across three different categories: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP, beating his own record set over the last two years. Previously, Mike Hailwood was the only rider to have achieved at least five victories per season over seven years, across at least three classes, between 1961 and 1967.
Ficeda Accessories have just announced Just1’s 2020 off-road MX range of outstanding MX gear for the Aussie market.
Just1 2020 MX Gear
J1 works closely with pro riders who set the standards high, ensuring that every detailed element of their MX gear is ready to take on every grain of sand, rush of wind, and earthy impact.
Joey Savatgy is one such rider, who has worked closely with J1 for several years to develop the refined MX gear he has been riding in for the past couple of seasons.
Just1 partner with professional racers like Joey Savatgy to develop their MX gear
J1 have now officially released the next generation of MX Gear. It’s light-weight, breathable, and feels better than getting air on ‘whip-it Wednesday.’ No more awkward scrubbing, or over-baggy burdens holding you down.
Joel Ryan – Just1 Brand Manager
“We’ve been waiting a long time for such quality MX gear here in Australia. The new Just1 MX gear is absolutely next-level and could not have come at a better time. Look out for it at the Australian Supercross Championship coming up. I promise you won’t be disappointed!”
Just1 J-Flex Light Gloves
The new JUST1 2020 MX Gear at a glance:
Just1 J-Flex Aria Jersey – $84.95 RRP Pro MX Gear
The Just1 J-Flex Aria Jersey offers complete freedom as the Pro MX gear option, with a lightweight design and close fitting design that doesn’t negatively impact movement, while boasting maximum airflow. Heat transfer logos look the business, with a silicon tail print to keep the jersey tucked in, with a bonded collar and available for $84.95 RRP.
Extremely lightweight for complete freedom of movement
A close fitting, perforated sleeves and nets fabric panels provides maximum airflow
Premium heat transfer logo treatments
Tail silicon print on the back helps keep jersey tucked in pants
Bonded neck collar and cuff eliminated restriction
Just1 J-Flex Aria Jersey & Pant
Just1 J-Flex Aria Pants – $239.95 RRP Pro MX Gear
The Just1 J-Flex Aria Pants offers Pro MX pants, with durable four-way stretch fabric and Cordura back-panels for high durability in the areas which need it and stretch-polyester for elasticity. Net on the back of the legs and laser holes promot airflow, with premium heat transfers and full leather knee panels for high levels of protection and grip. Rubber knee vents also help boost airflow and protection, with two side-adjusters at the waist for fit, all from $239.95 RRP.
Durable 4 way stretch flex fabric provides excellent mobility
Cordura fabric back panels increase durability in the areas that need it most
Back stretch polyester spandex to maximize the elasticity
Net on the back of the legs and laser holes in key areas for the best airflow
Premium heat transfer logo treatments
Full leather knee panels provide coverage from abrasions and provides a best grip on the motorbike
Rubber knee air vents improve the airflow and give more protection to the knees
2 side adjusters provide a perfect fit for all sizes
Just1 J-Force Terra Jersey – $84.95 RRP Classic MX Gear
The Just1 J-Force Terra Jersey features moisture wicking polyster design, with vented side panels and a soft comfortable collar, as part of Just1’s Classic MX Gear range, with a tail silicon print and subliminated graphics so you can mix and match, all for $84.95 RRP.
Moisture wicking polyester fabric keeps you cool and dry
Vented side panels for maximum airflow
Soft and comfortable collar
Tail silicon print on the back helps keep jersey tucked in
Sublimated graphics give the possibility to mix & match
Just1 J-Force Terra Jersey & Pant
Just1 J-Force Terra Pants – $239.95 RRP Classic MX Gear
The Just1 J-Force Terra pants are a Cordura main construction, with stretch panels for movement and include leather knee panels to deal with heat and offer additional protection. Stretch polyester spandex is used for elasticity, and Lycra on the legs aids mobility, while rubber knee vents double up as ventilation and protection. Two side-adjusters at the waist are offered for the perfect fit, all for $239.95 RRP.
Cordura fabric main construction provides durability and strength
Stretch fabric panels improve freedom of movement
Heat and abrasion resistant leather knee panels
Stretch polyester spandex to maximize elasticity
Lycra on the back of the legs for better mobility
Rubber knee air vents improve airflow and protection
Full leather knee panels prevent abrasions and enhances grip on the motorbike
2 side adjusters provide a perfect fit for all sizes
Just1 also have a range of gloves, with the J-Flex Light Glove option, J-Force Hard Glove, and J-Force X Hard Glove, all available for $44.95 RRP.
Just1 Gloves
Just1 J-Flex Light Gloves – $44.95 RRP
Hook and loop wrist clousure system
Single layer cool touch palm (suede)
Silicon print on palm amd fingers for additional grip level
Embossed neoprene cuff offers best fit and maximum comfort
Just1 J-Flex Light Gloves
Just1 J-Force Hard Gloves – $44.95 RRP
Hook and loop wrist clousure system
Suede renforced palm
Lycra fingers panels
Silicon print on palm amd fingers for additional grip level
Embossed neoprene cuff offers best fitting and maximum comfort
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Double Dakar Rally champion Toby Price may have missed out on the prestigious Don Award, but you can still help him become GQ Sportsperson of the Year.
Let’s make sure the double Dakar winner, Australian off-road champ, world enduro champ, four-time Finke winner and five-time Hattah Desert Race victor is successful.
However, he’s up against a tough field for the GQ award: footballers Dustin Martin and James Tedesco; basketball Ben Simmons; cricketers Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Ellyse Perry; soccer player Samantha Kerr; Opals and AFLW player Erin Phillips, snowboarder Scotty James; and tennis players Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott.
Ash Barty won The Don for which Toby was also considered, although he didn’t make their final short list.
That included: tennis grand slam champion Dylan Alcott OAM, 2018 NRL premiership hero Cooper Cronk, three-time Tour de France stage winner Caleb Ewan, 2018 world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore, seven-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes OAM, Ashes winners Ellyse Perry and Tim Paine, and swimming world champion Ariarne Titmus.
In January, we put forward Toby’s name to the Australia Sport Hall of Fame Selection Committee and Board for consideration for The Don awardnamed after Don Bradman.
Also, we also launched a petition calling for a national sporting honour for Toby. It attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
The petition is still live and relevant for consideration for next year’s Don Award.
The GQ award will be based on popularity, so it will be tough for a motorcycle racer to win against such popular sports as cricket, football and tennis.
But it’s not impossible. In 1987, Australia’s first 500cc world champion, Wayne Gardner, was awarded ABC Sportsman of the Year, Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) and Sport Australia Sportsman of the Year.
However, we would like to see Toby win the more prestigious Don Award which is awarded by a panel of experts, not a popular magazine vote.
The honour goes to the sportsperson who “inspires the nation” like Don Bradman. Can’t think of a more inspiring winner, having ridden through major injuries.
The Don Award began in 1998 when five-time world GP champion Mick Doohan was a finalist. The Don was shared that year by cricket captain Mark Taylor and athlete Heather Turland.
It will be difficult for Toby to win The Don as no motorsport identity has ever won.
Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner is a three-time nominee and two-time finalist, but never a recipient of The Don. Last year F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo was a finalist on his second nomination, joined by Indy driver Will Power.
We reckon it’s time for a motorcycle racer to win The Don. Hopefully, that will be next year!
Our petition also calls on state (Queensland and NSW) and federal sports ministers to consider Toby for a state or national sportsperson of the year honour.
Each time you sign, an email goes to the ministers’ offices, so they would be well aware of Toby’s community support.
We approached Queensland and NSW sports ministers because Toby was born in NSW and now lives on the Gold Coast.
Your signatures on the petition will help sway the ministers, so keep sharing the petition with your friends.
Why Toby deserves an award
Toby in action
Australia has a long history of Dakar entries, most notably rookie and privateer Andy Haydon who placed third in 1998, Simon Pavey who competed 10 times and the late Andy Caldecott who competed from 2004 to 2006 when he tragically died during the race.
The Dakar is a gruelling rally that has claimed the lives of 24 competitors since it started in 1978. It is referred to as the toughest motorsport event in the world.
Toby started racing the lethal Dakar in 2015, finishing an astounding third on debut.
He broke his leg in 2017 and last year finished third despite not racing for a year due to injury.
Just a month before this year’s Dakar, Toby broke his wrist in training. His second victory while nursing a “burning wrist” is all the more brave and worthy of an honour.
In fact, has been in for more surgery after the screw in his wrist wore away at the bone like a ‘windscreen wiper’ during the race.
Last year Toby also became the first Australian to win the FIM World Cross Country Championship and scored a record sixth win in Australia’s toughest motorcycle rally, the Finke Desert Race.
In fact, he won that race on debut, a feat he also achieved in the Hattah Dessert Race.
Toby has also won two Australian Junior Motocross Championships and the Australian Off-Road Racing Championship.
Dakar’s most prolific winner, Stéphane Peterhansel, scored his sixth win the year he turned 33. Marc Coma won his fifth Dakar Rally at the age of 39. So Toby, aged 31, still has several years of racing ahead of him and is hopeful of more Dakar wins.
Like Mereja, MrTftw, who goes by the name of Christopher Telep in real life, had no experience with the MotoGP™ computer game before this year. Hailing from Australia, only found out about the eSports Championship when he bought the MotoGP19 game earlier this year.
In terms of the Grand Prix weekend, the Twin Ring Motegi has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since 1999, with Japan boasting a rich motorcycle racing heritage. When visiting Motegi, the Honda Collection Hall museum is a must-see, with more than 300 two and four-wheeled vehicles on display, from production machinery to race prototypes, demonstrating decades of automotive history.
Lorenzo currently has 114 premier class podiums to his name, including 47 victories, and three of those MotoGP™ wins have come at the Twin Ring Motegi in 2009, 2013 and 2014. A win may not be on the cards this time around for Lorenzo but the Spaniard is improving every time he gets on the RC213V, so a points challenge definitely isn’t off the table for the number 99 this weekend.
In fact, he won that race on debut, a feat he also achieved in the Hattah Dessert Race.
