Motorcycling Australia (MA) has revealed the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) will feature at the Australian WorldSBK and MotoGP rounds in 2020, while a six-round calendar has been confirmed.
Officially recognised by the FIM and Dorna Sports as part of the Road to MotoGP program, the Australian junior road race academy initiative has secured two international events and four Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) rounds for its 2020 calendar.
“It’s an understatement to say the inaugural season of OJC has exceeded our expectations,” said Motorcycling Australia operations director Martin Port. “With lap records, ridiculously close racing, the show has simply been world-class.
“And then to have had the opportunity to send our OJC kids to the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the Idemitsu Asia Talent selection events, with the only two new Aussie recruits into the IATC coming from the OJC, we couldn’t be prouder.
“And now, thanks to the vision from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and PI SBK Pty Ltd, to invest in Australian junior road racing, the OJC will showcase its racing future at two of Australia’s largest international motorcycle racing events.
“What MA has produced this year in terms of junior rider development and action-packed racing under the Road to MotoGP program has been recognised by both the WorldSBK and MotoGP events, so we are very proud of that.”
The series will kick off in conjunction with the WorldSBK and ASBK opener at Phillip Island on 27 February-1 March, and will then follow the ASBK calendar at Wakefield Park Raceway on 27-29 March. Round three of the OJC will be staged at Morgan Park on 7-9 August before heading to Winton on 11-13 September.
The penultimate round will take place at Phillip Island’s ASBK finale on 2-4 October, with the championship set to conclude at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on 23-25 October.
2020 Oceania Junior Cup calendar:
Rd1 – 27 February-1 March – Phillip Island (WorldSBK)
Rd2 – 27-29 March – Wakefield Park (ASBK)
Rd3 – 7-9 August – Morgan Park (ASBK)
Rd4 – 11-13 September – Winton (ASBK)
Rd5 – 2-4 October – Phillip Island (ASBK)
Rd6 – 23-25 October – Phillip Island (MotoGP)
YART Yamaha secured victory in a weather-affected 8 Hours of Sepang for round two of the 2019/2020 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) in Malaysia.
The team won the day despite an electronics scare in the early stages of the race by steering clear of trouble with Niccolo Canepa as the only Yamaha number seven rider in the saddle throughout the race.
The strategy of having a sole fast rider with experience of tricky track conditions proved fruitful – Australian Broc Parkes and Karel Hanika were however co-credited with the win.
The team finished ahead of Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa, who ran a consistent race in the leading pack with Malaysian rider Zaqhwan Zaidi, Thai rider Somkiat Chantra and Indonesian Andi Farid Izdihar. The Japanese team’s line-up had already done brilliantly in the Top 10 Trial, wresting second place on the starting grid.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team claimed their second podium at the 8 Hours of Sepang with riders Ilya Mykhalchyk and Markus Reiterberger after their Bol d’Or podium finish. Kenny Foray sustained an injury in practice and was unable to compete in the race. Moto Ain and championship leader Suzuki Endurance Racing Team completed the top five.
Yamaha Sepang Racing, who dominated qualifying and the early stages of the race, and their chief rival F.C.C. TSR Honda France broke away from the other front-runners to embark on a duel for the lead. A collision involving Mike di Meglio (F.C.C. TSR Honda France) and WorldSBK Michael van der Mark (Yamaha Sepang Racing) knocked both machines to the ground.
After a pit stop, van der Mark returned to the track beyond 40th place. By dint of piling up fastest race laps – including a 2m17.817s by MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli – Yamaha Sepang Racing finished seventh.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France – which includes Australian Josh Hook, who sat out of the race with illness – returned to the lead after the collision, but lost their chance of a win after di Meglio crashed out with one hour left in the race.
The Endurance World Championship now heads to Le Mans for the 24 Heures Motos on 18-19 April 2020.
More than that, compared to gargantuan manufacturers of cars, generators, musical instruments, and oil tankers—that also happen to build motorcycles—Ducati is a tiny company (even though parent company Volkswagen AG had the second largest market share of the car market in 2018). From the outside looking in, it seems like human ideas and values tend to get less confused by the bean counters, that embedded enemy of innovation and boldness. At Ducati, human values, effort, and ideas—both good and bad—are injected into the aluminum engine cases and molded bodywork. It’s part of the reason we can overlook useless mirrors, suicide kickstands, and short maintenence intervals—they’re minor imperfections that declare that these are motorcycles made by humans. It makes them relatable. And it’s what makes a used Ducati less anonymous than, say, the mid-’80s generic Japanese cruiser with which it shares Craigslist space.
Reigning MX2 world champion Jorge Prado has undergone surgery on a broken left femur, which he sustained while training at the Malagrotta circuit in Italy this week.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider will step up to the MXGP ranks from 2020, however, preparations will now be put on hold has he recovers into the new year.
“This is bad news and we feel so sorry for Jorge,” commented Red Bull KTM team manager Claudio De Carli. “Things had been going well and he was just two laps away from the end of the training session. It was raining at Malagrotta and you need to have a good control of the bike to make one of the biggest jumps on the track.
“Jorge could not grip the plastic well, his foot slipped off the footpeg on the ramp and he crashed over the jump. He had surgery yesterday evening by a fantastic doctor that we know and trust.
“Now, we have to wait a few days to see if everything is correct before he can leave the hospital. It is a setback to our preparation, but the important thing is that Jorge heals well and then can think again about his first season in the MXGP class.”
The 18-year-old is expected to leave the ward in two days if initial signs are positive and start rehabilitation to make his MXGP debut as early as possible next season.
Prado’s first 450 class appearance came at Assen’s Motocross of Nations in September, taking Team Spain to ninth in the Nations classification after recording 3-7 results for fourth overall in the MXGP division.
Don’t expect the typical gratuitous product placement beauty shots for these Triumphs. According to _No Time To Die_’s stunt coordinator Lee Morrison, the crew put their preproduction Tiger 900s into full ADV mode in three locations. “I have to say that we have literally thrown everything at them,” he says. “Big craggy sharp rocks, deep boggy mud, high speeds, big jumps, and huge climbs and descents across a variety of conditions. The Tigers really have stood up to the task incredibly well, with no mechanical issues, and to me this really proves their go-anywhere credentials.”
Video evidence has been provided to Wollongong police of a ute doing a three-point turn and knocking over a parked Triumph Thunderbird LT motorcycle before doing a runner.
Unfortunately for the driver, it was right outside City Coast Motorcycles and was caught on video.
We cannot make out the number plate, but it’s a white Holden Rodeo ute.
The incident occurred in Keira St at 2.53pm today (Friday 13 November 2019).
Ute does runner
The ute does a three-point turn and the driver must surely have seen the bike.
However, they badly miscalculate as they reverse into it.
The driver would have heard and felt the bike being nudged and knocked over as well as the ute actually running up and over part of the bike.
The ute driver’s getaway is then hampered by a couple of passing cars, but it soon does a runner.
Jane Sim of City Coast Motorcycles says the incident has been reported the incident to the police and they have the video.
Jane Sim
“Unfortunately we are having difficulty making out the numberplate but police are trying to get extra footage from the traffic lights,” she says.
“The bike belongs to us. It is a second-hand unit that we had just photographed for sale.
“We are still assessing the damage but it will be in the area of a few thousand, unfortunately.”
If you have any information about the ute driver, please call Wollongong Police District on 02 4226 7899.
A 24-year-old male rider has been charged with multiple offences after leading a NSW police pursuit then crashing into a garden in the Lake Macquarie area on Wednesday (11 December 2019).
About 12.20pm, police saw a black Harley-Davidson heading south on Merrigum Street, Windale, south of Newcastle.
The rider, Andrew Bell, allegedly attempted to avoid a police breath test unit by using a median strip before “speeding away in a northerly direction”, police say.
Police pursuit
A police pursuit followed Bell down Balemo Crescent and Cooreen Way, before the motorcycle “crashed at speed” into a concrete garden bed on Cooreen Way.
“The man then fled the scene, followed on foot by police and the dog unit,” police say.
“Upon searching the motorcycle, police located a small, single shot-handgun lying on the ground.”
Bell was found soon after in a garden on Kestrel Avenue in Mount Hutton.
He was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station before being transferred to John Hunter Hospital to be treated for minor burns, minor lacerations and a possible broken collarbone.
Upon release from hospital, the 24-year-old was charged with the following offences:
Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period;
Acquire pistol-subject to firearms prohibition order;
Possess unregistered firearm-pistol;
Not keep firearm safely-pistol;
Possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place; and
Refuse or fail to submit to taking of blood sample.
Bell was refused bail to appear in Belmont Local Court today.
Details of his appearance are not yet available, however the matter has most likely been adjourned to another date.
The rider is lucky to have escaped with minor injures.
While not making any judgements on either of these cases, motorcycle riders typically fail to stop because they are unlicensed, drunk, are close to losing their licence or the vehicle is stolen.
In these cases a police pursuit does not occur.
A leading police study has found the three most pressing issues for police reform around the world are use of force, policing of violence in families and high-speed pursuits.
A 2009 Australian Institute of Criminology study found deaths in custody at police stations are declining but “deaths in custody” as a result of high-speed pursuits were rising.
While less than 1% of police pursuits results in a fatal crash, 38% of the people killed are innocent bystanders.
It’s much worse in the USA where one person dies every day as a result of a police pursuit. Of those deaths, 1% are police, 55% suspects and 44% bystanders.
Most police procedures acknowledge the judgement of the officer at the scene to begin a pursuit.
However, continuation of the pursuit is then deferred to a senior officer at the station or headquarters.
They have to make a quick judgement based on the lethal risk to the community of the chase versus the lethal risk to the community of letting a serious offender escape.
This must be backed by information, not just mere suspicion.
Queensland police figures show only about 3% of pursuits involved imminent threat to life or a suspect escaping after a homicide.
Police have a duty to not only prevent and control crime, but more importantly, they have a duty to protect the community and that includes from their own reckless behaviour and judgement.
KTM Australia will expand its popular Adventure Rallye in 2020, announcing two events that will be hosted in Queensland and Western Australia.
The ‘Queensland Ranges’ tour is set to be staged between 23-19 May, while the ‘South West WA’ Adventure Rallye will take place between 9-15 October.
For 2020, both Rallye’s will feature a six-day format that will focus on offering riders a truly remarkable experience exploring either, South East Queensland and the Wide Bay Burnett regions, or the Southern Forests region of Western Australia – both states which have yet to host a KTM Australia Adventure Rallye.
Open to KTM adventure riders with the following eligible KTM adventure bikes: 390 Adventure, 640, 690, 790, 790R, 950, 990, 1050, 1090, 1090R, 1190, 1190R, 1290 and 1290R models. The Rallye is tailored to suit a wide range of rider abilities, from those in their first few years of adventure riding up to seasoned adventure pros.
Kicking things off for 2020, the KTM Australia Adventure Rallye: Queensland Ranges will start and finish at the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Kenilworth. From there the Rallye will head north through the classic hinterland rainforest that the region is renowned for, before hitting the coastal towns of Rainbow Beach and Agnes Waters.
Riders will then leave the coastal regions for cattle country and the iconic ranges – travelling south down the Great Dividing Range to overnights in Cania Gorge, Gayndah and Bunya Mountains before returning to Kenilworth.
Set to explore the iconic South West of Australia’s largest state, the KTM Australia Adventure Rallye: South West WA will kick off in the historic town of York, one hour east of Perth before diving straight into the heart of WA’s prime adventure riding territory.
Overnight stops will include the charming country town of Collie before hitting the quaint seaside village of Augusta, the furthest southwest corner of Australia. The unique and stunning Karri Valley Resort will play host next, before two nights at the legendary motocross town of Manjimup. A final leg north to finish off in Bunbury caps off an outstanding six-days of adventure.
With assistance from local experts who are all Rallye riders themselves, both Rallye routes are set to showcase the stunning landscapes that our great diverse country has to offer. Designed with the larger capacity KTM adventure range in mind, as well as the variety of rider abilities, the route offers plenty of options for riders to choose their own adventure and difficulty of ride.
Registrations for both events open Wednesday, 15 January 2020. Authorised KTM Dealerships in Australia will be receiving Dealer Priority Registration, therefore riders are encouraged to touch base with their local KTM Dealership to ensure they get this Dealer Priority Registration information. For more information, visit www.ridektm.com.au/2020-ktm-australia-adventure-rallye.
A driver who “t-boned” a rider in a SMIDSY (Sorry Mate I didn’t See You) crash has sent an apology via a personal Facebook message.
The crash happened on 5 December 2019 when Andrew Anson, 32, of Narooma, NSW, was riding his 2009 Hyosung 250GTR down a hill behind a 4WD which was turning left.
Andrew before the crash
“I slowed down and as I was going around the 4WD, this car came out of nowhere and t-boned me straight in the middle,” he says.
Later that same day, driver Maddi Hunter sent her “sincerest apologies” in a personal Facebook message:
Words cannot describe how terrible I feel. This was the first accident I’ve ever been in and it happens to be one of the worst things that can happen.
Maddi Hunter (Facebook image)
Andrew says her apology won’t help save his foot which he could lose.
“Apologies will not help or change the situation,” he says.
“I would expect her to stop and wait if a car is turning; wait until the car is out of sight, then proceed. Look out for motorcycles. Don’t just dart out.”
SMIDSY scenario
The exact scenario of this crash is depicted in a Western Australia perception test for learner riders where a turning vehicle masks a smaller motorcyclist from the view of a driver waiting at an intersection.
Andrew, who has been riding about seven months, says he has never had an accident and is a “very careful rider and I don’t speed”.
“All I remember is that car coming out of nowhere, then putting my hand out and hitting the bonnet. I don’t even remember hitting the road,” he says.
“Witnesses tell me I ricocheted into an oncoming vehicle as well.
“The next thing I know I’m on the ground screaming in agony.”
Andrew suffered multiple wrist, rib and leg brakes, but the worst was a shattered ankle where the vehicle hit him.
“It was shattered like a tomato,” he says.
“One of the arteries was severed and I almost lost my foot. I could still lose it.”
Andrew has already had three operations with another scheduled on Monday and “a fair few” to follow.
FB apology
Portion of the personal Facebook message supplied by Andrew
When Maddi left her apology for Andrew, he was advised not to reply, but to wait for the police to contact him.
He says the officer involved is on leave and won’t be back until next week.
Andrew has not yet made a police statement and no charges have been laid.
Maddi told us she didn’t see Andrew’s bike passing the turning vehicle until she “started to pull out”.
“From where I was I could see up the rest of the hill and as far as I could see there was nothing behind him,” she says.
“From my view there was nothing either way so I turned out and as I turned there he was.
“I didn’t see him until I hit him.”
In the text message she says she noticed Andrew swerve.
“I slammed on my breaks (sic) but I believe I hit the back end of your bike with the left side of the car,” she texted.
In her apology, Maddi says she tried to call 000, but a witness had already called, so she waited until Andrew was taken away in an ambulance:
I took photos of your bike to show you and also allowed another lady on the scene to call your grandmother off my phone to notify her about the accident. I was told to go home and call the police to report the incident by both the paramedics and also the fire fighters. I proceeded to do this and was at the station giving my statement at 4.50pm.
Maddi’s photo of Andrew’s bike (and top of the page)
I was driving my mother’s car so I’ll be asking her to contact the insurance company to help assist with damages tomorrow. If there is any other way that I can help you personally I am more than happy to within my capabilities. I am so so sorry! Literally have been worried all afternoon and night as I wasn’t sure what the injuries entailed. I hope you have a fast recovery and once again I’m so sorry. The last thing I’d want to do is ever hurt someone and especially around this time of year.
‘I will ride again’
“Sorry is not going to help,” Andrew says.
“She should have looked and stopped and waited.
“She’s just assumed there was nothing behind the 4WD.
“She says she saw the car coming down the hill but nothing behind it.
“But I didn’t see her and I normally scan for everything.
“I also have a loud muffler so she should have heard me coming.”
Andrew says he would like Maddi to fix or replace his bike.
“I will ride again,” he says.
“There is no way this will stop me getting on a bike.”
Former champion Wayne Maxwell will pilot a Ducati Panigale V4 R in the 2020 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) after joining McMartin Racing.
The 37-year-old, who finished third in the 2019 standings, immediately moved to secure a seat for next year, sampling the Craig McMartin-prepared on numerous occasions before finalising plans for 2020.
“I’m obviously very excited that I’m going to be able to make it back on the grid and very excited to be working with Craig [McMartin],” Maxwell told CycleOnline.com.au. “When it comes to the Ducati brand, Craig knows them better than anyone in Australia.
“We have a lot of work to do – we’ve received no support from Ducati, Craig bought the bikes off his own back, so that’s a huge expense. It’s a matter of gaining sponsorship so I can run at the level I need to run at, and to maintain the bikes at the level they need to be at to continue running for 11 years in the top three of the championship.
“I’ve had a few outings on the V4 R, obviously I was unsure whether I’d be able to adapt to the bike – I’ve never ridden a Ducati before. But, I’ve adapted easily – the bike was very good from the get-go and I’m really enjoying it.”
The opening round of the 2020 ASBK season is scheduled for 27 February-1 March at Phillip Island, running in conjunction with round one of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
