Professional Documents
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Otor 196 PDF
Otor 196 PDF
The NAKED rulebook has been re-written. The KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R is now leaner,
meaner and even more menacing than ever before. Sporting an all-new chassis and suspension
setup, the flagship LC8 V-Twin 1301 cc boasting brutal forward thrust, blinding acceleration
and an advanced electronics package, the NEW BEAST is locked and loaded for battle.
Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!
Photo: R. Schedl The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.
DUKED
MotoGP
NIGHT
The probing, doubts and experiments of the MotoGP
off-season can now be locked away. In just over a
week all will be sealed, and the serious business of
RIDER
racing begins at the venue where the teams have just
completed their last test. Props to Red Bull KTM’s Brad
Binder for a lap-time that hints at the South African
rookie’s potential…
THE TERRIBLE
TWO??
A tough weekend for some of the
AMA Supercross field in Dallas also
sees the first glimmer of daylight
appearing in the 450 SX standings.
Eli Tomac (four wins from the eight
rounds so far) and Ken Roczen (two
victories and six podiums) are split by
7 points and are almost 20 ahead of
Cooper Web. This one could run and
run to Salt Lake City. Here’s hoping.
WHAT DO
By Adam Wheeler. Photos by KTM/S.Romero/M.Campelli
Polarity Photo/CormacGP & GeeBee Images
YOU SEE?
T
here is a moment in the British group of journal- during the media call was not
seminal 1990s action ists and testers commented the most lucid.
movie ‘Point Break’ “your first time on a track is
when Patrick Swayze’s co- at Portimao with a SUPER Slightly nervous, slightly over-
lead character – the myste- DUKE?! Fair play…”. Perhaps whelmed by the ability of the
rious Bohdi – dissects the the decision to unearth the company I was keeping and
spirituality of riding waves. possibilities of the Austrians’ extremely curious for the first
“It’s a state of mind: that 180hp and 140Nm of torque – of six twenty-minute sessions in
place where you lose yourself the ‘ultimate’ naked bike – for fantastic sunshine and twenty-
and you find yourself,” he first-time dip around a course degree temperatures the mo-
explains. For decades, from that former MotoGP ace, ment of truth came closer.
a range of motorsport and track day master-instructor Luckily a two-hour morning
cultural idols and icons, there and key KTM bike developer jaunt around the surrounding
has been a stream of think- Jeremy McWilliams described roads of Portimao gave a valu-
ing, philosophy and medita- as “one of the hardest in the able introduction to the new
tion of existence on the race- world” the previous evening SUPER DUKE and the third
track. Mostly connected with
the feeling or sensation of
finding (or ‘losing’) oneself in
the ‘zone’ or being immersed
in a world of extreme compe-
tition.
compulsory outfit and must cruising with one hand con- Turn 1 is a challenge and
rank as the snuggest and easi- trolling the bike and the other remains so for the entire day.
est set of footwear I’ve worn pointing at lines and zones I The dip into the braking zone
on a motorcycle. Absolutely should hit is even more hum- makes my stomach roll and
no complaints. bling when I have the sensa- the apex of the right hander
tion that I am abusing the comes alarmingly into view
As I climb on one of the race- SUPER DUKE far more than I and quicker than I’d like. Jer-
spec 1290s and speed after would on the road. emy tells me to brake when
McWilliams down the pitlane he brakes but I have no recol-
it’s impossible not to feel a It’s hard to fully commit and lection of trusting my skills
‘little MotoGP’ and get excited. lean into corners. The track and courage as well as the
I mean, how often do you gas is between 10-15 metres wide bike throughout the day. With
a motorcycle in the knowledge but it seems like 100; it’s more and more laps I’m learn-
that there isn’t an immedi- tricky to know exactly where I ing that the Brembos of the
ate car, pedestrian or traffic should be and where I should 1290 SUPER DUKE are pretty
hazard to look out for? A few be braking, tipping and aim- damn good and I slowly get a
deep breaths and pitlane exit ing. At the same moment it’s bit later and a bit closer. Ironi-
means hard throttling and utterly thrilling. The swoop cally, one of the most daunting
into another environment. The into the downhill final turn parts of the circuit – Turn 1 -
plan is to take a few laps to that winds up to the main leads immediately into one of
follow Jeremy and see which straight is like a rollercoaster the best: another right-handed
way Portimao winds. Almost g-out. The speed up to sixth kink where you can feed the
instantly the world is much gear makes my head shake, power of the bike in, slide a
faster and there is less time to my vision blurry and I hold little bit, and then test braking
get things done. I find myself onto the SUPER DUKE with prowess again for a tight right
doing daft things like flicking all the power in my arms and Turn 4. The section becomes
my gaze towards an imaginary with the alarm that I might get a meaty challenge throughout
mirror before tipping into a sucked off the back. the whole experience. Twenty
corner and the fact that Jer- minutes feels like twenty sec-
emy is ahead and seemingly onds.
MXGP NETHERLANDS
FIRST TIME ON A RACETRACK
Following Jeremy back to the Dad’s Superbike at Grant and anti-wheel engaged. With
pitlane the sensations are one Raceway in Michigan and the barrage on the senses
of exhilaration, education, hu- everything was too fast and fractionally diminished it is
mility and wider understand- everything happens too quick, now easier to concentrate on
ing of the art behind track you don’t feel comfortable, doing things a bit better and
riding. you don’t trust the tyres: there thinking about positioning. I
are so many different things move more on the bike and
“I think I was fourteen years going on. It’s foreign!” progressively trust the tyres
old when I hopped on my Chris Fillmore, former AMA to enter corners a little faster
Superbike competitor, Pikes and a little more committed.
Peak winner and long-term “I did a lot of road riding and
KTM rider is another racer at it is quite different when you
the launch. “I grew up racing get on a circuit,” explains
motocross and hadn’t touched McWilliams. “You are looking
supermoto yet. So, you had at completely different things
to develop trust between the and obviously don’t have
pavement and the tyre. Some those reference things that
people have it quite naturally. are on a road. On a circuit the
Maybe ignorance is bliss! most important thing is tee-
Some people never do.” ing the point you have to hit
before turning in or braking or
Second time out and we keep even accelerating.”
the traction control on the
TRACK setting near the top
FEATURE
As the afternoon goes on the others – instead of just riding and how hard you can pull it
confidence rises, as does the around and around - becomes and how hard you can push
appreciation for how road rac- part of the routine. Bizarrely the front tyre into the turn,
ers go about their task. It is it starts to feel a bit like ten- how much throttle you give
also easy to comprehend how nis or golf: a process of hitting when you are in the turn. A lot
the lightest gesture of braking, a few good shots, followed of guys will go into a road turn
positioning or acceleration can by fist-gnawing ineptitude. and opening the throttle when
alter fractions of a second of “That’s a pretty good analogy they want to get out: that’s
a lap-time. As for the racing actually,” McWilliams says. not what we do and not how
itself I didn’t come close to “What makes a good circuit we go faster, it’s the opposite
overtaking anybody all day, so rider? Somebody who is very actually and our rolling speed
that’s another aspect that re- consistent, very smooth and is much higher than it would
mains undiscovered. Chopping learns good throttle control. ever be on-road. It’s another
up the track into sections and A lot of things you don’t learn level.”
working out which areas feel for the road you must for the
slow or harder compared to circuit, like brake management
FIRST TIME ON A RACETRACK
“I can only speak from the what I’m doing. Jeremy runs attached to an activity that is
opposite direction actually; as a guide again and gets even hazardous and could be costly
so being comfortable on a more specific with track mark- but then seems to ‘pay back’.
racetrack and going onto the ers and speed but gradually “I’m competitive and I like
street,” comments Fillmore I’m also thinking about lap- pushing the limit of things and
by way of a contrast. “As a time and how much quicker I feeling like I am a little bit on
racer you hone your skills on must be compared to the first the edge. I like to do things
slicks with tyre warmers and try. In the last twenty minutes that scare me. It opens me up
we push the limits. We under- I’m shifting as much as I dare and lets me live a bit. It’s how
stand them. On a surface that off the bike to try and get a I enjoy experiencing life.”
is unpredictable then that is scuff on the knee slider…but
another thing. For a person without success. I know I have A portion of what he says
coming from the street to the marginally improved – even in strikes a chord. It must explain
racetrack there are a bunch conviction alone and gained why track days seem like the
of ‘red flags’ and it was the a much deeper impression of domain of an exclusive club
same for me getting on a the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R but remain popular draws. I
street bike where I wanted to and its capabilities – but have cannot help but feel that my
be much more cautious: there also realised how potentially experience was helped by
was traffic, white lines, guard addictive this can be. McWil- the use of the SUPER DUKE.
rails and the knowledge that liams instantly agrees back The bike felt like a missile
the road surface could change in the pitbox. “It is something although the torque meant it
at any time or you didn’t know that starts as a hobby and it was a blast and a whole lap
what was around a corner. can become an obsession,” became a simplistic process
On a track you know, for the he claims. “There are people of flicking between 3rd, 4th
most part, it is in a certain I coach on track that I see be- and 5th until the straight.
condition and there are track coming quite obsessed. I think “You have more torque on
marshals to let you know if it tests everything: your brain this motorcycle than I think
there is something wrong. So, power, your physical shape. anything else out there on the
you start to ‘turn-off’ all those You have to use many ‘inputs’ market today,” Jeremy said.
little signals in your head that at the same time. It is not “Torque is our friend: when
might make you hold back a the easiest thing to learn in a you have that much on-tap it
little bit.” short space of time and every makes the riding experience
time you come back then you that much more fun. It doesn’t
Even from my very limited can improve. The more you really matter what gear you
time there was a parallel with ride the better you become. exit the corner on this bike, we
track riding and other sports Why do we keep coming back? never use second gear here.
in terms of the mental void Probably because we never We don’t need it because third
where you think about nothing really crack it.” has so much push to get it off
except when you are doing. the corner at any speed.You
For the most part - before I “Everyone is different,” says can become a bit of a hooligan
knew it - the track’s light- 33-year-old Fillmore, an avid on this and you can also ride
ing system was flashing to surfer and fan of extreme it as sedately as you want.
indicate another session had sports (a ‘Bodhi’ if you will), There is a lot of variety thanks
ended. By the time of the last when I ask him if there an to the electronic settings. A lot
outing I’m still trying to digest added sense of spirituality of options.”
FEATURE
On the last run I had the trac- the 2019 model for almost
tion control down to 4 from two months the previous sum-
9 and the anti-wheelie dis- mer and could already detect
engaged and revelled in the the improvements on the
brief laps with the bike giving road (the quicker and shorter
marginally more movement. gearbox among various up-
It still felt wild. The naked grades); the amplified limits
bike seems simple and almost of the track just increased the
pure in form but the 1290 is a fondness and admiration for
sophisticated piece of kit. The the bike.
slick tyres were another di-
mension; where a slide never “We are here just to show
felt too unsettling. “On any how good the SUPER DUKE
bike, of course, you always is,” Sinke says. “There are
have the input of the rider to people that use these bikes
the rear wheel through the en- just for the track and we love
gine and you have to control that because it shows just
the engine through the elec- how capable they are and how
tronics: what we tried to do is superbikes can be scared! If
give back the rider a lot more you are a good rider then you
BEASTY
wheelie-happy fashion with
the help of its much-hyped
Beast prototype.
sportier thanks to a lower kicks out a hefty 100Nm-plus The engine is held higher in
and more forward-set han- of torque everywhere above the frame, which KTM say
dlebar, but still comfortably 3500rpm. aids handling and gives a
upright for street use. A new 5mm higher pivot for the
TFT instrument panel is part Biggest changes are to the single-sided swing-arm, which
of an electronics revamp that chassis, whose retained lay- is also substantially stiffened.
includes more easily used out of tubular steel frame and A new rear subframe of cast
switchgear plus updated aluminium swing-arm masks aluminium and carbon-fibre
Bosch traction control and a complete redesign. The replaces saves more weight.
cornering ABS. frame uses larger-diameter The WP forks are revised and
tubes and employs the engine now fully adjustable. More im-
Changes to the 1301cc, 75-de- as a stressed member for the portantly the WP rear shock
gree V-twin engine begin with first time, trebling rigidity and gains a rising-rate linkage
a new intake system. A duct saving 2kg. that allows a longer action,
between the headlight’s ag-
gressively angular halves, in-
stead of one each side, feeds “STRAIGHT-LINE PERFORMANCE IS NOT
new top-mounted injectors via DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT, WHICH IS FINE
a larger airbox. Many internal
parts and the crankcases are BECAUSE THAT MEANS IT’S AS BARKINGLY
lightened. Peak power goes up ENTERTAINING AS BEFORE. THE BIG
by 3bhp to 177bhp; more im-
portantly the eight-valve unit V-TWIN LUMP IS WONDERFULLY FLEXIBLE,
REGARDLESS OF WHICH MODE IT’S IN...”
2020 1290 SUPER DUKE R VERDICT
while reducing the excessive and lower-output Rain) it’s in. you’ve paid extra for the
rear wheel travel (from 156 Throttle response is refined, shifter and the Track Pack
to 140mm) that was a hango- low-rev running civilised – that allows the anti-wheelie
ver from the original frame’s and the charge from 4000rpm function to be disabled.
origins with the dual-purpose threatens to dislocate your Cruising at 80mph-plus is
Adventure. shoulders. effortless for the KTM, if not
always for its rider, who has
Straight-line performance On the road that makes the nowhere to hide up near
is not dramatically differ- Super Duke huge fun as well the 160mph-plus top speed.
ent, which is fine because as outrageously fast. It revs Whether the lack of wind
that means it’s as barkingly smoothly, nonchalantly hoik- protection or reduced, 16-litre
entertaining as before. The ing its front wheel if required, fuel capacity are drawbacks is
big V-twin lump is wonder- and despatching gears with debatable. More of both would
fully flexible, regardless of help from efficient two-way be ideal, but wind-blast is part
which mode (Sport, Street shifter. At least, it does if of a naked bike’s appeal on
COMMENT
the road, and the range of about a launch blast around the Bridgestone rear tyre.
120 miles is tolerable. swoopy Portimao circuit in That chassis improvement
Portugal’s Algarve confirmed. means that for the first time
The Super Duke always handled the Super Duke is as capable
fine on the road and it’s now The KTM felt sharp on its way on a circuit as it has always
better still: slightly sportier and into turns, its frame’s extra been on the road. It’s compet-
more composed even when its rigidity beneficial especially itively priced, too (at £15,699
rider is shifting weight or bat- when slowing with the eye- in the UK), even though most
tling the wind. Unlike some ball-bulging force of Brembo’s riders will pay extra for the
rivals there’s no semi-active Stylema front calipers. And quick-shifter and Track Pack.
suspension option, but the forks when exiting bends the Super Keyless ignition and cruise
are manually adjustable via Duke was more firm and con- control come as standard; ac-
knobs at the top of each leg, trollable. It no longer squatted cessories range from heated
and the shock has an equally under power but stayed taut, grips and tank-bag to rearset
useful remote preload adjuster. steering more accurately and footrests and an Akrapovic
On track the new chassis is delivering its V-twin grunt silencer.
a notable improvement, as more controllably to the fat
This Beast 3.0 update is an
effective and timely reboot
for KTM’s hyper-naked con-
tender. Its four-cylinder rivals
are gathering with menace,
and the 1290 Super Duke R
is fighting fit to take them on:
slightly more refined, distinct-
ly more composed and burst-
ing with as much crazy V-twin
character as ever.
2020 1290 SUPER DUKE R VERDICT
HUSQVARNA www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com
Husqvarna’s 2020 Street functional clothing sees the brand continuing their association with
Dutch company REV’IT for another batch of fetching and dependable attire that must rank as
some of the most stylish and subtle on the market. We like the Gore-Tex Pursuit GTX jacket
which is waterproof, windproof and features several ventilation openings for when winter ebbs
into spring. The garment has SEEFLEX protection in the elbow and shoulder areas. The Pur-
suit jeans are a cool complement – literally – with COOLMAX elements in the construction
ensuring effective moisture-wicking properties. The Pursuit jeans have the added advantages
of triple seams, safety stitching and a relaxed fit for maximum comfort. The Pursuit gloves
look a little heavy-duty but they are made with dyed goatskin palm, Hydratex® liners and
knuckle protection and will suit most climate and conditions. We own several pieces of the
2019 collection and love the way that Husqvarna have crafted clothing that works in the sad-
dle but is casual enough to wear on an everyday basis.
Click on any image for more information.
M
FEATURE
HIDING
TO
NOTHING
WHAT GOES INTO A MotoGP
RACER’S LEATHER SUIT?
By Adam Wheeler, Photos by CormacGP
FEATURE
H
igh-tech synthetics or to a revealing sit-down with since 2014. “They are special-
the butt of an animal? Alpinestars Jeremy Appleton ists and are constantly im-
MotoGP and WorldSBK last season. Just under half of proving and that’s important
race suits offer a wealth of the entire MotoGP grid were because we have to maximise
protection thanks to the pres- wearing their leather suits in protection with weight, safety,
ence of airbag engineering but 2019 (and more than twenty- design and many things.”
custom-made leathers still five throughout all classes),
blend properties of materials among them the world cham- Onto the details then…
that go back before the wheel pion and his HRC brandmate
was even invented. Cal Crutchlow. “They have so We have two fundamental
much experience with what materials in terms of
Curiosity regarding what works and what doesn’t work leather…
MotoGP athletes are using that it is very rare to see a It is either bovine (cow) or
as their principal form of problem with the leather or kangaroo and the vast major-
safeguard against high speed any problem,” says the Brit ity of riders use kangaroo.
tumbles and scrapes led us who has been using ‘Astars’ The reason being that we
MotoGP LEATHERS
can make the suit somewhat suit because the feel he got put on the material. The suits
lighter because we can reduce was very particular. Someone in MotoGP are prominently
kangaroo leather to be thinner like Jorge Lorenzo prefers printed. That allows us to
than bovine. It is all to with the more space and Kangaroo make them as light as possi-
properties within the skin of the works just fine; if the suit ble because we are not adding
animal and kangaroo offers a flexes out for him then that’s extra material and the base
bit more flexibility: the tensile better. It comes down to each graphics can be any colour
strength is similar but a thinner rider’s approach and they are and whatever intricate pat-
kangaroo hide is more-or-less all super-sensitive to every- terns to get good registration,
the same as a thicker bovine. thing. So, for us, once we have so they look very sharp. Most
Interestingly the bovine leather defined the pattern and the fit importantly it means we don’t
tends to retain its shape and solution for a rider then – un- cover up the ventilation sys-
fit for longer, and some rid- til a change is planned – then tem we build into the suit or
ers really like that. They like every suit is made exactly the the perforation and the suit’s
the fact that a suit is tight and same as the previous one. natural flexibility is retained
hugs them closer. Casey Stoner Riders are sufficiently sensi- because we are not putting
always liked to have a bovine tive that they will pick up the extra layers in. So, in the tan-
difference in feel between two ning and finishing process
there are other chemicals
“CASEY STONER ALWAYS used to make sure the leather
LIKED TO HAVE A BOVINE feels good; things like antibac-
SUIT BECAUSE THE FEEL terial treatment and similar
WAS VERY PARTICULAR. considerations.
SOMEONE LIKE JORGE LOR-
ENZO PREFERS MORE SPACE For our wet weather suits we
AND KANGAROO WORKS have an aquaphobic treat-
JUST FINE...” ment we also apply to the
outer skin…
different suits and we go to For the rain riders have tradi-
great lengths to make sure tionally put on an extra layer,
they are identical. Neverthe- or a plastic, the problem with
less, you are dealing with that - as you have probably
an item that is made from a seen on camera - is that they
natural product and there are flap around because it is very
vagaries within that. hard to get the fit really tight
and they don’t breathe very
In terms of construction then well. During a Grand Prix
the base material for the suit you are not getting rid of the
is the animal hide… moisture from a rider’s per-
Then it goes through a tan- spiration which is fatiguing.
ning process and we have a So, the aqua treatment has
very unique technology which been a good win. We’ve sub-
we apply to the outer surface, stantially reduced the intake
which is a coating that ac- of moisture into the leather
cepts the print finish that we (which absorbs it quite ef-
FEATURE
“A LOT OF A KANGAROO
SUITS IN MotoGP WILL
BE ABOUT 1-1.5MM BUT
WE MIGHT LEAVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE THICKNESS IN
CERTAIN AREAS. WE COULD
ALWAYS GO WITH HARDER
AND STRONGER LEATHER
BUT THE TRADE-OFF IS THAT
YOU HAVE LESS FEEL AND
WITH A STIFFER FINISH.
RIDERS DON’T WANT THAT
AND IN MotoGP IT IS ALL
ABOUT SENSITIVITY AND
AS LITTLE WEIGHT AS
POSSIBLE.”
We don’t add anything specif- The MotoGP suits and that’s a case of using ara-
ically with the material itself customer suits are really mid fibres for the elasticated
to help with abrasion… similar… stretch panels that you see.
What we tend to do is put They will have the same mate- On our suit we have what
external protection on the rials, same construction pro- we term as a fully floating
suit, like the polymers you cess and same performance back: there is a multi direc-
see on the shoulders, elbows and protection, even down to tion stretch panel all the
and knees, and where we have the lessons and applications way around but that is actu-
really high wearing areas we we learn about venting and ally concertina leather. So
have either double-thickness keeping a rider’s body ambi- we stitch elasticated thread
or we scarf-out the leathers to ent temperature during the through the leather and that
a lesser degree. For instance, race. We can move that across gives you that ‘accordion type’
a lot of a kangaroo suits in for the customer. In GP we effect which allows the suit to
MotoGP will be about 1-1.5mm are dealing with many highly- move very comfortably in any
but we might leave a little bit individual fits as well as the direction and also means the
more thickness in certain ar- graphic customisation, which consistent leather itself is not
eas. We could always go with means that the make-up pro- being pulled in any particu-
harder and stronger leather cess is slightly different even lar direction because the suit
but the trade-off is that you if the technology is the same. flexes out and back in those
have less feel and with a The suits that we offer to cus- joints. The aramid fibres per-
stiffer finish. Riders don’t want tomers are simply a couple of haps don’t have the length of
that and in MotoGP it is all months behind what we are travel that the stitch has but
about sensitivity and as little doing with the riders in terms they are very strong and allow
weight as possible. Like other of the tech. The Kevlar stretch us to join the leather panels
with an area that is light-
weight, very flexible and very
strong for abrasion resistance.
Those areas have increased.
We have probably gone from
80-90% of leather down to
something like 65-70% - haz-
arding a guess. The airbag
has made a difference as well
because we had to re-spec the
suit to accommodate not only
the airbag in its passive state
but when it’s activated, we
need to give the rider some
athletes in may sports these panels and everything else is breathing space.
guys are operating at the the same spec.
absolute limit of their physical Fundamentally the suits have
potential so anything prevent- Of course, not all of the suit is remained predominantly
ing that is not ideal. leather… leather because at the
We have sought to improve moment there is no better
the flexibility of the suits and substitute…
FEATURE
trying it. If it got through the and what makes a difference between the time that Loris
road stage then it would prob- to the performance on the lost control and hit the track
ably come here to MotoGP bike. And they are used to was minimal because we saw
and likely make its absolute giving feedback, which means the airbag data. He hit the
debut at a test and we would we get great feedback! The track at more than 180mph
involve different riders across development team are al- and the suit was battered but
the categories. The athletes ways looking to push ideas to it held and Loris’ only fall-
themselves – by-and-large – change technologies as new out from that was a slightly
tend to be very happy with the things become available to us bruised elbow. It was a good
specification they are using at but ultimately the athletes are ‘pat on the back’ for the de-
this particular time and any testing those ideas and new velopment team – not that we
change we introduce needs to construction techniques and ever want to see riders crash
be done in a very open and giving us the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or or take pleasure in seeing
communicated way so they what adjustments need to be them go through that situation
understand what it is coming made to optimise it. but the fact that suit held up
and why. They are extremely was pretty special.
good for testing because they There have been times when
are mentally attuned to being the performance of the suits It does beggar belief that Mo-
highly sensitive and capable have amazed us… toGP is so high tech but we
to analyse what is working I know we had a couple of rid- are using the same materials
and what is not working ers in the AMA series – about as the cavemen…!
ten-fifteen years ago - go But like anything when you
down on the Daytona banking are dealing with it daily then
at very high speed and the you don’t think of it that way.
suits were remarkably intact. It is a big compliment to
That was impressive. Perhaps ‘mother nature’ and it is ex-
the one issue we began to traordinary that something so
look into as a result of those simplistic has stood the test
accidents was not so much of time. With all the technol-
the leather technology but ogy and all the know-how we
the control of friction heat. have not been able to repli-
Through our auto racing we cate what we source from an
came up with some solutions animal. The team of people in
involving Nomex fibre which is the racing development centre
a fire/heat shield material to and the product department
see if we needed to be lining are incredibly clever at being
areas of suits for very high- able to harness properties of
speed racetracks to prevent very natural material that has
that heat coming through. been around forever and find
More recently the incident ways to use it better and more
that immediately comes to effectively.
mind is Loris Baz’s crash in
testing at Sepang three years
ago. That was a 200mph+
get-off and the deceleration
PRODUCTS
ALPINESTARS
Alpinestars Techair 5 airbag is the latest
generation of a technology that he company
have been fashioning for the better part of
twenty years and the efficiency of which has
been protecting riders on a weekly basis in
international racing series. The firm claim it
offers a greater effect than 18 back protec-
tors and now has more upper torso cover-
age than ever (shoulders, chest, ribs and
full back). It uses 3 gyroscopes and 3 accel-
erometers to deploy in a maximum inflation
time of 20 to 40ms based on the volume
of the airbag size. Alpinestars claim ‘the
impact absorption while wearing the airbag
results in a decrease of the impact force by
up to 95% compared to a passive protec-
tor’.
www.alpinestars.com
ARLINGTON
SX AT&T STADIUM · RND 8 OF 17 · FEBRUARY 22
450SX winner: Eli Tomac, Kawasaki
250SX winner: Chase Sexton, Honda
SX TEXAS
ET
TRIPLE
By Steve Matthes. Photos by James Lissimore
SX TEXAS
SX TEXAS
SX BLOG
BY ADAM
WHEELER
BY STEVE MATTHES
But you’ll notice that in the Meanwhile out front, we the crashes. The whoops are
description above there were have Monster Kawasaki’s Eli the same way. The obstacles
a few mentions about the Tomac and Honda’s Ken Roc- and the dirt didn’t match.
dragon back obstacle. There’s zen starting to pull away from Also, too many whoops on
a certain speed you can go everyone else here as Webb dragon back also and the way
off of these and more than crashed out and Rockstar it shaped up didn’t work out
a few guys pushed it a bit Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson either. It was more of that, we
hard, missed the top jump has had a few bad races. were hoping and expecting
traction and didn’t get it.”
“LOOK, SUPERCROSS IS “The dragon back was
DANGEROUS, WE ALL sketchy a little bit, for sure. I went to one of the more
KNOW THIS AND YEAR I’m sure everyone had a mo- outspoken riders on the
AFTER YEAR IT BECOMES ment on that thing because circuit in Chad Reed the day
A SERIES WITH THE the dirt here is really good after the race and asked him
WALKING WOUNDED but it breaks apart and gets about “Carnage Cross” that
GOING OUT EACH WEEK.” slick and you lose traction, we saw this weekend.
and then you get kicked on
that “bumps” you over the that last one,” said Monster “It was the easiest dragon
landing. When you miss it, Yamaha’s Justin Barcia after back I’ve ever raced,” said
things go sideways. Perhaps the race. “So it took out a Reed and thereby confusing
the obstacle itself could have lot of guys. Then there were me even more. “There is this
been built a little better but other sections that took out weird thing on the right side
the riders are always free to guys, too. It sucks to see of the bars guys can use!”
go to the track crew and rec- some competitors get taken
ommend some changes. The out right now.” Typical Reed, blunt and not
track in Dallas was also slick- holding back, continued: “I
er than the riders thought it “In my opinion, it was the dirt thought it (dragon back) was
would be. There was a hard and the way they built the like everything nowadays,
base to it and traction looked obstacles,” said Brayton who super fast and easy and the
good but a few riders told was a victim of the night in top one got steep. The issue
me how they would spin out Dallas. “If we have good dirt is everyone’s just used to pin-
there. and traction, we don’t see ning it with no real technique.
SX BLOG
#
To me the real problem is
everything’s so easy and fast
so when there are crashes
that are huge and costly. The
bikes are the best they have
ever been, tracks are faster
and easier than they have
ever been.”
Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!
The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.
Photo: R. Schedl
KTM 390 ADVENTURE
ADVENTURE MORE
Fuel your restless spirit with a new adventure
every day. Discover KTM’s sporty attitude and
proven performance credentials aboard this new,
compact single-cylinder travel-enduro machine –
the KTM 390 ADVENTURE. Versatile ergonomics,
smooth power delivery, and innovative technology
all come together in a comfortable, lightweight
package – created for those who want to fit more
adventure into their daily lives.
SX TEXAS
PRODUCTS
FLY RACING
Fly Racing’s owners – Western Power
Sports – have prided themselves on sourc-
ing proven, quality goods right across their
product range and therefore their Sedona
Tyres project (mainly in the USA) is worthy
of note. Of particular interest is the new
MX-208SR; a steel-belted radial carcass
that allows motorcyclists to run at lower
air pressure and to withstand hard, sud-
den blows without rebound or shock to the
bike’s handling. The tyres also feature a
dual rubber compound with a front ellipti-
cal and rear drive-link tread pattern.
WWW.FLYRACING.COM
PEACE OF MIND WITH
PERFECT VISION
her allowing you to look ahead without fear of the roost or branches,
when we started developing these for you.
L E AT T. C O M
PRODUCTS
TROY LEE
DESIGNS
Watch for the Monster Energy Yamaha MX2
team (Jago Geerts and Ben Watson) this
weekend at Matterley Basin: thanks to the
squad’s new association with Troy Lee
Designs both the Belgian and the Brit will be
wearing not only some of the best looking
gear in the gate but also some of the most
technically advanced. We visited TLD’s HQ in
California last year - and will hopefully be get-
ting over again in the next two months - and
can verify that the Ultra Limited Edition line
is featherlight, stretchy and feels ridiculously
tough; it’s a premium set of kit and sits at the
top of the perch with the likes of Fox FlexAir,
Fly’s Evolution, Answer’s Trinity and Alpine-
stars’ Supertech. In collaboration with Adidas
the jersey is made from HeiQ® Smart Temp
Technological fabric which ‘thermoregulates’
depending on the body’s temperature. The
Yamaha Ultra livery won’t be on sale until
April apparently, so fans should get in touch
with the company or a reliable TLD dealer to
make enquiries asap in order not to miss out.
See more on the Ultra here:
www.troyleedesigns.com
FEATURE
DROP IT!
PLAY
READY FOR 2020 MXGP? WE SPEAK TO JEFFREY
HERLINGS, GLENN COLDENHOFF, TOM VIALLE &
THOMAS COVINGTON AHEAD OF GP#1 & ASK HOW THEY
(AND OTHERS) DEAL WITH FIRST RACE NERVES
By Adam Wheeler. Photos Ray Archer
MXGP
T
his weekend the 64th FIM Motocross World
Championship gets underway at arguably the
best track on the calendar. For the first time
in the modern era the British Grand Prix will run the
gauntlet of late winter weather to open the sched-
ule for what will be the tenth MXGP visit to Matter-
ley Basin. Not since 2012 has the championship got
underway on European shores so the turnout from
across the north of the continent for the initial taste
of twenty will be curious to chart. In 2019 Matterley
demonstrated that the southern English can play ball.
Regardless of the conditions – except for a 2017 MX of
Nations style deluge – there is little doubting the fine
stage and course that the Winchester venue provides.
As March 1st draws closer, we spoke with a handful of HERLINGS: “I DON’T FEEL
athletes keen to develop their own individual
narratives for 2020… I NEED TO WIN EVERY
RACE”
There are still a few hours and title at a canter. 2017: breaks GP I raced that year except for
days left to go but it seems that hand on the eve of MXGP de- Mexico [the final round]. So
a fully fit Jeffrey Herlings is but but finishes as runner-up. it was awesome…apart from
ready to slay MXGP once more. 2018: sets a new benchmark for missing those three-four races
From an utterly dominant 2018 performance at elite level. 2019: and then the championship! I
in which he owned 17 from 19 double break to the right foot. also had a shoulder injury at
Grands Prix and finished run- the beginning of the season.
ner-up in the other two events Herlings could be ready to But…2019 was easily the worst
to a virtually non-existent 2019 unleash a degree of anguish year of my career.
where he made just 4.5 appear- but he insists he is ready to
ances (winning two of those sacrifice short-term glory for You had two tricky starts but
however) Herlings is hoping long-term gain from within the still came back to win and then
the pendulum swings back the confines of Red Bull KTM (the claimed the Nations at Assen…
other way. greatest team ever assembled it finished well.
in the premier class) and his The last races were just the
Aside from 2012 and 2013 eleventh world championship cherry. The complete cake was
where he stamped his name season. long gone. It had been eaten
into the annals of the sport, by the time I got to the table! It
Herlings has bounced from We’re struggling to believe him was a tough year mentally and
dominance to disaster almost as well… physically. The second injury
on an annual basis. 2014: loses was not so bad but the first
the MX2 crown by just 4 points Mentally, was 2019 worse than one was. I was out for a long
after having a lead of more than 2014? That year you were still time. It’s a part of the sport
150 and breaking his left femur. very young and lost the crown where ‘everyone gets their turn’
2015: loses the MX2 crown in a so narrowly [special feature kinda thing; you can see it with
similar position after dislocating coming up in the next OTOR!]… [Jorge] Prado and it happened
his hip. 2016: claims third MX2 Way worse. I think I won every to Tony [Cairoli] as well,
MXGP 2020: HERLINGS
MXGP
MXGP
[Romain] Febvre and [Clem- prefer to be in the safe zone and mentally. It was worth it though
ent] Desalle. Everyone has their take a 3rd at whatever race than to come to that level and win
turn every couple of seasons. It take a risk and end up in hospi- 17 from 19 races and finish
frustrating. tal again. My goal this year is to second twice: I think it is one
be at all twenty races. And to try of the greatest seasons a rider
Is there a different approach to and fight for the championship. has had. I also won pre-season
this season then? Realisation of Try to become a bit smarter and races, all the Dutch Champion-
the sixty starts and forty mo- maybe lose a few fights but try ship events I did, and my class
tos to come? A repeat of 2018 to win the war. at the Motocross of Nations. It
perhaps isn’t necessary… was almost a picture-perfect
My mentality is different. I don’t In 2018 you virtually changed year…and I cannot do it again.
feel that I have to win any more the sport and raised the level. First of all you need to be lucky
– I mean, I want to win but in Do you ever think about that or and you need to take some risks
the past if I didn’t then I had are you too close to it? to make it happen: I remember
‘failed’ and the world would fall I did it the Aldon [Baker] way. starting some races from fif-
in. I’ve learned that your health I went all-out. If 100% was the teenth and still pushing hard for
is the most important thing. maximum I did 110. I watched the win. I’m not looking for that
Racing is important to me but every single piece of food I ate, now. I won the championship by
my health and my life way- I calculated sleep and jet lag, something like 150-points and
more. So if I have to take risks I trained my ass-off, I left my through missing a race and you
to win then I don’t want to do it. social life on the side for almost can win a championship by just
I want to be in the ‘safe zone’. a year. It was tough. I took the 5 points if necessary. I don’t feel
You can definitely still crash or Aldon method for supercross like I need to win every single
go down in the start and break but perhaps went even more ex- race anymore.
bones at any time but some- treme. It is hard to do that just
times I went a bit ‘over’. Now I for a few years, physically and
MXGP 2020: HERLINGS
The way you race makes that than two months just for that go to somewhere like Russia
difficult to believe… race but nothing went for me; or Czech Republic then I know
You need some injuries, and the starts were bad, the track these places are not my tracks.
then you’ll understand. had been flattened each time If I can get on the podium then
and that meant it was harder that’s good enough and – most
It is rare to see you at any- to pass, and then the condi- importantly – I get to the races
thing less than 100% commit- tions. So, I was pissed, mainly after. I need to be at each GP.
ted… because it hadn’t rained for Injuries can happen but you
Look at Assen last year. In like two months in Holland and have to remind yourself to be
the last moto I was OK to then it didn’t stop that week- smart. It’s easy to sit here at
take fourth. I wasn’t feeling end! Quite a lot went wrong this table and say it but you’ll
good that day with the mud. for me but looking back I think see it in my racing this year:
I thought ‘if this is my worst it was one of my best races if I can get a win or a podium
day – a 2nd and a 4th – then because I accepted not to win. then I’ll try for it otherwise I’m
I’m still looking good if it was It’s something I wouldn’t have OK to let it go.
a championship’. You need a been able to do two years ago.
few hospital visits to be able to
think that like. The older you get; is it easier
to think more like Tony Cairoli
You still looked annoyed that where a podium each week-
day though… end means a very high level of
I was disappointed in myself consistency…?
because I feel like I failed…but Yeah, that’s my goal as well
at the same time I was smart. this year. There are definitely
It wasn’t my day, but I accept- some tracks where I really want
ed it. I had worked for more to go for the win, but when I
MXGP
The question everyone must have for you- calendar and I could work in that period.
‘Can I back it up?’ [smiles] I don’t really Only having two weeks on the bike com-
know. I feel very good and had a good ing into the season definitely isn’t good.
winter so far I just had a small injury In the end I got fit, got better, got more
before Riola [Sardo in Sardinia and the confidence and made the results.
first International race of 2020 at the end
of January] and that’s why I did not race Another obvious question: is a bid for the
there. It was to the same ribs where I championship a realistic goal?
broke my back, so I tend to feel any prob- I’m not a cocky guy and won’t tell it like
lems quite quickly there. Anyway, it was that but I’m working my ass off every day
just one week off the bike and I rode some to get the results and winning is the best
more in Italy before going to Hawkstone feeling out there. I will go into every sin-
Park. I definitely have more confidence gle race for it. Championship-wise I got
and more experience. It will be pretty 3rd place last year and there were a lot
interesting to see what I can do from the of injuries [to others] but I was also in-
start. jured myself. Anything can happen. I had
a strong finish to the season and for most
You’ve always relied quite heavily on of it I was around tenth in the standings
confidence, so there must still be some and finally pushed up to third, so it is a
important value in leading those races in very long series. I will try to be consistent
Turkey and China and making someone all year long and hopefully be on the box
like Herlings work hard to catch you… many times.
Yeah, he also said something like that in
an interview; like he was dealing with a
new ‘Glenn’ that he hadn’t seen before. I
definitely felt really good at the end of last COLDENHOFF FRUSTRATINGLY
season and everybody recognised that. I
think when Jeffrey is really fit then he is
CHUCKED THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM
hard to beat…but you never know. I will FROM HIS REDBUD MOTOCROSS
try to be up there every single weekend OF NATIONS CROWNING MOMENT
with the guys. Consistency is very impor-
tant, and you need to make sure every INTO THE SAND WITH HIS VIOLENT
start is good. AND SHOCKING CRASH AT THE END
The injury must have severely dented OF 2018 BUT IS HOPING THAT THE
the first half of 2019 because people see FIVE PODIUMS AND THREE WINS
you racing and assume you are fit and
100%...but that’s not the truth… (INCLUDING ASSEN) FROM THE
Sure, but I also feel that I underestimated CLOSE OF ’19 WILL RUN INTO THE
myself. I had a lot of pain until the halfway
point of 2019 and then you are always NEW CAMPAIGN.
playing catch-up to the others that are fit.
There was one moment early-on where we
ended up having a five-week break in the
MXGP
MXGP
LS FOR 2020”
Your starts were good and your
race-rhythm also when you were
with the leaders but there were
some motos when you dropped
back, so what was the weak point?
Some riders have different
rhythms. There are some that start
fast and drop down and others who
are the other way around and I had
to discover that in 2019, both for
myself and of the other guys. I felt
that was one way I improved every
race; my knowledge of where to go
and what to do.
“DESPITE HIS
INEXPERIENCE VIALLE
IS ONE OF ONLY TWO
RIDERS IN THE 2020
MX2 PACK THAT KNOWS
WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WIN
A GP...”
PRODUCTS
www.scott-sports.com
SCOTT SPORTS
A good few weeks have passed since the San
Diego round of 2020 Supercross but Scott’s
new Camo editions of their Prospect and
Fury goggles are still as appealing as the day
the company launched the new gear on the
eve of the sixth round of the championship.
The Prospect (the best goggle available – we
use them – with the widest field of vision on
the market, NoSweat Face Foam, the inno-
vative SCOTT Lens Lock System, a 50mm
strap, articulating outriggers and more) gets
the slightly darker ‘stealth’ black and grey
livery. But, we have to be honest here, the
new ‘younger brother’ - the Fury – is actu-
ally more attractive with the army green and
yellow lens. Catch one or both of them now
before Scott sell out.
#GO
ADVENTURE
Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!
KTM 390 ADVENTURE The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.
Photo: R. Schedl
ADVENTURE MORE
Fuel your restless spirit with a new adventure
every day. Discover KTM’s sporty attitude and
proven performance credentials aboard this new,
compact single-cylinder travel-enduro machine –
the KTM 390 ADVENTURE. Versatile ergonomics,
smooth power delivery, and innovative technology
all come together in a comfortable, lightweight
package – created for those who want to fit more
adventure into their daily lives.
MXGP
AWAY
WITH
THE
BUTTERFLIES
Matterley Basin is the opening salvo of Shaun Simpson, SS24 KTM MXGP: By the
twenty and aside from the unknown permuta- time of the first Grand Prix you have usually
tions for the results there are also a barrel of had some pre-season races, maybe even a
different riders and characters dealing with British Championship, so the cobwebs are
the emotions and heightened fuss surround- gone, and you are into a weekly routine. The
ing the first major race of the year. Athletes first GP is still a massive deal because it’s
– from rookies, to those with ‘comeback’ the start of the world championship and the
stories, to those with the added pressure of first batch of points.
the expectancy to win or challenge for cham-
pionship honours – will all be dealing with Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM: The fact that we
the slightly closer microscope of ‘round one’ ride a lot before the first big moto helps, I
in a variety of ways, so we thought we’d ask think. We have the practice sessions, the
a spread of them about their thoughts, man- qualification heat, warm-up: all to get a good
nerisms and attitudes to what is perhaps the feeling on the bike.
most intense date of the season.
Jed Beaton, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:
Jeffrey Herlings, Red Bull KTM: Nerves? Having so much time on the track before the
Yes and no for the first races. I use the pre- races help let out the butterflies before the
season ones to get rid of a few issues like races. I think there will be a lot more nerves
arm-pump. You go through different phases: on Saturday at Matterley compared to Sun-
I remember being super-nervous at every day because people will already have a gauge
GP when I was eighteen - I was very anxious of how they feel and seeing where everybody
about winning – whereas in the last two races is with their times. It’s weird but Sunday is
of 2019 the championship was already decid- more relaxing.
ed and I lined-up thinking ‘I’m either going to
win or lose here…and nobody really cares’.
MXGP 2020: NERVES
MXGP
Rene Hofer, Red Bull KTM: I usually sleep BEATON: “HAVING SO MUCH
well. It’s a normal situation for me. I might
be thinking a bit more about the race and the TIME ON THE TRACK BEFORE
routine. You can sometimes feel the nerves of THE RACES HELP LET OUT THE
other riders around you compared to another
race. It’s good that the EMX classes are on the BUTTERFLIES BEFORE THE
same days as the world championship be- RACES. I THINK THERE WILL BE A
cause that means you can get used to the en-
vironment and things like the crowd, the busy LOT MORE NERVES ON SATURDAY
SkyBox and the TV. When you finally make it AT MATTERLEY COMPARED TO
to MX2 then it doesn’t feel like such a big dif-
ference anymore.
SUNDAY...”
Beaton: You have a lot of nerves going into the
event but once you hit the track it just feels
normal. You have that tunnel-vision until the
chequered flag when you can look around and
appreciate the thousands of people that are
there and see the chainsaws and airhorns that
you have heard while you’re riding.
focus on any other guys and I also started to Hofer: I try to visualise the track before the
question this idea that you have to do a lot of sighting lap and then try to highlight areas
pre-season races. Why? I’ll ride at Hawkstone when I am doing the sighting lap.
and have a few competitive motos against a
solid field. Although I do believe it’s good to Simpson: In the past we’ve been in Qatar and
have one race before going to the first GP. Argentina and there has been a stress-free
vibe because there is either not much of a
Vialle: I sleep pretty good! I’m actually excited crowd compared to a European round or the
more than anything because it feels like the paddock is not too busy. There is not so much
last GP – or big race – was a long time ago, ‘weight’ and just the usual amount of duties
a lot of months. I really enjoyed 2019. Every like the TV graphics and photos to be done.
GP, every day at the circuit, every practice and When it comes to Saturday morning and prac-
now it means I’m really looking forward to go tice then that’s when you start looking around
again. at the other set-ups and riders and other
changes that maybe you hadn’t seen up until
MXGP
MXGP 2020: NERVES
@ P R O T A P E R P R O T A P E R . C O M
Swijgers
ACCESSORIES > HANDLEBAR PADS ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING THOMASKJER-OLSEN
MXGP
SBK BLOG
BLOG
TITULAR TITULAR
THE VALUE OF THE FIRST...
Ah, first round hype. To be honest there is nothing like it. There can be
other challenges and situations such as ‘who can defeat Tony Cairoli on
Italian soil?’ or ‘who can stop Jeffrey Herlings at Valkenswaard?’ and
‘will the French prevail in France?’ but there are few better prefaces than
Grand Prix #1 where every rider has yet to start their roll of momentum
and confidence and the formbook is blank.
We all know the factory riders Matterley will see MXGP and riders returning from serious
likely to be setting the pace MX2 protagonists eager to injury like Cairoli, Clement
at Matterley this weekend but compete after their last ma- Desalle, Romain Febvre and
that doesn’t mean nerves, jit- jor outing in the Netherlands (maybe whisper it with hope)
ters or rustiness won’t come on September 30th 2019. Jorge Prado. A couple might
into play and possibly deter- For the vast majority of the gorge on the occasion, most
mine a final result. The Brit- experienced Grand Prix pack will show some restraint: this
ish Grand Prix is first on the it is also the first nibble of a could be another decider in
slate for the first time in the big cake that will carry both the overall top ten classifica-
modern era which means the sweet and sour tastes over the tion on the day.
conditions could range from a next six months with visits to
moderate late winter climate sixteen other countries and The value of round one is
to extremely testing mud, rain three fixtures per month (with debatable and will be a source
and wind although it seems the exception of July). Once of a small feature in MXGP
that the Winchester-site has the teams start rolling out of Special Edition of OTOR next
braved the grim stormy UK the UK and on towards the week but mathematically it
weather fairly well in recent Eurocircuit near Eindhoven still constitutes a maximum
weeks. It’s a mixed bag and thoughts will already be work- haul of 50 points. Take it or
who knows what racer will ing on the next instalment of leave it, considering that only
jump out first. 57 race starts to take place. two of the last ten MXGP
Matterley encourages excite- championships have been won
ment but will also see some with an advantage less than
reservation, especially from 50 at the end of the season.
CREATED THANKS TO
BY ADAM
WHEELER
BY ADAM WHEELER
You could argue for the bol- have walked away from the That only leaves me to urge
stering effect administered opening salvo with the first fans to make the trip to
in the victories by Tim Ga- win bonus of the campaign, southern England. Yes, it
jser and Jeffrey Herlings in just 50%. Other victors have could be a washout but could
Argentina in both 2016 and included Clement Desalle also also serve up something
2018. Rookie Gajser went on (three times), Gautier Paulin a little different compared to
to be champion that year and and Max Nagl; all of whom the usual British Grand Prix,
Herlings’ last lap battle and had their subsequent title and is worth the investment
demotion of teammate and plights disrupted or ruined considering that Matterley al-
reigning #1 Tony Cairoli set a through injury. most didn’t make the sched-
template for the ’18 season. ule for 2020 as part of an
In terms of the final outcome Of course curtain-closers are events-promotion and organi-
in the standings then round fantastically dramatic and sation landscape that is not
watching Herlings getting any easier or more
“ONLY TWO OF THE LAST limp into the 2014 Mexican feasible. Even if the odds
TEN MXGP closer with a weak left femur seem pretty long for a ‘com-
CHAMPIONSHIPS HAVE and lose out on his second fortable’ Matterley experience
BEEN WON WITH AN MX2 crown by just four points the chances of catching some
ADVANTAGE LESS THAN and witnessing the jubila- promising and unexpected
50 POINTS...” tion that accompanied David action appear to be much
Philippaerts’ final race title- brighter.
confirmation at Faenza in
one has proven to be fairly 2008 (the first Italian to take
unprophetic in the last ten the premier class crown since
years. Since 2010 only four Andrea Bartolini’s 500cc
athletes have won the premier success) provided unforgetta-
class: Cairoli (2010-2014 & ble fare. Those moments are
2017), Gajser (2016 & 2019), few-and-far between however
Romain Febvre (2015) and whereas ‘round one’ comes
Herlings (2018). From that around without fail on an
spell only Cairoli (2012 and annual basis.
2017), Gajser and Herlings
PRODUCTS
THE
INSIDE LINE
Motocross is poorly served in terms of books, Andrews can be heard voicing Eurosport com-
and therefore former Grand Prix rider Rob mentary on MXGP these days so he keeps up
Andrews’ ‘The Inside Line’ is not only a wel- with the sport and is not some sort of dinosaur
come publication but a pretty damn good that has pulled himself off the shelf in order to
one. Andrews’ labour of love in documenting create something that goes up on it. The book
a racing life and a career competing in what is full of little asides, whether about passion,
many regard as some of the glory years of the influential figures like Bryan Wade, paddock
sport - the 1980s 500cc FIM World Champion- life or a detailed recollection of the Namur
ship - immediately makes his story one of the Citadel. He doesn’t hold back when it comes
most comprehensive and detailed accounts to describing the lasting effects of injury (the
available to any fan. As an autobiography the danger of supermarket glass doors!) or his
account is obviously first person-heavy and the initial appraisal of the 1985 factory Kawasaki
Brit sometimes feels like he has to justify be- KXs. The book costs 40 pounds but Andrews
ing part of the start gate with some legendary has done his homework and almost 400 pages
names but the amount of detail and insight of are chocked-full of stunning photographs
what it is actually like to have raced on ‘those’ both of action and behind-the-scenes. In fact,
tracks, against ‘those’ rivals and in front of thanks to the clean and appealing design, ‘The
‘those’ crowds makes this one a little Inside Line’ is both a story and a picture book
unmissable. which only increases the value for money.
Andrews may believe that modern motocross
The description of the first years falling in love and MXGP fans probably won’t be interested
with motorcycling throuhg a chance encounter in his tale but I disagree. I think many people
and schoolboy racing at the tail end of the ‘70s with even a passing interest in the sport have
is the start of a journey that would lead up to been waiting a long time for something like the
his first Grand Prix qualification in Germany ‘The Inside Line’ and the effort and sincerity
in 1984 and then onto podium finishes at the that has gone into the book mean it’s almost
highest level, include frank and honest an essential purchase.
accounts of those experiences.
To buy a copy simply visit:
www.theinsidelinebook.com
PRODUCTS:
www.theinsidelinebook.com
NO SHORTCUTS
FAC E F OA M
SCOTT-SPORTS.COM
© SCOTT SPORTS SA 2020
SCOTT CAMO EDITIONS
MotoGP BLOG
The season doesn’t get any more Would I bet on the outcome of
predictable after Qatar either. the Qatar race on the basis of the
The first few overseas races test here? There are a few names
take place at venues where the I’d be willing to put money on.
teams lack data, so setup rou- Would I bet on the eventual Mo-
tinely involves a bit of guesswork. toGP champion based on what
Thailand is hot, humid, and happens in the race? History
punishing, and has three massive tells me I’d do better to invest
straights. Austin is another pecu- my money in a decent meal in
liarity, a rollercoaster of a track downtown Doha.
MotoGP
CormacGP
MotoGP
Polarity Photo
MotoGP BLOG
CRISIS AVERTED?
Crisis? What crisis? Come the close of Sunday’s run- can’t decelerate the bike and
ning and it was hard to conclude we can’t turn the bike with this
One or two head-
anything other than things were pushing that we have on it. So,
lines were made to looking dire for the factory that it’s essentially, you’re holding the
look a touch foolish has emerged from each of the brake a long time, you’re unable
past three seasons with Mo- to turn the bike in the middle of
come Monday night
toGP’s elusive Triple Crown. Its the corner.”
when Marc Marquez riders using the latest factory
claimed parity had trickery were 14th, 19th and 21st We all know one of Honda’s
on the time sheets. And it didn’t maxims is to provide power,
been restored amid
end there. believing it a requisite of its rid-
the Repsol Honda ers’ jobs to do the rest. But even
ranks, and he would The elder Marquez was unable their technicians’ efforts seemed
to lap the track within a second a touch extreme. Last year’s ma-
sleep easy in the ten
of riders he beat with one eye chine was no walk in the park, as
days between the end closed a year ago. Cal Crutchlow Crutchlow and Jorge Lorenzo’s
of the preseason and abandoned his media duties in struggles demonstrated. With
favour of resting a right arm that their comments appearing to go
resumption of hostili-
had ballooned up to the size of unheeded, management in the
ties on 8th March. pig’s thigh after a bruising crash factory team was privately less
Qatar provided the backdrop for at turn two. And class rookie Alex than impressed with the fruits of
a turbulent three days for HRC Marquez was sporting the kind HRC’s winter labours.
and its trio of riders attempt- of thousand-yard stare normally
ing to make sense of the 2020 associated with returning war So, the following day, when
machine they will command in veterans. engineers were spotted wheel-
what will be MotoGP’s longest ing one of Takaaki Nakagami’s
ever season. The long, fast right “Of course I’m worried,” Marc ’19-spec RC213Vs into the reign-
bends that mark out the 3.8-mile told us on Sunday. The issue ing champion’s garage, it was
Losail International Circuit were stemmed from front instability safe to assume drastic measures
the new RC213V’s kryptonite on and a lack of agility. “We’re push- were being undertaken at a less
days one and two as a lack of ing on entry and stressing the than ideal time. Team manager
front end feel (sound familiar?) front tyre and the consequence Alberto Puig told a group of us
dogged Honda’s boys. is that you push the front more.” they were attaching and testing
Crutchlow chipped in, saying “we parts from the ’18 machine, as
well as last year’s, including the Let it not be forgotten he is still
aero package. some way off peak fitness, too.
A damaged nerve in the right
Later that evening there were shoulder continues to prod him
smiles. And just out of shot sighs with pangs of pain. His crashes
of relief. “We found the problem,” at both of this year’s tests
Marquez exhaled. His time was stemmed from a lack of upper
some way off pace setter Fabio body strength to save the kind of
Quartararo. But he was within front slide he’d recover from the CREATED THANKS TO Moto3’S
range of both Suzukis and Mav- brink in previous years. And un- NEWEST RACING TEAM
erick Viñales. For a man that like the recovery twelve months
hasn’t finished a race outside the ago on the left shoulder, nerve
top two in 18 months that’s all damage has no definitive time-
that is needed to know he can line for full rehabilitation.
push to repeat his feats of the
past four years. And while Marquez’s mood was BY NEIL MORRISON
upbeat, Crutchlow is only too
aware of the task ahead. “It’s
Rushing to any hasty judge- the same problem that I said I
ment at this test is a perilous had in Valencia when I first rode
task. Historically it’s never been it. It felt even worse in the area
kind to Honda with the track’s [where last year’s bike was weak-
flowing sections more suited to est]. It seems that they’ve car-
the Yamaha and Suzuki’s char- ried on with it, and this is where
acteristics. Repsol Honda was we are today. So let’s see if they
approaching full-scale meltdown can work a miracle.” It’s all well
here in 2016 before Marquez won and good building for one of the
two of the first three races (and greatest of all time to win. But if
finished third in the other) on the the others struggle for top sixes,
way to a third premier class title. top eights or top tens, recent his-
Last year Crutchlow lingered in tory may well repeat itself.
17th in the test yet both were on
the podium two weeks later.
MotoGP BLOG
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MotoGP
Y
WorldSBK
L
FEATURE
E TO F
FIV rldSBK
I N W o
RESIDENT WorldSBK EXPERT AND
NEW OVERSEER OF
WWW.RACINGLOWDOWN.COM
STEVE ENGLISH GIVES US HIS FIVE
TALKING POINTS (OR QUESTIONS/
THOUGHTS) AHEAD OF ARGUABLY
THE MOST COMPETITIVE
CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS
Words & Photos by Steve English
WorldSBK
SCOTT REDDING:
HISTORY MAKER?
No rider has ever won a British Superbike
and World Superbike title in consecu-
tive years. Can Scott Redding be the first?
There’s a real chance that the Englishman
can live up to the hype.
This was shown by his recovery from pre-season From that point onwards he showed why it
injuries. Breaking his leg while mini bike rid- was always likely that BSB would be a “one
ing in Spain last winter left him with in a race and done” operation for him. His talent,
against time to get fit for Round 1. Team boss, experience and speed didn’t surprise any-
Paul Bird, had laid it out in no uncertain terms one but his approach to the season did. His
to Redding how close he was to finding another performances at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch
rider following this injury. His career lifeline was and Cadwell Park were very impressive and
slipping away from him. Training and rehab took showed that he was a quick study for new
over for Redding and when he lined up on the tracks but also that he could accept being
grid at Silverstone, he had already done enough beaten and ride for points with a bigger pic-
to prove his hunger and determination. ture in his mind.
KAWASAKI:
REA OUT FOR SIX,
LOWES OUT TO
SURPRISE
2019 was the best we’ve seen from Rea. To
win that title meant giving everything he had.
Can he go to the well again in 2020?
Honda is back! We said it twelve months “Compared to Ducati this is different. I was
ago but now it’s the real deal… comfortable with the Ducati straight away,
it was like putting on a glove because the
When it was announced at EICMA in late engine character was the same as MotoGP
2018 that HRC would be back in WorldSBK with the V4 engine. Now I’m using an inline
as a full-factory effort, it set up a chain four and that’s different, but this is a very
reaction of expectation. For the first time new project and we’re working in a good
since 2002 Japan was taking an interest in direction with the bike and evolution of the
winning a Superbike title. It was a massive bike. We need more kilometres but Honda
story. It was fantastic for the series…until are working day and night in Japan.”
the opening round when suddenly it became
clear this was a year of gathering data. Bautista and Leon Haslam offer a strong rid-
er line-up with Takumi Takahashi also join-
As the season went on it became clear that ing WorldSBK for a full season. Hiring Domi
the story for Honda in 2019 was “nothing to Aegerter as a full-time test rider also shows
see here.” It was disappointing at the time their ambitions. This project will leave no
but when the bikes rolled out in January at stone unturned but 2020 is likely to be an
the Jerez test the initial buzz from EICMA inconsistent year. The key for Honda will be
came right back! The bike looks tiny, it’s to maximise their good weekends and come
got a strong engine and seems to be cutting away from those races with podiums.
edge at every angle. This is what HRC is all
about. With lots of Japanese engineers com- When Honda puts all their chips to the cen-
ing from HRC HQ this is clearly a proving tre of the table they expect to win big other-
ground for them, maybe before they move to wise heads will roll. Patience might be key at
MotoGP, and the same can be said for me- the start of the campaign but it’ll wear thin
chanics and crew members. They are shy on very quickly if the Fireblade isn’t cutting it at
experience in Superbike racing, but maybe a the front.
clear set of eyes can be used to their advan-
tage.
The excitement around Honda also comes
from their acquirement of Alvaro Bautista.
The Spaniard won the opening 11 races of
2019 and has the tools to be a WorldSBK
champion.
BMW WILL
BMW:
LAVERTY
FINALLY GET
BACK TO
WINNING?
Last year BMW sprung a surprise with
their return to WorldSBK. Tom Sykes
had podiums and a pole position. In
2020 they’ll expect to make another
step
YAMAHA:
Lowes might have left, having finishing third
in the world in 2019, but in his place comes
Toprak Razgatlioglu. The Turk would have
Up against him is Michael van der Mark. Rea. The young duo won’t be afraid of upset-
The Dutchman oozes natural ability. Riding ting the apple cart. Being the first rider from
comes easy to him and at times in his career their countries to win WorldSBK races? Job
he relied on his talent too much. In recent done. The objective now is the title.
years he’s been able to knuckle down and
get the most from himself. If you want an il- They have the talent and both could cut it in
lustration of what van der Mark can do, look MotoGP. Winning is the key to getting there
at some of his battles with Jonathan Rea. on a good bike and giving themselves that
Going toe to toe with the five times champi- opportunity. The Netherlands is an impor-
on doesn’t faze the Yamaha rider, and having tant market in motorsport, as seen by the
come out on top of those battles he’s clearly crowds at the Dutch TT and the return of
not a man to be underestimated. Formula 1 to the county, and Turkey has a lot
of eyeballs to engage with for television. For
The same goes for Toprak who, like van der both riders the road to MotoGP goes through
Mark, claimed his first WorldSBK victory by the opposite side of the garage.
coming out on top in a gloves-off battle with
WorldSBK BLOG
TIME TO GO AGAIN...
Even though we are almost two months into
and standard lighting switch
2020, when you work in WorldSBK, there is
gear included, and building it
an almost spiritual feeling crossing the bridge into a race machine that they
that connects the towns of San Remo and could go testing with the fol-
lowing day.
Newhaven. Arriving on Phillip Island, 17,000km
from home, it’s only now that the new year has In Phillip Island they were
really just begun. represented only by Ta-
kumi Takahashi. They had
It is quite fitting that the two-day test at Phillip Island, confirmed Jordi Torres as
season should kick off so far immediately before the race a second rider at the team
away from the European base weekend, is always an op- presentation but it was too
of the teams that compete portunity to see who is ready late in the day to get a bike
in the championship. It feels for the task ahead and who is together for him to race
like we are properly starting facing an uphill struggle from this weekend. On track the
an adventure for another year the start. contrast couldn’t be starker
and it brings with it a tangi- either. Takahashi was over
ble sense of anticipation. We In the Honda camp the dif- five seconds slower than
have had the winter testing ference couldn’t be starker. Leon Haslam on the factory
and the team launches and At one end of the pit lane machine, who ended the test
here were are, ready to start the HRC squad arrived fresh fifth fastest overall, only half
the first round, with teams from a team presentation in a second off Jonathan Rea.
and riders resplendent in the Tokyo days before. They were That and the fact that the
new liveries. fully prepared and look every MIE machine blew an en-
inch the factory outfit they gine on the first day leaving
The sense of anticipation for are. At the other end of pit- Takahashi to jump off it at T4
this year’s season is greater lane however, the MIE Althea as flames billowed out from
than it has been for some Honda squad, run by Mori- under the fairing. On to bike
time. Sure we still have the waki Engineering, had also no.2 then.
same reigning champion for come from the presentation
everyone to aim at but the in Tokyo but spent their first
distance they have to reach day in Phillip Island stripping In the factory team Haslam
seems to be shortening. The down a road bike, pillion seat would appear to have adapt-
BY ADAM
WHEELER
BY GRAEME BROWN
ed to the new Fireblade far improved his time from the hails from the Island and
quicker than his team-mate first day by half a second but her parents still live here. A
Alvaro Bautista who, it was I think that improvement is few years ago Jonathan and
reported, admitted to strug- more down to the rider being Tatia built their own house
gling to find a set up he was a bit more in the groove over so every night after leaving
confident with and had only any set up changes to the the track JR heads home
been concentrating on get- Kawasaki. to sleep in his own bed.
ting a good feeling with the He therefore seems pretty
bike rather than setting a With all that anticipation chilled when he is out and
fast lap time. floating in the air the old around in the paddock. On
cynic in me has been offer- track there are a few little
ing some words of caution terriers starting to nip at
LAST YEAR WAS - we have been here before. his heel but I wouldn’t bet
UNIQUE IN THE WAY Phillip Island is a fairly against him just yet.
THAT BAUTISTA unique circuit that throws up
DOMINATED, AND I some close racing, regard- Looking to the year ahead I
CAN’T SEE IT less of the class, and I don’t have mixed feelings about
HAPPENING THIS YEAR expect this year to be any heading from Phillip Island
AGAIN, different. What is doesn’t do to Qatar. I never like going
is open a window to the form there but straight after such
There doesn’t seem to be for the rest of the season. a good event in Australia will
much room for maneouvre Last year was unique in the bring me back to earth with
at the top of the time sheets way that Bautista dominated, a bump. That said getting it
as we head into a day-off at and I can’t see it happening out of the way and having
Phillip Island. The Yamahas this year again, but Raz- Argentina as the last round
of Loris Baz and Toprak Raz- gatlioglu, Sykes and Redding to enjoy is actually quite a
gatlioglu, the BMW of Tom all seem to be within striking pleasant option. Let’s hope
Sykes and Scott Redding’s distance of Rea. that this year when we go
Ducati, alongside the afore- there we don’t have any dif-
mentioned, Haslam, were Rea himself looked relaxed ficulties with the track and
all within half a second of and comfortable. Phillip more importantly we crown
Rea, who only set his fastest Island is of course a second another World Champion.
lap on the second day. He home to him as his wife
WorldSBK
Steve English
THE JOY OF 6?
of the Spaniard in the second half of the for drinks and copious plates of ‘pernil’,
campaign. It was his hardest test and we snuck through to grab JR for a few
real proof of his mettle as title-holder. questions on his perspective for a twelfth
Rev limits aside, Rea’s quest to stay at superbike season and whether he can do
the peak of his profession means he wel- it all again…
comes the next threat: how long can the
hegemony endure? Last year you tried to boost your fitness
further and you also keep using Fabien
When the few hundred guests were fun- [Foret] as a rider coach, so what has
nelling to the other side of the workshop been the off-season project this time?
GeeBee Images
WorldSBK
That’s an ongoing process. I completed all opposed to [thinking] ‘we’ve been beaten
the human performance testing that we again’ I could change mentality and come
do in the team this week and last week a bit closer when we returned to Europe
and I’m surprised because I am ahead… [and] winning that round in Imola was
but I’m getting older! Physically I’m hit- good for my confidence. After that I think
ting good marks. The most important Alvaro just knew we were going to be
thing is to stay healthy, especially with there every race and he started making
the first races happening in quick suc- some mistakes. It was a season of ‘thirds’
cession. Australia is not followed by a big because in the first third we got beat, in
break anymore. I’m still working a lot on the second he made some mistakes - and
my style with Fab and my focus for this we were thereabouts - and in the last third
year is trying to get my bike to turn a bit we dominated. It was a season that – back
better, especially in the longer corners. It in February - I never expected to finish as
is a characteristic we struggle with a little it did but that’s racing: twists and turns.
bit. So, a few aspects of my riding and the
turn is the main area. I will have to under- You’ve taken titles through wins and
stand how the start of the year goes and dominance but – even generally – there
adapt accordingly. have not been many campaigns where
the reigning champion has been so com-
“[ON POSSIBLY REACHING 100 prehensively beaten in the first stages…
A few races really stick in the mind. Don-
WINS] WE HAVE SOME RECORDS ington race one was wet and Alvaro was
NOW; I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS still leading the championship but I saw
it as a real opportunity to win and put
SEVENTEEN IN A ROW. I DON’T pressure on him. I remember going out
MEAN TO SOUND UNGRATEFUL, BUT in that race and only thinking about 25
points. Sometimes it is strange with mind-
IT WAS ENOUGH JUST TO BE PAID set. Sometimes when you are chasing
TO RACE, THEN TO WIN & TO GET you have ideas of pushing for a win but
A CHAMPIONSHIP: I TICKED ALL if I make a mistake and lose more points
I am further away. It was like that at the
THE BOXES SO THE REST IS JUST A beginning of the year but at Donington –
BONUS.” where it was easy to crash – it was like
‘Jonathan; you have to win’: those were
2019 seemed stressful but also enjoy- the exact words that Guim [Rosa, Team
able: did you get something from it? Was Manager] said to me Saturday morning at
it educational and, if so, does it sustain breakfast. We had to have 25 points…and
motivation? we did it. It was almost the biggest race
Yeah, especially in the first races when of the season for me. The Qatar weekend
it was clear that Ducati had come with was special because I did the triple at a
a really strong bike and package. It was place where I thought I would really strug-
super-fast, especially in a straight line gle. Positive attitude. Now I’ve come to
and it was really hard to see past that in the front, won from the front, won from
the first races. It was only after I had ac- behind and I think mentally it puts me in
cepted that and seen it as a challenge as a better place for whatever will come.
2020 WorldSBK: JONATHAN REA
For this year why do you think people ily gives you clarity. I know one day I will
are asking you about Scott Redding so get beaten and the idea is to prolong that
much? Is it because he’s expressive? day arriving as much as possible really.
Almost brash? It could be a good clash… It has definitely gone past the point of
I don’t know. I think as long as there people being happy for you but in SBK
is respect between riders then there is now the travelling support I have from
never need for a clash. I mean, it is hard Northern Ireland is incredible and if I
to build a rivalry with someone as quiet look at the support on social media with
as Alvaro. I enjoy the battle. I’ve had a the mentions and replies then I have so
fierce rivalry with Chaz Davies for a few many fans and not a lot of negativity,
years and Tom Sykes and then the posi- which has really helped. Of course when
tion against Ducati with their V4. I’ve you put yourself out there and post stuff
been part of this championship for years on social media then people can get to
now and at this part of the season eve- you but generally I’ve had very positive
ryone gets excited. Potentially there are feedback and that’s really nice. I don’t
challenges from everywhere. Maybe the want to make big statements. I try to be
media are talking about Redding because as humble as I can and get through it.
he ‘puts it out there’ so much and he’s It’s funny…with success you can feel the
not scared to talk himself-up but if you change of people’s perception of you.
do that then you can also hang yourself You can see you get under people’s skin
out to dry. Alvaro got on with things very a lot more and there are some that you
quietly. There will be other challengers, enjoy doing that to and others that end
and you have to respect everybody but to up judging you for different reasons. I’m
put your finger on who might be cham- conscious of what I am doing, and I am
pion at the end of the year then there are really supportive of my team and I know
arguments for five-six guys if they get it my fans have my bag. If I can continue
right and run with it. My idea is to be one what I am doing that will be amazing.
of them. Let’s see.
GeeBee Images
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PHOTO CREDITS
Ray Archer, CormacGP, Polarity Photo, GeeBee Images, KTM, Bavo/Honda,
S.Romero/M.Campelli
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