Innholdsfortegnelse for #409 23-03 i Just Bikes

Multiple Australian MX Champion, MXGP winner, AMA MX placegetter and Motocross of Nations representative, Dean Ferris, has retired from full-time riding, with the 32-year-old wrapping up his career at this year’s ProMX Australian Motocross Championship finale in Queensland. Announced in August, this retirement is actually Ferris’s second, with the first made in March, 2021. Back then, Ferris was recovering from a major injury that included multiple vertebral fractures and broken ribs. However, the lure of the dirt and a renewed love of racing saw Ferris return to motocross at a handful of regional events before signing on with Team HRC Honda Racing in the MX1 class for the 2022 ProMX series. On the CRF450R, Ferris started poorly in the season opener in Wonthaggi, but was winning motos by Round 2…

A handful of Aussie teenagers, representing the next generation of our grand prix racing talent, have been invited to take part in the selection process for the 2023 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup. Hundreds of riders from 20 different countries have applied for a place on the 2023 Idemistu Asia Talent Cup (ATC) grid, representing everywhere from Qatar to Taiwan, Nepal, Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The ATC Selection Committee has narrowed applications down to a preselection field of 83 riders, who have been invited to take part in a selection event at Sepang (on the Sepang Karting Circuit) that will determine the ATC grid for 2023. Shortlisted riders must demonstrate sufficient skill and ability to make the 2023 ATC entry list, either as one…

Introduced last year, Harley-Davidson’s ‘Icons Collection’ is a series of limited-edition motorcycles that are based on current platforms, but tap into The Motor Company’s long and rich history for styling, colours and details. Last year’s Electra Glide Revival was the first in what will be an annual release under the Icons Collection banner. The second instalment in that series is the Low Rider ‘El Diablo’. CLASSIC INSPIRATION Where the Electra Glide Revival was inspired by a 1969 FLH Electra Glide, the upcoming El Diablo tips its hat to a newer model, specifically the 1983 FXRT Sport Glide. “The Low Rider El Diablo is a modern expression of the iconic 1983 FXRT and a representation of the creative times it was born in,” said Brad Richards, Vice President of Design and…

Mid Life Cycles, Melbourne’s Royal Enfield concept store and renowned custom builder, has turned its attention to the well-established Himalayan adventure model and the new Scram 411, with a focus on ‘Look Better, Go Faster’. Applying lessons learned over more than a decade of modifying bikes to improve performance and add those custom touches, from record-breaking 650 Twin salt racers to classic bobbers and café racers, Mid Life Cycles offers packages that enhance the basic strengths of Royal Enfield’s model line-up, including the adventure-bike Himalayan and urban raider Scram. “We recently built a hero-bike Himalayan for a long-time customer and ex-motocross racer who wanted all the benefits of the Himalayan – light weight, good ground clearance, durability – plus more of everything,” says Mid Life dealer principal Michael Catchpole. “Some…

Dorna Sports, in conjunction with the FIM, IRTA and MSMA, has announced the biggest shake up to grand prix racing since the introduction of 990cc four-strokes in 2002 that started the MotoGP era. From 2023, all MotoGP rounds will include a sprint race on the Saturday afternoon that will count for points toward the riders’, teams’ and manufacturers’ championships. Similar to the Tissot Superpole Race that was added to the World Superbike programme in 2019, the MotoGP sprint race will run approximately half the normal race distance and count for half the amount of points toward the World Championship. However, unlike the WSBK Superpole Race, the MotoGP sprint will be held at 3:00PM on the Saturday and the finishing order will not determine grid position for Sunday’s feature race. So,…

Wakefield Park Raceway, the circuit near Goulburn in NSW that’s been a popular stop on the Australian Superbike Championship calendar since 2016, has closed until further notice. Announced on 29 August, the closure is due to a ruling by the NSW Land and Environment Court in July regarding noise restrictions at the 2.2km regional track that limited operations to just 30 days per year. This was less than half of what the circuit’s owners, the Benalla Auto Club, were seeking. Additionally, under the terms of the NSW LEC ruling, the circuit couldn’t be used for any other related purpose once those 30 days were filled, so track days, club and corporate events, rider training and defensive driver training courses would be regarded as “events” in the same way a race…

Following confirmation back in July of Jack Miller’s departure from Ducati at the end of this year’s MotoGP season, the winner in the race to replace him was revealed on 26 August, with Gresini Racing’s Enea Bastianini getting the coveted seat alongside Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati Lenovo Team. “I am thrilled to be able to wear the colours of the official Ducati team starting next year,” the 24-year-old from Rimini said. “It was my dream, and now it has come true. “In these two years in MotoGP, I have learned and grown a lot, and I believe that I can only improve with the engineers and men of the Ducati Lenovo Team! I want to thank Claudio, Gigi, Paolo and Davide for trusting me and giving me this incredible opportunity.…

Yamaha have unveiled details of their 2023-model YZ450F, with the brand’s popular motocross machine said to be all-new for the coming year. Due for release in December, the MY23 YZ450F features a newly developed lightweight frame, lighter and more powerful engine, and all-new bodywork as well as adjustments and improvements in many other areas. Yamaha say the starting point for their all-new YZ450F was the rider, with changes made to their long-running 450cc MX platform designed to meet the needs and expectations of the rider first. Those needs aren’t focussed on those at the elite level, with consideration given to riders of different skill levels before any changes were implemented. ENGINE Although the 2023 YZ450F retains the backwards canted 450cc single-cylinder engine that was introduced for 2010, that powerplant has…

1 MERLIN BRODY D30 UTILITY SHIRT Merlin/Link International merlinbikegear.com.au It looks like a classic utility shirt, but Merlin’s Brody shirt combines single-layer stretch cotton twill with D3O pre-fitted flexible Ghost armour in the shoulders and elbows for CE Level ‘AA’ overall protection. There’s a pocket in the rear for an optional D3O Viper Stealth back protector (large size), too. Multiple pockets – front patch, zippered side, internal and outer arm – are fastened with durable YKK zippers or Merlin-branded brass snap studs, with other features including a rear ventilation panel, snap-down collar, connection zipper for Merlin jeans and Euro hoop connecting strap. Available in black, tan or green, in sizes S-4XL. $399.95 RRP. 2 VENTURA YAMAHA YZF-R7 BIKE-PACK SYSTEM Kenma Australia kenma.com.au Ventura’s Bike-Pack system is now available for the…

Shannons Winter Timed Online Auction this past August was once again a feast for fans of classic and collectable motorcycles, with no less than 38 lots on offer, covering a broad range of makes, models and eras. Overall sales of $11.2 million from the auction, which was conducted online from 2 to 9 August, covered cars, memorabilia and heritage number plates, as well as motorcycles. Of the 38 two-wheel consignments, seven were passed in, including a pair of pre-war Harley-Davidsons, a Manx Norton and a project-spec 1915 Indian ‘Hedstrom Racer’ that attracted bidding of close to $50,000. While that Indian was passed in, another would be the top-selling bike - a 1934 Scout. Indian released their first Scout in 1920, initially with a 37ci (600cc) v-twin before offering a 45ci…

Australia’s Senna Agius made his grand prix debut this past August, riding for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team in the Moto2 World Championship. The 17-year-old from Sydney was riding in the European Moto2 series, where he had achieved six podium finishes (including two wins) from eight starts and was sitting third overall in the championship, before receiving the call-up from Marc VDS; the team that has produced Moto2 World Champions in 2014, 2017 and 2019. Agius was drafted in to replace Sam Lowes for the Austrian and San Marino rounds, after the Brit dislocated his shoulder and fractured his left arm in practice for the British GP. “I would like to say a huge thank you to the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team for giving me this opportunity,” Agius…

As soon as Suzuki announced the end of their MotoGP programme that put riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins onto the market, Mir was expected to move to the Repsol Honda Team in place of Pol Espargaro. On 30 August, after months of speculation, those expectations were finally confirmed when Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) announced they had signed Mir to Repsol Honda on a two-year deal. In addition to a new team for 2023, the deal will see Mir on new machinery, too, as the 24-year-old Spaniard has only ever ridden Suzuki’s GSX-RR since he first joined the premier class in 2019. Honda’s RC213V has proven to be something of a poisoned chalice for all bar Marc Marquez in recent years, with Jorge Lorenzo, Alex Marquez and Pol Espargaro all…

NSW OCTOBER, SUNDAY, 9TH, 2022 MAITLAND SWAP MEET 2022 Setup allowed from 12 Noon, Saturday 8th Oct.Saturday Night Camping Fee $20 per Siteholder. NOTE: FRIDAY Night Camping payable to Showground. Canteen will be open Saturday Night from 5pm till 8pm with hot Meals. Open again Sunday Morning from 5.30am for duration of Swap. No Private Food or Drink Vending sites permitted.No Fires**No Dogs.Sunday 9th - Gates open 6am. Site Fee $20-00, (Admits 2 Persons) Sites approx.6M X 6M No reservations. Buyers/Lookers $5-00 entry. Please ring after 9th Sept. for more info Noel: 0418 498 560 or Steve: 02 4953 1274 OCTOBER, SUNDAY, 16TH, 2022 TWIN CITY SWAP MEET 2022 Annual swap meet and show & shine. Organised by the Twin City Classic Vehicle CLub. Heaps of categories and prizes Joe Hofner…