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Jorge Martin is MotoGP 2024 Champion

Jorge Martin is the MotoGP 2024 Champion, after finishing third in the final race of the season – the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona. Title rival Francesco Bagnaia won the race.

The Spaniard becomes the first independent team world champion in the MotoGP era with Pramac, having won seven sprints and three grands prix in a consistent 2024 campaign. It is Martin’s first world championship at the premier class level and comes in his final race for both Ducati and Pramac, ahead of a factory Aprilia switch in 2025. Pramac is also switching to Yamaha next season.

Martin came into the race with a 19-point lead after Bagnaia won the Sprint on Saturday, with Martin finishing third. The advantage meant that Martin had needed a minimum of 7 points from a 9th place finish to secure the championship.

Bagnaia had led Martin into the first turn at the start, but the latter was overtaken by Gresini Ducati rider Marc Marquez into the first turn on Lap 2. Marquez went ahead to ride close to Bagnaia but never challenged for the lead.

Behind Martin, Bagnaia’s factory Ducati teammate Enea Bastianini was looking threatening but was passed by the factory Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro who was on his last MotoGP race. A mistake later by Bastianini dropped him down the order, and it looked like Espargaro was protecting Martin’s third placing.

So, the top three held station as Martin settled into his rhythm and rode unchallenged to the chequered flag to win the championship by 10 points over Bagnaia. Second place finisher Marquez locked out third place in the championship in his first season on a Ducati. Espargaro was pushed hard by the other Gresini rider, Alex Marquez in the closing stages and ceded his position in the very last lap.

With Bastianini already securing fourth in the championship, the battle was for fifth overall between rookie Pedro Acosta on the GasGas and KTM factory rider Brad Binder. Binder finished sixth after clawing through the field from 18th, while Acosta slumped from 5th to 10th in the race. Acosta will join Binder as his teammate next season.

2025 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello ‘Wind Tunnel’ Celebrates Brand’s Aero Research

The new 2025 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello ‘Wind Tunnel’ celebrates the brand’s innovative use of the wind tunnel to aid the design of their motorcycles. Additionally, the 2025 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello S will receive a radar system.

The Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello ‘Wind Tunnel’ edition celebrates the 70th anniversary of the manufacturer’s wind tunnel. Moto Guzzi had launched their own wind tunnel on 12 April 1954 in Mandello Del Lario.

Indeed, the first V100 Mandello launched in 2022 is claimed to be the first motorcycle to employ adaptive aerodynamics. The system will be retained for the 2025 edition. It alters the position of the deflectors on the sides of the fuel tank according to the speed and selected riding mode, in turn reduces wind pressure by up to 22% to the rider.

Moto Guzzi say: “It enables the overall dimensions to remain contained, offering protection and comfort only when necessary and required by the rider. The shape of the Mandello V100 were also developed through more than 200 hours of CFD calculations and tests in the wind tunnel.”

The 2024 version of the Mandello S has already been imbued with high-tech goodies such as Öhlins semi-active suspension, quickshifter, tyre pressure monitoring system, phone connectivity, and heated grips. For 2025, the version will be equipped with Moto Guzzi’s PFF Rider Assistance Solution consisting of a 4D radar imaging for forward collision warning, blind spot warning, lane change assistance. This system made its debut on the Moto Guzzi Stelvio.

Other updates carried over from the Stelvio are changes to the gearbox to improve gear change feel and a central radiator guard.

The 1024cc, 90° V-Twin engine is now Euro5+ compliant, but its peak power and torque remain unchanged at 113hp and 104.4Nm, respectively. 82% of that peak torque is already available from 3,500 RPM.

The standard model will be available in two colours, ‘Blu Oceano’ and ‘Grigio Titanio’. The Mandello S comes in ‘Verde Ghiaccio’ and ‘Rossi Lava’ for 2025, whereas the Wind Tunnel comes solely in a red and black livery.

Prices have not been announced at this time.

2025 Moto Guzzi V7 – Sportier, More Power, More Features

The 2025 Moto Guzzi V7 range will sport several updates to bring it up to date with its contemporaries, along with the launch of a new V7 Sport. The V7 Sport receives the highest specifications, while the V7 Stone and V7 Special get several updates, too.

Firstly, all three variants share the same 853cc, tranversely-mounted, 90° V-Twin engine, which in now Euro5+ compliant. There is a 4% power increase, bringing the maximum to 66.4hp at 6,800 RPM, while torque increases from 72.9Nm to 79Nm. 85% of that maximum torque is available from 3,500 RPM.

The airbox’s volume increased 27% resulting in those power and torque gains. Piston cooling is also improved via an enhanced oil jet system.

The throttle has gone from a cabled system to a ride-by-wire system, opening up the possibility for ride modes. The V7 Sport has three modes: Sport, Road, Rain. The V7 Stone and V7 Special has only Road and Rain modes. The V7 Sport also receives a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) for lean-angle sensitive ABS and traction control.

Suspension and brakes on the V7 Stone and V7 Special remain unchanged, but the V7 Sport gains new preload-adjustable 41mm upside-down forks, and preload-adjustable twin shock absorbers at the back. The wheels on the V7 Sport are also lighter cast alloy, dropping 1.8kg off its weight compared to its siblings.

The 2025 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport also has dual 320mm floating discs, radial-mounted Brembo monobloc 4-piston calipers, and uprated master cylinder up front.

A switch from cable throttle to ride by wire enables the introduction of riding modes too, with the Stone and Special getting ‘Rain’ or ‘Road’ options, and the Sport getting an additional ‘Sport’ function. Ditching the old-school cable throttle means the V7 now gets cruise control too and has also allowed the use of more aggressive valve lift profiles, boosting performance.

The headlight is now LED, dumping the archaic halogen lamp. The switchgear blocks have likewise been revise to accommodate new functions including cruise control. There are also revisions to the side panels, rear mudguard, and exhaust.

Prices for all three 2025 Moto Guzzi V7 have not been revealed.

New 2025 Brembo MotoGP Brake Caliper Introduced

Brembo is virtually enjoying a monopoly in MotoGP as all teams use their braking solutions. But the Italian brake specialists do not rest on their laurels and launched the new 2025 Brembo MotoGP brake caliper.

However, Brembo said that teams can carry on using the 2024 GP4 caliper, lettng them choose which one fits their needs.

The current GP4 caliper has been in use since 2020, without any complaints from riders and teams. In any case, Brembo probably thinks that a new caliper is needed due to increased aerodynamic forces and ride-height devices. In other words, future proofing.

The new caliper has a longer fixing distance of 130mm compared to the 108mm of the old GP4. The extra size is needed to fix bigger pads. As such, the new caliper increases to 847g compared to 810g.

A statement from Brembo said: “An oversized pad, capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures, ensures constant and powerful braking even in the most critical situations. The increased braking area, combined with optimised contact pressure, allows for greater braking efficiency, permitting riders to manage the bike with extreme precision.

“The increased exchange surface, on the other hand, promotes rapid heat disposal, improving pad wear and ensuring consistent performance over time. The caliper/foot fixing wheelbase has been reinforced to offer greater stiffness and resistance to braking torque, improving stability and precision.

“Finally, the position of the bleeder has been studied to make brake bleeding and maintenance operations as easy as possible, allowing mechanics to work quickly and efficiently.”

2025 Bimota KB998 Rimini Launched at EICMA

Remember the Bimota KB998 WorldSBK racebike? We have said earlier that manufacturers need to produce a certain number of roadgoing bikes to homologate it for racing in the series, examples being the BMW M 1000 RR, Ducati Panigale V4 R, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, etc. So yes, the 2025 Bimota KB998 Rimini road bike was launched at EICMA 2024.

As with the previous Bimota motorcycles where the company makes the frames and uses contemporary engines, the KB998 uses the Kawasaki ZX-10R’s inline-four engine and wrapped in a Bimota frame.

The frame here is called a “hybrid design” as it combines a tubular frame from the headstock and mated to a CNC-machined from billet sideplates. Capping the headstock are billet aluminium triple clamps that also clamp fully-adjustable Showa forks.

Brakes are by Brembo, of course, fed cooling air through a beautiful carbon fibre duct which is part of the front mudguard. The TFT screen is shared with the ZX-10.

Unfortunately, Bimota and Kawasaki did not indulge in further details of the 2025 Bimota KB998 Rimini such as engine performance, weight, price, etc.

The bike will be ridden by Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani in the 2025 World Superbike Championship. The team, called Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team (BbKRT) consists of the staff members of the previous KRT.

2025 KTM 390 Adventure R Previewed at EICMA 2024

The 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R was previewed at EICMA 2024.

Unlike other manufacturers, the “R” moniker for KTM denotes adventure variants with more off-road capabilities and higher specifications. For example, the 790 and 890 Adventure R, 1290 Super Adventure R. In fact, most of us journos have been asking about the R-spec 390 Adventure since its launched in 2019. So, it is finally here.

However, the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R is 99% new compared to the current bike.

Highlights

Firstly, the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R has a new look, and surprisingly different from spyshots.
A pair of stacked round LEDs are flanked by LED DRLs like on the 990 Duke, while the 5-inch TFT screen in housed in a tall tower and larger windscreen.
KTM says the new bike will share the updated 390 Duke’s LC4 engine, which displaces 399cc, and produces 44hp and 39Nm, although these figures will be different for the 390 Adventure R’s.

The new engine has a longer 64mm stroke, while leaving the bore at 89mm, thus moving peak torque at 1,000 RPM lower.
Up front are fully-adjustable WP Apex forks with 230mm travel, compared to just 170mm for the standard bike.
At the back is a WP Apex monoshock with also 230mm of travel compared to 177mm. It is adjustable for rebound and preload.

A new and redesigned gravity-cast swingarm complete the rear suspension.
The wheels are 21-inches front and 18-inches rear, compared to the 19/18 combo on the standard Adventre.
There is a new frame and subframe, and although it appears to be similar to the 2024 390 Duke’s, there is an additional bracing for off-road duties.

Weirdly, the Akrapovic muffler is low-slung which will raise concerns for water crossings, but it allows for the rider to mount soft luggage without having to worry about exhaust heat.
There are of course ride modes Rain, Street, and Rally. The Rally mode allows the rear ABS to be deactivated. However, there is no mention of adjustable traction control levels like that of the 790/890 Adventure R.

KTM did not state when the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R will be available for sale and how much it will be. We hope to be able to test it during the international media launch, like we did when the 790 Adventure and its R variant in 2019.

Aprilia Tuono 457 Launched at EICMA 2024

The Aprilia Tuono 457 was also launched at EICMA 2024, filling the gap between the Tuono 125 and Tuono 660.

The Tuono range is based on their larger sportbike siblings, thus the Tuno 457 is based on the Aprilia RS 457 sportbike. As such, the engine is the same 457cc parallel-twin which produces 47.6hp at 9,400 RPM and 43.4Nm of torque at 6,700 RPM. 82% of the peak torque is available from as low as 3,000 RPM. The Tuono’s shorter final drive contributes to the extra 2% of torque at those RPMs.

Also sharing the same chassis as the RS 457, this model uses an aluminium frame. This makes it as the only naked motorcycle in its class to sport an aluminium frame. As such, Aprilia claims the same dry weight of 159kg.

Suspension duties are handled by 41mm upside-down forks up front and a monoshock at the rear. Both ends are adjustable for preload. The monoshock is mounted to an asymmetricla steel swingarm, just like the RS 457, too.

The brake system consists of a single ByBre four-piston caliper up front, which clamps on a single 320mm disc. A single 220mm disc is at the back. The front brake lever is adjustable. A two-channel Bosch ABS is standard. Tyre sizes are 110/70-R17 and 150/60-R17, front and rear, respectively.

A new 5-inch TFT screen with smartphone connectivity also allows the rider to choose his preferred ride modes namely Eco, Sport, and Rain. A bi-directional quickshifter is optional.

The Aprilia Tuono 457 is offered in two colour options called Piranha Red and Puma Gray. Aprilia has not released the price of the bike.

Production-Ready Fantic Imola and Fantic Stealth Shown at EICMA 2024

The Fantic brand is still very much under the radar here in Malaysia, but it is gaining some traction, especially with the Caballero Scrambler 500’s success in Rimba Raid. Now, the company shows off the production ready Fantic Imola sportbike and Fantic Stealth naked bike at EICMA 2024.

Both are powered by a new 460cc single-cylinder engine which was developed in-house in partnership with the engine maker Motori Minarelli. It had been developed over three years and meets the Euro5+ regulations. This is a clear move from using engines supplied by Zongshen.

The engine is said to produce 44.4hp at 8,250 RPM, weighs less than 40kg, and incorporates a slipper clutch besides ride-by-wire throttle. There is a smaller 125cc engine which produces 15hp.

The engine is houses in a frame which combines steel trellis up top, with aluminium side plates below. There is 5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity, multi-level traction control, and cornering ABS.

As for the variants, the Fantic Imola is a sportbike complete with winglets, while the Fantic Stealth is a naked sportbike which includes a Ducati Streetfighter-like headlight unit. Both also feature a high-mounted exhaust muffler.

We expect these bikes to be launched in the first half of 2025.

Suzuki DR-Z4S and Suzuki DR-Z4SM Launched at EICMA

Suzuki did produce some real fun (and bulletproof) adventure bikes, in the DR range. Many Suzuki fans shed tears when the maker stopped producing the DR-Z400S and DR-Z400SM. Well, we can now live fulfilling lives again with the launch of the all-new Suzuki DR-Z4S and Suzuki DR-Z4SM, because they look FUN!

As you can see from the photos, the “S” variant is for off-roading, while the “SM” version is shod with road tyres for supermoto duties.

Engine:

New 98cc, single-cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, Euro 5B-compliant engine which produces 38PS (37.5hp) at 8,000rpm, and 37Nm at 6,500rpm.
The new engine is up-to-date, as expected, featuring titanium(!) intake valves and hollow sodium-filled exhaust valves, new cam profiles, dual spark-plugs for smoother and linear power delivery along with low RPM torque.
There is also a new airbox and exhaust, along with an assist and slipper clutch.
Suzuki claims a fuel consumption figure of “over 3.5 litres/100km (80mpg)”.

Electronics:

The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System provides a package of electronic rider aids including the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS) with three power modes.
There are also two standard traction control modes, with each variant equipped with its own specific G (Gravel) mode.
G mode aims to maintain maximum off-road performance by allowing a certain amount of wheel spin. On the DR-4S it focuses on enabling riders to enjoy off-road riding with confidence. On the DR-Z4SM it is tailored more towards flat-dirt surfaces.

The ABS system allows the rider to tailor it to his needs and riding conditions. On the DR-Z4S, the rider can disengage the ABS at the rear, or at the front and rear. On the DR-Z4SM, the rider can disengage the rear ABS.
All rider information is displayed via a compact LCD dash.

Chassis:

A brand new, twin-spar steel frame was developed for the new Suzuki DR-Z4S and Suzuki DR-Z4SM.
It is then mated to a new aluminium subframe and an aluminium swingarm.
The new chassis is rigid, yet supple, meaning it can absorb impact and bumps on rougher terrain, and reduce rider fatigue.

Long-travel suspension on both the DR-Z4S and DR-Z4SM comes from KYB, specifically tuned for each model’s intended application.
There is 280mm of front fork travel and 296mm of rear wheel travel on the DR-Z4S.
The DR-Z4SM has 260mm of front suspension travel and 277mm of rear wheel travel.
Both have compression and rebound damping adjustment at the front and rear. There is also preload adjustment on the rear shock.

The DR-Z4S is fitted with a 21” front and 18” rear, fitted with IRC GP-410, dual purpose, tubed tyres.
The DR-Z4SM uses 17″ rims front and rear, shod with Dunlop SPORTMAX Q5A tyres.
There are disc brakes all round, and an aluminium under guard as standard.
Ground clearance is 300mm on the DR-Z4S, and 260mm on the DR-Z4SM.
Seat heights are 920mm and 890mm and they weigh 151kg and 154kg, respectively.

Styling:

Lighting all-round is LED, from the single assembly headlight, rear combination lights, and indicators.
The DR-Z4S is available in Suzuki’s signature off-road Champion Yellow, and Solid Iron Grey, both with black rims. The DR-Z4SM comes in a new blue/grey colour scheme, dubbed Sky Grey, plus a Solid Special White, equipped with blue rims.

The manufacturer has not confirmed the prices of the Suzuki DR-Z4S and Suzuki DR-Z4SM yet.

2025 Yamaha YZF-R3 Launched Overseas, after being Teased Last Month

The 2025 Yamaha YZF-R3 has been launched overseas, following several teases through October.

It is obvious from the pictures that the new bike’s design has been completely overhauled to look even closer to its YZF-R7, R9, and R1 brethren with a strikingly aggressive take.

Gone are the dual headlamps, their positions taken by dual LED DRLs. The headlamp is now a single projection LED er… headlamp placed in the what used to be the faux central air intake. The rest of the bodywork features sharp lines compared to the previous bulbous look. The panel of the rear seat has also been redesigned to more closely resemble that of its bigger siblings, and the taillight of the YZF-R15.

Yamaha says the ergonomics have been revamped for a close to 50/50 weight distribution and that hints at a more aggressive riding posture.

Several new features include a new LCD screen with Yamaha Y-Connect, a USB charging port, assist and slipper clutch.

But that is as far as it goes. The engine remains the same 321cc parallel-twin, the frame is the same, and even the exhaust muffler is unchanged.

The 2025 Yamaha YZF-R3 will surely become the 2025 Yamaha YZF-R25 when it gets to Malaysia.

2024 Aprilia RS 457 Launched in Malaysia

The 2024 Aprilia RS 457 has finally arrived and launched in Malaysia, bringing the promise of a high performance, lightweight sportbike to Malaysian enthusiasts.

Although it shares some of the design cues of the bigger Aprilia RS 660, it is not scaled down from the RS 660. Instead, it is a motorcycle packed with features on its own.

Highlights:

New 457cc, parallel-twin, DOHC, eight-valve engine which produces 35kW (47.6hp) at 9,400 RPM and 43.5Nm of torque at 6,700 RPM.

82% of that maximum torque is delivered from as low as 3,000 RPM, with a good spread of 2,700 RPM between peak torque and maximum horsepower. This would give the bike a power everywhere in the RPM range performance.
Granted, the horsepower could be higher but 47.6hp is the limit for countries that have the A2 license regulations.

Several steps were taken to reduce frictional losses in the engine including offsetting the cylinders by 6.5mm from the crankshaft’s centreline, the water pump and counterbalancer shaft rotate on needle bearings, and the piston pins are DLC coated.
The gearbox also runs on roller cages instead of bushings.

The engine is housed in a twin-spar aluminium frame. The spars are bolted to the headstock.
However, the swingarm is steel instead of aluminium and pivots on the engine casing.

The forks are 41mm and adjustable for preload, as with the rear monoshock.
Braking up front is handled by a 320mm disc which is gripped by a ByBre four-piston caliper.

ABS is standard, utilising a Bosch two-channel system. Rear ABS can be turned off by pressing and holding the Riding Mode button.
The rims are fitted with 110/70-R17 and 150/50-R17 tyres.

On the electronics front, there are three riding modes, namely ECO, SPORT, RAIN.
Aprilia Traction Control (ATC) is standard and can be adjusted through three levels on-the-fly.

The Aprilia Quickshifter (AQS) is standard for clutchless up and down gearshifts.
A 5-inch backlit TFT is also standard, and the owner can opt for the Aprilia Multimedia (MIA) platform to connect his smartphone for phone calls, music streaming, navigation, and data recording.

Last, but not least, the 2024 Aprilia RS 457 weighs 159kg dry, and a 175kg kerb weight.

There are three colours: Racing Stripes priced at RM35,900, while the Prismatic Dark, and Opalescent Light are both priced at RM33,900.

BMW M RR WSBK Champion Edition 2024 Commemorates Razgatlıoğlu’s Crown

BMW Motorrad launched the BMW M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024 to commemorate factory rider Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s winning the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

Special edition of the BMW M 1000 RR M Competition with world champion honors

With 18 victories and a total of 27 podium finishes, as well as 527 points at the end, “El Turco” was the dominant rider of the 2024 season, securing the first world championship title for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. The 28-year-old further emphasized his outstanding season performance with six pole positions, 13 fastest race laps, and winning the Pirelli Best Lap Award. For Razgatlıoğlu, this was already his second world championship title in WSBK after 2021, and with a total of 57 victories, he currently ranks fourth in the all-time best list.

Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad: “Toprak’s incredible performance, culminating in the world championship title, was a joyful occasion for us to create a genuine replica of his M 1000 RR world champion machine for BMW Motorrad’s motorsport-affine fans. Limited to 54 units, corresponding to his starting number.”

Signed BMW M 1000 RR M Competition in world champion design

The basis for the BMW M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024 is the M 1000 RR
M Competition of the 2024 model year. The M Competition package includes:

Activation code for using the M GPS Laptrigger.
M Motorsport paintwork with the base color Blackstorm metallic.
Maintenance-friendly DLC-coated M Endurance chain.
M Carbon package includes high-quality components made from visible carbon and coated with clear lacquer and the M billet package.
In addition to the standard single rider tail, the passenger package including a carbon pillion seat cover is also included.

All 54 units of the M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024 are equipped with the original design and sponsor stickers of the factory racing machines.
Ilmberger carbon components such as covers for the tank, frame, swingarm, wiring harness, and clutch cover, as well as fairing parts, an exhaust heat shield, and a carbon license plate holder, complement the M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024.
Buyers of the special edition receive a voucher for a matching Akrapovič Evolution Line titanium exhaust system.
All 54 units are consecutively numbered from 01/54 to 54/54, featuring a special graphic commemorating the world championship title on the M Carbon tank cover, and are personally signed by world champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu.

The world champion graphic and the champion’s signature have been sealed with clear lacquer.
Buyers will also receive a meet and greet session with world champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu in person.

The number 1 of the M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024 goes to the world champion himself

While the number 54/54 of the M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024 will remain with BMW Motorrad and will be on display at the BMW Museum in the future, the motorcycle with the number 01/54 goes to world champion Toprak himself.

Toprak “El Turco” Razgatlıoğlu: “Wow, what a season and we became world champions. I can’t thank BMW Motorrad, my team, and everyone involved in this fantastic success enough, and it is a great honor for me to receive the number 1 of the M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024. It will definitely have a place of honor at my home.”

The M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024, equipped with a certificate, is approved in Germany through individual acceptance. The price is EUR 54,000 (RM254,778.95 before duties and taxes, etc., of course!).

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Highlights

Engine:

Electronics:

Chassis:

Styling:

Highlights:

Special edition of the BMW M 1000 RR M Competition with world champion honors

Signed BMW M 1000 RR M Competition in world champion design

The number 1 of the M RR WSBK CHAMPION EDITION 2024 goes to the world champion himself

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