Global News Archives

Not Possible for Four Wheel Guys to Race on Two Wheels – Mark Webber

Ex-Formula 1, sportscar, and endurance driver Mark Webber rode a motorcycle the first time on track and came away impressed, going on to say that it is “not possible for four wheel guys to race on two wheels.”

Webber, a nine-time Formula 1 race winner rode a Yamaha YZF-R1 alongside 23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuiness who rode a Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade ahead of British MotoGP at the Silverstone circuit. However, the R1 appeared to be a race-kitted GYTR Pata yamaha.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Webber (@aussiegrit)

Webber is familiar with the circuit, having raced there many times and won twice there in Formula 1.

Speaking about his day at Silverstone, he said: “It was my first time (on track two wheels)! Completely different. For us four wheel guys it’s not possible for us to race on two wheels.

“It’s so demanding, so different. The skill set you need from a young age to make that transition across if not possible. It seems to be easier for the two wheel guys, they’re probably more gifted than us to go onto four wheels.

“But to watch him take you around and have a look at the track – I think, optically it’s a flat circuit and was used in the war as an air field, but in terms of the optics and your references it’s a tricky venue but it’s fast and flowing. It was a brilliant day.”

Webber was not the first high-profile car racer to try on motorcycles. Other F1 drivers who did so include drivers Fernando Alonso (at Motegi) and Lewis Hamilton (at Valencia). Hamilton famously rode alongside Valentino Rossi. Rossi, on the other hand, has gone on to car racing after his retirement from MotoGP.

But perhaps the most famous F1 driver to race on two wheels was seven-time champion Michael Schumacher. He met with some success while racing in the German superbike series.

Oxford Products Celebrates Best Start Ever in 2024

Oxford Products just celebrated their best ever start to a year, achieving record sales in the first half of 2024.

The company’s products catalogue is extensive – even “extensive” does not truly cover the entire range – which includes almost every motorcycle accessory apart from the mechanicals and electronics, to rider comfort. Oxford Products produces motorcycle covers, grips, replacement turn signals, mirrors, tools, tank grips, tyre pressure gauges, lever guards, battery chargers, earplugs, balaclavas, etc., etc.

Speaking to MCN, Managing Director, Henry Rivers Fletcher said, “The story of 2024 is one of stability. Gone are the ups and downs of recent years. Our sales this year have been much more consistent, our stock management much more accurate, our business practises more disciplined – all enabling us to run the business more efficiently.”

Founded in 1973 by Alec Hammond, the British brand had humble beginnings, with Hammond selling fibreglass boxes from the back of his van. From there, it has grown to offer thousands of products, boasting an annual turnover over £50m (RM 285,497,500).

Hammond added, “Like most businesses in the UK, if not the world, we have experienced some challenging, unpredictable, stormy times since March 2020. But for those of us old enough to remember, there have always been challenges. Recessions, political upheavals, energy crises, financial crashes. We’ve seen them all, but always had the right people with the right ideas, the tenacity, the creativity and the sheer willpower to turn adversity into opportunity and opportunity into success.”

He went on to promise more investment in the coming year.

Oxford Products are officially distributed by Hodaka Motoworld.

New Ducati V2 Superbike on the Way

Ay, just when we thought the recent Ducati Panigale V2 Superquardro Final Edition was the last V-Twin superbike that Ducati will make, they say there is a new Ducati V2 superbike is on the way.

MCN said that an interview with the manufacturer’s Head of Product Communications, Giulio Fabbri during the World Ducati Week revealed that the companyt has other plans.

Fabbri told MCN: “It’s not the V2 that is leaving the market, it’s just that particular engine that is going. It’s just the final edition of the V2 Superquadro, but something new will come.

“For sure, we will continue to see a supersport Panigale with a V2. But it’s still very early to talk about the future. I cannot say when something new will arrive, but for us it is very important and the V2 engine is special. It is part of the culture of Ducati.”

What Fabbri said was correct, as it was the V-Twin (also known as V2 or L-Twin in Ducati’s parlance) was what brought the brand to prominence – from the Imola bikes to the 851, 916, and all the way to the Panigale 1299 – prior to the current Panigale V4.

But of course, the Ducati man did not revealed the new bike’s specifications. The last Panigale V2 Superquardro engine displaced 955cc and produced 153hp.

BMW Buys Suzuki’s MotoGP Data

BMW has purchased Suzuki’s MotoGP data, possibly to fast-track their entry into the premier class.

According the Motosport.com, this was an insider’s news during the British GP over the weekend. And if it was true, BMW is seeking to pay €18 million for all the GSX-RR’s data acquired.

While BMW knows how to build high powered engines, they possibly need the data in terms of chassis setup and traction control strategies. 18 million is a lot of money, for sure, but it is definitely cheaper than throwing it at a blank sheet. Having the data in hand means BMW has a base to work from and develop their bike.

Dorna has been leaving an empty slot on the grid for the Bavarian brand and it is hoped that the latter will join the championship in 2027. 2027 is the year when MotoGP will go through another large revision, including the use of smaller 850cc engines in place of the current 1000cc engines, and not unimportantly, limiting the use of aerodynamic devices. BMW is already currently making an inline-four engine for their S 1000 RR superbike, so the MotoGP bike could very well adapt that engine.

At the time being, BMW has gleaned a lot of data from the WSBK project. They may have scored only one win in each of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, but the signing of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu has since yielded 12 wins from 18 races this year. Will the Turkish rider be apart of BMW’s MotoGP assault? We can bet on this one.

Moto2, Moto3 2024 Times Tumble with Pirelli Tyres

Pirelli took over from Dunlop as the exclusive tyre supplier in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes this year, and immediately saw lap records tumble one by one.

At the British GP at the Silverstone circuit last weekend, Ivan Ortola’s victory was 53 seconds faster overall, compared to 2023. That averaged to 3.5 per lap faster.

Let us not forget that even a 0.1-second per lap improvement is already considered a huge deal at this level of competition, let alone 3.5 seconds. That is because 0.1 second multiplied by 15 laps (at Silverstone) equates to a 1.5-second lead at the end of the race.

Over to Moto2, Jake Dixon’s last lap victory over Aron Canet was also a record-breaking affair. His overall time was 12.5 seconds faster than in 2023. That averaged out to 0.7 second faster per lap.

In fact, of the 40 Moto3 and Moto2 sessions thus far, 38 of those have seen faster times than when Dunlop was the supplier.

It also reminds us of what Sam Lowes said many years before while he was riding in Moto2, when Honda was the engine supplier. According to him, lap times had stagnated because of the tyres.

Seeing this sort of achievement in the very first year is nothing short of breathtaking. Pirelli says they will use the data collected this year to make further improvements for the next rounds and beyond.

While most pay almost all attention to the premier MotoGP class, the real battles are in Moto3. The class features some hair-raising up close and personal racing consisting of multiple overtakes and dive bombs that thrill even grizzled observers. And the new tyres certainly gave the riders more grip to play with, translated into faster lap times and new records.

Tesla Sued by Family of Biker Killed by Autopilot

Tesla is being sued by the family of a biker who was killed when he was rear ended by a Tesla Model 3 whose driver was using Autopilot mode. The lawsuit was filed in Salt Lake City, USA.

The family of Landon Embry are suing the company on the grounds that the driver assistant software and other safety features were not fully functioning. As such, the car which was travelling between 120 – 128 km/h, rammed in Embry’s Harley-Davidson.

Embry, 34, was thrown off his motorcycle and died at the scene.

The driver of the Model 3 involved was deemed to be “tired and not in a condition to drive as an ordinarily prudent driver” in the lawsuit. The family’s complaint said: “A reasonably prudent driver, or adequate auto braking system, would have, and could have slowed or stopped without colliding with the motorcycle.”

This was not the first time that a Tesla was involved in crashing and causing harm to either the driver or another party while on Autopilot. In fact, Tesla had just settled another lawsuit after being sued by the family of a Model X owner who was killed when his car crashed into a median, whilst on Autopilot.

Many quarters including the US National Highway Transport Safety Agency (NHTSA), have called out Tesla’s Autopilot program, citing that it is not fully “auto” and still requires inputs from the driver. However, it seems that some drivers have taken the term to literally mean that they can lay back and take their hands off the steering wheel and feet off the pedals. Hey, even an aircraft’s sophisticated autopilot requires the pilots to monitor other systems of the aircraft and make decisions.

BMW R 1300 GS Recalled Worldwide

This is perhaps something no one wants to hear, especially when the bike is so new. In this case, the new BMW R 1300 GS is recalled worldwide. We have to state that we saw this news from European and American quarters, so do check with BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s Technical Campaign page to see if your unit is affected.

What triggered the campaign?

According to the safety report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the starter relay housing was produced with an insufficient injection moulding process. The defect may make the housing susceptible to damage during motorcycle assembly or a dealer maintenance visit, leading to possible moisture ingress. Consequently, this could lead to corrosion of internal electrical contacts in the relay.

Leakage of current between corroded contacts could result in heat damage to the starter relay. In rare cases, this could increase the risk of a thermal event or a fire. BMW states riders should be wary of warning signs such as the starter motor turning on its own, odour of overheating electric components, and even smoke.

Persisting Issue

It turns out that this is not the first recall related to the R 1300 GS’s starter relay.

The manufacturer had discovered it even during the launch events in October 2024 with several bikes not starting, or the starter motor running themselves. The issue was traced to the starter relay housing which let moisture in.

BMW issued the first recall in February 2024 to replace the relay’s plastic cover but the issue persisted, showing that the rectification was not effective. So, another recall was issued in July 2024.

Affected units

It is estimated that 25,000 units of the BMW R 1300 GS are affected, for those produced between 14 July 2023 to 18 March 2024.

Again, you can check if your unit is affected by keying in the VIN in BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s Technical Campaign page.

2025 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Gets New Colours

There will be new colours for the 2025 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin. The model had just gone through an update for 2024, so it is just colours for different variants this time.

The three variants are: Africa Twin, Africa Twin ES (main picture), and Africa Twin Adventure Sports.

All three variants share the same 1084cc parallel-twin engine that produces 101hp and 112.6Nm of torque. The main differences are in the chassis department, and the new colour schemes.

Africa Twin (base variant): Standard Showa suspension, 21-inch front wheel. Colour options are Grand Prix Red and Matt Ballistic Black Metallic.
Africa Twin ES: Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (EERATM) suspension, 21-inch front wheel. Colour options are the existing Grand Prix Red, Matt Ballistic Black Metallic, while adding Pearl Glare White with Pearl Hawkseye Blue Metallic Tricolour and black wheels.
Africa Twin Adventure Sports: Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (EERATM) suspension, 19-inch front wheel. Colour options are the existing Pearl Glare White Tricolour with gold wheels, with a new Matt Iridium Grey Metallic and black wheels. This second colour is actually based on the original Honda XRV650 Africa Twin’s.

The new colours for the 2025 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin were launched in the UK, so they will be available in Malaysia at a later date.

World Ducati Week 2024 Sets New Attendance Record

World Ducati Week 2024 set a new attendance record, after seeing more than 94,000 attendees from 86 different countries.

And in social media, Ducati reported 17 million impressions, but most likely due to Marc Marquez’s antics in the Race of Champions.

Speaking after the event, Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO, said:

“World Ducati Week is the event that better than anything else embodies our brand’s mission to offer memorable experiences to our enthusiasts, created around special bikes, which are a magical combination of technology and beauty in pure Italian sporting style. The numbers of this edition are extraordinary and are proof that the love for Ducati in the world has never been so strong. I want to thank every single participant, but also all the staff composed mostly of Ducati employees who, as usual, worked hard to make this incredible experience possible. Thanks also to all of Ducati Corse and in particular to the riders, the heroes of WDW, who made themselves available to the fans and gave us a show that is unique in the world like the Lenovo Race of Champions. The performance achieved by the new Panigale V4 is truly incredible: the fastest lap in qualifying was just 3.2 seconds away from the MotoGP race track record, which belongs to Francesco Bagnaia with 1m31.8s. Equally incredible is the determination with which Pecco once again proved to be the best, in a race where everyone had exactly the same bike.”

While the race was an exhibition event, Francesco Bagnaia put in an incredible 1m35.4s qualifying lap to put himself on pole, riding the newly launched 2025 Ducati Panigale V4. It was only 3.2s slower than the MotoGP lap record at the Misano circuit where the race was held. By comparison, the previous Panigale V4 was 4.0 seconds off the record.

Then, on the last lap of the race, Marquez lunged at WSBK Ducati factory rider Nicolò Bulega from a long way back into the final corner. Bulega crashed heavily but did not sustain any serious injuries. Trackside video footage looked as if Marc had used Bulega as a berm and punted him off the track, but Bulega would later state that he was surprised by the move and overbraked, therefore causing himself to crash. Still, it showed Marc’s aggression and desire to win more than anything else, even it was at a “friendly.”

Well, we guess the attendees at World Ducati Week 2024 had the time of their lives.

Yamaha MT-09 First Yamaha to Receive Y-AMT Auto Transmission

Following the unveiling of the Yamaha Y-AMT (Yamaha Automatic Manual Transmission) last month, the MT-09 will be the first Yamaha motorcycle to receive the feature.

Yamaha says base specifications of the upcoming bike with the new option will remain the same. The Y-AMT system enables the rider to shift gears via handlebar-mounted buttons, or leave it to the system to sort out gear changes automatically. The functions are similar to Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), but the Y-AMT system does not have dual clutches. Another similarity is the deletion of the clutch and gear levers.

Gear shifting is controlled by two electric actuators, in place of the rider’s left hand and left foot. The system weighs 2.8kg and is slim enough without increasing the bike’s width.

The Y-AMT is not the first Yamaha automatic transmission (apart from scooters with CVTs, of course), as the the manufacturer had equipped the 2007 FJR1300A with the YCC-S (Yamaha Chip Controlled Shift). It uses an automatic hydraulic clutch and the rider changes gears through a finger operated gear lever.

5 New Things with the 2025 Ducati Panigale V4

The 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 has been revealed, sending Ducatistis into a frenzy. Us included.

As with each revision, Ducati has thrown everything into this one, sans the Desmosedici GP engine. The list eye-watering long and some of these features require full articles to be written for each of them, so we have summed it up into a list of 5 new things.

1. New styling

The 2025 Ducati Panigale V4’s design was inspired by the subliminal and world-conquering Ducati 916.

They then added new aerodynamic and ergonomic solutions derived from the Desmosedici GP.
A new central air intake hidden under the chin, and the seat is wider and longer to provide more room for the rider.

The new fairing reduces aerodynamic resistance by 4% and keeps the rider in a bubble of calm air.
The wings are double-profiled and provides the same amount of downforce as the previous model’s.

The mudguard’s shape has also been revised to provide better cooling air to the oil cooler.

2. New ergonomics

The riding position was developed with the objectives of integrating the rider into the bike’s aerodynamics and improving control of the bike.

The revision results in greater roominess, and additionally the deep recess in the upper part of the tank avoids interference with the chin guard of the helmet.
The rear area of the tank, combined with the side covers and the shape of the seat, better supports the rider during braking, entering and cornering phases, making it easier for the rider to anchor himself.

The footrests have been moved 10 mm inwards, increasing ground clearance and improving aerodynamic penetration.

3. New chassis

Franceso Bagnaia set a lap time of 1m35.8s on a Panigale V4 during the Race of Champions at Misano in 2022, which was only exactly 4 seconds slower than the 1m31.8s on his Desmosedici GP.

Ducati Corse requested new stiffness targets for the frame and swingarm.
So, Ducati’s engineers revised the frame’s lateral stiffness to maintain grip at lean angles now over 60°(!).

It is also lighter at 3.47kg compared to the previous 4.2kg.
This revised frame is mated with a new forged double-sided swingarm dubbed the Ducati Hollow Symmetrical Swingarm.

The swingarm reduces lateral stiffness by 37% and is 2.7kg lighter than the previous single-sided version.
The V4 S receives forged aluminium alloy wheels that weigh only 2.95kg for the front and 4.15kg for the rear.

Third generation electronically controlled Öhlins NPX/TTX suspensions of the Panigale V4 S.
The new 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 is the first motorcycle to be equipped with the new Brembo HypureTM front brake callipers. They are lighter by 60 grams per pair.

Another important world premiere is the Race eCBS system, developed by Bosch in collaboration with Ducati. This system needs an entire article dedicated to it!

4. Ducati Vehicle Observer (DVO)

The system simulates the input of over 70 sensors, according to electronic control strategies.

The 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 is equipped with the complete package of electronic controls: Ducati Traction Control DVO, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Wheelie Control DVO, Ducati Power Launch DVO, Engine Brake Control and Ducati Quick Shift 2.0.
The DQS 2.0 system uses a strategy based solely on the angular position sensor of the gear drum, thus being able to use a gear shift rod without microswitches.

5. MotoGP dashboard

A completely new 6.9-inch dashboard placed in such a way it does not interfere with the rider’s vision.

The protective glass uses Optical Bonding technology to ensure optimal readability on a black background even during the day.
New Track display on the dashboard to display parameters such as g-Meter, Power & Torque, Lean Angle.

The Info Mode Track uses the DDL data acquisition system which utilised GPS and developed together with specialist 2D.

In a nutshell

These are just the main points for the new 2025 Ducati Panigale V4. We shall delve into each point soon, so stay tuned!

2025 Ducati Panigale V4 Photo Gallery

KTM Parent Company, Pierer Mobility is Cutting Jobs

KTM’s parent company, Pierer Mobility Group is cutting jobs again. PMG is also the parent company of Husqvarna, and GasGas, and owns of 50.1 per cent of MV Agusta.

PMG says this latest round of restructuring is due to slowing sales, after doubling their staff in the last 10 years due to high sales. The company did not specify the number of employees to be laid off.

“This reduction in personnel after years of rising employment is painful,” says a Pierer Mobility Group statement, “but necessary in order to maintain and secure the competitiveness of the production site.” The statement blames slowing in 2024 due to European market volatility and high interest rates in the US.

Consequently, PMG is reducing production in Mattighofen, Austria and is instead looking to further utilise their partnerships with CFMoto in China and Bajaj in India.

“Due to the increasingly fragile supplier industry in Europe,” the PMG statement reads, “the Pierer Mobility Group is utilising the favourable economic conditions in these regions (China and India) to secure its competitiveness. An efficient and high-quality supplier industry is being established there.”

PMG expects a decline of between 10–15 per cent in the 2024 financial year. They added that cost saving measures will allow them to break even or even make a before-tax profit in 2024. “The Executive Board assumes that the cost savings introduced in the current financial year will be able to compensate for the negative effects of declining sales to such an extent that a balanced to slightly positive EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) can be generated.”

Additionally, PMG is expected to downsize some of its motorcycle racing projects. Unconfirmed media reports from the Motocross World Championship (MXGP) suggest that Husqvarna will not be present next year, while another team will only compete in the MX2 category only. Furthermore, GasGas might not be present in MXGP next year, either. As such, Jeffrey Herlings of the Red Bull KTM team will be the sole PMG representative in MXGP.

In MotoGP, the Tech3 team will not use the GasGas name but returns the the Red Bull KTM branding from next year.

Bikesrepublic

Global News

What triggered the campaign?

Persisting Issue

Affected units

1. New styling

2. New ergonomics

3. New chassis

4. Ducati Vehicle Observer (DVO)

5. MotoGP dashboard

In a nutshell

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube

BikesRepublic