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Chinese motorcycle maker, QJMotor has ramp up its motorsport intiatives in 2023 by becoming the main sponsor for the Gresini Racing Team in Moto2. 

  • Gresini Racing Team announced QJMotor as the new main sponsor for the 2023 season. 
  • Filip Salac and Jeremy Alcoba to spearhead QJMotor-Gresini Racing Team’s effort. 

 

As a result, the racing team which was founded by the late Fausto Gresini is being renamed as QJMotor Gresini Racing Team for the 2023 season. QJMotor Gresini Racing Team Moto2 will take on the upcoming season with two 21-year-olds, Filip Salac and Jeremy Alcoba. 

“I’m happy to start my second year in Moto2 with a crew I already know. We did a good job in the last races of 2022 and I hope we will start right from where we finished,” said Salac in an official statement. 

The Czech rider is also adamant of delivering a better result in 2023, hoping to finish in Top 10. 

“My target is to gain as much experience as possible and try to finish all the races in top10 and points. For me, as a rider, it will be a very important season as I’m not a rookie anymore and it’s time for me to show my real potential,” he added. 

Aside from the premier class, the  level of competitiveness in Moto2 should improve greatly particularly due to Triumph has tuned the inline-three 765cc to produce 140hp. 

In conjunction with BMW Motorrad celebrating its centenary year, BMW Motorrad Malaysia introduces the limited edition version of its retro-inspired roadster, the BMW R nineT. 

Coming in at RM129,500, the New BMW R nineT 100 Years is a tribute to the company’s passion-driven and soul-fueled heritage that spans a century of motorcycle construction. The model has been limited to only 1,923 units worldwide, with just ten units available for the Malaysian market.

Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, said, “The BMW R nineT encapsulates the great roadster tradition of BMW Motorrad in a particularly refined and sophisticated manner, culminating 100 years of motorcycle construction and a persevering passion for the Boxer engine.” He added that the ten exclusive units of the New BMW R nineT 100 Years will be available for passionate riders in Malaysia, representing SoulFuel in its most exclusive form.

The New BMW R nineT 100 Years has a reduced design language that skilfully sets the scene with a compact tank and upright seating position, along with high-quality materials and stylish design elements.

The exclusive centennial edition of the classic roadster is characterized by numerous special features, alongside an elaborate surface concept. The Black Storm metallic paintwork on the chrome-plated tank is a vital, special feature of the 100 Years edition, paying homage to the 1969 R 75/5.

The New BMW R nineT 100 Years revives the almost 100-year tradition of combining paint finishes and chrome surfaces with the Classic Chrome surface concept. The sophisticated interplay of paint and chrome is represented by a combination of black with chrome and white double-lining on the tank, complemented by tank grips and a 100 Years badge.

Standard equipment for the New BMW R nineT 100 Years are LED headlights with daytime riding light, dual speed indicator and rational-speed sensor instruments, Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Riding Modes Rain & Road, drive train and final drive in black finish, rear suspension with fully adjustable spring preload by handwheel, and fully adjustable upside-down telescopic front forks.

The New BMW R nineT 100 Years is powered by the legendary 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke Boxer engine, capable of generating 80 kW (109 hp) and 116 Nm of torque. The model is equipped with twin-disc brakes with four-piston callipers for the front and a single-disc brake with double-piston floating callipers for the rear, ensuring reliable braking. The latest generation of BMW Motorrad ABS Pro is featured as standard for greater riding safety.

The exclusive centennial edition of the classic roadster is characterized by numerous special features, paying homage to the company’s 100-year history and tradition. The model has been limited to only ten units for the Malaysian market, making it a must-have for passionate riders who want to own a piece of BMW Motorrad’s history.

The limited edition R nineT 100 Years is priced at RM129,500. 

Husqvarna Motorcycles has officially unveiled its latest model, the 2023 Norden 901 Expedition, which is an upgraded version of the standard Norden 901 adventure bike.

  • The news of the imminent arrival of the Expedition first broke out in January 2023. 
  • The Expedition is the more off-road capable version of the base Norden 901.

The Norden 901 Expedition has been equipped with new hardware to make it a more travel-ready adventure motorcycle. The most significant upgrade is the new suspension system, featuring WP XPLOR forks and XPLOR PDS rear shock absorber with 240mm of travel, which is 20mm more than the stock bike.

Husqvarna hit the sweet spot by introducing a fully adjustable suspension, allowing riders to control preload, compression, and rebound damping.

The bike’s cockpit has also been upgraded for long-distance comfort, with a larger front screen fitted as standard and adjustable heated grips and rider seat. 

Additionally, the Norden 901 Expedition comes with pre-fitted soft luggage that offers 36-litres of carrying capacity in two sub-frame-mounted panniers.

Other notable additions include a center stand as standard, a heavy-duty engine guard, and a Bluetooth connectivity module, which enables on-bike calls and communication, as well as turn-by-turn navigation.

Interested buyers can order the 2023 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition now through the official website. The motorcycle is set to arrive in Europe’s in mid-March. 

The upgraded features make this bike an ideal choice for adventure enthusiasts looking for a reliable and comfortable ride, whether it’s for a long-distance tour or a weekend getaway.

GALLERY: 2023 HUSQVARNA NORDEN 901 EXPEDITION

The Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) is launching its supermoto and Saga Cup racing series as national-level championships in a bid to gain recognition from the local motorsport community. 

The MSF will run five rounds of the SuperMoto Series and open the championship on March 11 and 12 at the Litar Lumba Rakyat Kuala Selangor. 

The MSF Saga Cup Championship will also be upgraded to national-level status, and the Touge Hill Climb Series will run for two rounds this year. 

Meanwhile, MSF will continue to prioritise its MSF SuperTurismo and MSF Superbikes, and the new Merdeka 88 Endurance at Sepang International Circuit. 

The MSF event director, Adian Yein Khalid, said the new series would generate interest and participation among motorsport fans and hoped to receive support from the Youth and Sports Ministry, local authorities and media.

“These are our bread-and-butter events; and they will continue to be our main priority.” he said, adding that the first edition of the Merdeka 88 Enduro, which is an 88-lap challenge to man, machine, and ultimate strategy around the challenging 5.5-km world class racing track.

“Unlike the previous Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race organised by SIC not too long ago, the MSF Merdeka 88 Enduro will feature non-regulated driving stints, which completely opens up the possibilities of multiple alternative refuelling and driver change strategies. We may never really know who is really in the lead until the final 10 laps of the race!” Adian said.

Austrian customizing specialist Vagabund Moto GmbH has teamed up with BMW Motorrad Austria to create a new e-scooter based on the BMW CE 04.

  • The BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept combines style and practicality. 
  • The urban e-scooter delivers mobility that fits every individual personality. 

The BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept is a stylish and multifunctional urban e-scooter that aims to provide mobility that is as individual as each personality. With a fresh and modern design, the vehicle features a range of functional elements and attractive color scheme that targets young and sporty urban users.

The BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept retains the impressive technical concept of the BMW CE 04, with key data such as 31 kW (42 hp) maximum output, dynamic acceleration of 2.6 seconds from 0 to 50 km/h, a range of 130 km (according to WMTC), and a charging time of just 65 minutes from 0% to 80% with an optional fast charger at maximum charging current.

The custom e-scooter also features a friendly smiley face on the front wheel hub, and the glass of the indicator lights. The BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept is a vehicle that appeals in particular to young, sporty people in an urban environment while being suitable for every type of customer.

 

In keeping with the motto “Action meets Fashion,” the BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept was given a functional top case to supplement the standard storage space, along with a surfboard with a transport system integrated into the vehicle. The BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept combines work, leisure, and individual flair, demonstrating that there needs to be no contradiction between any of these areas.

Oliver Balzer, head of BMW Motorrad Austria, said that the customizing project aimed to emphasize the enormous variability of the BMW CE 04 while appealing to young, sporty people in an urban environment. The fresh, modern design of the CE 04 is particularly in keeping with its aspiration to a sporty lifestyle.

The BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept represents a unique project that highlights the creativity and excellent craftsmanship of the international customizing scene around BMW Motorrad.

Indian motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield has recently announced a refresh of its established 650cc twin-cylinder range. The Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, which have become successful platforms for the brand, are set to receive new paint jobs for 2023.

  • The Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 gets ‘blacked out’ for 2023. 
  • the twin also features new switchgear, LED headlamps and comfier seat. 

Royal Enfield first announced the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 at EICMA last year and has since reaffirmed its commitment to the 650cc twin-cylinder range. Before the Super Meteor 650, the brand had launched the Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650, which will both receive new paint options for the upcoming year.

The Interceptor 650, which currently offers Mark 2, Sunset Strip, and Canyon Red colour options, will now have two new “blacked-out” colours – Black Ray and Barcelona Blue. Meanwhile, the Continental GT 650’s existing colours of Mr Clean, Dux Dulux, British Racing Green, and Rocker Red will be joined by two new colours, Slipstream Blue and Apex Grey.

Apart from the new colours, the 2023 paint options for both the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 will feature new switchgear, LED headlamps, enhanced seat comfort, and a USB charging point. The “blacked-out” variants of the motorcycles with new colours will also come with “blacked-out” engine and exhaust components, as well as cast alloy wheels and tubeless tyres as standard.

Royal Enfield’s 650cc twin-cylinder range has proved to be successful for the brand, with the new refresh likely to attract even more attention from motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.

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