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Norton Motorcycles was on the brink of a total disaster under the former CEO, Stuart Garner, due to a pension scandal dating back to January 2020.

However, the British brand is now on the verge of a solid return under new ownership, India based motorcycle manufacturer TVS Motor Company.

With the current workforce currently expanded and a new model launch is in the works, Norton now seeks to produce 8,000 units of motorcycles thanks to a new facility in Solihull, West Midlands.

According to the new CEO, John Russel, the 75,000 sq. ft is build ready for future expansion and is a drastic improvement over the old Donington Hall facility.

“The environment people worked in was appalling, it’s rare for a country house with a call centre in the garden to turn into a motorcycle factory.

“So we had to move, and it became an emergency when the COVID arrived since the building did not comply with health rules.

“We are over 110 people now, and we have major capabilities that we did not have before. TVS has big ambitions for Norton.

“They want to make it the brand it should always have been and this can only be done by doing things right, therefore with investment,” he explained.

Norton is planning to bring the new Commando 961 as soon as possible.

(source: Le Repaire Des Motards)

American Honda Motor Co. has issued a recall on the 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP due to a faulty installation of the rear cushion connecting plates.

The recall involved a total of 89 units of the all-new Fireblade SP.

According to documents filed, the rear cushion plates was installed incorrectly and may cause the plates to break.

An incorrectly installed plate can break, hence increases the risk of a crash.

If the plates break, the rider will suffer a sudden drop in the ride height of the motorcycle, which eventually could lead to an accident.

All 89 units of affected Fireblade SP will have to make an appointment with an authorized Honda Powersports dealer to perform inspection and replacements.

(source: Honda)

KTM sales recorded a drop of 3.4 per cent at the end of 2020 after selling 270,047 units of motorcycles worldwide.

The slight drop was due to the coronavirus pandemic that struck the world early last year as compared to 280,099 units sold in 2019.

 

However, KTM reports revealed a 1.8 per cent increased (with 265,321 units) in global motorcycle production despite the production in Austria decreased by 12 per cent to 160,098 units.

Nonetheless, the Austrian manufacturer is set to grow in 2021 with the help of its Chinese counterpart, CFMoto, who is set to produce the 790 Duke and 790 Adventure in China.

According to KTM, CFMoto will assemble the company mid-range motorcycle starting this year with the China brand will also be producing their own lineup based on the KTM parallel-twin engine.

CFMoto recently revealed the all-new 800MT, an adventurer tourer motorcycle powered by the same engine found on the 790 Adventure.

Marc Marquez made his long-awaited return at the Algarve Internationa Circuit, 265 days after he last rode his Honda machine.

However,  the Spaniard quickly showed his brilliance with immense speed after almost a year absence.

The Repsol Honda was the third-fastest in FP1 and secured a provisional Q2 after finishing FP2 as the sixth-fastest rider on the grid with only 0.473s off pacesetter Francesco Bagnaia.

“It was a great day, a great feeling and honestly speaking I go out on the first run – the track was not so good, but immediately I felt good on the bike,” he said. “In the morning, in terms of feeling, I felt better than in the afternoon because I was fresh. The arm was fresh and I had power.

“Then already in the afternoon, I struggled a little bit more to warm up the arm, and I start to feel the arm was a little bit more tired. Apart from that, we are in a much better situation than what we expected before the weekend.

“I don’t know how, because I don’t understand what’s going on. I’m just riding the bike, trying to follow my way.

“The lap times are coming; it’s not the most important thing, but they are coming in a good way. But it’s true the main question mark for me – the speed is there – so it’s about how the arm will react during the weekend when I get up tomorrow.” explained Marquez.

It was apparent that the 28-year-old rider was pushing the RC213V to its limit.

Marquez was nothing short of spectacular during the final lap in FP2 as the rider managed to save his ride on the way into Turn 8.

“The last lap was a little bit crazy, I didn’t like the last lap, but I had a nice save.

“But it’s my riding style, I don’t know. It’s true with the new tyre I’m struggling a little bit more than with the used tyre. [On the used tyre] the bike becomes softer, the lap times are slower and I feel much more comfortable.

“But with new tyres everything is more stiff, and specifically in that corner – I think it was Turns 6 and 7, that change of direction – my head said it was time to go in on Turn 7, but the body didn’t follow what I wanted.

“I just slid a little bit, was a save but I created the slide to finish the turn because it was the last lap and I didn’t give up the lap. Things [like] that of course with more laps on the track I will improve.” he added.

Portuguese GP continues on Saturday with the Qualifying round.

(source: Motorsport)

Marc Marquez is officially confirmed to make his return to MotoGP after passing his medical check on Thursday.

The sixth time MotoGP world champion will ride again on his RC213V, starting with the official free practice scheduled on Friday.

The Spaniards were out of action for almost a year since suffering from an injury sustained at the opening round of the 2020 season in Jerez.

The 28-year-old rider intensified his training by jumping on the RC213V-S test bike in Barcelona and Algarve after given clearance by the doctors.

Last week, Honda confirmed the rider received clearance to race in Portimao pending another medical check on Thursday (yesterday) which he also passed with flying colours.

Marquez could not hide his feelings after speaking to the press about his return.

“Of course it’s really nice to be back and be here with all of you because it was nine months away that was really hard, really difficult.

“Tomorrow it is time to make the most important step in my rehabilitation which is riding again a MotoGP bike. It is true that I’m nervous.

“I’m nervous, and I have some butterflies in the stomach that are not normal in me. But I know that after FP1 this will be gone, and now is time to enjoy being on the bike again,” he said.

The KTM Duke range has been around for almost 30-years now, ranging from a small single-cylinder to its big LC8 V-Twin.

Nevertheless, the most popular has to be their small-displacement motorcycle that has been the pinnacle of KTM sales in the last few years, especially in India and Asia.

*KTM Duke 250

In just six years since launching the 200 Duke in the second-most populous country globally, India overtook all other markets in 2019, with over 200,000 Indian riders choosing the motorcycle.

Hence, it came to no surprise that the Austrian manufacturer – despite the bike is made in India – has been spotted testing out the 125 and 250cc range.

KTM Duke 125

According to reports, the two motorcycles will receive completely new hardware and will not carry any parts from the previous generation.

Despite no further details, we can identify some new features from the spied photos, evidently a new frame and a redesigned swingarms.

However, expect these motorcycle to only be available in the next couple of years.

(source: autoevolution)

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