Motorcycle news, Motorcycle reviews from Malaysia, Asia and the world

MotoGP: Quartararo Takes Jerez Pole Position Ahead Of Morbidelli

Fabio Quartararo recorded his second pole position of the season after setting the fastest time in Jerez ahead of former teammate Franco Morbidelli.

The 21-year-old continued his quest for his third win of the season after dominating the last two race in Qatar and Portimao.

Now leading the championship with 61 points, Quartararo set the best lap of the weekend with 1 minute 36.755s improving his already impressive 1m 36.8s earlier in Q2.

It was an exciting battle for pole as Quartararo had to battle it out with Morbidelli, who advanced from Q1.

Ducati’s Jack Miller complete the front row after edging out teammate Francesco Bagnaia.

This is the Australian first front-row start of the season in an effort to grab his first podium after three rounds despite showing amazing speed during the pre-season test.

Takaaki Nakagami was the surprise package this weekend after clinching P5, making him the fastest Honda rider on the RC213V ahead of Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez, who will start at P13 and P14, respectively.

MotoGP: Rossi Plays Down VR46 Racer Seat, Priority Remains With Petronas

Valentino Rossi will have the chance to hang up his racing suit next season to take up the role of team principal for ARAMCO Racing Team VR46.

Rossi’s VR46 is confirmed to race in the 2022 MotoGP season after signing a 5-year agreement with Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media, the company of HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al-Saud.

Saudi Aramco was also announced as the team main sponsor starting from 2022 to 2026.

“It is a circle that closes. We started about ten years ago helping my brother, Migno, Morbidelli, who raced in CIV and arriving in MotoGP is a great satisfaction, a good thing for us and we have also done it for MotoGP and motorsport in general,” said Rossi.

Nevertheless, the 42-year-old rider plays down the possibility of him racing for his team.

“If I still want to race, I could keep a bike for myself, as I am the boss.

“In truth, this team doesn’t change much with my decision whether to continue or not because, as I’ve always said, it will depend on the results and my priority remains with Petronas.

“So at the moment, I would say that it is very difficult for me to race for my own team, but it is not 100 per cent certain, things can change from one day to the next.

“It’s difficult but not impossible,” he added.

Despite the confirmation to race in the premier class next season, one major aspect is still unclear, which bike will the VR46 jump on in 2022.

“We have talked to everyone, Aprilia, Ducati, Yamaha dan Suzuki but I don’t think the decision has been made,” he said.

Norton-Powered Zongshen Cyclone RX6 Breaks Cover

Zongshen officially unveiled its latest model, the Cyclone RX6, the company first motorcycle powered by the Norton 650cc parallel-twin engine.

The RX6 was first sighted in 2019 as a concept before the Chinese manufacturer pulled the wraps at Shanghai Motor Show this week.

The overall look of the RX6 clearly defined an adventure motorcycle, and at a glance, it does bear a resemblance to the previous Yamaha MT-07 Tracer.

According to reports, the RX6 is powered by the Norton 650cc parallel-twin that produces around 70hp and is the same power plant found in yet-to-be-released Norton Altas.

Zongshen also includes a host of the latest electronics, including a full-colour TFT display, adjustable windscreen and keyless ignition.

The bike also features exciting specifications, including:

21L tank
Nissin brake callipers
Kayaba suspension
ABS
Pirelli tires

However, the Cyclone RX6 sits on the heavier side as the bike is quoted at 245kg.

Despite no confirmation, we can assume the motorcycle will be made available in Malaysia soon!

Brembo Acquires Spanish Brake Company J.Juan For RM347mil

Brembo has expanded its brand family after announcing the acquisition of J.Juan.

The Italian company has signed an agreement to acquire a 100 per cent stake in J.Juan Group.

J.Juan Group specialises in developing a motorcycle braking system and currently runs two factories located in Spain and China.

For those who are not aware of J.Juan, the company is responsible is supplying the brake system for Benelli and Zero Motorcycle.

It is understood that the acquisition of J.Juan for EUR70 million (RM347mil) allows Brembo to access the Spanish company research and development and manufacturing capabilities in the two countries.

Brembo currently owns ByBre, Marchesini and SBS Friction.

“We are proud to welcome J.Juan in the Brembo Group.

“This transaction is in line with our global strategy and follows the recent acquisition of SBS Friction in Denmark.

“We continue to invest with the aim of strengthening our motorbike core business. The addition of J.Juan is a great opportunity for us, as it reinforces our positioning as a company increasingly oriented to offering comprehensive, integrated and high-quality solutions to our customers,” said Brembo Chairman Alberto Bombassei.

Despite dominating the performance market, Brembo still facing a big challenge from Nissin and Beringer.

Oxygen Crisis, Motorcycle Manufacturers In India Announces Temporary Shutdown

India has been making headlines the past few months as the country struggles to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

As of April 28, the country recorded the highest ever spike of 360,960 new Covid-19 cases and 3,293 deaths within 24 hours.

The considerable spike resulted in hospitals and health institution facing an extremely short supply of oxygen, a necessity in treating Covid-19 patients.

As industrial oxygen is a key component in manufacturing, several of India’s motorcycle and auto manufacturers announced the decision to shut down their factory for a few days to divert the use of liquid oxygen to battle Covid-19.

Last week, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced a ban on the use of industrial oxygen from April 22 to ensure zero restriction on the movement of medical oxygen.

Key players such as Honda India and Bajaj Auto are manufacturers who announced a temporary shutdown of their manufacturing plant.

Yamaha NVX With Y-Connect Now Available From Hong Leong Yamaha Motor – From RM8,998!

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor lands another eagerly-awaited scooter, the 2021 Yamaha NVX with Y-Connect.

For 2021, Yamaha NVX comes in two new exciting variants, Standard and ABS, with the two is priced at RM8,998 and RM10,998, respectively.

The previous generation NVX found popular standing among many Malaysian motorcyclists, with thousands of these model already reached customers across the nation.

The 2021 NVX features a new LED headlight with a bigger and bolder shape than the previous generation.

However, the most significant upgrades take us to the Y-Connect capability that allows your smartphone to connect to the NVX. This feature allows you to get the latest information relating to the engine oil change, fuel consumption, service reminders and the last location of the motorcycle.