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

Suzuki Returns to Suzuka 8 Hour with Something Different

Suzuki returns to the Suzuka 8 Hour endurance race, albeit with a difference. The Japanese manufacturer had announced their departure from the sport but has decided to participate in the prestigious race using sustainable fuel for their GSX-R1000.

The Suzuka 8 Hour is part of the FIM Endurance World Championship calendar, and features an Experimental Class within the race. This category is meant for motorcycles that do not conform to engineering norms. However, the Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the race does conform to norms but will use a fuel that is only partly of non-fossil origin.

Instead, the factory will use the Elf Moto R40 FIM, which consists of 40% bio-sourced fuel. Interestingly, the Suzuki MotoGP team had begun using the fuel during their last season in the championship in 2022, as stipulated by FIM and Dorna for the class.

The fuel may does not seem to cause any drop in performance as demonstrated in the first 2024 MotoGP race in Qatar, where some bikes were 14 seconds faster than those in 2023.

Suzuki has not confirmed their rider lineup, as yet. Their long-time endurance championship winning rider, Sylvain Guintoli has since signed with the BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK team as a test rider.

Suzuki will enter the race under the Team Suzuki CN Challenge banner, also a departure from their long-time Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki partner. However, Yoshimura Japan will continue to be the factory’s technical partner and seeks to use the platform to develop sustainable technologies in areas such as the muffler, tyres, oil, fairings, and brakes.

The 2024 Suzuka 8 Hours is scheduled for 19 July 2024.

Decision to Resume Search for MH370 this May

The decision to resume the search for MH370 will be known this May. The decision will be made after the meeting with Ocean Infinity.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he will personally meet with representatives of the seabed exploration firm to discuss the contract and the proposed search mission. His ministry has already made an appointment with Ocean Infinity for them to present a proposal.

The Ministry of Transport will then propose to the Cabinet after that.

Anthony Loke also emphasized that the search principle is “no find, no fee”. This proposal needs to be approved by the Cabinet because there are financial implications and promises if the plane is found.

Ocean Infinity previously searched the Indian Ocean from 2017 until the search mission was called off in 2018.

But in early March, the company based in Texas, United States claimed to have new scientific evidence about the final location of MH370.

Loke said that, so far, his side is waiting for a proposal from Ocean Infinity first, especially the focus of their search, before any decision is made.

Flight MH370 carrying 239 passengers and crew disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, before it was announced to have ended up in the Indian Ocean.

Case of Police Officer Killing Student Transferred to High Court

The case of a senior police officer who allegedly caused the death of a student was transferred to the Ipoh High Court, for a criminal procedure hearing.

The senior officer who holds the rank of Assistant Superintendent (DSP) is accused of killing a Form 5 student who was also a candidate for the SPM examination on 5 December 2023.

Magistrate S. Punitha allowed Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz’s request to transfer and try the case in the High Court, in accordance with Section 177A(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

However, the date for the case to be mentioned in the High Court has not been decided.

On December 18 last year, Mohd Nazri was accused of causing the death of Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie, 17, at Jalan Taman Jati 1, near SMK Jati, in the Kinta district, here, between 12.05pm and 12.40pm, last December 15.

In the tragic incident, Mohd. Nazri, who was waiting to pick up his wife who is a teacher at the victim’s school, got angry when he heard Zaharif revving his friend’s motorcycle engine.

Nazri is alleged to have chased the victim for a distance of one kilometer before hitting the victim with his car, causing serious injuries to his chest and stomach. The victim’s sister, who is a nurse, was near the accident area and administered CPR to her half-conscious brother.

Unfortunately, the victim was declared as deceased by the ambulance team that arrived later.

The accused’s wife said that her husband was “hot-tempered and couldn’t listen to people revving motorcycles.”

Offences under Section 302 of the Penal Code which calls for the death penalty, or imprisonment for a minimum of 30 years and not exceeding 40 years, and if not sentenced to death shall also be punished with no less than 12 lashes of the cane.

F1 is Four Times Dearer than MotoGP – KBS

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kementerian Belia dan Sukan/KBS) informed that organizing F1 (Formula One) is four times more expensive than MotoGP (World Motorcycle Championship). In fact, MotoGP is cheaper than Formula E too.

Its minister, Hannah Yeoh, said the expenditure was RM53.2 million for the organization of MotoGP, while F1 required a capital of around RM228 million. For Formula E (Formula Electric), the cost is estimated at around RM120 million.

“Although everyone says organising this is good, organising that is good, we have to look at affordability and people’s interest in the sport.

“Why MotoGP? As I said, 182,000 visitors will come and the Sepang International Circuit needs this MotoGP event,” she said.

Hannah said this during the closing session of the debate on the KBS Supplementary Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

Hannah added, there are parties trying to organize F1 without the government’s knowledge even though they bid and got the right.

“After bidding, they came to see us and said we have received the bid and want money to organize (F1). So it is not fair for the government if there is a party that bids without getting approval,” he said.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: So does the government bear all the expenses of organizing MotoGP? Often not because there are corporate companies that will sponsor the event. For example, Shell hosted the Shell Malaysia MotoGP from 2022 to 2023, and Petronas will take over as the main sponsor from this year. There are also other sponsors apart from the main sponsors. However, they did not disclose the amount of money they sponsored.

KTM Drops Toby Price as Factory Rally Rider

KTM drops Toby Price as factory rally rider. Price is a two-time Dakar Rally champion, both times with KTM.

The legendary Aussie rider said that the Austrian factory dropped him after the the 2024 Dakar Rally. “Everyone has been asking me about what events I’ll be riding in this year, but in some personal news, KTM has decided to not renew my contract so Dakar 2024 was my last event with them,” he announced on social media.

This sad news marks the end of a 14-year racing career with KTM. KTM drafted him in 2010 when he competed in Australian rally championships. Price went on to a successful career in North America and Europe with KTM, then to Dakar in 2015. He won a stage and finished third overall on that very first attempt.

He came back even stronger the next year and dominated the rally and took to the overall victory. He was the first Australian to achieve the feat.

Price would repeat his performance in 2019 but again, in another amazing circumstance, he did so with a broken wrist!

However, results had not been the same since then due to Honda’s resurgence. Price took two podiums and a last stage win in 2022, with no overall wins. Honda overpowered KTM in 2024, pushing Price to a fifth place finish. And KTM decided to axe him after the rally.

Price continued, “I do feel like I’m still in my prime and going out there fighting for wins, especially at Dakar so it’s unfortunate to not have that opportunity to do it in 2025 but I’m really appreciative of the support they gave me in my career,” says Price. “We’ve been able to do some great things together like win two Dakars and get a couple podiums, a World Championship and our success in Australia too.”

He has natural talents and has many fans the world over. This writer also met him during the KTM 790 Adventure Media Launch in Morocco and he is a very nice, down to Earth bloke. We are sure that many factories will now court him and we wish him the best.

KTM 790 Adventure and KTM 790 Adventure R Test & Review

Modenas Ninja ZX-25RR Launched (from RM36,500)

The up-specced Modenas Ninja ZX-25RR has been launched in Malaysia. The launch was announced by Edaran Modenas Sdn. Bhd. (EMOS), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd. (MODENAS), today.

The Modenas ZX-25R SE has enjoyed a good reception from Malaysian motorcycle enthusiasts and continues to sell well, mostly due to its howling inline-four engine, amongst other things. It is no slouch either, pushing out 46.3 hp (34.5 kW) and 22 Nm of torque.

On the other hand, the ZX-25RR version brings a better suspension system to the table, as per Kawasaki/Modenas tradition, for example the Z900 vs. Z900 SE.

The highlight of the Modenas Ninja ZX-25RR is the rear suspension, consisting of a Showa Horizontal Back-Link BFRC (Balance Free Rear Cushion) Lite gas-charged monoshock. It offers compression and rebound damping in addition to preload adjustments, plus a top-out spring. So, better customisation according to rider weight, riding style and riding environment.

Its front suspension retains the same Showa 37mm SFF-BP (Separate Function Forks-Big Piston) forks, adjustable for preload.

Other features include the advanced electronics and rider aids, including Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), and riding modes. Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS), Assist & Slipper Cluth are retained.

Apart from those, both models also feature the TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity via the Rideology app. Riders can sync music, make and receive calls, as well as navigation.

The Modenas Ninja ZX25-RR is available in two colours, namely the traditional Lime Green, and the additional Ebony. Recommended Retail Price (RRP) is RM36,500 (not on the road). It will be available at Kawasaki All-Star Dealer showrooms by end March 2024.

For more information about the Modenas ZX-25RR and Kawasaki’s complete range of motorcycles, please visit http://www.kawasaki.com.my. You can also contact their Toll-Free Line at 1-800-880-008 or reach out to their WhatsApp Careline at +6019-570 8135.