MCNEWS.COM.AU

#ThrowbackThursday On this day, March 30, in 2008 at the Spanish GP, Valentino Rossi took his 100th premier class podium with second place behind Dani Pedrosa. Rossi took 199 premier class podiums before retiring. 📸 @ajrn_sp #motogp #valentinorossi https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZdDknyxb6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Cru Halliday set the early benchmark this morning at 1m29.496 on his seventh lap of the session to underline his dry pace here in his own backyard. #asbk 📸 @rbmotolens (at Sydney Motorsport Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJ3LusvULQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#flashbackfriday with the Triumph Bobber. #triumphmotorcycles #smokeshow https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJIua-SUlz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Suzuki’’s new V-Strom 800DE, the most dirt ready V-Strom yet thanks to its 21-inch front, 220 mm of ground clearance and 220 mm of travel through its adjustable Showa suspension, is not expected to hit Australia until July this year. However, we have been braving the elements today in New Zealand on the new bike. An awesome 275 km loop that took us from the seascapes of Whanganui, to the heights of Waiouru and back down again via a different track that offered plenty of those picture book quality scenic vistas that New Zealand is famous for. The V-Strom 800DE debuts Suzuki’s all new 776 cc parallel twin. The new mill has 83 ponies compared to the 71 ponies of the full power V-Strom 650. Peak torque of the new 270/450-degree parallel twin is a healthy 78 Nm at 6800 rpm, that is 25 per cent more torque than the 650. The power tails off after 9000 rpm but the 800DE will still rev well past that if you can’t be bother changing gear. It turns 4500 rpm at 100 km/h, 5000 rpm at 110 km/h. It accelerates well to around 140-150 km/h, and will go close to 200 km/h if you hang on long enough. It comes standard with a new top shelf electronics kit, including switchable ABS, five-stage traction control, two-way quick-shifter standard, spoked rims, radiator guard, plastic bash-plate, twin 310 mm discs up front, new five-inch colour TFT dash… That all adds to some pretty decent value… The new 800DE will hit Aussie streets this July from $16,980 ($18,590) ride away. Suzuki are throwing in an alloy top-box kit valued at over a grand for anyone that pre-orders the machines before their arrival. So what’s the bike like…? So, so much better in the dirt than any of the 650/1000/1050 models past and present, including the latest new 1050DE that arrives late this month. It’s engaging, fun, competent, comfortable and undemanding. A great option for riders that lack confidence in the dirt. In comparison to even the new off-road focussed 1050 DE, the 800DE is so much more playful in the dirt. It is just over 20 kg lighter but it feels almost double that thanks to a lower centre of gravity, and more amenable seat height. #suzuki #suzukivstrom (at Whanganui River) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqCoqckyG7I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#WheelieWednesday with Wayne and the BMW R 1250 GS Rallye X! Full review on MCNews.com.au now. #bmw #bmwr1250gs #motonationalaccessories #airoh #airohhelmet #airohaviator #motodry https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpzfh0DyUT1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hunter Lawrence topped qualifying overnight at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Hunter is aiming to extend his 14-point lead in the 250 East Championship. #DropTheGate #supercross 📸 @kardyphoto https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpqs-vnyPfS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Australia’s favourite big bore motorcycle gets more cubes, more chrome, a bigger fuel tank and vastly improved handling. Full 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout Review on MCNews,com.AU now. #harley #harleydavidson #harleydavidsonmotorcycles https://www.instagram.com/p/CplZ-mJya-5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

An interesting view of the cockpit of the 2023 Mooney VR46 Racing Team Desmosedici MotoGP machine. The team held their official launch in Milan this week ahead of pre-season testing this weekend at Portimao. Details from the launch along with more photos on MCNews.com.au https://www.instagram.com/p/CpeIalKywjH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Billy Bolt completely dominated SuperEnduro Round Four in Israel overnight with victory in all three races for a perfect score that extended his lead in the championship to 36-points over Jonny Walker as the series heads to Poland on March 18th for round five. #Enduro #SuperEnduro #Husqvarna https://www.instagram.com/p/CpT3B_8S6h9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#WheelieWednesday with Broc Pearson 📸 @tbgsport Extended interview with the young DesmoSport Ducati rider on MCNews.com.au now. #ASBK (at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPJzBnSles/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The regular well trodden route to competitive race speed generally includes two ingredients, Ohlins and Brembo. They are in most successful traditional recipes and have a huge bank of knowledge to draw from but some go other ways, one example is HRC in @worldsbk with Showa and Nissin. They’ve got the runs on the board and trophies in the cabinet from @fim_ewc_official but that’s yet to translate to #worldsbk in recent years, let’s hope they get there, vive la difference! Or whatever that translates to in Japanese…. (at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co_xIyHSzLV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Your @phillipislandcircuit @worldsbk lap record holder @tom66sykes has a lot of speed to find with his new team if pre-season testing is an accurate form guide, but hopefully the numbers crunched from the data gained this week allows him to roll out of pit-lane tomorrow with the confidence to push…. (at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co_v09LSt_P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Taking the old girl out for a spin. 40 degrees and thunderstorms, why not 😁 https://www.instagram.com/p/CowRCCOyRar/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Doctor is in the house!! The annual Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Track to Town has seen hundreds of fans turn up to line the streets of Bathurst and gain unprecedented access to the race’s stars and their cars, including Moto GP great Valentino Rossi who will make his racing debut at Mount Panorama this weekend. (at Bathurst, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoJTA2JSwv4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Three huge young talents in the one shot here and if a few cards fall their way this triumvirate are on course to reach for the sky in motorcycle racing around the world. Left of picture holding the phone we have 16-year-old Tom Drane. Tom was not riding at SMP this week and leaves for America on Tuesday to take up a ride with Estonson Racing for the 2023 American Flat Track season. This is a championship that he starred in during some appearances last year and while he has done a fair bit of racing on the tarmac he potentially has what could be a lucrative career ahead of him in the AFT ranks. It will be interesting to watch his career develop from here and see which way it takes him…. In the middle we have 16-year-old Harrison Voight. Harry scored a podium in the German round of the 2022 Red Bull Rookies Cup and will this year have a crack at the 2023 FIM Moto2 European Championship. He dominated the final round of the 2022 Australian Supersport Championship at The Bend and did the same here again this week at the two-day ASBK Test at Sydney Motorsport Park. Quietly determined and motivated Voight sees 2023 as his year to make a statement on the world scene. On the right with his back to the camera is young Cam Dunker. Cam won both the Australian Supersport Championship and YMF R3 Cup in 2022 and this year steps up to 600 Supersport. He is already showing good pace and it is fair to say that this 15-year-old is also going places. 📸 @rbmotolens (at Sydney Motorsport Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoJPhEDy-op/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#wheeliewednesday Ripping it up a bit crossed up between turns never gets old… https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnz6FTUyVnn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=