2011 Honda Fury on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Mystic Mac's 2014 MotoGP predictions

There is no real off season in Moto GP.  Although we complain about being starved of racing, for those at the sharp end, in little more than two months they have new bikes to assemble, team staff to put in place and sponsors to nail down that will pay for it all.  This time frame is also tight for riders, as it seems more every year go straight under the surgeon’s knife after the last round and spend the short winter recuperating for the season ahead. The 2014 Moto GP championship looks like a cracker as apart from the ten full factory riders we now have at least eight non factory riders with properly competitive machinery.  We also have five Brits on the grid, two with podium potential.  Whatever happens though (providing you have BT Sport) you can just sit back and enjoy watching the incredible Marc Marquez do things that shouldn’t be possible. Speaking of whom, I didn’t believe a Rossi replacement would come this soon.  And when I say replacement, I mean a rider that is the full package.  Although in some ways quite different to Vale, he’s an equally phenomenal talent plus a very likeable character that appeals to the masses and although respectful to his rivals off track, deadly competitive in the heat of battle.  Being young and good looking he’s obviously a dream for sponsors and the sport in general.  Marquez has evolved in his own way but thankfully into a perfect replacement for our sport when the VR steps down.

Proof: Change chain, gain power

Point six of a BHP may not sound like much but, in my book, any gain is a good gain, especially when it’s as simple as changing a chain and sprockets. After all, you're going to have to do it sooner or later when your old chain and sprockets die their death. I’ve always been interested in what gains are available in the drive train.

Hot on-board laps of Cadwell with Josh Brookes

You've got to be reasonably mental to ride a 200bhp Superbike on slicks around the narrow cart track that is Cadwell Park. We've met Josh Brookes a few times and we can vouch that he qualifies highly for the task in hand. That's a compliment, by the way.