New Suzuki Tu250x Motorcycle *** on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Suzuki Developing 1000cc Prototype – MotoGP Return in 2014 Still Possible

The first MotoGP pre-season test at Mayalsia’s Sepang circuit is complete, with Ducati, Honda and Yamaha‘s factory and satellite teams, as well as a handful of CRT entries, collecting data for the next stage of their race prototypes’ development. Absent from testing was Suzuki which announced last November it was leaving MotoGP racing. Suzuki cited the recession, the rising value of the Japanese yen and the natural disasters afflicting Japan in 2011 as reasons for leaving MotoGP, but the manufacturer did say it intended to return in 2014.

Schwantz and Mackenzie on the Nurburgring box

A 500GP bike never fails to stop me in my tracks and that’s exactly what happened when I spotted this Schwantz example from the early nineties, proudly displayed on the Arai stand at the recent Motorcyclelive show.  On loan from Crescent Suzuki and accompanied by a rostrum publicity shot from the 1990 German GP at the Nurburgring, I felt the urge to write a few words on that special weekend. I started the year running my own 250 GP team with fairly standard TZ Yamahas but was drafted in as Kevin Schwantz’s team mate after Kevin Magee suffered a serious head injury at the second Grand Prix in Laguna Seca.  With no testing and some major Spanish food poisoning I finished 8th at the next round in Jerez then followed that up with a 5th place in Misano. Next up was the Nurburgring and after qualifying on the second row of the grid, my crew chief Geoff Crust informed me he had a premonition of a race day rostrum finish. He also told me I better make it come true as he was already looking forward to a few post race celebratory refreshments. While I hoped Crusty was the new mystic meg, the truth was I would have been more than happy to buy the beers if I made it to the flag inside the top five. I had an outside chance of catching one major scalp as Wayne Rainey was riding with a nasty hand injury but I suspected adrenalin would see him through the day. I also followed Mick Doohan a fair bit in practice but he was beginning to find his feet on the Rothmans Honda so was going to be another problem.  When the lights went out Schwantz and Rainey went straight to the front I while I hung in behind Doohan and Pier Francesco Chilli, and then it happened. Coming out of the bottom right hand hairpin, Doohan and Chilli simultaneously high sided in one of the most spectacular crashes of the season. I never liked seeing any fellow riders crash but I made the most of this early race gift and rode my 160bhp/115kg RGV hard to the flag, claiming my first podium of the season.  We partied hard (win or lose we always did) that night and I went on to have my best ever season finishing fourth overall in the championship. After the last round in Australia, I finished second to Kevin at Sugo in Japan then won in Malaysia at another international race that KS didn’t attend. I also tested at Eastern Creek for the following season but then was flicked from the team for reasons that still remain a mystery. Hey Ho!       

Michelin Unveils New Tire for Dual Sport Motorcycles

More than half of the new BMW R 1200 GSs that roll off the assembly line in 2013 will be fitted with Michelin’s new big trail tire, the Anakee III. BMW and Michelin worked together to co-develop the dual-sport tire, which is designed to deliver all the safety and off road capability big trail motorcycle users demand. The Anakee III will also be available as a replacement option for other leading dual sport bikes, like the Suzuki V-Strom, Kawasaki KLR, Triumph Tiger and Yamaha Super Tenere.