Articles by Mike Ryan

The Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Show was a huge success in 2011, with this year's show recording a 25 percent increase in attendance and widespread exhibitor reports of record show sales.

In 2012, KTM will return to MotoGP competition, fielding a three-rider squad in the new 'Moto3' category, the replacement for the 125cc class. The good news for fans of local talent is that one of the three riders is Australian Arthur Sissis, who landed the factory ride after impressing in this year's Red Bull Rookies Cup competition.

Eight-times Isle of Man TT winner Charlie Williams is coming Down Under for the Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza (HBBB) at the State Motorcycle Complex in Broadford at Easter 2012.

Joining the recently-announced Jed Metcher as another late entry for the Insure My Ride 2011 Phillip Island 8 Hour endurance race is 2010 Australian Superbike champion Bryan Staring, who will join Ben Henry and Nicholas Waters on a 'Cube Racing' Suzuki GSX-R1000.

With the 2011 Phillip Island 8 Hour endurance race only days away, the latest rider confirmed for the revamped event is Melbourne's Jed Metcher, fresh from his successful 2011 campaign in the European Superstock 600 class.

Following on from their thirs place finish in the 2010 Phillip Island 6 Hour, Team Suzuki are hoping to go two spots better this year at the revamped 2011 8 Hour event this weekend.

Fans of vintage Harley-Davidsons were spoiled for choice at Shannons' Melbourne Summer Classic Auction, their final auction for 2011. Of the eleven motorcycles consigned, five were Harleys, with a 1923 Harley-Davidson 1000cc F Model the top seller at $28,000.

When it comes to sport/sport touring motorcycles, Suzuki has a broad range. Some are a lot more sporty than others, some are LAMS approved bikes, some are just fun to ride, while the latest GSR750 has a definite sporting edge. Suzuki officially lists 18 bikes in the category, virtually offering a bike for every rider.

The 'Monza Rally Show' is an annual event held at the historic Italian circuit, where the stars of World and European rallying join drivers - and riders - from other motorsport disciplines to have fun over three-days of rallying-inspired challenges. This year's event, held from November 25 to 27, featured close to 100 drivers, including WRC, European Rally and Le Mans 24 Hour winners amongst the talent, but arguably the most impressive performance came from long time rally enthusiast and part time rally driver, Valentino Rossi.

One of the more intriguing entries for this weekend's Insure My Ride Phillip Island 8 Hour endurance race will be Jason Akermanis. The former AFL premier player and Brownlow medallist will launch his first serious bike racing effort at the Island this weekend, campaigning a Honda CBR600RR in the Superstock class.

On Friday, November 25th, the newest addition to the World Superbike calendar was officially launched, with a Moscow hotel hosting the press conference announcing the addition of a Russian round to the World Superbike calendar for 2012. World Superbike's visit to the 'Moscow Raceway' circuit is also significant in that it will mark the first world-level motorsport series to include a round in Russia.

The 2012 Australian Motocross Championship will be expanded to a 10-round series, according to a provisional calendar released by series promoters, Williams Event Management.