News

The 2012 World Superbike season kicked off over the weekend of February 24 - 26 at the stunning Phillip Island circuit. With temperatures rising into the mid 30s, it was just as hot off the track as on.

Two-time World Supersport champion, Turkey's Kenan Sofuoglu, kicked off his return to the Supersport class in the best possible way by winning the 2012 season opener at Phillip Island.

On Saturday, February 25, young Queenslander Oscar McIntyre died following an accident in the opening laps of the Australian Supersport/Superstock 600 support race at the Phillip Island World Superbike round.

After two days of World Supersport testing at Phillip Island, Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) ended up at the top of the results sheet, with a time of 1 minute 34.585 seconds.

Casey Stoner recently used his Repsol blog to thank fans for their congratulations and support following the birth of he and Adriana's daughter, Alessandra, on February 16.

At the end of two days of World Superbike pre-season testing at Phillip Island, Kawasaki's Tom Sykes topped the field, recording a time fractionally ahead of 2011 World Superbike champion, Carlos Checa.

The latest Kawasaki Australian Motocross range consists of 7 models, 3 substantially redesigned - 2012 KX450F, KX250F and KX65 - selling alongside the 2011 model KX450F, KX250F, KX85 and KX85-II.

Long-running and respected UK motor sports magazine, Motor Sport, has inducted John Surtees and Giacomo Agostini into their Hall of Fame at a special ceremony in London.

Casey Stoner is motoGP World Champion, and he's now also a father, following the birth of his daughter on the evening of February 16.

The FIM have recently confirmed the participation of the 'Grande Premio de Portugal' for this year's MotoGP championship, with the Estoril circuit to host the Portuguese round (round 3) on May 4 - 6.

January's auction season in the US has seen most of the major American auction houses host sales. Bonhams were no exception, but what made their 2012 Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction different was that it featured the huge motorcycle collection of the du Pont family. The collection comprised 50 motorcycles and 100 separate lots of rare Indian spare parts. Why Indian? Family patriarch, L. Paul du Pont was a former president of the Indian Motorcycle Company.

Following January's announcement of locations for eight of the ten dates of this year's MX Nationals championship, the remaining two (Rounds 6 & 7) have been confirmed, with Barrabool (VIC) and Hervey Bay (QLD) joining the series.

Global Action Sports (GAS), promoter of the Australian 'SuperX' Supercross series, announced late yesterday that the series will not go ahead for 2012, or the foreseeable future beyond that, under their management.

Stephen Dearnley, one of the founders of the Ulysses Club, passed away on February 11. Known as "Old Number 1", Dearnley was officially the first member of the club that now boasts over 26,000 active members around the world. Dearnley was 89 years old.

Multiple World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss will be one of the special guests at the Australian Motorcycle Expo, Gold Coast, this February 17 - 19. Every visitor to the expo will have a chance to win a pillion ride with Bayliss on a Ducati superbike.

This May, Australia will host a round of the FIM World Trials Championship for the first time. Tickets for the event, set to take place at Mt. Tarrengower, will be on sale shortly via www.wtcaustralia.com.au

After making its debut in the US in 2011, Kawasaki's Vulcan 1700 'Vaquero' ABS cruiser is now available in Australia.

"Solo One to VKC. Solo One to VKC. Are you there, Shirl?"\nIf this phrase means nothing to you, the classic 1970s TV show 'Matlock Police' and its spin-off 'Solo One' probably mean nothing to you as well!

Amongst all the latest bikes to feature at the upcoming Gold Coast Motorcycle Expo will be a bike that's beyond 'latest' - something that looks like it's from the future.

\nWhen Benelli announced their 750cc 'Sei' model in 1972, it was significant in that it was the first production motorcycle to feature a six-cylinder engine. Six-bangers had been around before then, but were limited to exotic factory race machines. Benelli's production six-cylinder model was seen as their roadbike challenger to the all-conquering four-cylinder machines from Japan.

Scooter owners and riders from across Melbourne and beyond are urged to take part in the VACC Safe Routes Scooter Rally this February 19.

Most fans of British motorcycles will know that AJS started in 1909. However, before then, the Stevens brothers had been involved in various other elements of the motorcycle industry, including a brand that bore their name - sort of - in the form of the 'Wearwell-Stevens'.

After a lot of manufacturers jumped on the supermotard bandwagon at the dawn of the new millennium, the category has arguably fallen from favour in the past few years, but Suzuki are still flying the motard flag in their lineup, and brought out a newly-styled version of their dedicated DR-Z 400SM supermotard model in 2010.

Honda's 2010 release of the automatic gearbox-equipped VFR1200 wasn't the first tourer from the big red wing to have a clutchless transmission. More than 35 years ago, Honda released the 'CB 750A', a variant of the immensely popular CB 750. It was hoped the 750A would expand the market for Honda's four cylinder road bike. However, it didn't quite work out that way.