“I’m super happy for this second position because I was checking the world standings and since the first part of the championship, we get a lot of zeros, a lot of crashes,” said Rins, speaking in the post-race Press Conference. “Finally, I will say that we have the level, we have the pace and finally we finish again on the top. I’m super happy because starting from P10 it’s not easy. I was trying to overtake as soon as possible. All the team deserves this position, also myself. Let’s try to keep this performance because I think we can get it.”
“The positive is that Pol Espargaro has been able to return to his true level, he has shown the reason that we asked him to join HRC,” continued Puig. “His goal was to put a good race together and build himself up, we were not looking for the podium. When you start the race from pole position, normally your aim should be the podium, but this was not the case.
O’Gorman, meanwhile, continued his assault on the top. The number 67 has contested seven races in 2021 and won five, taking second in the other two. Even more impressively, he’s missed three rounds comprising five races and is still second overall, with an average points haul of 23.6 per race contested. Belford’s is 15.6. You have to be in it to win it, but it seems O’Gorman is back from injury with a bang and if their average scoring continued, it would be three races until the number 67 takes over on top. He’s also the only returning rider who took a podium last year at Snetterton, and it was a win.
Vivacious Kate Peck, the well-known Aussie motorsport host, motorcycle fan and new President of the Motorcycling NSW is seeking five new board directors with a special callout to female riders.
“We have a strong legion of women already but there is always room for improvement,” says Kate about the NSW-based motorcycle racing representative body which is affiliated with Motorcycling Australia.
“I hope to encourage this participation, in all roles and levels of competition, making sure it is a safe and comfortable space for them to do so by increased diversity in age, experience and ability alongside track access and affordability.
“Plus clear and affordable pathways for them to enter into the sport. And a place for female within each sport.”
Kate says she hopes the new board will make the MNSW and it 111 affiliated clubs more visible to the youth market.
“I am determined to create a diverse board of young and old with a variety of experience, balanced in gender and differing backgrounds,” she says.
She is calling for “passionate two-wheeling readers” to become one of five new directors on the MNSW board.
“This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of motorcycling in NSW,” she says.
To apply, just click here and send an email for the application form. But be quick as applications close on September 14, 2021.
Kate has been on numerous motorsport TV shows and currently hosts and field-produces the coverage of the Australian Off Road Championship and anchors the new Aus Moto Show on Fox Sports and SBS.
“A lot of my work revolves around Motorsport and racing thus why MNSW was the right fit,” says Kate who is also on the MA Women’s Committee.
She’s not the first woman to take the reins of Motorcycling NSW. That honour goes to Christine Tickner who was a driving force at the Penrith club and Nepean Raceway Dirt Track.
Kate is passionate about her new role and is encouraging more female participation in the organisation.
“After I joined the Motorcycling Australia Womens Committee early this year, I was made aware a position available on the MNSW Board,” she says.
“I can proudly say that the MNSW Business currently has a 75% female workforce however there is still not enough female presence in Motorsport and motorcycling, on any level yet alone at the Board level.
“Any way I can encourage more participation of women, I will. I would love to see the support and expansion of female classes within the different motorcycle disciplines. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”
Kate began riding on a Piaggio Zipp 100 scooter to get to Sydney modelling castings.
“My dad had always been into bikes but that hadn’t had an affect on me as my parents were separated,” she says.
“Until I was in my early 20s and dad invited me on a three-month motorbike trip to Africa. That was the tipping point for my obsession.”
Her first motorbike was a “true lemon” grey import Suzuki, followed by a KLR 650 and KLE 500.
“I then began working in the industry, taking on ambassador roles and TV presenting roles working on F1, MotoGP and with Channel 10,” she says.
Ambassador roles meant free bikes which Kate decided was a smarter option than buying.
Her first ambassador role was with Victory Motorcycles followed by Harley-Davidson, then a long relationship with BMW, a small stint with KTM and now Ducati.
Her most recent bike was a Ducati V4 Streetfighter and she and her partner own a Ducati Scrambler.
However, Kate recently became a mother, so she is taking a short sabbatical from riding, but not from the sport she loves.
She says she hopes to encourage more participation in all roles and levels of competition, especially for women, in a safe, comfortable and affordable environment.
What are Kate’s plans for Motorcycling NSW?
Increased development of our members skills in order to ride faster, safer. I’d like to see more coaching and training capacity and programs available at clubs – getting started in competition can be intimidating.
Encourage growth in community, creating life long friendships that have been developed at clubs during coaching and training program or throughout competition.
Increased cultural diversity in membership and increased uptake in youth and females.
Increase the family fun appeal of taking part in Motorsport and competition.
Grow the sport for the future – we need the next generation to understand the fun you can have developing these riding skills and taking part in competition with mates.
Now more than ever we need all hands on deck to encourage people to get interested – Clubs have a taken a hit throughout COVID and we need to get behind them and show support.
2022 Honda Africa Twin & Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Honda have taken the covers off the 2022 Africa Twin, with the standard variant now featuring a rear carrier rack as standard and now presented in new colours and graphics.
2022 Honda Africa Twin
The Adventure Sports variant receives some additional updates, with the DCT equipped versions benefiting from further refinements to the Dual-Clutch Transmission settings, a shorter adjustable five-position screen and new ‘Cracked Terrain’ graphics. On the top of the line DCT ES version, Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment is also standard.
Honda’s exclusive six-speed DCT system runs three modes, with MT offering full manual control, D for automatic city and highway riding for fuel efficiency, while S is designed for sporty riding, with the ECU holding gears longer between up-shifts, as well as down-shifting more aggressively for extra engine braking.
Updates to the DCT focus on first and second gear settings
The changes for 2022 have seen first and second gear settings tailored to smoother low-speed handling, with a focus on very low speeds and standing starts.
The Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment or Showa EERA meanwhile, offers tailored damping front and rear, with spring pre-load to suit load and riding conditions. This can be controlled via four settings, for different riding conditions.
Showa EERA will also be standard on the top ‘ES’ spec Adventure Sports
Soft offers low damping force and a focus on smoothness, with Hard running the highest damping force. Mid is an all-round setting, while Off-Road raises fork damping forces as stroke speed rises, while also running higher damping settings on the rear shock.
The rear shock can also have the spring pre-load adjusted electronically while stationary, with setups for solo riding, solo with luggage, two-up riding and two up with luggage. For those who like to dial their system in specifically to their own needs, there’s also a User option which allows fine tuning of damping front and rear with 24-points of rear spring preload.
The new of Honda’s 2022 Africa Twin is also eye-catching
The updates join the existing Africa Twin’s liquid-cooled 1084 cc SOHC eight-valve parallel-twin, backed by a Bosch six-axis IMU, which is integrated into the four power modes, three levels of engine braking, seven-level Honda Selectable Torque Control, and cornering ABS, with an off-road setting. Plus three levels of wheelie control and rear lift control. These are accessed via four preset riding modes – Tour, Urban, Gravel and Off-Road, with two modifiable modes.
Peak power is claimed at 75 kW, with 105Nm peak torque. The engine was significantly updated previously in the 2020 model year along with a boost in capacity.
The engine continues to offer 75 kW, with 2020 the big engine update
A 6.5 inch TFT touchscreen is also features, with multi-information display, USB and BT connectivity as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Fuel capacity on the standard Africa Twin is 18.8 L, while on the Adventure Sports variants that increases to 24.8 L, with seat height across all models 870 mm, with a 850 mm low setting available.
The Adventure Sport offers a larger 24.8 L fuel capacity, with an updated shorter, but adjustable screen
The frame is a steel semi-double cradle frame, also redesigned in 2020, mated to a aluminium sub-frame, with CRF450R-style swingarm also in aluminium. Showa provide 45 mm forks across all models, with that upgraded to the Showa EERA on the top model, with a Showa monoshock, also upgraded to an EERA unit on the ES version.
Wheels are a 21 x 2.15 wire-spoke front and 18 x 4.00 wire-spoke rear, both with aluminium rims, while brakes are dual four-piston radial calipers on 310 mm wave rotors on the front and a 256 mm wave rotor with single-piston caliper on the rear.
The Africa Twin will be available in four variants in 2022, two with and two without DCT in Australia
The entire 2022 Honda Africa Twin range is due to arrive in Q4 of 2021, with the standard Africa Twin to be available for $20,999 MLP, in either Pearl Glare White, Grand Prix Red. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports will be $24,699 MLP in Pearl Glare White or Matte Ballistic Black, while the Adventure Sports DCT arrives from $25,649 MLP in Pearl Glare White, with the top of the line Adventure Sports DCT ES $27,799 MLP and also Pearl Glare White.
Seven years ago this week I was sampling the first RC390 from KTM in Italy, and if not for the plague I would be Italy again sampling this major 2022 redesign of the RC390 platform in Italy.. Bugger.
2022 KTM RC390
The suspension has received significant upgrades with WP APEX inverted open-cartridge forks complete with 30-stage compression and rebound damping adustments.
2022 KTM RC390
At the rear a WP APEX shock offers pre-load adjustment and five clicks of rebound settings.
2022 KTM RC390
The KTM RC 390 is fitted with a WP APEX rear shock absorber which offers pre-load adjustment and 5 clicks rebound settings.
2022 KTM RC390
New rims have helped shave an impressive 3.4 kg unsprung weight off the RC390 and the upgraded ByBre braking system shave another kg while the frame is now 1.5 kg lighter also.
EURO5 updates on the liquid-cooled, single-cylinder four-stroke engine with twin overhead camshafts, four valves, and electronic fuel injection have helped boost torque with the aid of a new air-box design.
2022 KTM RC390
From an electronic standpoint, the new generation KTM RC 390 sets the benchmark for the small displacement Supersport segment, boasting a selection of rider aids usually only available on bigger motorcycles, namely Supermoto ABS, Lean angle sensitive Cornering ABS and Cornering MTC, along with the optional Quickshifter+.
2022 KTM RC390
KTM MY RIDE can now also be added, thanks to a new TFT color display, which allows riders to access important information at a glance, with the added flexibility of being able to tailor the display to show what they want to see. The display also automatically adapts its brightness to ambient light.
2022 KTM RC390
The most immediately obvious update across the board is the racy styling, which sees almost every panel being redesigned, boasting race-inspired lines and two new colorways which clearly define the sporty character of these motorcycles.
2022 KTM RC390
This redesign has also been purposely done to increase the overall size of the RC 390, not only to give it a striking visual presence but also to optimise aerodynamics due to higher top speeds, thanks in part to a computational fluid dynamics design process.
2022 KTM RC390
This new design has also optimised wind and weather protection, with KTM claiming enhanced heat management by using a combination of inner and outer body panels to direct airflow away from the rider.
2022 KTM RC390
The rear bodywork has been reduced as much as possible for a more aggressive profile, but also to show off as much of the redesigned steel trellis subframe as possible.
2022 KTM RC390
The knee area has been refined to allow for easier, more fluid rider movement, being as narrow as possible with the largest possible contact area.
2022 KTM RC390
An all-new two-part cockpit and windscreen holder makes use of a cast aluminum upper area and a lower composite part that secures the headlight, while a larger fuel tank has been added for improved day-to-day riding, comfort, and fuel range.
2022 KTM RC390
The new bodywork is easily removable, with a reduced number of screws being used as well as a redesigned mounting system. This makes swapping out the street-legal bodywork for race-ready panels more practical. However, the most notable updates to the KTM RC 390 can be found underneath the new bodywork.
2022 KTM RC390
The new RC390 is scheduled to debut in Australian and New Zealand from March, 2022.
Record breaking first half of 2021 for Pierer Mobility
Pierer Mobility Group has announced record breaking gains in the first half of 2021, with group revenue breaking the €1.078 billion mark, in comparison to 600 million in 2020, representing an 80 per cent increase.
That also represents an operating result of €102.6 million, compared to just €1.7 million in 2020, with motorcycle sales increasing to a total of 176,045 from the KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and Bajaj brands, or almost double the same period in 2020.
Pierer Group boasting record sales in early 2021
The bicycle and e-bike divisions likewise saw strong growth, up 25 per cent, to 53,378 units sold, with the majority being e-bikes under the R Raymon, GasGas and Husqvarna brands.
That marks a total of 215,646 motorcycle and e-bikes, up 73 per cent compared to the previous year, despite the ongoing challenges of Covid, and it’s impact on production and distribution.
In Australia KTM recorded a 64.3 per cent improvement in road sales but dirtbike sales fell by 10.9 per cent ahead of the arrival of the 2022 models, which made the overall lift in sales only 7.1 per cent when both sectors were combined.
That trend was also reflected by Husqvarna with the sister brand increasing their road sales by 40.6 per cent, off what was an admittedly low base, while dirtbike sales dropped by 23.8 per cent.
Those figures were offset by 570 sales for GASGAS after the brand was reintroduced to Australia, which compares to 2974 off-road sales for KTM and 1163 off-road sales for Husqvarna.
If taking both off and on-road sales into account across the three brands just under 6800 sales were recorded over the first half of 2021 in Australia. This equates to around 4.2 per cent of the global motorcycle sales volume for the group.
The strongest improving markets have proven to be in Latin America, with a 62 per cent increase in Colombia, 43 per cent in Brazil and 31 per cent in Argentina, with growth of 25 per cent in Europe, on the back of strong demand for motorcycles.
2022 KTM 300 EXC TPI ErzbergRodeo
The strongest European nations were Italy, Spain and France, boasting 53, 41 and 28 per cent increases respectively, with market share in Europe reaching over 11 per cent. Market share in the US between the Pierer brands also now sits at 11.3 per cent, and reaches 18.9 per cent in the Oceania region.
In India Pierer saw an increase of 59 per cent in the S2 and S3 segment, with KTM and Husqvarna reaching a market share of 6.9 per cent
Employment figures were also strong, reaching 4,888, an increase of 559 from the first half of 2020, with 80 new apprentices beginning training this year, with 200 in total in training.
Pierer Mobility also entered into a joint venture with Maxcom, in e-bike manufacturing in Plovdiv in Bulgaria, investing €40 million, with a planned capacity of 350,000 units, with commissioning due to commend in the second half of 2023.
KTM 150 EXC
With strong growth continuing, Pierer has also revised their revenue for the 2021 fiscal year, raising the guidance to €1.9-2.0 billion, up €50 million on previous predictions.
Pearson aiming to win Supersport before step up to Superbike
Some would say it has been a long time coming, however with a number of years hampered by serious injuries, it is only now that current Motorsports TV Supersport Championship points leader, Broc Pearson, looks to have found his rhythm and groove in the Championship.
A huge crash at The Bend in 2017 set a young Pearson on a long road to recovery
The talented Queenslander is no stranger to battling at the front, however serious injuries in recent years have sidelined his Championship chances, including breaking his back twice and a collar bone break last year.
Broc Pearson has certainly ridden a rollercoaster of ups and downs in recent seasons – This picture from 2017 was taken after suffering two broken legs, multiple breaks to his back, a broken shoulder and other minor injuries in a training crash.
In 2020 he finished 4th behind Champion Tom Toparis, Oli Bayliss, and Max Stauffer.
In 2021, Pearson is showing the immense talent he has, as he looks to be as one with his City2Surf Locksmith and YRD backed Yamaha YZF R6, smashing lap records on the way to two victories and two second places from the two rounds run this year.
Broc Pearson – Image RbMotoLens
Pearson leads the Supersport Championship seven-points ahead of Tom Edwards, 13-points ahead of Max Stauffer, 28-points in front of Luke Power in 4th, and Dallas Skeer 29-points behind in 5th.
He hasn’t had it all his own way, with the talented Tom Edwards and Max Stauffer both scoring race wins, ensuring Pearson has had to work extremely hard to lead the Championship.
2021 Wakefield Park Supersport Round Podium – Image RbMotoLens
Could this be the year Pearson breaks through for his first Motorsports TV Supersport Championship title win.
“If you don’t want to win the Championship you are not a proper racer. Absolutely I would love to win the Championship, we all want to,” said Pearson.
“That is the big picture, but we are still early in the year, and have a number of rounds to go.
“I need to win as many races as I can. I think I have a good chance, but those other boys aren’t going to count themselves out either.”
Broc Pearson and his 600cc Supersport YZF-R6
Pearson puts the success of this year so far down to hard work both on and off the track and remaining injury free.
“The last few years I rode scared, after a few big knocks, whereas last year I had a small injury where I broke my collar bone, but I was able to finish the year strong.
“I was able to get much fitter, stronger, and I have more confidence coming into this year.
“I’ve become smarter in the way I ride. I’ve got pretty comfortable on the bike and finding its limit and have been able to make a lot of progression this year. It’s all come together.
“This is the first time I have come into the year injury free – touch wood – I’m really fit and have fun on the bike.”
Broc Pearson’s 600cc Supersport YZF-R6
Pearson is well aware that his main competition in Tom Edwards and Max Stauffer will be hard to beat.
“Every year the bar gets raised, and we are on the same machinery.
“Both are very different riders. Max is like a dog with a bone, Tom is always going to be there, so they are both really good riders.”
Broc Pearson gets a hug from dad at Winton
Pearson puts part of his success down to his sponsors and supporters, particularly his father, who runs City2Surf Locksmiths to help fund his racing and YRD.
“Dad puts in so much work and funds the team, and obviously I’m supported by YRD, who have been a massive help in developing me as a racer as I’ve come up through the ranks in the 300s and 600s.
“I’ve also got some great local support from North Queensland Finance Solutions and Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey who help me go racing.
“We are just a small family father and son team, and we do what we can with the great support we receive.”
Broc Pearson leading at Wakefield Park – Image Neil Cameron
During the break from racing, Pearson test rode the Penrite Honda Superbike of Troy Herfoss in Queensland, as did a number of other high profile riders.
While Pearson enjoyed the opportunity, his main focus is on winning the 2021 Championship, which he hopes will open the door to an Alpinestars Superbike ride in 2022.
Broc Pearson – Image RbMotoLens
Motorsports TV Supersport Championship Standings
Pos
Rider
Total
1
Broc PEARSON
91
2
Tom EDWARDS
84
3
Max STAUFFER
78
4
Luke POWER
63
5
Dallas SKEER
62
6
Jack PASSFIELD
58
7
Scott NICHOLSON
58
8
Aidan HAYES
47
9
Rhys BELLING
42
10
Tom BRAMICH
41
11
Mitch KUHNE
30
12
John LYTRAS
28
13
Timothy LARGE
25
14
Luke MITCHELL
24
15
Matthew LONG
23
16
Jack HYDE
23
17
Noel MAHON
17
18
Joel TAYLOR
17
2021 ASBK Championship Calendar (Updated)
Round 6 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC (SBK Only 2+4 with Supercars) October 22 – 24
Round 7 & 8 – The Bend Motorsport Park, SA November 11 – 14* (Double Header Round) *Except SBK who will have a single round x3 races = 1x Race Saturday and 2x Sunday)
Round 9 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC December 3 – 5
