The number 42 rider completed 61 laps in total on the opening day and was in good spirits when reflecting on his day: “Today I felt quite good. It’s always a little bit hard when we come back from holidays to be on a good rhythm and go fast. But sincerely today I felt strong, with the new bike, 2019, we had good race pace. For sure tomorrow we will try new things because today we didn’t have enough time, but sincerely I’m happy because the Suzuki guys worked really hard this winter and they brought a lot of things.”
Despite still suffering the effects from surgery on his left shoulder during the winter break, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has topped the timesheets on Day 1 at the Sepang Test after setting a 1:59.621, going 0.259 faster than second place Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and 0.316 quicker than third place Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as 2019 revs back into life. Marquez completed 29 laps on Day 1 before stopping in the early afternoon to give his left shoulder a rest ahead of the next two days, with the reigning World Champion heading for more physio in the afternoon. Teammate Jorge Lorenzo sits out the test due to injury, but there were three Hondas in the top ten as Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), fastest in Jerez, took seventh and Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) ended Day 1 in P9, just under six tenths off Marquez.
A radio jock has called for a motorcycle ban on Melbourne’s Monash Freeway after a fatality that police have already blamed on the rider, even before any crash investigation.
The accident happened about 8am today (February 6, 2019) near the Blackburn Road on-ramp.
Media reports already claim the rider was “lane splitting at speed”, hit a couple of cars and ended up under the wheels of a truck. The as-yet unnamed rider tragically died at the scene.
The Motorcycle Riders Association of Victoria immediately called on police to stop giving opinions on road crashes to the media before a proper crash investigation and on Mitchell to “stop vilifying riders”.
“Police at bike crash sites often give opinions on causes to the media,” says MRA Victoria spokesman Damien Codognotto.
“They do this before any real science can be done. Preempting the coroner/court is not tolerated in other crashes or crimes.”
He says the radio shock jock needs to recognise that motorcycle and scooter riders are “legitimate, environmentally-friendly road users who more than pay their way”.
“As electric bikes become the norm numbers of two-wheelers will continue to grow,” he says.
“It behoves community voices like Mitchel to promote harmony on our roads, not hate”.
Shepherds Australia Foundation cofounder Dean Marks says there is too much comment in the media before the “appropriate facts” are investigated.
“What should be reported is the collision, outcome and that the matter is under investigation.
“Until complete, it would be unfair and unreasonable to make further comment.
“We are constantly seeing the cart before the horse which forces people into sides before any investigation has been undertaken.”
Riders have been calling for proper analysis of motorcycle crashes for years, rather than relying on incomplete and hastily concluded crash investigations by police.
Last year, the Victorian La Trobe University unveiled a plan to create a national road trauma research hub at its Bendigo campus, in a bid to reduce Australia’s regional road toll.
This was welcomed by rider representatives.
However, efforts to check on the progress of the plan have failed. Riders groups claim it may have just been a media stunt to attract funding.
Meanwhile, the Victorian Motorcycle Expert Advisory Panel has not sat since before the state election.
Victorian motorcycle campaigner and former No 1 member of the Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia Rodney Brown says the current motorcycle death rate makes it vital the committee meets soon.
He has contacted new Roads Minister Jaala Pulford urging the government to “start talking to the motorcycle community to gather overall feedback and act upon it”.
GSR Kawasaki rider targeting suspension and braking improvements.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Glenn Scott believes an additional private test this Friday at Sydney Motorsport Park will play a crucial role in setting up his season for success.
The privateer rider wound up 18th on the overall timesheets at last weekend’s Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) test in Phillip Island, sampling a new tyre from Pirelli for the first time aboard his Kawasaki ZX-10R.
“Friday will be great to get on the bike again,” Scott explained. “Any ride time for us right now is valuable and we still have plenty to test. Friday, we will be trying some new valving in the front forks and also some parts to help improve our braking.
“There is no denying we struggled to find a set-up over the two days at Phillip Island, hovering around the P15 mark all weekend. Lack of testing over the summer break really caught myself and the team out, as most teams seemed very comfortable on arrival to the island.
“Despite our lack of time on bike we felt good on the bike, we looked comfortable on track, however we unfortunately couldn’t put together a lap-time. The most challenging part of the weekend was getting used to the new Pirelli tyre. A few more sessions with the new tyre are needed as factory teams clearly showed the tyre works well with the likes of Wayne Maxwell popping out a beauty of a lap.”
The ASBK kicks off on 21-24 February at Phillip Island, running conjunction with the FIM Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) opener.
Elsewhere, Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has been testing a modified seat, the Frenchman currently sitting 17th fastest. Sticking with KTM, the Austrian factory have been testing a new exhaust, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) eighth on the timesheets at the minute – 0.692 off Marquez.
Mike Jones, 2015 Australian Superbike Champion, has been a familiar face at previous pre-season tests in the past few years before venturing overseas.
This year he was again in attendance at the recent ASBK Test session at Phillip Island, onboard a Kawasaki ZX-10R on loan from Matt Harding.
Jones has committed to doing the opening round of the ASBK at Phillip Island but, unlike the last three years, has no immediate plans beyond that in regards to where he will be racing for season 2019.
We caught up with him over the weekend for a brief chat.
Mike Jones Interview
Phillip Island, Official ASBK Test 2019
MCNews: First up what were you doing here?
Mike Jones: I’m having a ride around, I’m doing the ASBK test here in preparation for Round 1 of the ASBK. That’s the plan at the moment.
Mike Jones at Phillip Island in 2018 – Image by TBG Sport
MCNews: So what happens after Round 1 in two weeks time?
Mike Jones: Not too sure, haven’t got anything solid yet, I’m still looking at options overseas as I don’t currently have anything right now. So that’s the position I’m in.
MCNews: You’ve been pretty up and down since you won the championship in 2015.
Mike Jones: I won the Australian Championship 2015 then raced for Desmosport Ducati 2016, and that was a tough year. The Ducati was new to the whole team so we had, I spose you’d say, teething problems. That made things quite tough, but we showed some potential there on the Ducati and Troy helped me get a ride with the Aruba.it Ducati team in the European Superstock 1000 Championship in 2017, I had a reasonable year there. For a year racing in Europe, I was fifth overall in the Championship, which was a pretty solid overall effort.
Mike Jones in the FIM Stock 1000 Championship in 2017
“Then with the Superstock 1000 championship being discontinued it meant I was looking for a ride elsewhere, so then I changed completely to a different manufacturer, different tyre, different team, different tracks, so everything was brand new again, and I still finished fourth overall in the Spanish Championship. So while it may seem up and down, it’s still been progressing upwards in my opinion, and I feel like I’ve been showing some strong results over there, on the podium in Europe and Spain, that for me has been pretty good.
“Right at the moment I’ve come to a point where, it seems like a lot of the teams are really struggling for budget and asking the riders for budget, so trying to get the budget together is the most difficult thing right now. Especially because I’ve been in the position where I haven’t really had to bring budget to a team, so I’m not really prepared for that.”
MCNews: So the first question they ask is how much money have you got?
Mike Jones: “And my answer is I have nothing, as I’ve been paid enough to live, but not enough to go racing with your team.”
Mike Jones at the 2018 Australian MotoGP round – Image by AJRN
MCNews: Is it looking more and more that you’re going to be doing ASBK?
Mike Jones: “Yeah, it seems that way right at the moment. Racing in the Australian Superbike Championship, but I’m still looking and trying to race overseas.”
MCNews: Where’s the strongest option at the moment?
Mike Jones: “Probably Asia at the moment, I’m looking in Asia and it might be possible, there’s possibly something there.
Mike Jones at the Phillip Island Official ASBK Test – Image by Rob Mott
McNews: And what about the two days here?
Mike Jones: “I had a good weekend, we’re riding KNR Hydraulics Kawasaki, one of Matt Harding’s bikes, so it’s a first time for me today on that bike, and we tried a bunch of different stuff for geomoetry and suspension, a few small electronic changes, but we made progress all day. I started to get comfortable on the bike, so it’s been a really good first day and I feel like if we continue on this path, with the progress we’re making, there shouldn’t be any reason I can’t be competitive at the first round here.”
MCNews: All the best in whatever you do mate, it would be good to see you mixing it up down here.
MJ: “You never know!”
The first round of the Australian Superbike Championship will be held alongside the opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island 22-24 February.
Kawasaki Superbike – Phillip Island Test – Merged classification
Helmet launch attended by over 200 riders and motorcycle enthusiasts.
Image: Supplied.
Bell Powersports Australia has released its all-new Eliminator helmet with an official launch at the Gold Coast Creative House, where over 200 diverse riders and motorcycle enthusiasts attended.
The inside of the warehouse played host to an open bar provided by Young Henrys and a variance of motorcycle models and makes, as the Eliminator itself tries to cover a wide market rather than cater to a particular rider style. Outside saw the Show and Shine, food truck and plenty of motorcycle parking for all attendees.
Recently-crowned two-time Dakar Rally champion and Bell athlete Toby Price headlined a list of professional riders and personalities, which included Dan Reardon, Harry Bink, Emma McFerran, Matt McFerran, April Vaughn and Matt Mingay.
The focus was to draw in the broader motorcycle community by creating an event that spoke to several tiers of the public, stockists and influencers alike, engaging them into the Bell ethos and pushing forward the thinking that not only is Bell consistently at the forefront of helmet evolution and safety, but also still true to it’s roots of a genuine passion for motorcycles.
The Eliminator is the new helmet from Bell Powersports that encompasses a bygone era of racing and on-trend design aesthetics. Available in either composite or carbon fibre shells, the lid boasts an unique ventilation design that adds style and functional advantages over its competition.
The ProVision shield is ECE certified, vastly outperforming the standard’s mist-retardant test, and is designed for all ranges of uses from everyday commuting to extreme competition. For more information, visit www.bellhelmets.com.
ASBK return on the cards for Jones at Phillip Island opener
Complete plans for 2019 campaign not yet locked in for the former champion.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Former premier class champion Mike Jones has revealed he’ll make a return to the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Phillip Island’s opening round on 21-24 February.
Jones been racing internationally for the past two seasons, most recently contesting the Spanish Superstock 1000 champion with Speed Racing Team Kawasaki, while also making a guest MotoGP appearance at the Island in 2018 with Angel Nieto Team.
The Queenslander was on-track at the weekend’s official ASBK test aboard a 2018 edition Kawasaki ZX-10RR, winding up 10th on the timesheets after laying down his best-time in the final session on Sunday afternoon.
Without any plans in place for the 2019 season, Jones says Phillip Island’s first stop is an opportunity to remain sharp on the motorcycle as he endeavours to lock down his program for the year, with hopes of remaining on the international circuit.
“I’ll be racing round one of the ASBK at Phillip Island,” Jones revealed to CycleOnline.com.au. “We were at the ASBK test to get some practice in and try to get myself up to speed in preparation for the event.
“It’s actually a 2018 Kawasaki ZX-10RR [that I’m riding] owned by K&R Hydraulics and Maverick Race Developments, it’s their bike and I’m just sort of borrowing it at the moment for the first round. The goal for me is to progress in my career, and to race overseas is that goal. Right now at the moment, I don’t have anything confirmed.
“So the idea is to race the first round to keep me in the seat and riding – keep the eye in – and we’ll see what comes of it. It was awesome [to be back] – I got to catch up with a lot of people and see some familiar faces. Obviously, the ASBK field is very competitive – it’s gotten a lot stronger in the couple of years that I’ve been overseas.
“It’s really good to come back and be in such a competitive field. It’s just awesome for Australia to have that level of competitiveness and I’m really looking forward to racing the guys at the first round.”
Round one of the ASBK will be held in conjunction with the FIM Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) opener.
Riders experience skin irritations from lime mixture.
Image: Supplied.
Feld Entertainment, the promoter of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, has addressed the drying agent it utilised at the weekend’s rain-drenched fifth round in San Diego after ongoing backlash from riders and personnel.
The drying agent, a mix of lime and sand, caused skin irritation to a number of riders while additional damage to their machines was also sustained in the encounter.
The promoter has stated its reaching out to participants from the weekend’s Californian stop to ensure the welfare of riders, declaring its reviewing the current process behind dealing with excessive amounts of water.
“The wellbeing of our riders, their teams and our crew is always a top priority for us at all supercross events,” the statement read. “Given last week’s forecast of rain for Saturday’s event in San Diego, the track crew took normal precautions to ensure a safe and raceable track.
“Prior to the qualifying rounds and main events, they removed the protective tarp and applied a drying agent, a lime and sand mixture, to treat two areas on the track to try and remove moisture from the dirt. This process has been used safely for decades at supercross to dry dirt and thereby reduce the risk of accidents for the riders.
“It appears that the unprecedented amount of rain on Saturday prevented the lime from mixing with the soil as usual. This resulted in splashing of the riders and their bikes, which may have caused skin irritation to some riders and damage to their bikes.
“We are currently reaching out to each rider who participated in Saturday’s race to assess the extent of the impact, ensure their welfare and get them back on their bikes racing. We are also reviewing our existing processes to deal with excessive water on the track to prevent a recurrence.”
A selection of top tier riders have spoken about being unable to train during the week because of burns and skin irritation, including Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen. The AMA Supercross series returns to action this weekend at Minnesota for the first east coast stop of the tour.
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