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Chia Motor PJ Kawasaki Appreciation Night

Chia Motor PJ Kawasaki Appreciation Night paid homage to those who brought the team to success.
The team captured the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship with rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman.
They had also won the Teams’ Championship.

Chia Motor PJ held a special event called Chia Motor PJ Kawasaki Appreciation Night.

The occasion celebrated their success of their rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman capturing the premier Superbike Category in the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK). The Chia Motor PJ Kawasaki team had also won the Teams’ Championship.

The event began with Chia Motor PJ’s proprietor, Keith Chia thanking the sponsors and contributors to the team. It started with Dato’ Jeffery Lim, General Manager and Director of Kawasaki Motor (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Keith mentioned that Kawasaki Malaysia had been instrumental the team’s success throughout the years. Indeed, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R was the weapon on which Azlan Shah destroyed the competition.

Next up was Kratos Motorsports Sdn. Bhd. who are the official distributor of K-Tech suspension systems in Malaysia. Kratos works hand-in-hand with Chia Motor PJ to supply K-Tech suspension solutions to motorcycle owners who demand the best in suspension technology and handling from their bikes. Azlan Shah’s racebike was fitted with K-Tech suspension components, consequently.

An award of appreciation was also handed to Bikes Republic and Moto Malaya as we covered the team’s journey through the entire 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship season. It was a real honour observing the professionalism of the team in carrying out their duties. Managing Editor Keshy Dillon received the award from Keith Chia.

Next up was Mr. Edmund Lim, the Director of Octo Galaxy Sdn. Bhd. Octo Galaxy is the official distributor Eurol Lubricant and products. Eurol sponsors the lubricants used in the team’s Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.

Lastly, a special appreciation award was handed to Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman. Keith was full of respect for the rider MSBK lap record when he qualified on pole for the two final rounds. His lap of 2:07.708s was only 2 seconds away from the times recorded in the full-blown World Superbike Championship round at SIC.

Keith also iterated on how proud he is to be a Malaysian for having a team consisting of all races and religions working together to achieve the highest accolades.

Scores of Kawasaki owners showed up for the evening, too, despite the heavy rain.

The night continued with dinner, a live band and lucky draws.

New aftersales service centre for MV Agusta motorcycles in Malaysia!

MV Agusta motorcycle owners in Malaysia were previously left out in the cold with no official service centre to maintain MV bikes.
Goh Brothers Motorcycles Sdn Bhd has entered into an agreement with MV Agusta motor S.p.A to provide official after sales service in Malaysia.
GB Workshop at The Gasket Alley will be the first workshop to provide official support for MV Agusta owners including general servicing, repairs and even warranty claims.

MV Agusta has had a chequered history in Malaysia, enjoying some success before disappearing from the mainstream for a while.

A few companies have been tasked with the distribution and dealership of the iconic brand, but not too long ago, the brand was again caught in a limbo when the last company that took on the distributorship for MV Agusta motorcycles in Malaysia sadly folded. With no official after sales support, MV Agusta owners in Malaysia were left out in the cold.

Well, the best times seem to be ahead of the company, and current owners of MV Agusta motorcycles in Malaysia have a lot to look forward to.

Goh Brothers Motorcycles Sdn Bhd (GBMC) has announced a partnership with MV Agusta (MV) Motor S.p.A to provide peace of mind for all MV owners in Malaysia. With the partnership, GBMC will start to provide aftersales support to all MV Agusta motorcycles in Malaysia, in the form of general service and maintenance, repair and even warranty claims.

The first outlet ready to accept MV owners is the GB Workshop at the renowned motorcycle hub at The Gasket Alley in Petaling Jaya.

“We are honoured to be selected as the partner for this renowned super-premium motorcycle brand in Malaysia and to start the process of building the brand and ownership experience via after sales, we have sent our team for training at the Italian factory on top of ensuring proper tools and equipment are ready on the service floor” Mr Goh Kian Sin (below), Chairman of Goh Brothers Motorcycles.

MV Agusta Motor SpA Far East Country Manager Judah Sangaran “We are working closely with GBMC to sustain and build the confidence of our current owners in our brand in Malaysia and one of the exercises now is to ensure faster availability of parts on top of reliable service and repair for all existing MV Agusta owners in Malaysia.

In charge of servicing old and new MV Agusta motorcycles is Idon Pang (above), Aftersales Manager of GB Workship, who himself has been trained by MV Agusta motorcycles in Italy. So you can rest assured that your MV Agusta is in good hands, probably better than it has ever been.

Models of MV Agusta sold in Malaysia include F3 800, F4, F4RR, Brutale 1090, Brutale 1090RR, Brutale 1090 Corse, Brutale 800, Brutale 800RR, Brutale Dragster, Brutale Dragster 800RR, Rivale, Turismo Veloce, Stradale, and MV Agusta models prior to 2015.

Biker Volunteered his Yamaha R1 to Thai Cop in Chase

A biker volunteered his Yamaha R1 to a cop to chase down a hit-and-run suspect.
He decided to help after seeing the pickup driver smash through a police roadblock.
He and the policeman chased down the truck and stopped it.

In what seemed like a scene out of a action movie, a Thai cop chased down a hit-and-run suspect on a Yamaha R1 in Phang Nga, Krabi Province.

Ao Lueak Police Chief Col. Kritsanat Wongklaharn said that they received a call by the Phang Nga police that a pickup truck was fleeing to Krabi after a hit-and-run incident. The Ao Lueak police set up a checkpoint but the truck broke through the roadblock at Na Nuea.

A Yamaha YZF-R1 rider saw what happened and offered a policeman to jump on the back. The other policemen followed behind.

The pair on the R1 managed to chase down the truck and the policeman shot the front tyre but the former kept going. The policeman fired more warning shots and the driver was eventually stopped by police at the Seaboard Road in Krabi.

Drug tests on the 21-year-old suspect was came up positive. He told his captors that he had had an argument with his wife prior to the rampage.

He was subsequently charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving with disregard for others’ safety, driving through stop signs and reckless driving.

The biker should receive a medal, in our opinion.

Foggy-Petronas FP1 – Malaysia’s Own Superbike

Malaysia had our own superbike called the Foggy-Petronas FP1.
Built for WSBK racing from 2003, homologation called for 150 units.
Petronas and Momoto got into a legal case and importation stalled.

Did you know Malaysia did have our own superbike? Yes, we had the Foggy-Petronas FP1.

Background of the Foggy-Petronas FP1

Produced between January to July 2003, it was a homologation model for World Superbike Racing. Petronas and Sauber Petronas Engineering originally developed the Petronas 989cc GP1 prototype for MotoGP racing. However, the decided that they should try in Superbike racing first. The Suber Petronas F1 venture shot Petronas into international fame.

The FIM capped at 750cc for four cylinders, 900cc for triple, 1000cc for twins, however. In order to comply, the FP1’s engine capacity became 899.5cc. Petronas needed to produce 150 road-legal bikes for FIM Superbike homologation. The 899.5cc inline-Triple produced 127.4 bhp @ 10,000 RPM and 92.0 Nm @ 9,700 RPM. (The 300 PM space between max torque and max horsepower makes the engine peaky.) The FP1 is reputed to weigh only 181kg, giving the bike a good power-to-weight ratio, on the other hand.

Check out how it sounds like in Malaysia (possibly at Naza).

MSX International built the first 75 units in the UK by January 2003. They passed homologation inspection to contest in that year’s WSBK championship. Modenas needed to assemble the last 75 units by July 2003. Plans called for 100 for the public and 50 for racing.

World Superbike Racing

The Malaysian petroleum giant then secured the services of four-time WSBK Champion Carl “Foggy” Fogarty to run the team and the bike became better known as Foggy-Petronas FP1. The riders were WSBK Champion Troy Corser and James Haydon.

Unfortunately, the FIM shafted the entire FP1 racing concern. Suddenly, a new rule allowed ALL engine formats up to 1000cc. Sadly, everyone else outgunned the FP1, as a result.

In 2004, the FIM required that all bikes use Pirelli control tyres. In retaliation, the Japanese factory teams pulled out, leaving the Ducatis to run amok during the season. However, that allowed Corser to finish 2^ndin San Marino. New signing Chris Walker finished 3^rdat the Valencia season opener.

Momoto sues Petronas

In 2010, Motor Cycle New (MCN) discovered 60 FP1s in storage at Basildon, Essex. They were part of the first 75-unit batch to be shipped to Malaysia.

Malaysian motorcycle distributor bought them plus another 69 derelict ones and rebranded them as the Momoto MM1 in 2012. Unbeknownst to Momoto, Petronas had not paid for the approved permits (AP), customs and excise duties, which led to the Malaysian government seizing all 129 bikes.

Momoto sued Petronas for USD 83 million in 2013. The bikes ended up being forgotten.

Enter Lazante Motorsports

Fortunately, there seems to light on the horizon as the British race car restoration firm, Lazante Motorsports has acquired the bikes and will refurbish them to the original Petronas-green colour. It’s got the older-style four-piston Brembo brake calipers and Öhlins forks.

How will Petronas and Momoto react? We don’t know, but we do know that the intriguing Foggy-Petronas FP1 will be available at USD 32,000.

View this post on Instagram

Foggy Petronas FP1 World Super bikes. A rare two wheeled project we are working on with @andy74b. All bikes being put into full working order and made available with all spare parts backup. #lanzante #fp1 #wsbk #carlfogarty #petronas #roadlegal #2wheels, images by @gilesrozier17

A post shared by Lanzante (@the_real_lanzante) on Dec 4, 2018 at 2:39pm PST

Shadowfax Motorcycle Club Malaysia Hosted Deepavali Open House

Shadowfax Motorcycle Club Malaysia celebrated Deepavali by hosting an open house.
Motorcycle clubs and groups from all over Malaysia and Brunei attended.
Shadowfax also invited underprivileged kids.

Shadowfax Motorcycle Club Malaysia held their annual Deepavali Open House on 25^thNovember 2018.

Since founded by Dato’ Anand in 2015, the MC has been racking up the mileage on their beloved Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The group are pure Harley enthusiasts. The founder himself started riding in 1998 and has been collecting Harley-Davidson’s anniversary models including the recent 115^thAnniversary CVO Limited.

Motorcycle clubs and groups from Brunei, Johor, Penang, Perak and Central Malaysia attended the open house. The scene was of harmony while rolling thunder from Harleys echoed through the street of Damansara Perdana. It was a display of brotherhood and sisterhood irrespective of race and religion.

Shadowfax MC also invited 27 children from Pusat Kanak-kanak Istimewas, Lagenda Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kanak-kanak Istimewa Klang, Selangor. The MC distributed gifts of school necessities and red packets to the younglings.

Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) participated in the joyous occasion of being the rendezvous point for Harley riders before heading to the open house. A pack of 25 Harleys left the dealership for the celebrations.

“HDPJ always supports band of brothers and sisters from all over the winding road. As long as it is a Harley, we are family,” according to HDPJ’s Press Release.

BMW Motorrad Working on 1800cc Boxer Platform?

BMW Motorrad teases with a new 1800cc Boxer engine.
The manufacturer contracted Custom Works Zon built a custom bike around it.
Rumors say BMW will build a cruiser.

It seems like BMW Motorrad is working on a new model platform based on a new 1800cc Boxer engine.

However, rather than producing a teaser video, BMW contracted Yuichi Yoshizawa and Yoshikazu Ueda of Custom Works Zon to build a show bike called “R18” around the new engine. The build has already picked up multiple awards on the custom bike circuit.

The new engine is reputed to feature pushrod valve actuation and retaining air/oil-cooling. BMW Motorrad is mum apart from that information.

But what bike would they fit it into? BMW has every segment covered except for a true heritage-style cruiser. It would make sense because BMW could capitalize on the shrinking segment by introducing their iteration of the cruiser.

The manufacturer has already shown that they could utilize the older air/oil-cooled Boxer in the r nine T heritage platform. However, as the impending Euro5 regulations close down on emissions, the 1800cc displacement would make up for the lost power. Additionally, the large capacity would also bring BMW up to challenge heavyweight cruisers from Harley and Indian.