Amirul Azreen, Author at BikesRepublic.com

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Amirul Azreen

Dutch GP: Francesco Bagnaia Wins As Fabio Quartararo Crashes Twice

Francesco Bagnaia is back to winning ways after claiming a sensational win at the Dutch GP, while Fabio Quartararo crashes twice at Turn 5 on the M1.

Bagnaia handed Ducati first win at the Dutch GP since Casey Stoner in 2008.
Quartararo crashses twice at Turn 5 before retiring after suffering a violent highside.

Unlike a week ago, Bagnaia managed to fend off Quartararo on the run to turn one.

Quartararo was then pushed to third by a charging Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, while Bagnaia took the opportunity to widen the gap.

Later on, Quartararo made his first blunder of the season as he crashed into Espargaro at Turn 5 in a rash attempt to regain the time lost to Bagnaia.

The mistake cost him dearly as he was then pushed at the way into last place while Espargaro – who was running second behind Bagnaia – had to make the climb from fifteenth.

However, it wasn’t a ‘down and out’ storyline for the Aprilia rider, as he began lapping five-tenths quicker than the leaders. Espargaro quickly reeled off Alex Marquez and Alex Rins.

Quartararo then made his way to the pit lane before deciding to continue on. However, the Frenchman’s dreadful run comes to an end when his M1 viciously high-sided on the exit of Turn 5.

It was a poor day for Yamaha as three out of four of their riders resulted in a DNF, with Franco Morbidelli and Darryn Binder (RNF Racing) also suffering a crash.

Meanwhile, Marco Bezzechi, who started fourth, took second place with Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales and claimed his first podium of the season on board the RS-GP 22.

Nevertheless, the rider of the day award went to (Aleix) Espargaro, who managed to climb all the way to seventh before making it fourth on the final lap.

The Spaniard produced one of the best overtakes, if not the best of the season when he overtook both Brad Binder and Jack Miller at the final corner.

On the other hand, Quartararo leads the championship with 172 points, followed by Espargaro (151 pts) and Johann Zarco (114 pts). Bagnaia is backed in contention with 106 pts, followed by fellow Ducati Enea Bastianini (105pts).

OFFICIAL: Alex Marquez Switch To Gresini For 2023

Alex Marquez has officially made the switch to Ducati for the 2023 season.

The two-time World Champion will partner Fabio Di Giannantonio at the Gresini Racing team, replacing Enea Bastianini.
The announcement came ahead of Sunday’s action at the Motul TT Assen.

Marquez will replace Bastianini with the Italian set to be moving to either factory Ducati or Pramac Racing Ducati in 2023.

As the 2014 Moto3 and 2019 Moto2 winner, including 40 podiums and 12 race wins, the 26-year-old will venture into his fourth season in the premier class for the first time onboard a Ducati machinery.

“I’m happy to announce that I’ll be joining Team Gresini MotoGP, and I’m also very excited to be starting this new adventure: it was crucial for me to change to recover the same type of motivation I had when I first joined this class.

“This was the best option for me, with a team that helped write the history of this championship. I want to thank Nadia, Carlo and all the GR staff for believing in me. I still have half a season left to do my best before starting 2023 with top motivation,” said Marquez.

Meanwhile, Di Giannantonio is already having a bright start to his career in his rookie season, after claiming his first pole position and eighth place as the best result so far.

“I’m really happy to extend my partnership with this team, which is like a family to me. It’s great because we’ll continue on this learning curve, and we’ll be doing so with a Ducati – and that makes me very happy.

“Continuity is key in MotoGP in order to be able to work on myself to be the best possible. We have been working on this contract extension for a little while, and now we can finally announce it.

“Obviously the goals will be higher: we’ll be using this second part of the season to improve our results and then next year I really want to make that step up,” said the Italian.

5 Things To Know About The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R Set To Land In Malaysia Next Year

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R is finally coming to Malaysia, two years after its official debut in Indonesia.

The ZX-25R is fitted with the smallest inline 4-cylinder engine in the market.
A high revving machine, the quarter litre screamer can go up to 17,000rpm.

The quarter-litre screamer will arrive early next year by the newly appointed distributor and partner, MODENAS.

The confirmation news was delivered by none other than MODENAS CEO Roslan Roskam, during our recent visit to the company factory plant, in Gurun, Kedah.

While we wait for the ZX-25R imminent arrival, let’s take a look at what makes the smallest inline-4 an exciting machine to look out for.

1. High rev ceiling.

To put things in perspective, a factory MotoGP bike can rev up to 18,000 rpm while an F1 car can go up to 15,000rpm.

The ZX-25R can go up to 17,000rpm, and you can get to 10,000 rpm just by riding to the nearest ‘Mamak stall’. Let that sink in.

This makes the ZX-25R an impressive engineering machine brought to you by the brilliant mind from Kawasaki.

2. Small yet powerful engine.

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R gets you a 249.8cc, DOHC, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 16-valve, in-line 4-cylinder capable of delivering 51hp @ 15,500rpm and maximum torque of 22.9Nm @ 14,500rpm.

The impressive power figure puts the bike at the top of the 250cc segment.

3. Not a beginner-friendly bike as you might expect.

With such a high rev ceiling, the power only kicks in at a dizzying 15,500rpm, and below 10,000rpm, there is pretty much nothing.

This makes the bike a bit challenging to ride, especially for new riders who might get caught out when the power kicks in all at once at 15,000rpm.

4. Perfect track bike.

To be fair, most track-oriented machines cost a fortune and the cheapest option with the proper specs you can get your hands on are 600cc supersport motorcycle.

However, Kawasaki realised that twins and singles mostly dominate the 250cc and 300cc class, and while they are good enough to take you around the track, they don’t make a lot of power.

The ZX-25R is the perfect high-revving motorcycle for the track, and with 50hp, it currently has no competition.

5. Phenomenal soundtrack.

No word can best describe how good is the sound that comes out of the ZX-25R. We suggest it might be best to take a look at the video shared by Kawasaki Indonesia.

A reminder, the bike in the video is installed with Akrapovic full system exhaust, so the eargasm is not a joke.

Honda Retro Scrambler CL250 Likely Coming For 2023

Honda is set to introduce a new retro scrambler based on the Rebel 250 for 2023.

the CL250 will be built based on the Rebel 250 engine and chassis.
shares the same 249cc single-cylinder engine that makes 25hp and 22Nm.

Japanese publication Young Machine previously revealed Honda’s plan to launch an all-new CL500 scrambler based on the engine and frame of the Rebel 500.

The rumour relating to CL500 has been making its round in Japan for some time, but it was only recently that Honda essentially confirmed the new retro scrambler after filing trademarks for the CL500.

However, new evidence has emerged that Honda plans to add a smaller CL250 alongside the 500cc variant.

Like the CL500, the smaller retro scrambler will borrow the same engine and chassis structure from the Rebel 250, currently on sale in the Asian market.

Honda Thailand recently filed a trademark application for the CL300 name due to the fact that there is where Honda manufactured the Rebel 300 and Rebel 500.

Honda also applied for the CL500 naming rights in several other countries, including Thailand and Australia, suggesting that the new model will likely be launched later this year.

Meanwhile, the upcoming CL250 is expected to offer 25.6hp and 22Nm thanks to the 249cc single-cylinder engine found in the Rebel 250.

Malaguti Rolls Out 2022 Madison 150 Scooter In Thailand – From RM9.9k

Italian scooter maker Malaguti has announced its entrance into the South-East Asia market with the introduction of the new Madison 150 compact scooter.

The century-old brand will take on the likes of Yamaha Aerox (NVX) 155 and Honda PCX 160.
the Madison 150 was built based on the Madison 125 in Europe.

Despite the Italian heritage, the Madison 150 bodywork is somewhat similar to other Japanese 150cc scooters in the market, with the side profile giving the same vibe as the Yamaha Aerox 155.

Power comes from a 149.3cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that pushes out 13hp and 11Nm, and is mated to a CVT transmission with final belt drive.

Other key features include a smart key system with immobiliser, LCD digital instrument cluster, USB charging port and a 10L fuel tank.

The Madison 150 misses out on ABS in place of CBS (combined braking system) and features telescopic forks at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear.

Nevertheless, the Malaguti Madison 150 is available in four colour options; red, dark green, white and red and is priced at THB79,800 (RM9.9k).

2023 KTM 450 Rally Replica Gets WP XACT Pro Suspension, Akrapovic Exhaust

KTM 450 Rally Replica is back for 2023, featuring race-winning technology that makes it the closes production bike you can get to a factory race machine.

Exclusive electronic injection 450cc SOHC engine.
Competition chassis developed during the race.
48 mm WP XACT PRO closed cartridge fork with Cone Valve technology.
Fully adjustable WP XACT PRO mono-shock.
Akrapovič race exhaust system.
Designed for cross-country competitions.

Dominating the Dakar Rally for the past two decades, the 2023 edition gets all the exciting goodies beginning with WP XACT Pro 48mm with Cone Valve front suspension and a fully-adjustable shock at the rear.

Not only that, but the new 450 Rally Replica also gained the same steel frame and transmission as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing uses.

In return, the 450 Rally Replica is about as close as a production bike is going to get to a factory machine.

The bike’s 450cc single-cylinder SOHC 4-stroke powertrain delivers 60hp and is further enhanced by an engine management system from Keihin and Akrapovic race exhaust.

Ensuring the bike can keep going, the 450 Rally Replica is fitted with a massive 35L fuel tank.

Norton Accept Bookings For 2023 V4SV Superbike – RM237k

Norton Motorcycles have announced that bookings are now open for the company’s flagship V4SV superbike.

The V4SV is the first model to roll out of the factory since the acquisition by TVS.
The flagship superbike offer 185hp and full carbon fibre bodywork.

However, delivery will only occur after the first builds are delivered to customers who placed their orders before TVS Motor Company acquired the British motorcycle brand in April 2020.

“It is a hugely proud moment to announce that customers can now buy the re-engineered V4SV.

“I would like to thank the Norton team, customers and fans for their continued support for joining us on this journey in bringing Norton and V4SV to life,”
said Norton CEO, Dr. Robert Hentschel.

According to reports, the V4SV superbike is the first motorcycle to roll off the production line 18 months after TVS had to re-engineer the bike following the discovery of 35 faults in the previous built under former owner Stuart Garner.

A liquid-cooled 1200cc 72-degree V4 engine powers the Norton V4SV and can pump 185hp at 12,500rpm, making it a close rival to the Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR.

Other neat features available on the V4SV include:

carbon fibre fuel tank
carbon fibre bodywork
handcrafted TIG-wielded aluminium tube frame

The V4SV is being built at Norton’s new Solihull HQ, developed as part of a new investment from TVS with the promise of delivering up to 8,000 units annually.

For those interested to placed an order, the Norton V4SV is priced at GBP44,000 (RM237k).

IOMTT: TT Start Line Official Bows Out After Almost 70 Years

An Isle of Man TT start line official who has been responsible for giving riders the tap on the shoulders at the start of the race has retired after 68 years involvement with the iconic race.

Paul Kermode has spend nearly 70 years with the Isle of Man TT races since 1954.
23-time John McGuiness was his last send off at the 2022 IOMTT.

Paul Kermode, 79, first volunteered with the TT back in 1954 as a scout working on the scoreboard before taking over the job as a start line official.

Kermode bowed out after the first Superbike race whereby his final shoulder tap happened to be 23-time winner John McGuinness’.

“When he came down to the line to start, he shook my hand and said: ‘happy retirement,.

“I think it’s been great to be able to do it,” he said.

Kermode been giving the famous shoulder tap for the past 15 years and despite not keeping count, he estimates that he has send thousands of riders away at the TT race and Manx GP.

“It had to come to an end at some time and that was the perfect way to do it, with John’s hundredth.

“I marshalled the early morning practices from 16. I couldn’t do race week, because I worked for the newspapers and we printed a TT special and no staff were allowed off.

“I might get out on the course somewhere now and watch them. In this day and age there’s not many people that will do something for nothing, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it over time. The early morning practices were something else,” he added.

(Source: MCN)

Two-Wheel Drive Ultra Bike Is The Perfect Doomsday Motorcycle – RM9.7k

If you are one of those ‘doomsday preppers’, then the 2×2 Ultra Bike is what you need to get you going.

features 2WD function and a maximum range of 65km.
the Ultra Bike can float on water.

The Ultra Bike is a subject of a crowdfunding effort on Indigogo developed by a US-based Robo System and features a two-wheel drive.

Not only that, but the Ultra Bike can also float on water.

The Ultra Bike boast a pair of small, hub-mounted electric motors powered b a central battery pack. The hub motors ensure that complex transmission is not needed to engage the 2WD.

Robo System claimed that the Ultra Bike could get you up to 65km range thanks to the 48v, 35Ah battery pack, while the top speed is maxed out at 50km/h.

If you plan to explore outside your doomsday vault, the Ultra Bike can carry an extra 5L of fuel at the tail, and the wheels can be used as a water/fuel tank.

The bike can also be equipped with a removable 800-watt generator that could help recharge the battery if the bike runs dry in the wild.

According to reports, the Ultra Bike weighs just 55kg (dry), making it the perfect companion to overcome obstacles easily. The wheels also act as an ideal buoyant to cross rivers, and side floats can be added to keep the bike upright, with the wheels acting as paddles.

The Ultra Bike is available for just GBP1,790 (RM9.7k).

Triumph Motorcycles Acquires Electric Dirt Bike Specialist OSET

Triumph Motorcycles has announced it has acquired kids electric bike builder OSET.

Founded in OSET has sold over 40,000 bikes worldwide.
OSET specializes in electric dirt bikes for kids.

According to Triumph, the deal allows both companies to share their expertise and grow internationally together.

OSET was established in 2004 by Ian Smith, who wanted to build an electric dirt bike for his son, Oliver.

After moving to a new UK headquarters in East Sussex from America in 2010, OSET has sold more than 40,000 bikes globally by developing an in-house electric powertrain.

Meanwhile, the latest acquisition by Triumph comes just ahead of the anticipated launch of the company’s motocross and enduro range.

“The acquisition of OSET sits within Triumph’s strategy of entering the off-road segment.

“We are excited about the opportunity of joining forces with OSET Bikes: a dynamic brand that has been encouraging children into motorcycling for many years and have been at the forefront of developing electric trials bikes for fun and competition,” said Nick Bloor, Triumph CEO.

Meanwhile, Smith has assured that the OSET brand will remain as it is despite the acquisition by Triumph.

“The OSET brand will remain as OSET and will continue to serve the trials and off-road motorcycling community.

“We are now better positioned to develop and innovate across our range while enjoying the security of scale and market position Triumph can offer OSET,” he said.

New Yamaha YZF-R1 Possibly On Its Way For 2023

The International Motorcycling Federation recently updated the list of FIM-approved competition vehicles for 2023.

The spreadsheet includes a track-only Yamaha R6 Race and YZF-R1.
The 2023 track-only R1 could indicate a newly updated street-legal R1 is underway.

The approved list titled “FIM Recognized Competition Vehicles” mostly comprised motocross, enduro, trail and cross country motorcycles and ATVs.

The list also includes a few track-only sportsbike, including the Honda NSF100, NSF250R and the Yamaha R6 Race that continues to be available in the market as a track-only machine after the street-legal model was discontinued.

However, FIM recently updated the list by adding one more model, a new 2023 Yamaha YZF1000W.

For those unaware, the YZF1000 is the Japanese manufacturer’s internal name for the YZF-R1, while the flagship YZF-R1M carries the YZF1000D code.

According to reports, FIM updated the documents on June 15 after receiving Yamaha’s submission on June 9.

While the internal code refers to a new track-only Yamaha R1 for the 2023 model year, it could also indicate that the Japanese marquee is set to introduce a street-legal 2023 YZF-R1 too.

While the matter is still inconclusive, the R1 is due for an update with the current-generation R1 is already seven years in the market since its introduction in 2015. Although Yamaha revised the R1 in 2020 to meet Euro 5 emission standard, it is the right time to introduce a new generation going into 2023.

If there is a new 2023 YZF-R1, there is a good chance there could also be a new 2023 YZF-R1M on its way, which we could find out soon enough.

(Source: Motorcycle.com)

BMW Motorrad Developing An Electric Boxer Motorcycle

BMW made it clear that the future is electric and began its serious electrification project by introducing the CE 04 earlier this year.

latest patent application reveals a new electric powertrain is being built according to the iconic Boxer engine.
the protruding Boxer engine will place both the battery and motor along with cooling system.

BMW chairman Oliver Zipse also claimed that BMW Motorrad will launch a new electric two-wheeler every 18 to 24 months, with the following model scheduled to arrive in 2023.

While the CE 04 and other initial models are labelled as urban mobility vehicles, BMW will eventually join the rank of high-performance electric motorcycles.

BMW Motorrad has already registered multiple trademarks, from DC 01 to DC 09, which could lead to various electric motorcycles coming in the future.

Coincidentally, the latest patent application by the German marquee revealed exciting information; Motorcycle.com reported that BMW is working on an electric motorcycle based on the Boxer elements.

This isn’t the first time BMW revealed such ideas, considering that the Vision DC Roadster concept was a design built based on the heritage of the boxer engine.

Although the Vision DC Roadster concept wasn’t intended to become a production model, but it was certainly a step by BMW to explore an electric motorcycle that could stay true to the brand’s heritage.

According to the new patent application, the battery and its cooling elements will form a similar shape to a Boxer engine.

The elements are fixed heat sinks made of aluminium and covered in cooling fins, mimicking the air-cooled Boxer engine’s cylinders.

Nevertheless, the cylinders will house the inverter, charging mechanism, and internal liquid-cooling system for the battery and motor. At the same time, the protruding elements will allow the battery and motor to be cooled by the airflow when the bike is in motion.

While we are not sure if the patents could lead to a production model, the idea of developing an electric motor to pay homage to the iconic Boxer engine is enough to excite us.