Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

Pol Tarres and Yamaha Ténéré 700 Triumphs in Moroccan Desert Challenge 2024

Pol Tarres and the Yamaha Ténéré 700 triumphs in Moroccan Desert Challenge 2024.

The victory goes into the record books as the first rider to win the rally on a twin-cylinder adventure motorcycle, by beating out specialised single-cylinder 450cc Rally entrants. Tarres won in six of the eight stages, including the last special stage.

This was the rider’s maiden desert rally win. He led from the start by attacking the stages despite being the “sweeper” and trailblazer being in front. By doing so, he won the first four stages. A sandstorm swept in during the fifth stage, so Tarres waited it out before finishing in second.

The sixth stage saw him finishing in fourth despite errors in his roadbook which missed two waypoints.

He came back to winning the seventh and penultimate stage, and gassed through the final stage to win the crown.

Another amazing fact is that Tarres had been competing in Rally Raids only since 2022. He had been on the podium of the Morocco Desert Challenge in 2023. This victory is another notch in his cap after the 2023 TransAnatolia, and the third place at the Africa Eco Race this January.

His performance meant he took the overall victory by an astounding margin of 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 6 seconds, a feat made all the more remarkable due to the fact he was competing on the Yamaha Ténéré 700 against lighter single-cylinder 450cc purpose-built machines.

This year’s Morocco Desert Challenge covered more terrain this year, despite an extremely tough 2023 edition that took the life of two participants. The 3,000 km route connected the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic ocean through some of the toughest terrain on the planet.

Closer to home, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 has been reigning supreme in the Rimba Raid rally races, particularly among the Thai participants.

Yoshimura SERT Suzuki Juari Le Mans 24 Jam Kali Ke-10

Pasukan Yoshimura SERT Suzuki menjuarai perlumbaan lasak Le Mans 24 Jam untuk kali ke-10 pada hujung minggu.

Pada mulanya, pasukan itu berdepan dengan keadaan cemas apabila salah seorang penunggang mereka, Greg Black, tercampak dan terjatuh ketika keluar daripada selekoh Les Esse Blue. Pasukan itu dapat tahu kemudian bahawa motosikal itu mempunyai masalah kawalan cengkaman. Apapun, Black berjaya membawa motosikal kembali ke pit untuk dibaikki, dan mereka menyertai semula perlumbaan jauh di belakang saingan yang lain.

Kemalangan Black bermakna pasukan perlumbaan YART Yamaha mengambil alih pendahuluan perlumbaan, dan membinanya untuk berada di hadapan dengan beberapa pusingan. Bagaimanapun, Karel Hanika turut terbabas di selekoh yang sama dengan Black pada awal pagi Ahad. Nasib baik, selekoh itu hanya bersebelahan dengan lorong pit, jadi Hanika membawa motosikalnya itu semula ke pit untuk dibaiki. Malangnya, mereka sudah ketinggalan di belakang apabila mereka menyertai semula.

Nasib malang Yamaha memberikan ruang kepada pasukan MRP BMW untuk mendahului perlumbaan, namun mereka mengalami hentian pit yang perlahan.

Pasukan Suzuki mengambil peluang ini untuk kembali mendahului. Penunggang mereka, Black, yang terhempas 20 jam sebelum itu, menebus nasib mereka dengan menunggang secara konsisten pada sesi akhir baginya ke penamat perlumbaan. Ia merupakan kemenangan ke-10 buat Yoshimura SERT Suzuki pada acara itu. Ia juga merupakan kemenangan ketiga pelumba Le Mans 24 Jam.

Pelumba YART Yamaha, Marvin Fritz dan Niccolo Canepa menunggang dengan laju dan akhirnya kembali ke podium di tempat ketiga, di belakang pasukan BMW.

24 Hours of Le Mans (24 Heures Motos) ialah perlumbaan pertama dalam Kejohanan Dunia Endurance FIM 2024. Hanya ada 4 perlumbaan tahun ini, dan malangnya, mereka tidak akan melawat Litar Antarabangsa Sepang.

Yoshimura SERT Suzuki Wins Le Mans 24 Hours for the 10th Time

The Yoshimura SERT Suzuki team won the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race for an unprecedented 10th time over the weekend.

The team had an early scare when one of their riders, Greg Black, was chucked over the handlebars and crashed at the exit of Les Esse Blue. It was later learned that the bike had traction control issues. Black managed to nurse the bike back to the pits for repairs and they rejoined the race far behind the field.

Black’s crash meant that the YART Yamaha racing team took over the lead, and built it up to being in front by several laps. However, Karel Hanika also crashed at the same corner as Black on early Sunday morning. Luckily, the corner was just next to the pit lane, so Hanika brought the bike back to the pits for repairs. Unfortunately, they were already laps behind when they rejoined.

Yamaha’s misfortune handed the lead to the MRP BMW team but they suffered a slow pit stop, which saw Suzuki back into the lead.

Suzuki’s rider Black, who crashed 20 hours earlier, seemed to redeem himself by riding a steady final stint to the victory flag, the Yoshimura SERT Suzuki’s 10th victory at the event. It was also the rider’s third Le Mans 24 Hour win.

YART Yamaha riders Marvin Fritz and Niccolo Canepa made their way up the field and back on the podium in third, behind the BMW team.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans (24 Heures Motos) was the first race in the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship. There are only 4 races this year, and unfortunately, they will not visit the Sepang International Circuit.

Detained Traffic Policemen in Extortion Case Back on Duty

The two traffic police officers who were detained for assisting in the extortion case against the public at Bangunan Sultan Ismail (BSI) in Johor Bahru have returned to duty as the remand order against them expired today.

South Johor Bahru District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said they were on duty as usual because no work stoppage order had been imposed.

“They are now back on duty under the Johor contingent as usual until there is a stop work order (if any),” he said when contacted by Berita Harian.

Yesterday, the Johor police stated that they would submit a letter to Bukit Aman to obtain a suspension order against the two policemen.

The two policemen on duty at the BSI were arrested on April 5, to assist in the investigation of an extortion case involving a victim by asking for a payment of RM2,000 to avoid being prosecuted for having a record of past offenses in an incident earlier this month.

They were arrested again last Saturday for a complaint submitted by a 50-year-old victim who was allegedly threatened by the two suspects while at BSI, on January 4.

Dua Polis Trafik yang Ditahan Memeras Ugut Kembali Bertugas

Dua anggota polis trafik yang ditahan bagi membantu kes pemerasan terhadap orang awam di Bangunan Sultan Ismail (BSI) di Johor Bahru telah kembali bertugas kerana perintah tahanan reman terhadap mereka tamat hari ini.

Ketua Polis Daerah Johor Bahru Selatan, Asisten Komisioner Raub Selamat berkata mereka sudah bertugas seperti biasa disebabkan tiada perintah tahan kerja dikenakan.

“Mereka kini kembali bertugas di bawah kontinjen Johor seperti biasa sehingga ada arahan perintah tahan kerja (jika ada),” katanya ketika dihubungi oleh Berita Harian.

Semalam, polis Johor menyatakan akan mengemukakan surat kepada Bukit Aman bagi mendapatkan perintah tahan kerja terhadap dua anggota polis tersebut.

Dua anggota polis yang bertugas di BSI itu ditahan pada 5 April lalu, bagi membantu siasatan kes pemerasan membabitkan seorang mangsa dengan meminta bayaran RM2,000 untuk tidak dikenakan tindakan kerana mempunyai rekod kesalahan lampau dalam kejadian awal bulan ini.

Mereka ditahan sekali lagi pada Sabtu lalu bagi pengaduan yang dikemukakan seorang mangsa berusia 50 tahun yang didakwa diugut kedua-dua suspek ketika berada di BSI, pada 4 Januari lalu.

JPJ Penang Concerned about Increase of Foreigners Breaking Laws

The Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) raised concerns regarding the increase in road offenses involving foreigners. The main and increasingly serious offense is not having a driver’s license.

The state JPJ director, Zulkifly Ismail, said that since the beginning of January until today, a total of 267 summons notices were issued to foreign drivers and 124 vehicles were confiscated, all due to not having a driving license.

He said, that does not include last year where 534 summons notices were issued to foreign drivers of which 416 vehicles were seized.

“We have noticed a trend in recent times of offenses committed by foreigners being quite serious and increasing.

“So I would like to remind vehicle owners to be careful not to arbitrarily let their vehicles be driven by foreigners who do not have valid driving documents.

“Otherwise they will also face action especially under Section 26 of the Road Transport Act 1987 if their vehicles are detected being driven by individuals who do not have a valid driving document,” he said when met while inspecting a special operation in conjunction with Aidilfitri at the JPJ Enforcement Station in Valdor, here. today.

In the operation, a total of 670 vehicles were inspected with 181 being taken action, while 213 summons notices were issued and six vehicles were seized for various offences.

The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) who were also involved in the same ops issued 30 summons notices, followed by the Immigration Department who arrested eight foreigners.

The Department of Environment (JAS) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) issued two and six compounds respectively, while the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) conducted urine tests on 15 drivers, six of whom were found to be positive for drugs.

JPJ Pulau Pinang Kesan Pertambahan Kesalahan Babitkan Pemandu Warga Asing

Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Pulau Pinang membangkitkan kebimbangan berhubung pertambahan kesalahan jalan raya membabitkan warga asing. Kesalahan terutama dan semakin serius terutama ialah tiada lesen memandu.

Pengarah JPJ negeri , Zulkifly Ismail, berkata sejak awal Januari hingga hari ini sejumlah 267 notis saman dikeluarkan kepada pemandu warga asing dan 124 kenderaan disita yang semuanya disebabkan tiada lesen memandu.

Beliau berkata, itu tidak termasuk tahun lalu di mana 534 notis saman dikeluarkan kepada pemandu warga asing yang mana 416 kenderaan disita.

“Kita dapati trend sejak kebelakangan ini kesalahan dilakukan warga asing agak serius dan bertambah.

“Jadi saya ingin ingatkan pemilik kenderaan supaya berhati-hati dengan tidak sewenang-wenangnya membiarkan kenderaan mereka dipandu warga asing yang tidak mempunyai dokumen memandu sah.

“Jika tidak mereka juga bakal berdepan tindakan khususnya di bawah Seksyen 26 Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 sekiranya kenderaan mereka dikesan dipandu individu tidak memiliki dokumen memandu yang sah,” katanya ketika ditemui sewaktu meninjau operasi khas sempena Aidilfitri di Stesen Penguatkuasa JPJ di Valdor, di sini, hari ini.

Dalam operasi itu, sejumlah 670 kenderaan diperiksa dengan 181 diambil tindakan, manakala 213 notis saman dikeluarkan dan enam kenderaan disita atas pelbagai kesalahan.

Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) yang turut terbabit ops sama mengeluarkan 30 notis saman, diikuti Jabatan Imigresen yang melakukan lapan tangkapan warga asing.

Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) dan Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai (MBSP) masing-masing mengeluarkan dua dan enam kompaun, manakala Agensi AntidDadah Kebangsaan (AADK) melakukan pemeriksaan air kencing terhadap 15 pemandu dengan enam daripadanya didapati positif dadah.

Hafizh Syahrin Wins at ARRC Zuhai 2024

Malaysian rider, Hafizh Syahrin won at ARRC Zuhai yesterday, and subsequently gave Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Racing Team their maiden victory.

It was the first race session, in the second round of the Asian Motorcycle Championship (ARRC) 2024. Hafizh rides a Ducati V4 R machine in the ABS1000 category for superbike machines 1000cc and above.

Hafizh who started in the front row showed a consistent ride to be the first rider to cross the finish line.

He beat Honda Asia-Dream Racing Astemo team rider, Andi Farid Izdihar who was satisfied to finish the race in second place while another national rider, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman representing TKKR BMW Racing Team was third.

For the record, this is the first victory for the JDT Racing Team, who are appearing in their first ARRC season. On his previous debut at the Buriram International Circuit, Thailand, Hafizh took third place in the second race, after experiencing technical problems in the first race.

Hafizh who uses a Ducati Panigale V4R machine dedicated the inaugural championship to the Acting Sultan of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail who is also the owner of the team.

Hafiz Syahrin Beraksi Cemerlang di ARRC Zuhai 2024

Pelumba negara, Hafizh Syahrin beraksi cemerlang di ARRC Zuhai semalam, dan seterusnya menghadiahkan kemenangan sulung buat Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Racing Team.

Ia merupakan sesi perlumbaan pertama, dalam pusingan kedua bagi Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia (ARRC) 2024. Hafizh menunggang jentera Ducati V4 R dalam kategori ABS1000 untuk jentera-jentera superbike 1000cc ke atas.

Hafizh yang bermula di petak hadapan mempamerkan tunggangan yang konsisten untuk menjadi pelumba pertama melintasi garisan penamat.

Dia mengatasi pelumba pasukan Honda Asia-Dream Racing Astemo, Andi Farid Izdihar yang berpuas hati menamatkan perlumbaan di tempat kedua manakala seorang lagi pelumba negara, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman yang mewakili TKKR BMW Racing Team ketiga.

Sebagai rekod, ini adalah kemenangan pertama buat JDT Racing Team, yang tampil dalam musim ARRC yang pertama mereka. Pada penampilan sulung sebelum ini di Litar Antarabangsa Buriram, Thailand, Hafizh meraih tempat ketiga ketika perlumbaan kedua, setelah mengalami masalah teknikal pada perlumbaan pertama

Hafizh yang menggunakan jentera Ducati Panigale V4R mendedikasikan kejuaraan sulung itu kepada Pemangku Sultan Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail merangkap pemilik pasukan itu.

Yamaha MT-09 dan Yamaha XMAX Menang Anugerah Red Dot Award 2024

Yamaha MT-09 dan Yamaha XMAX baharu masing-masing memenangi anugerah Red Dot Award untuk 2024.

MT-09 terkini ialah dalam generasi keempatnya. Yamaha merekabentuk semula motosikal itu kerana MT-09 2021 sebelumnya dengan lampu depan “cyclops” (raksasa bermata satu) terbukti tidak popular. Versi baharu juga mempunyai skrin hadapan, tangki bahan api, dan bahagian ekor baharu. Selain itu, tangki bahan api yang direkabentuk semula termasuk saluran akustik (bunyi) untuk menyalurkan bunyi enjin motosikal kepada penunggang. Tangki yang baharu itu juga direka bentuk untuk membolehkan kedudukan tunggangan yang lebih bebas.

Walaupun Yamaha MT-09 memenangi anugerah untuk rekabentuknya, Yamaha XMAX pula memenangi anugerah tersebut daripada sudut praktikal. Yamaha berkata fungsi garpu hadapan dan enjin, “divisualisasikan dalam siluet yang ketat, menyatakan rasa kemeriahan yang menarik.” Sebagai nota kaki, walaupun XMAX 300 yang mendapat pujian, ia mempunyai reka bentuk yang sama seperti XMAX 250 di negara kita.

Yamaha telah memenangi anugerah Red Dot Award dalam setiap 13 tahun yang lalu, setelah sekurang-kurangnya satu anugerah setiap tahun sejak 2012.

Dua motosikal Honda juga pernah memenangi anugerah Red Dot Award, sebelum ini, iaitu EM 1e: dan Motocompacto. Kedua-duanya adalah skuter elektrik.

Yamaha MT-09, Yamaha XMAX Wins Red Dot Award

The new Yamaha MT-09 and Yamaha XMAX each won a Red Dot Design Award for 2024.

The 2024 MT-09 is in its fourth generation. Yamaha redesigned the bike as the previous 2021 MT-09 with the “cyclops” (one-eyed monster) headlight proved unpopular. The new version also has a new front screen, fuel tank, and tail section. Additionally, the redesigned fuel tank includes acoustic ducting to channel the bike’s engine sound to the rider. The new tank was also designed to allow for a freer riding position.

While the MT-09 won the award for its design, the XMAX won on practicality. Yamaha says the functionality of the front fork and engine, “are visualised in the tight silhouette, expressing an attractive sense of exuberance.” As a footnote, although it was the XMAX 300 that garnered the accolade, it has the same design as the XMAX 250 in our country.

Yamaha has picked up Red Dot Design Awards in each of the last 13 years, having won one at least every year since 2012.

Two of Honda’s motorcycles had also won the Red Dot Design Award, earlier. One was the EM 1e:, together with the Motocompacto. Both are electric scooters.

Vespa 140th of Piaggio Sempena 140 Tahun Piaggio

2024 adalah tahun yang penting bagi Piaggio kerana mereka meraikan ulang tahun ke-140 mereka. Piaggio bermula pada 1884 dan sejak itu telah memiliki jenama Vespa, antara lain. Jadi, Piaggio menyeru Vespa untuk mencipta Vespa 140th of Piaggio.

Untuk memperingati pencapaian penting itu, hanya 140 unit akan dibina, menjadikannya Vespa yang paling terhad keluarannya. Ia hanya boleh ditempah antara 18 hingga 21 April, bertepatan dengan Vespa World Days Rally 2024.

Vespa 140th of Piaggio diserikan dalam tema putih dan biru, sebagai penghormatan kepada warna korporat Piaggio. Beberapa komponen lain juga menggunakan warna ini seperti tempat duduk dan roda.

Seperti yang anda lihat, ia berasaskan model Vespa GTV, yang mempunyai 300 HPE silinder tunggal, 4-injap, penyejuk cecair, enjin suntikan bahan api. Ia menghasilkan 24 hp, menjadikannya enjin Vespa paling berkuasa.