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Wahid Ooi

  • Watch as these two Costa Rican riders get into each other.

  • The action caused both to engage in a melee.

  • The Latin American Motorcycle Association DQ’ed and banned both riders.

Boxing match and fisticuffs are a rarity in motorcycle racing these day as riders have to “behave professionally” on the track and off. But sometimes, adrenaline and emotions take over resulting in a slugging match.

Case in point was the famous incident at the Misano Moto2 race, in which hothead Romano Fenati grabbed Stefano Manzi’s front brake lever. The incident aroused a furious backlash that circled the globe about 3 billion times. Fenati was kicked out of his present team at the time and was supposed to be banned for life. But Dorna and the FIM were generous enough to allow him to race in Moto3 this year.

Well, that ought to serve a warning to riders, doesn’t it? Maybe. Because when the red mist descends, it’s all handbags.

The following boxing match between Marion Calvo and Jorge Martinez in the Costa Rica national race.

Both riders touched while braking for the turn, knocking Martinez off his bike. Martinez ended up clinging to Calvo’s seat hump, in turn causing him to lose control.

When the bike came to a stop, Martinez could’ve run to his bike to continue the race. Instead, his anger got the better of him and he swung at Calvo. Calvo was knocked off his bike.

Photo credit dailymail.co.uk

Calvo then went after Martinez and shoved him on his back, before both riders got back to riding again.

As expected, the Latin Motorcycle Association kicked them out of the race and subsequently banned them. They can now join boxing or MMA.

  • The KTM RC16 uses a steel trellis frame and WP suspension.

  • Which is a departure from the MotoGP norm of aluminium spars and Öhlins.

  • When asked if they will make a switch, KTM motorsport boss said no.

Much has been said about KTM and their performance (or lack of) in MotoGP. Most pointed to their use of the steel trellis frame and WP suspension on the RC16, instead of the perennial aluminium spars and Öhlins suspension.

It may seem that the Austrian giant is going nowhere to the casual observer, but truth is, the RC16 is undergoing development at a breakneck pace.

It started out with a “screamer” engine (all cylinders firing in equally spaced sequence) in 2017. But by 2018, it was revised to the “big bang” configuration (all cylinders fired quickly in a short space), together with a counter-rotating crankshaft.

KTM motorsport manager, Pit Beirer told Simon Crafar of MotoGP.com that they’ve come far within the last two years. In fact, the RC16 put in Marc Marquez’s 2017 lap times at a number of tracks last year.

The whole MotoGP class is developing like crazy, every makes steps forward. But if you told me five years ago KTM would make a machine on year after Marquez almost at the same speed, I wouldn’t believe. But we did it.”

When asked if they will stop using the steel trellis frame and WP suspension, “That’s not an option,” said Beirer.

“It’s brought us success in every single discipline, so we will stick to this because we have the widest knowledge around this material we are using.”

Indeed, the frame/WP combination has allowed KTM to be competitive, succeed, even dominate racing series from enduro to Moto2.

  • The Aprilia RSV4 X showcases the factory’s expertise in making sportbikes and racebikes.

  • Highlights include the Aprilia No Neutral gearbox.

  • The engine produces 225 hp, and the bike weighs only 165 kg.

With all the current bruhaha about Ducati and their limited-edition models such as the Panigale 1299 Superleggera and Panigale V4 R, don’t forget that Aprilia just as capable of such ventures. Presenting the X. To be more accurate, here’s the Aprilia RSV4 X.

Aprilia claims that they used the lessons learned in MotoGP and WorldSBK to build the X. We’re not here to disagree. The bike is armed with features as the APRC electronic suite, which was the first to include wheelie control and lean-sensitive traction control. Ride-by-wire is compulsory since it was Aprilia who debut it on a street bike.

But that’s just a small part compared to the engine. Wanna talk horsepower-to-weight ratio? How does 225 hp and 165 kg sound to you? That’s a lurid 1.36 hp to 1 kg. The company fettled the standard RSV4 1100’s lump and gave the X a dedicated ECU for the performance gain.

An Akrapovic titanium full-system exhaust spits out the used gasses. Intake air is filtered through a Sprintfilter similar to the one used in MotoGP.

But perhaps the biggest feature/novelty is the Aprilia No Neutral (ANN) transmission. Instead of the usual 1-N-2-3-4-5-6, the new system goes N-1-2-3-4-5-6. Doing so reduces the chances of grabbing neutral while shifting from 1stto 2nd(we’re sure many have experienced this).

This shift pattern is used in MotoGP and now the Noale-based manufacturer is the first to bring it to road bikes.

In another world first, the RSV4 X is equipped with Brembo’s GP4-MS brake calipers that’re machined from a solid block of aluminium alloy. They grip on Brembo T-Drive discs.

Last, but not least, the bodywork features aerobodies.

The Aprilia RSV4 X is priced at an affordable (yeah right) €39,900. Only 10 are lovingly made.

  • Azroy Hakeem Anuar put Honda back on the CP150 category podium in Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship

  • The race was held in Jasin, Melaka over the weekend.

  • It was an emphatic one for the manufacturer as their rival Yamaha had dominated the series for the past two years.

Azroy Hakeem Anuar put Honda back on the CP150 category podium in Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship. The race was held in Jasin, Melaka over the weekend.

It was an emphatic one for Honda as their rival Yamaha had dominated the series for the past two years.

From Cub Prix Press Release:

Azroy Hakeem Anuar delivered an emotional win at Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship in Jasin, Melaka last weekend. It was a multi-faceted victory that had been a long time in the coming – a personal first CP150 win for the 20-year-old rider, as well as the first premiere class victory for team Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing and the Honda marque.

Azroy started the 20-lap race from third on the grid but quickly got past polesitter Md Iqbal Amri Abd Malek on the second lap. However, Azroy was unable to shake fellow Honda competitor Mohd Helmi Azman off his tail. While the two younger riders duked it out at the front of the group, Cub Prix returning rider Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi kept defending champion Ahmad Afif Amran bottled up in fourth place.

The three Honda riders kept the lead right up to the chequered flag with Azroy bringing down the chequered flag at 16’02.227s, 0.712s ahead of second placed Helmi. Zaqhwan Zaidi booked the final spot on the podium in third place with 16’09.377s.

R-L Azroy, Helmi, Zaqwan

“It feels great to be in contention for the podium again and I’m happy to deliver this win to our team principal, Shahrol Yuzy and our hardworking crew who had never stopped working towards regaining our competitive edge,” said Azroy.

The CP115 final was easily won by Md Fareez Afeez Abd Rahman from team Motul Yamaha YY Pang.

Md Zaki A. Zamri put in an inch-perfect performance in the Wira Final.

RACE RESULTS

CP150
  1. Azroy Hakeem Anuar (SGR) Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing 16:02.227
  2. Md Helmi Azman (SGR) Hi Rev SCK Honda Racing 16:02.939
  3. Md Zaqhwan Zaidi (SGR) Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing 16:09.377
  4. Ahmad Afif Amran (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ Racing 16:09.444
  5. Ahmad Fazrul Sham (PRK) AHM Motorsports Yamaha Racing Team 16:14.834
CP115
  1. Md Fareez Afeez Abd Rahman (JHR) Motul Yamaha YY Pang Racing 12:31.825s
  2. Ahmad Syukran Aizat Md Yusoff (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ Racing 12:34.962s
  3. Md Syarifuddin Azman (SGR) Idemitsu Kozi DFZ Yam Honda Racing 12:35.454s
  4. Md Faiz Zekri Sabri (PNG) ONEXOX SAG Team 12:38.111s
  5. Md Khairi Asyraf Mahmood (JHR) Motul Yamaha YY Pang Racing 12:40.976s
WIRA
  1. Md Zaki A. Zamri (SGR) Persendirian 10’24.219s
  2. Md Afizat Supaat (SGR) Super KIP Motorsports 10’24.355s
  3. Md Sharul Ezwan M Sharil (SGR) AFB TECH Racing 10’24.493s
  4. Md Adib M. Asri (JHR) ELF Koyoko Honda KC Racing Team 10’24.941s
  5. Md Norhakim M Norhafizullah (KTN) ONEXOX SAG Team 10’25.759s
  • Royal Enfield are opening a CKD plant in Thailand in June 2019.

  • They plan to supply the Thai market directly.

  • RE received more than 700 orders for the new Interceptor 650 and Continental 650 GT in the country alone.

Royal Enfield announced that they will open a CKD plant in Thailand in June this year.

The plan means the brand has somewhat come full circle since Thailand was one of the first Southeast Asian market that they penetrated. The Kingdom was also amongst the first global market to receive the Interceptor 650 and Continental 650 GT.

Royal Enfield (RE) claimed that they haves received over 700 bookings in the country itself for the two models since their launch last year. 100 have been delivered to date.

The manufacturer hopes to further expand their reach and support in the country. Besides the factory, they are also aiming to set up 15 dealerships and 25 service centres by March 2020. There will be more dealerships in Bangkok, Greater Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. Not bad considering that they started with just one dealership in Bangkok just not long ago.

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 won the “Best Modern Classic Middleweight” award at the Thailand Bike of the Year 2019 awards ceremony.

However, RE did not mention if they plan to export the bikes produced in Thailand to other Southeast Asian countries.

  • The countdown to the 25th Phuket Bike Week begins.

  • It will be held from 12th to 14th April at Patong, and 19th to 20th April at the Phuket Boat Lagoon, this year.

  • 50,000 visitors are expected.

It’s almost April and enthusiasts know it’s almost time for the pilgrimage to the Phuket Bike Week (PBW).

The annual event is extra special this year as it celebrates its 25th anniversary and is dubbed “World Ride Together (sic).” Hence it promises to be the biggest ever than an already largest motorcycle gathering in Asia.

The organizers and tourism authority expect more than 5,000 motorcycles of all types, and 50,000 participants and visitors from more than 30 countries including Thailand. They also project that the event will draw in THB 500 million in revenue.

As per tradition, the PBW will be held in two locations on the island of Phuket on two subsequent different dates. The first chapter will be held at Loma Park, Patong Beach from 12thto 14thApril. The second will be held at the Phuket Boat Lagoon from 19thto 20thApril.

Do note that this year’s PBW coincides with the Songkran water festival, which starts from 13thApril and ends on 15thApril, thus visitors can expect an even merrier fun quotient.

Activities include motorcycle exhibitions, custom bike contest, Miss Phuket Bike Week contest, charity ride. Rock bands and performers include the legendary Thai band Carabao who shot to fame with their song “Made in Thailand;” our very own Wings and many more.

So, start planning now for your convoy to the north!

Please refer to www.phuketbikeweek.com for more information.

  • The 2019 Yamaha Y15ZR v2 has been launched after much anticipation.

  • The new model comes with a number of new features.

  • It will be available from mid-April, so as the price.

The 2019 Yamaha Y15ZR v2 was launched yesterday after much speculation and anticipation.

The launch continues the timeline of the hotly popular model. Yamaha calls the v2 (for Version 2) the “King of the Streets.” It is hard to argue with the tag as its predecessor was ubiquitous and seen on the streets everywhere in Malaysia.

New for the Y15ZR v2 are:

  1. High low beam LED headlights.
  2. New LCD meter panel.
  3. Wider 90/80-17 front tyre.
  4. New graphics and design.

The facelift also comes with 4 new vibrant colours called Striking Cyan, Blazing Red, Storm Blue and Dynamic Grey.

It will be available from authorized Yamaha dealers nationwide from mid-April 2019. Customers will also receive a free exclusive Yamaha disc brake lock worth RM 100, and complete with reminder wire.

The Y15ZR v2 was launched at Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS AAM Malaysia Cub Prix Championship in Jasin, Melaka. It’s a fitting venue as the previous model was crowned the CP150 category champion in 2017 and 2018.

Yamaha Cub Prix riders Ahmad Afif Aman, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, Tengku Amirul Haffirudin and Md. Akid Aziz accompanied the launch. Md. Akid dominated the CP150 category in the last two years, while Tengku Amirul won the CP115 category in 2018.

  • The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) explained why the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) was booted out as the sanctioning body for motorsports.

  • KBS recommended to the FIM that the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) take AAM’s place.

  • According to the FIM’s Sports Commissioner, “The AAM consistently broke the rules.”

The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM)/Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) saga riles many feathers and had many racing enthusiasts talking about it. In the latest twist, Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS – Youth and Sports Ministry) joined the ring, calling for AAM to be booted out of role as the country’s authority on motorsports.

The minister of the department, Syed Saddiq said, “AAM has been suspended by the (FIM) Sports Commission for consistently breaching the provisions of the Sports Development Act 1997. Many warnings have been given out before.”

“It is important for international regulatory bodies to be aware of this and take whatever action as necessary. We do not dictate what they should or should not do.”

On the other hand, “MAM has always been registered with the Sports Commissioner under the Sports Development Act 1997 to carry out national motorsports events.”

He added that this was in effect from many years ago, even before he became a minister.

Malaysian Insider had previously claimed that Syed Saddiq sent a letter to the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) in September last year. The letter sought to recognize MAM as the sole Malaysian motorsports authority.

Photo credit malaymail.com

According to the FIM’s Sports Commissioner’s Office, it cancelled AAM’s status as a sports body in late 2018 after the latter “broke the rules.” AAM did not submitted their year-end report and amending their own constitution.

AAM chairman Tunku Mudzaffar Mustapha, on the other hand, said that they had been in constant communication with the FIM, but was suddenly deregistered on 30thNovember 2018.

AAM is the only sporting body in Malaysia sanctioned by the FIM, International Automobile Federation (FIA), and International Carting Federation (CIK). Hence, participants need to apply for their racing license and insurance from AAM if they compete overseas.

Tunku Mudzaffar warned that international motorsports events such as MotoGP will be jeopardy since AAM is the sole sanctioning body.

Our take

Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali had said that the SIC MotoGP teams registered their riders including Hafizh Syahrin directly with the FIM without the involvement of AAM or MAM.

But if the FIM accepts MAM as the sanctioning body in Malaysia, international motorsports events ought to continue, which contradicts AAM’s statement.

The reality is this: The AAM has long been reviled by Malaysian racers on both four wheels and two wheels. To them, the body had only been charging high premiums for the racing license and insurance but have done nothing to promote the country’s motorsports. “AAM is beyond reproach,” they said.

These grouses were aired to this writer when he was covering the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship from 2015 and many other motorsports events.

Karma?

  • Famed American motorcycle builder and designer Arlen Ness has passed away.

  • He was often referred to as the King of Custom Motorcycles.

  • He also designed the Victory and Indian motorcycles.

Famed American motorcycle builder and designer Arlen Ness has passed away. This sad news was confirmed by Ultimate Motorcycling.

Ness became a giant in the custom motorcycle business and was often referred to as The King of Custom Motorcycles. He built a number of award-winning bikes in his lifetime, earning him the Builder of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was also inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in America.

But he didn’t just build them, he also pioneered selling his custom parts and accessories through mail order. Just look around and see almost every Harley-Davidson has an Arlen Ness accessory.

Additionally, he was tapped by Polaris to design Victory and Indian motorcycles. The most well-known model was the Victory Vision Tour.

His empire also expanded to include riding gear in association Berik.

Ness’s son Cory and grandson Zack will succeed him in the business. They are notable custom builders themselves.

The motorcycle world has truly lost a patriarch.

  • The BMW Motorrad Race Trophy continues in 2019.

  • It is the series’ sixth season.

  • The trophy will award 30 top participants (BMW riders) in the rankings.

You may not have heard of this competition, but the BMW Motorrad Race Trophy continues in 2019 for the sixth season.

In this competition, top 30 participants in the BMW Motorrad Race Trophy (BMRT) rankings will be awarded trophies and prize money. There are also prizes for teams who win the title in their respective championships, besides categories such as “Best BMW Rider in Class” and “Newcomer of the Year.”

How does it work? Let’s take the Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship for example. The championship is classified as a “participant” in the BMRT series. The riders on BMW bikes in different categories are then ranked against other BMW riders in other series worldwide.

26 different championship classes in 21 international and national races are classified for the trophy in 2019. The number includes WorldSBK, Endurance World Championship, International Road Racing Championship (IRRC). New additions are the FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup and Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). The ARRC added the 1000cc superbike class this year.

Azlan Shah in ARRC 2019 – Photo credit mekanika.com.my

Registration in the BMRT begins on 30thJune and ends on 17thNovember.

This year, BMW will disburse a total of €100,000 in prize money among the best participants.

Please head to the trophy’s official website for more details https://www.bmw-motorrad-motorsport.com/en/overview

2019 BMW Motorrad Race Trophy 2019 – Race Series

  • All Japan Road Race Championship (JP SBK)
  • Alpe Adria International Motorcycle Championship (AA)
  • Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC)
  • Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK)
  • BMW Road Race Challenge (BMW RRC)
  • British Superbike Championship (BSB)
  • Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK)
  • FIM Endurance World Championship and Cup (EWC)
  • FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup (EU STK)
  • FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK)
  • French European Bikes Championship (FR EU)
  • French Superbike Championship (FSBK)
  • International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM)
  • International Road Racing Championship (IRRC)
  • Italian National Trophy 1000 (IT 1000)
  • Italian Superbike Championship (CIV)
  • Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK)
  • MotoAmerica AMA Road Racing Series (MA)
  • South African Superbike Championship (SA SBK)
  • Spanish Superbike Championship (ESBK)
  • SuperBike Brasil (BR SBK)
  • John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum is due to premiere in May.

  • As usual, watch out for a gloriously violent episode.

  • The highlight of the trailer, though, is the motorcycle chase.

“All this because for what? Because of a puppy?” The latest and perhaps the conclusion of the hitman’s journey, John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellumis just two months away from premiering.

Following him being branded as “excommunicado” status, it is now open season on John Wick’s head. He’s therefore a renegade and hunted down by scores of other professional hitmen. Cue another spectacular, stylish and violent episode.

The latest trailer shows him having a close quarter knife fight in a gallery of stabbing and slashing weapons, shootouts, hand-to-hand combat and all other ways of bring the hurt. He even uttered a famous line from another Keanu Reeves’ movie The Matrix– “Guns. Lots of guns.”

However, the climax of the 2 minute, 36 second video has to be that shooting and slashing with katanas riding on Yamaha MT-09s. Too bad a pencil wasn’t involved.

But what’s a protagonist without sidekicks. He’s got a new dog and allies including in a character played by the delicious Helle Berry.

*By the way, “parabellum” means a 9mm cartridge (bullet).

  • The AJP PR7 is the latest rally-ready dirtbike from the Portugese specialist.

  • It looks spartan but is actually high-spec-ed.

  • The PR7 is a 600cc single-cylinder machine.

While we’re still chuffing (and huffing) about riding the KTM 790 Adventure and KTM 790 Adventure R in the Moroccon side of the Sahara Desert, here comes the AJP PR7 adventure bike.

It’s different from KTM’s offering, of course. The AJP PR7 looks like the proper rally beast that we see throwing a rooster tail of sand over the rider’s head.

Instead, this is a simple bike that’s purpose-built for rallies. Yet, it comes equipped with some great specs. According to those who have tested it, it’s comfortable enough for all-day riding and can carry luggage.

Another feature that speaks of creature comforts is the Samsung Galaxy 6 tablet mounted in place of the road book. The rider can download their preferred navigational apps and can be used along a standard Garmin or TomTom (make sure you’ve got the Darth Vader voiceover) GPS.

Photo credit AJP Motos

Apart from a GPS, the tablet is used as an instrument display panel presenting the speedometer, timer, trip meter and so forth. The bike also has a USB charging port.

The engine is a 600cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder unit. Other standard features include a rear hub with cush drive to smoothen drive, titanium header pipes, huge engine bash plate, lightweight Shorai lithium-ion battery. The suspension consists of high-spec fully-adjustable ZF Sachs that provide 300mm of travel on both ends. The forks are massive 48 mm diameter items. The bike rolls on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels.

Seat height is a tall 920 mm (and we thought the Honda Africa Twin was too tall!). The frame is steel while the swingarm is aluminium. it weighs only 167 kg, ready to ride.

AJP hails from Portugal and is the brainchild of Antonio Pinto, who modified motorcycles for off-road racing. Setup in 1981, the company built the first production bike in 1991. They entered the National Championships of Enduro in their home country from 1991 to 2001, winning five times in a row from 1996 to 2000. They also won the National Off-road Championships in 1996, 1997 and 1999.

How much? £8,500 (RM 45,225.16) gets you in the club. Rimba Raid, anyone?

Photo credit AJP Motos

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