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.
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 2nd in San Marino. New signing Chris Walker finished 3rd at 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.
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 25thNovember 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 115thAnniversary 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 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.
The 2019 Yamaha NVX features improved suspension and new colours.
Its rear shocks now have remote reservoirs.
The 2019 model is available from mid-December 2018 onwards.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motor has released the 2019 Yamaha NVX.
There is no doubt that we have seen many Yamaha NVX on the road. Malaysian scooter enthusiasts love it for its aggressive looks, performance, handling and of course, convenience. We have personally encountered heavily modified ones that could keep up with big bikes on the highways.
We tested the bike back in August 2017 and had so much fun on it. Please click this link for the review.
Most of the fun results from the Blue Core Technology engine. Blue Core is Yamaha’s performance and fuel economy “package.” It consists of Variable Valve Actuation (VVA), optimized cooling efficiency, Start & Stop system, amongst others. The bike is certified as an energy efficient vehicle (EEV). The 2019 model also retains the 5.8-inch LCD meter panel and SMART key features.
The 2019 model is now equipped with rear shocks with remote reservoir. This type of shock absorber means there is more oil or gas stored in the reservoir. As the oil circulates back and forth between the shock body and reservoir, it is kept cooler thereby providing a more consistent damping performance. Additionally, it makes the bike look sportier!
The 2019 Yamaha NVX comes in three new colours called Race Blu, Fiery Red and Active Yellow with new graphics.
It will be available from mid-December 2018 and priced from RM 9,988 (basic selling price but not on-the-road).
The 2019 Enel MotoE World Cup grid, regulations and schedule have been confirmed.
18 riders will take part in the inaugural series.
There are five rounds next year.
The 2019 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup grid, regulations and schedule are confirmed.
Next year’s MotoE championship is the inaugural international electric motorcycle racing competition. It is set up in view of electric vehicle rulings in the coming two decades.
The FIM has published the full 2019 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup 18-bike grid, regulations and schedules.
