Jonathan Rea was in Jerez this week for two days of World Superbike testing, completing 173 laps. The Pata Yamaha rider worked with three different bikes and various components, already feeling competitive aboard the YZF-R1.

The six-time world champion told worldsbk.com: ‘It’s been really positive and I’ve really enjoyed riding the bike at this test, especially on day one when the temperature was warmer than expected and similar to the race. We were able to get a lot of work done. I had 3 bikes to try different options on and loads of different parts. We never managed to put everything together to be perfect but we still have a lot of time and we got through the main test items. We managed just about everything on the list; some items we can discard, some very interesting going forwards’.

While acknowledging he hasn’t yet reached the bike’s limits, Rea ensured he already feels competitive: ‘I completed the test with a race simulation which was positive; the more laps I do on the R1, the more I understand it and how it behaves in certain conditions and also, the more confidence I get. I don’t feel like I’ve found the limit with the bike yet. I’m understanding the last part of braking but I feel competitive already’.

O conteúdo ‘I don’t feel like I’ve found the limit with the bike, but I feel competitive already’ – Jonathan Rea aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Honda debuted the new CBR1000RR-R for the World Superbike Championship this Thursday in Jerez, during the first of two days of testing with Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge. Initial indications are positive, but there is caution

Speaking to the championship’s official website, team manager Leon Camier stated: ‘There are a few changes with the new bike; the split throttle bodies is something that’s a good step in the right direction for the race bike and what we want on track. The normal thing to expect is more edge grip and better connection when you first touch the gas because you are only opening two cylinders, not four. Many other manufacturers are running this but for us, it’s something we wanted for the race bike. For the lighter crankshaft, it’s a small difference but we should expect a little bit better acceleration and deceleration. We have a different weight distribution of the bike; Honda wanted to go in this direction because it’s better for what we need for racing; it’s all going in the right direction’.

Regarding the innovations in the motorcycle, the official detailed: ‘The first feelings with the bike are quite good, even though there are positives and negatives. With it being the first test, it’s good that the riders are feeling the positives and with the negatives, they are things we have to work with. Setting the bike up, putting things in the right places… it’s normal that it takes time to smooth things out. Both riders need time to set it up for their style and their way of riding. First impressions are positive so we need to get through these two days, see where we are at the end of it and keep making a step forward’.

Despite the innovations, Camier revealed that the super concession, which Honda is entitled to for 2024, has not been incorporated. The British leader talked about more details about the new CBR1000RR-R: ‘It’s done in a different way with a different weight distribution; the centre of gravity is a little bit different. Overall length, I’m actually not sure where we are but I think it’s something similar but you can play around with that anyway. Alter the swingarm length a little bit and you can have a big change, so it’s just done in a slightly different way’.

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O conteúdo New CBR1000RR-R encourages Honda for the next WSBK season aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Franco Morbidelli completes his final round with Monster Energy Yamaha at the Valencia GP. After more than two very challenging seasons, his journey with the Japanese team comes to an end.

The Italian aims to conclude on a positive note, leaving behind the 16th place in Qatar. He also admits that this farewell to Yamaha will bring more emotions than usual:

– The Qatar GP didn’t go the way we wanted, but we will leave that behind us now because we need to focus on Valencia. This will be my last GP with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team, which adds some extra emotion to this weekend. I want to end our run together in the best way possible and make some final nice memories with the crew, so that is the goal.

O conteúdo Say goodbye to Yamaha with more ‘nice memories’ is Franco Morbidelli’s goal for Valencia aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

It’s no surprise to anyone that electric motorcycles have arrived and are here to stay. As well as reshaping the city mobility landscape, it turns out that electric motorcycles are also very good for off-road use. For one thing, they have a lot of torque. What’s more, they’re quiet, so they don’t make noise in residential areas. They are also less likely to cause fires, as there are no flames coming out of the exhaust.

In recent years, a wide selection of electric off-road motorcycles has appeared, and at this year’s EICMA, Chinese manufacturer QJ Motor launched not one, but two electric off-road motorcycles. Both bikes are lightweight off-road-specific motorcycles that are intended to offer a captivating ride on off-road terrain. The first is the oddly named OWO, an electric off-roader that takes clear inspiration from gasoline-powered enduro machines. It features an angular fairing and simple lines, all wrapped up in a color that will make you wonder if what you’re looking at is a Husqvarna.

In terms of performance, the QJ Motor OWO is equipped with an engine that delivers five kilowatts of power, or around 6.7 hp. It’s important to note, however, that electric motors have instant torque available from the moment you accelerate, so my guess is that the OWO will be much more powerful than the spec sheet suggests. In fact, QJ Motor claims that it has a top speed of 100 km/h.

As for the battery, it’s equipped with a 72-volt, 60 amp-hour battery that should provide several hours of off-road fun. At the front, the bike has an inverted fork suspension and, at the rear, a monoshock with preload adjustment. The bike has a traditional enduro configuration with a combination of 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels. The front and rear disc brakes are also sufficient for braking. Seat height measures 895 millimeters (35.2 inches), while a respectable ground clearance of 566 mm (22.2 inches) is provided. Overall, the OWO weighs 135 kilograms.

Meanwhile, for those looking for a much less serious machine for some off-road fun, QJ Motor has also presented the Q2. Similar to the Cake Kalk, the Q2 is a mix between a dirt bike and a mountain bike, with a much more similar geometry to its pedal-powered counterparts. An air-cooled electric motor with 3,000 watts (about four horsepower) is mounted in the center of the frame. According to QJ Motor, the bike has a top speed of 45 km/h, so yes, it performs more like an e-bike than an electric motorcycle.

A 60-volt, 32 ampere-hour battery supplies the power to the motor, promising a range of around 120 km on a single charge. As for components, the bike has 19-inch wheels at the front and rear and is equipped with a standard telescopic fork at the front and a link-type monoshock at the rear. Braking power comes from a set of hydraulic disc brakes, while a more accessible seat height of 815 mm (32 inches) means that this bike can easily be ridden by shorter people. Best of all, it weighs just 66 kg.

O conteúdo QJ Motor has two new electric off-road motorcycles for quiet off-road fun aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

After returning to the podium in the Qatar GP, Luca Marini faces the MotoGP Valencian GP with high ambitions. Currently, he is ten points away from fifth place in the championship standings.

While it’s uncertain if this will be his last round with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, the Italian highlighted his aim to end the season among the strongest riders, aiming for the top five in the World Championship.

– We arrive in Valencia for the last race of 2023, a very particular track, after a great weekend in Qatar. Let’s check the weather and temperatures, let’s not forget that we are now at the end of November. The goal is to finish on top, be able to show a good performance here too and be there in the leading group. The top 5 in the overall standings would be fantastic.

O conteúdo Luca Marini aiming for the top 5 in the championship aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

At the MotoGP Qatar GP, Jorge Martín experienced a sudden drop in performance from the Sprint race to the main race. The reasons aren’t clear, but they might have been related to tyre performance, and Marco Melandri highlighted the importance of this component for overall performance.

The former rider told Corriere dello Sport: ‘There have been some races where I expect a setback for Martín because of the tyres: Michelin said the tire was fine, like the others, so it could have been a pressure problem. Martín is the one who has scored the most points in the last races, so I don’t think he suddenly… fell asleep’.

Melandri stressed that tyres have always been crucial: ‘The tyre makes the bike. It’s much easier to improve with a tyre than with a change in the bike: the secret to being fast is to put power or braking power on the ground in the correct way, and the tyre is the only thing directly related to the asphalt. It has always been like this’.

O conteúdo ‘The tyre makes the bike; it’s much easier to improve with a tyre’ – Marco Melandri aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Francesco Bagnaia arrives at the Valencia GP with a 21-point lead over Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati) in the MotoGP title fight. So, the championship situation is better for the Ducati rider.

However, the Italian emphasized that the margin doesn’t allow him to be completely at ease in the final round of the year: ‘After the Qatar GP, we arrive in Valencia with a 21-point lead over Jorge. They definitely give us a bit more breathing space, but they are still not enough to relax completely’.

Confident in his potential, Bagnaia assured that he won’t change his strategy or goals: ‘Valencia is a track where we have been fast in the past and where we have the potential to do well. Our approach to the weekend will not change compared to the other races. The goal will always be the same: to work well from the first session on Friday and try to fight for the win in the race. I am calm and looking forward to getting on track for this season’s last act’.

O conteúdo ‘The 21-point lead give us a bit more breathing space, but…’ – Francesco Bagnaia aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Honda’s A2 license-compatible medium-displacement adventure model gets a new name – and even more robust styling – for 2024.

The power and torque of the 471 cm³ engine have been retained (35 kW and 43 N-m), reprogramming done on the ECU improves the acceleration feel and Honda’s HSTC variable traction control system is now standard. The new rims save 1.5 kg of unsprung weight and are accompanied by a redesigned 41 mm SFF-BP USD fork and rear shock absorber, both Showa. The two discs at the front are driven by two-piston calipers.

The all-new LED headlight offers better visibility at night and the new 5-inch TFT screen allows you to connect a smartphone with the Honda RoadSync app installed; control is then via a simple, backlit 4-way switch.

For 2024, Honda’s formula for this bike is better, but it doesn’t change in essence. However, the name is new. The NX500 now creates its own identity, with completely new aggressive styling, top technology and a series of detail updates that are sure to continue its journey into the hearts and minds of European motorcyclists.

O conteúdo Honda NX500 2024 – new experience aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Jonas Folger will continue as a test rider for KTM in MotoGP in 2024. The rider joined the project this year, standing in as a replacement for Pol Espargaró at GasGas Tech3 on six occasions. Despite the Spaniard taking on the role of test and wildcard rider, the German will remain within the structure.

Confirmation came from KTM Motorsport director Pit Beirer, speaking to SPEEDWEEK.com: ‘We extended the contract with Jonas. First, because he did a great job this year as a test rider and because he did a good job as a reserve rider this year when he came to Texas and really replaced Pol in many races’.

In an expanded team of test riders, veterans Dani Pedrosa and Mika Kallio also remain, a situation that pleases the manufacturer as stated by the Austrian: ‘With three test riders, we are certainly in a luxury situation. And we also have Mika. Our MotoGP test team really likes working with Jonas. That’s why there was no discussion about the new agreement’.

O conteúdo Jonas Folger remains as KTM’s test rider for MotoGP in 2024 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

2023 has proved to be quite a year for electric motorcycles. More and more manufacturers, both new and established, seem to be showing an interest in making greater investments in the field of electric mobility. If EICMA 2023 was anything to go by, it’s clear that electric two-wheelers are here to stay.

Among the interesting innovations at EICMA 2023 was Niu, a Chinese manufacturer of electric two-wheelers that has become well known for electric scooters and commuter vehicles designed for cities. The XQi3 marks the brand’s first foray into the world of electric dirt bikes. Interestingly, there has been a great demand for electric off-roaders, thanks to the instant torque provided by electric motors, as well as their quiet operation that doesn’t disturb residential areas.

Niu’s new electric dirt bike is designed to excel in both city and off-road environments. According to the company, the bike has versatility in mind and features a “multifunctional, all-terrain and cutting-edge design”. From a performance point of view, the new electric dirt bike is quite powerful, with 8000 watts (around 11 horsepower) of power from a mid-mounted electric motor. As for the battery, it uses a 72 V, 32 amp/hour lithium-ion battery from LG. Niu claims that the new XQi3 electric dirtbike complies with the US M1 and M2 motorcycle licenses, as well as Europe’s L1e motorcycle licenses, and is also fully street legal.

For an even more exhilarating experience, the Niu XQi3 has a special Ultra Boost mode for “instant, high-torque, thrilling rides”. In addition, the electric dirt bike uses high-performance suspension components that promise impressive off-road performance and control on various terrains. The XQi3 has large all-terrain tires and is equipped with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes to provide confidence-inspiring braking.

When it comes to technology, the Niu includes a host of features that make you feel like a next-generation off-road racer. For starters, you get a lap time mode and a location map for lively off-road rides. It also has NFC security features that allow you to lock and unlock the bike remotely. For more information, you can visit its official website.

O conteúdo The new Niu XQi3 electric bike – multifunctional design aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.