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Suzuki Hayabusa Swoops In Down Under

The latest version of Suzuki’s iconic sportsbike – the legendary Hayabusa – has swooped in on the Australian market.

Shocking the motorcycling world upon its inception in 1999 and named after the Japanese bird of prey capable of speeds in excess of 300 km/h, the latest Suzuki Hayabusa is sure to turn heads with an all-new Yellow/Black livery option.

The 2013 Suzuki Hayabusa is the first Suzuki sportsbike to feature an Antilock Brake System (ABS), complementing the Hayabusa’s excellent handling and adding another chapter in the ongoing evolution of this legendary sportsbike.

In addition, the 2013 Hayabusa is now equipped with radial mount Brembo monobloc front brake calipers, promising tactile feedback to the rider and increased initial bite to tame the Hayabusa’s incredible power.

This iconic hyper-sports bike also features the advanced Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) giving the rider a choice of three available engine maps to suit rider preferences and riding conditions.

Designed for maximum performance, the new 2013 Suzuki Hayabusa represents the pinnacle of sportsbike engineering, performance and styling.

The 2013 Suzuki Hayabusa is now available in three all new aggressive and sporty styled colour schemes – Glass Sparkle Black/Metallic Grey, Pearl Glacier White/Metallic Grey and Marble Daytona Yellow/Glass Sparkle Black and despite an array of technical and safety refinements has kept the same retail price as last year’s model at $19,290*.

Customers should visit participating Suzuki dealers, who can be found via the Dealer Locator on www.suzuki.com.au, for more information.

Courtesy of Mcnews

Michael Dunlop secures Joey Dunlop ‘TT Championship’ Trophy ahead of final race

MIchael Dunlop will be awarded the Joey Dunlop TT Championship Trophy thanks to his four incredible wins so far at the 2013 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. With wins in the Dainese Superbike, both Monster Energy Supersport races and the Royal London 360 Superstock race, the 24 year old Dunlop has an unassailable lead in the 2013 TT Championshiop. The Ballymoney man has achieved all this before the blue riband race, the PokerStars Senior TT, which is due to take place on Friday 7th June.

The Joey Dunlop Trophy is awarded to the overall champion, based on a World Championship points system, across the Solo classes, excluding the SES TT Zero and Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight races. Having already accumulated the maximum possible 100 points after only four of the five races, Michael Dunlop will receive the trophy and £10,000 prize money. However, second and third positions are still to be decided and with a wide range of other riders sharing the podium with Dunlop, a number of the leading riders are still in the running to finish runner-up.

John McGuinness tops the chasing pack with a total of 61 points after achieving his 40th podium position in Wednesday’s Monster Energy Supersport Race 2. His grand total of podiums equals that of the TT wins record-holder and McGuinness’ hero, Joey Dunlop. Bruce Anstey is only 2 points behind the Morecambe rider in the Championship points with 59 points after top ten finishes in all four races to date including two podiums. William Dunlop, James Hillier, Cameron Donald and Dean Harrison also still have a mathematical chance of finishing second.

The Privateers Championship on the other hand is still very much up for grabs. Steve Mercer is the current leader with 50 points but is closely followed in the table by Lee Johnston with 49 points and Dan Kneen and Ben Wylie, who are both on 44 points. Dan Cooper, Robert Wilson, Rob Barber and Davy Morgan all still have a chance of finishing top in the battle to be top privateer.

Courtesy of Mcnews
8:53 am est

Honda reflect on TT success

The 2013 Isle of Man TT was a resounding success for Honda, with all contested races – seven of the nine solo and sidecar races – won by Honda-powered machinery.

TT race week began in spectacular style with the first of the Sidecar races. Quadruple World Champion Tim Reeves took his first TT victory alongside passenger Dan Sayle, aboard their Honda-based machine.

Attention then turned to Sunday’s highly anticipated Superbike race, which ended in an all-Honda podium. Honda TT Legends’ Michael Dunlop stormed to victory to bring home his first TT win for Honda, 30 years after his uncle Joey Dunlop achieved the same feat. Team-mate John McGuinness took third place behind Wilson Craig Honda’s Cameron Donald and in doing so set a new outright lap record of 131.67mph.

The following day saw Michael Dunlop securing his second win of the week in the Supersport race, with the MD Racing Honda CBR600RR. He then went on to take his second victory of the day in the Superstock race, setting a stunning new lap record of 131.220mph, only 3.5 seconds off the outright Superbike lap record on a superstock CBR1000RR Fireblade.

In the second Supersport race, Michael Dunlop put in another blistering performance with his MD Racing Honda to secure the win and set another new lap record of 128.667mph.

Bruce Anstey and John McGuinness – both riding for HM Plant Honda by Padgett’s Motorcycles – placed second and third respectively to complete another all-Honda podium.

The second Sidecar race on the same day saw former World Champions Ben and Tom Birchall leading from start to finish aboard their Honda-powered machinery to take their first TT victory.

All eyes then turned to the final battle of the Isle of Man TT, the one everyone wants to win – the Senior TT.

With four wins already in the bag, Michael Dunlop was aiming for five out of five, while John McGuinness was on the hunt for his first TT victory of 2013. It was McGuinness who triumphed after an epic battle with Honda TT Legends team-mate Dunlop and in doing so took his 20th TT win and 41st podium. Kiwi Bruce Anstey completing yet another Honda 1-2-3 on his Padgetts machine.

Honda’s overall tally of TT wins now stands at an impressive 170.

Neil Tuxworth, Manager – Honda Racing; “The Isle of Man TT is and always will be a very special event for Honda. It’s where we began racing back in 1959 and it is always high on our racing agenda.

“We are extremely pleased to have achieved such strong results in 2013 with our supported teams and to have taken both Superbike races with the Honda TT Legends team.

“Every race, in which a Honda-powered machine started, was won by a Honda-powered machine and we have very much proved that both the CBR600RR and CBR1000RR Fireblade are still the bikes to beat on the roads.”

Courtesy of Mcnews
10:58 am est

Third place for Luca Gardner in Round three of the CMV

Luca Gardner and his team Briefing Competició finished round three of the CMV on the third step of the podium last weekend at Circuit Calafat. After combining results from two races held today, Luca was able to continue his run of podium finishes in the first three races of the season.

Luca and the team worked hard on Saturday to test a lot of different set ups and riding styles, and by the end of the day he had reduced his previous best time at Calafat by two seconds.

Sunday was a busy day with qualifying in the morning, followed by two races. He qualified third and made a blazing start in race one to take the lead into the first corner. He wasn’t able to hold onto the lead for long however, and ended up sitting in 3rd, with a comfortable lead from 4th.

Unfortunately he made a little mistake when the front of the bike slid from underneath him and he ran off the track but managed to keep it upright. He joined the circuit again in fourth, and that’s where he finished race.

“I was really upset with myself when I ran off the track. I knew it would be difficult to catch first place, but felt I could fight a bit with second, and at least finish in third, but it was good experience, and hopefully I’ll learn from the mistake,” said Luca.

He was determined to improve his result in race two, and once again got a good start with the first three going into the first corner together, and Luca coming out on top to lead for the first halflap. Luca fought hard to stay in position but was overtaken and reduced to fourth before a red flag accident stopped the race on lap three. The race was restarted and again Luca got an incredible break from the line to lead the first lap of the race. Once again he was caught on the second lap and relegated to third. Fighting hard to pull away from fourth throughout the race he finally took the chequered flag in third place, and set his fastest time of the weekend.

“I was really proud of how Luca handled this weekend. We did a lot of testing on Saturday and he just kept improving his times and working hard to get the bike right. Sunday was a big day with qualifying and two races and I think he did really well to finish on the podium again. This is his first full season of road racing, and the experience and confidence he’s building each race is really important,” said his father Wayne Gardner.

“I’d like to say congratulations to Gerard Riu Male who came first in both races, and Ryan Van de Lagemaat who was second in both races. They did a really good job and I look forward to racing them again,” Said Luca.

Courtesy of Mcnews
9:46 am est

2013 Maxima Racing Oils Conondale Classic

The Maxima Racing Oils Conondale Classic is arguably the biggest VMX race meeting on the calendar and once again the Queensland Vintage Motocross Club will host the annual event over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of August with motocross machinery from the 1950s through to the Pre 1990 era eligible for the racing.

Some of the biggest names from yesteryear will be on hand to race in the Pro-Class races including Stephen Gall, James Deakin, David Armstrong, Geoff Ballard, Darryl Willoughby and Trevor Williams while there will be a strong New Zealand contingent on hand led by 1996 World 500cc Motocross Champion Shayne King who will be joined by Kiwi legends Mark Whyte and Tony Cooksley among others.

There will be a full program of race events for riders of all ages in the Pre 70, Pre 75, Pre 78, Evolution, Twin Shock, Four Stroke, Pre 85, Pre 90, Ladies and Sidecar classes as well as the new Shannon’s Insurance VMX Non-Competitive Ride Sessions for the riders who don’t want to race their pride and joy but want to be part of this great event.

There will be VMX and Trade Displays, Camping, Hot Showers and Catering available as well as Entertainment for the campers on Saturday night so to be part of Australia’s biggest VMX race event go to www.qvmx.com.au.

Courtesy of Mcnews
11:41 am est