Classic Racer

In July 1987, Honda finally announced what many had heard already – that they had a new homologation machine for the forthcoming World Superbike Championship that would begin the following year, 1988. Called the Honda VFR750R, it would soon be known

Two decades ago, in 2003, Ducati’s MotoGP machine – the Desmosedici – took its first race win in the hands of Loris Capirossi. With the introduction of the four-stroke 990cc MotoGP machines in 2002, Ducati’s Desmosedici burst onto the scene the follo

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The circumstances surrounding the riders’ strike at the 1955 Dutch TT have been well discussed over the years, but there can be little doubt that the riders were being exploited by the organisers. In his autobiography ‘In Pursuit of Perfection’ Geoff

On New Year’s Day 1964 Phil Read celebrated his 25th birthday, pretty much knowing that his already successful career was likely to reach new heights during the season to come. The reason for his confidence was that he had been signed by Yamaha to le

The fourth and final round of the Golden Era Lightweight Championship took place on August Bank Holiday Sunday at the Tonfanau Circuit in Mid Wales. Over the 12 race series for 50cc and 125cc machines the 125 class was dominated by Dave Edwards (Warr

As a superstar of the 1960s (and beyond), the genius of Mike Hailwood has often been recognised outside of ‘just’ the UK… When Valentino Rossi matched Mike’s 76 grand prix win tally at the Sachsenring in 2005, he did so in style with a flag saying: ’

When I was invited to try the works Ducatis of the type that had been raced to four consecutive world road-racing championships in the early 1980s, life as a motorcycle journalist didn’t get much better. It was towards the end of the 1984 season, and

When the Japanese factories withdrew from Grand Prix racing in the late 1960s, and the FIM restricted the number of cylinders and gearbox speeds for the smaller classes, it changed the sport completely. In place of exotic factory bikes, ‘production’

It started quite innocuously, at the Belgian round of the FIM F750 Cup at Mettet in 1975. Barry Sheene and John Newbold turned up with extra stripes on the paintwork of their Suzuki TR750s. The yellow stripes were unobtrusive, but they were the first

The Hanks family has always gone racing, and I’m here to talk to Roy Hanks about his new book, but he is talking about his granddaughter... and then continues. So, in Roy’s own words: When it was announced she’d be joining Faye Ho’s team, Jamie and h

It is 1987, Rob and former Suzuki teammate Bob Toomey are hustling around the Wanganui ‘Cemetery circuit.’ Toomey would become crew chief to 2000 world 500cc champion Kenny Roberts Junior, while Rob Holden would also go on to be well-known in Europe

John Reynolds is a diminutive, quietly spoken, respectful, and loving family man, who wouldn’t look out of place working in a bank. But don’t be fooled: he was one of the toughest racers to ever throw his leg over a motorcycle, though you wouldn’t kn

Brands Hatch is one of the most famous racetracks in the world. The original circuit sat in a natural hollow (which was itself called Brands Hatch) like an amphitheatre, allowing spectators to see almost the entire circuit from any vantage point. Tod

I was 45 minutes late meeting Mike – not a great start – but he laughed it off, saying that Silverstone was always difficult to get around, being such a sprawling track. I had turned up on a bike, but been turned away from the nearest car park to the