Jamie Robinson and Wes take bananas to a gunfight, entering 9hp Honda CRF100F and XR100 trail bikes in The Hooligan Derby’s “Run Whatcha’ Brung” flat track race at Ventura Raceway. It’s their first time on a dirt oval.
For some, there’s nothing more exciting than a sleek modern sportbike. We head out to Idyllwild with Isle of Man TT and 250GP racer Jamie Robinson on some of SoCal’s twistiest mountain roads to put a Yamaha R6 and an Aprilia Tuono V4R through their paces.
Ever used a motorcycle to create a much needed break from the humdrum routine of family life? Brand new dad Jamie Robinson left little Giacomo (you know who after) in bed with mom and took off for the California desert aboard a Ducati Diavel. Hell, I don’t even have a kid and this kind of ride is often all I can do to keep sane. :continue:
“I’m 40, why am I still racing?” Asks 2010 SBK World Champion Max Biaggi. But, growing up in a home without motorcycles, he didn’t even see a racetrack until he was 18 years old. Then, putting everything on the line in pursuit of a new found dream, Max’s father helped him start 125cc Sport Production, eventually becoming 250cc World Champion just a few years later. An old friend, I sat down with him in his Los Angeles home to talk about that past, his present racing an Aprilia RSV4 and, something any 40 year old thinks about, the future.
Photos: Max Biaggi archives/Clive Challinor/Aprilia Racing
Camping for three days on the Iron Mountain in the rain and cold gave way to a much needed real bed on our last day in Austria, we spent a night at a 14th Century guest house and also caught up on doing some much needed laundry thanks to a very helpful owner. Soon Seth and I were heading towards Switzerland where riding east took us on a glorious ride up and down the Gerlos Alpine Road and right passed the beautiful Krimmi Waterfalls, Europe’s highest. Next it was the Stelvio Pass, Mugello GP, Venice, Bologna and Tuscany. :continue:
Week one had been riding south from London to La Bañeza in northern Spain for the MXGP, week two was then a ride East and across to a small town called Eisenerz in the center of Austria for the Erzberg Rodeo. To get to Austria I chose to go back the way I came and ride the magnificent Picos de Europa National Park as it had been such an incredible ride, then chose loads of squiggly countryside roads through the South of France before calling in to see my old GP 250cc buddy Max Biaggi in Monaco. :continue:
There is nothing more rewarding than a good old motorcycle adventure. So, after I picked up the new Super Tenere from Yamaha UK, I headed straight for busy central London where I would then begin my ride south, catch a ferry across to France and then ride the scenic route to sunny Spain armed only with Alpinestars Durban Adventure gear, a few spare clothes, my cameras and, of course, my trusty tent. :continue:
I’ve wanted to race the Elsinore Grand Prix ever since I watched Steve McQueen and Malcolm Smith blasting on and around the streets of Elsinore, California in the ’70s movie On any Sunday. So, when I found out there was a vintage class at this year’s event, I instantly booked myself in and turned up very early in the morning in the Pussy Wagon, complete with my ’79 YZ 400, dog and my very pregnant girlfriend. :continue:
Sometimes, you don’t have time to head off to the canyons or go on a track day, you just have to ride the streets around you. So, when I got my eager hands on the new Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200, I set off on a full day of riding my local car-infested city of Los Angeles. Well, after a sticky donut that is. :continue:
It’s been a dream of mine to go and ride a motorbike in Africa, so when I got invited to go with three motorcycling-mad Italians and a Brit, I jumped at the chance to join them. We all met up in Johannesburg, South Africa, hired some BMWs, donned the Durban Alpinestars adventure gear and headed out, our plan was to ride to Zimbabwe, then into Mozambique and then head down to the Kruger National Park in South Africa where the trip would end. :continue:
