Next year’s Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon Shocks will deliver another off-road giant to Telford International Centre.

Three-time world champion and 80s and 90s racing icon Dave Thorpe has been confirmed as the star guest for the show on February 11-12, 2023.

As Britain’s most successful motocross racer, with three 500cc World Championships, a Veteran’s World title and multiple British Championships to his name, Thorpe is the last British rider to have won the premier division of world motocross.

Thorpe began his successful career in the UK Kawasaki team, before moving to the Honda racing team in 1983. The switch saw his first Grand Prix win in 1984 and he gained his first world title the following year, which he retained in 1986. His third world title came in 1989 following an ongoing, thrilling battle against Belgian motocross legend Eric Geboers.

Thorpe’s career highs and lows will be revealed to visitors as commentator John McCrink quizzes the motocross star when they take to the stage at Telford.

For further details about the Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon Shocks, and to save £2 on discounted advance tickets, please visit www.classicdirtbikeshow.co.uk

#ValenciaGP preview. There is a lot still in play for the final round of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, with Enea Bastianini in contention for third overall. After Sepang’s excellent podium, the rider #23 is only one point away from Aleix Espargaró, who is ahead of him in the standings. 
 
After clinching the 2022 Best Independent Rider title thanks to an impressive tally of wins and podiums – an achievement that was one of the many highlights of Gresini Racing’s incredible MotoGP return season – Bastianini will now try to secure also the world championship top three: he will only need to score one point more than the #41 of Aprilia Racing. 
 
The Ricardo Tormo Circuit is a favourable one for ‘Bestia’, who also did well last year in his MotoGP debut (8^th) even though he is yet to step on the Valencian podium – his best result is a fourth place in 2016, Moto3 class):

The season finale will represent an important round also for Fabio Di Giannantonio, who wants to wrap up his MotoGP rookie season with a smile after several ups and downs. The #49 was on the podium there last year in his final Moto2 race before the jump to MotoGP.  

ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (4^th in the championship standings with 211 points)
“This will be my last race with team Gresini and I will try to celebrate it the best way possible. It will surely be a complex race, with many competitive riders… We’re on a roll and we know our potential, so we’ll try to do well and finish in the world championship top-three.”
 
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (20^th in the championship standings with 23 points)
“A challenging season is about to end, but we’re not giving up at all. We’ll try to have a good weekend before diving into testing with the new bike. Our head is already focused on 2023, but we also want to be back in the points on a track that I like and where I’ve always done well.”

Your motorbike is nothing like an F1 vehicle in terms of speed and performance. However, you can learn a thing or two from F1 maintenance and apply the same principles to your bike.  

Whether you are a street racer or a casual rider, your motorbike can take a beating from the elements and from frequent use. Much like F1 cars, your motorbike requires high levels of maintenance in order to perform optimally. Here’s what you can take from F1 maintenance and apply to your motorcycle:

1. Check for tire integrity

F1 tires are designed to allow for extreme gripping and durability during high-speed races. F1 teams take tire management seriously. Before a race, they will need to choose the right set of tires and check if they are at the proper pressure.

Even on two wheels, you can never remove tire maintenance from the equation. For bikes that run on 1,000cc engines, you need to make sure your tires can withstand accelerated wear and tear. For this, it’s important to check if there are any flat spots on each tire.

If you are a casual rider, you can choose between soft and medium tires that work well in inclement weather. If you are taking the circuit, you will need good quality tires that are within regulation.

F1 tires are known for their nylon and polyester construction, so consider shopping for motorcycle tires that are reinforced by these materials.

2. Test for performance

The performance of your bike mainly relies on how balanced it is during different riding scenarios. Maintaining an F1 car also revolves around this principle.

F1 circuits consist of low and mid-speed turns. Engaging these turns successfully relies on handling, but a great deal of it depends on a number of factors, including engine performance, aerodynamic balance, chassis integrity, and suspension performance. Neglecting these factors will only increase the chances of oversteering during a sharp turn.

In the same way, you need to check if your motorbike is also prepared for the demands of the streets. Whether you are casually going to work or joining a local MotoGP event, it's essential to check every aspect of your bike. Pay close attention to the engine, braking system, and suspensions

Consider going on a test drive first and check if anything feels "off". If the ride doesn’t feel smooth, perhaps you need to change the brake fluid and check for wear and tear on the suspension components.

3. Check fluid levels Due to the demands of F1 racing, F1 cars require an oil and coolant change after or before a race. When it comes to checking fluid levels on your motorcycle, pay attention to the coolant and lubricant needs of your bike.

Consider replacing the coolant every three years. If you are participating in a race, you may have to do a replacement afterward. For lubricant levels, your crew will need to add lubricant when you arrive at the pit stop. For non-racing scenarios, make it a habit to check lubricant levels once a month.

Bonus: Add modifications

Consider giving your bike a full paint job with custom decals to match. To brighten up your bike, consider shopping for glow kits and adding a LED underglow on your bike. As long as your ride is cleared for street use, you can go all-out in painting your MotoGP.

If you like to take the fast lane with your motorcycle, then there’s definitely a lot you can learn from F1 racers and pit crews.

article supplied

ALEIX AND APRILIA’S CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS STAY ALIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE PENULTIMATE ROUND

ALL EYES ON VALENCIA NOW TO FINISH OUT AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON RESPECTABLY

The tenth place finish taken by the skin of his teeth renders merit to Aleix’s determination and grit after a season which is already the best by far of Aprilia history. A title contender all the way to the penultimate round, still third in the overall rider standings, with a double second place in the constructors and team standings, these are extraordinary results for an Italian project made up of commitment, innovation, and humility which, just this year, tackled its first season as an official factory team.

The race today neither takes away or adds much to the analysis. These are important points to keep the race for third overall alive and to look optimistically towards the highly anticipated 2023 season.

Unfortunately, in the race Maverick once again confirmed the problems with grip he had found in his most recent outings, unable to make up positions after a less than perfect start. Eyes on Valencia for him as well, which will be the final race of his first full season with Aprilia and a chance to finish with a smile this championship where he has, in any case, performed brilliantly.

ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
"Battling for the championship title was a dream come true and, in any case, I am proud of what we accomplished this year. However, it’s still a pity not to have finished the season the way we deserved. In the last few races, something didn’t work right and we need to understand why. I’m convinced that we’ll be able to confirm our good performance next year as well. We have demonstrated that we have the speed. Now it's time to hit reset, head home, and get ready for Valencia. We can still make a play for third place and, above all, finish out this season with a good race."

MAVERICK VIÑALES
"It’s hard to find an explanation. All we have to go on is results and they tell us that we have work to do. The situation needs to be analysed, understood, and used to improve. For Aprilia and me this was our first year together and we still have a lot to learn. Like in Australia, we were competitive in spurts but at the end of the day, we were unable to fully exploit our potential and convert it into a good race. Now we’ll take a week off to rest up because it has been a long and demanding season and then all eyes on Valencia and the future."

Team Gresini MotoGP and Enea Bastianini had an excellent show of strength at Sepang and once again proved to be among the main protagonists of the season. Another podium came for the #23 - which adds to the already excellent series of accomplishments of 2022 – at the end of a race battled with his soon-to-be teammate and likely next champ Bagnaia.

Bastianini managed both race and tyres well while trying to win after Martin’s early exit from the race. The battle with Pecco was an exciting one, with the 20 points secured today which are going to be key for an overall top-three finish in the season. Enea now only has to rely on himself to achieve this incredible result: one more point on Aleix Espargaró at Valencia would be enough to secure third place. 

Fabio Di Giannantonio wrapped up his Malaysian weekend ten laps too early. The rider #49 tucked the front at turn five while battling for a top-15 finish with a big group of riders. The last chance to finish the year on a high will be at Valencia in a fortnight’s time.

2^nd - ENEA BASTIANINI #23 
“I’m happy, because 20 points are important to continue the chase to Espargaró, but at the same time I’m a little disappointed because when I was at the front, something changed and the feeling with the bike wasn’t the same. We’ll analyse the data to understand what happened… The important thing is that we showed once again to be among the top players in this category. We’ll try to wrap things up the best way at Valencia.”

DNF FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49
“I had a good started and maintained my position despite all the coming togethers of the first laps, but I saw immediately that we were losing traction compared to Pol Espargaró, who was ahead of us. Too bad, because we were in the group fighting for a top-15 finish and I pushed hard for this result: unfortunately I lacked feeling with the front-end and I eventually crashed. Now let’s focus on Valencia.”