Movistar Yamaha MotoGP has wrapped up the first official IRTA test of the 2017 season today at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Riders Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi have spent the three days working through various testing items to further develop their YZR-M1s and secured first and sixth place respectively in the overall standings.

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team's Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi have completed their testing programme at the Sepang International Circuit today. This third and last day was the toughest for the riders as they rode back-to-back stints in hot temperatures to make up for lost time due to yesterday's damp track conditions.

Though the focus of the team was still solely on improving the technical aspects, the Spaniard and Italian took first and fifth place respectively in today's time sheets and first and sixth in the overall 2017 Sepang MotoGP Official Test results.

This morning Viñales showed once again that his riding style matches perfectly with the YZR-M1's nimble character. He dropped various hot laps before posting his fastest time of the day, a 1'59.368s on lap 40, to slot into first place in the rankings. With a margin of 0.138s ahead of his closest rival, he comfortably held his position until the end of the session after shifting his attention to the last details of his bike's setting.

A few spots of rain in the afternoon had the young rider sit in the pit box before he could resume his testing programme. As soon as the conditions improved Viñales had his final go on the YZR-M1 and had enough minutes left to end the test with a time attack. Though unable to beat his own best lap, he is leaving the Sepang track feeling confident, having completed 72 laps today.

Rossi also didn't let any time go to waste on the last opportunity of testing in Malaysia. He filled his morning session with evaluating a new tyre for Michelin and building on his findings from the previous testing days.

Similar to teammate Viñales, the Doctor was eager to start his afternoon session as soon as track conditions allowed. His fastest lap from the morning was a 2'00.125s, putting him in eleventh place, 0.756s from the top, but the Doctor had a trick up his sleeve. Once he got back out on track he fully committed to improving his position in the rankings and set the fourth fastest time, a 1'59.589s, 0.221s from first, on lap 50 of 62. He ended the test day in fifth place as the pace quickened in the final minutes.

The team will now return to Europe whilst the engineers return to Japan to process the data and take their 2017 MotoGP preparation another step further. The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team will regroup in Phillip Island from Feb 15th - 17th for the second pre-season test of 2017.

Maverick Viñales

"Today again, like yesterday, we worked mainly on the race pace. We improved the pace a lot. I am quite surprised I could attain a 1'59 and I am really happy, because it was very fast and the bike was going well. We tried many things during this week, so I think we can have a better package for the next test in Australia. We will bring many good things to Phillip Island. At the moment it is difficult to say which aspect of the bike surprised me most. We are developing the bike, trying to better the package that we have, and I think for sure we have the best bike at the moment for one lap and on race distance. Step by step we are choosing the best things."

The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team concluded a successful four days of pre-season testing at Portugal's Autodromo do Algarve this afternoon. Sharing the 4,592m track with over 30 World Superbike, Supersport and BSB riders, Alex Lowes and teammate Michael van der Mark completed their respective test programmes and provided Yamaha's engineers with detailed feedback to assist with the next stage of the WorldSBK YZF-R1's performance development.

Encouraging progress throughout the week's previous three days' testing allowed a steady start to the final day as the Pata Yamaha Team completed a thorough rebuild of Lowes' YZF-R1 after Saturday afternoon's crash, ensuring the machine's recalibrations and functions were to the correct specifications to continue the evaluation. With increasingly threatening dark clouds overhead, the British rider immediately set out on a race simulation, choosing to concentrate on consistency rather than on single-lap performance. Accomplishing his goal with excellence over full race distance, Lowes opened the run with a 1'43.2 and concluded on an equally competitive 1'43.7, 20 laps later - the British rider also completing a second 12-lap run as the afternoon progressed. Lowes produced a best time of 1'42.533 on his 54th lap of the day, tallying 128 across the Portuguese weekend. Having collated data and feedback on multiple newly-developed control strategies and working on his riding style as the race simulations developed, the team now has an array of information to continue its fine-tuning of the YZF-R1 ahead of the championship opener in a month's time.

Having fully explored his set-up options with his newly-acquired Yamaha Superbike, van der Mark concluded January testing with a best of 1'42.794 on his 75th lap of the Algarve circuit, happy with the direction of progress. With every chassis adjustment providing valuable information for the Yamaha rookie, the continued evaluation of the ideal balance between grip and agility of the machine alongside its stability, both under braking and acceleration, has left the Dutchman confident of the YZF-R1's performance on new and used rubber. With 144 laps of the Portimão "rollercoaster" under his belt, van der Mark can now turn his attention to the first race of the year on Saturday 25th February.  

European testing concluded, packing and preparation is now the order of the day as the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team readies itself to travel to Australia for the 'Yamaha Finance' opening round of the 2017 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the official test at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit commencing on Monday 20th February.

Alex Lowes: 1'42.533 / 128 laps

"Honestly, I have to say we had two really good winter tests this week. Yesterday was difficult as we had a little problem but I'm really pleased with the way the team has worked and how I have worked overall. We completed another full race simulation today and it felt good, so we've put the work in as much as we can for the time we've had. I feel like I'm riding well and I'm looking forward to going to Australia. I've enjoyed the tests, you always want to do better but I've achieved what I set out to achieve. I can still improve myself on a few areas and get a little more comfortable but the YZF-R1 is feeling really like "my bike" now and I'm ready to go at Phillip Island - I'm looking forward to it!"

Michael van der Mark

1'42.794 / 144 laps

"It was nice to get out on track early today, as this gave us the time to try many things on the bike and work out the correct direction to go. We also completed a race simulation and although I did not have the rhythm I wanted to achieve, it highlighted something to work on for the afternoon. In the end I am quite happy, we completed some good laps and my times are a lot closer than where we started at the beginning of the week so we have made some good progress. We also had the chance to try the 'longer distance' 2017 Pirelli rear qualifier which was interesting, I'm not sure when we will have the opportunity to use this at a race but it is a positive addition. I'm really happy to have had four good days of winter testing before we head to Phillip Island - thanks to the team and to Yamaha, I am enjoying myself on the YZF-R1!"

Paul Denning

"As the riders have said, these four days have been very useful and we have made solid progress. The January weather has also been very kind - between Michael and Alex we have completed over 2500km of full-pace running at Jerez and here at Portimão, which we hope will pay dividends when we reach the first race events.

"I have to thank Yamaha Motor Europe's engineers and the team for their collective efforts since the end of the November tests. The 2017 WorldSBK YZF-R1 is a significant step forward compared to the 2016 bike, and there is more performance to come. A huge amount of effort and dedication has been invested, and everybody involved in the project feels a positive sense of momentum as we approach the first race. This includes the riders and they also have really put the work in, demonstrating superb fitness and concentration levels at these tests.

"Pata Yamaha's 2017 livery will be launched on February 7th at Yamaha Motor Racing's HQ, and we are all looking forward to pushing "Racing Blue" towards the WorldSBK podium as soon as possible."

Be one of the first 95 and get the Abarth Experience for free! 

Online reservations for the first 95 bikes open soon.

If you want to be among the first to own the exciting new factory-built XSR900 Abarth, we strongly recommend that you should set your smart phone alarm for 17.00 hours CET on 17th January 2017 - because that's when Yamaha's dedicated online registration system for the first 95 units goes live.

Due to arrive in Yamaha dealer showrooms in April 2017, this exclusive limited edition café racer is the result of a special collaboration with Abarth, one of Italy's most famous automotive brands. Each bike is individually numbered, and features Abarth logos as well as a range of premium lightweight components and a head-turning colour scheme.

Powered by Yamaha's torque-rich 850cc in-line 3-cylinder engine that comes equipped with traction control and an assist and slipper clutch, the XSR900 Abarth delivers thrilling acceleration and outstanding performance.

Special equipment includes a suede sports seat with a removable cover, as well as lightweight carbon bodywork and a full Akrapovi? exhaust with titanium double slip-on muffler. And to give this fashionable café racer a sleeker and more compact tail end, final production models will feature a new licence plate holder that's sportier and lighter than the unit seen on the XSR900 Abarth pre-production show model.

Only the first 95 customers will be able to register their online order for the limited edition XSR900 Abarth from 17.00 hours on 17th January 2017 at www.xsr900-abarth.eu. As well as being amongst the first to own this café racer special, each of the 95 online customers - plus a companion - will also be invited to join an exclusive Yamaha VIP Abarth Experience after the purchase has been confirmed with their Yamaha dealer.

Taking place in Spring-Summer 2017, these prestigious customer experience events will run between May 1st and June 16th at race circuits in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria and the UK. Each Yamaha VIP Abarth Experience pass holder will be given the unique opportunity to join us at one of these exclusive Abarth Days that are designed to introduce motor sport fans to the Scorpion brand's distinctive race-bred philosophy.

During the action-packed Yamaha VIP Abarth Experience you'll have the opportunity to test drive a range of vehicles from the Abarth line on the circuit - and you will also be invited to join one of our professional racing drivers for an adrenaline-fueled Abarth racetrack experience!

As well as all of this, you'll also be given the exclusive opportunity to visit Abarth's Turin Headquarter at any time in 2017 by prior appointment, where you can feel the very special Abarth spirit that has been an integral part of motor sport for seven decades!

After the first 95 online registrations and subsequent purchases have been confirmed, the remaining units of the new XSR900 Abarth will be made available through Yamaha dealers from spring 2017 onwards.

XSR900 Abarth Key Features

Liquid-cooled 850cc in-line 3-cylinder

Traction control system and Assist & Slipper Clutch

Exclusive Abarth grey/red colour scheme

Swallow 'clip-on style' handlebars for sporty riding position

Sports solo seat with suede cover and red stitching

Lightweight carbon seat cowl and front fender

Full Akrapovi? exhaust with titanium double slip-on muffler

Sporty license plate holder

Each XSR900 Abarth comes with a unique aluminium numbered plaque

Abarth logos on tank, carbon front fender and seat cowl

Availability April 2017

Yamaha's bLU cRU programme is a platform to support the next generation of young riding talent in both road and off-road racing. The platform creates a safe, professional environment to encourage, nurture and build tomorrow's racing stars, through the guidance and unparalleled experience of the Yamaha Racing world.

The bLU cRU platform is also represented at the pinnacle of each global racing discipline contested by Yamaha. Yamaha Racing's top Official riders in MXGP, Enduro, Dakar, WorldSBK, WSS and Endurance have the responsibility of being bLU cRU Ambassadors. These elite racers stand as an example for the young racing generation of tomorrow, upholding key values for racing and manufacturer representation, including performance, education, dedication, respect and health and fitness. Their spirit of success and behaviour in the very visible eyes of both the media and the racing fans sets the standard for the bLU cRU generation of tomorrow. 

For young ambitious off-road riders, the YZ125 bLU cRU Cup provides the perfect entry into Yamaha's racing pyramid. Riders within their National 125 Championships using the Yamaha YZ125 can apply pre-season to be part of the programme. Once accepted, they will be provided with a bLU cRU package with a number of benefits, including Yamaha Racing Paddock Blue clothing, bLU cRU sticker set for their YZ125 machine and more.

The top performing riders (up to a maximum of 44) in their National Championships will reach the YZ125 Cup Superfinale, a true international race held at the world's biggest MX event, the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin in the UK. The top three riders from the race will be joined by two wildcards and move on to take part in a unique Yamaha Masterclass under the guidance and teachings of bLU cRU Ambassadors. From this one lucky rider will be picked to move up and join the MJC Yamaha Team as their Official rider in the 2018 EMX125 European Championship.

2016 saw the inaugural YZ125 Cup take place. 15yr old Swedish rider Tim Edberg delivered an impressive performance in both his National Championship and the Superfinale, as well as the David Philippaerts Masterclass to become the first rider to complete the off-road bLU cRU programme and win his seat with the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team for 2017.

For 2017 the bLU cRU programme extends to the tarmac to ensure that Yamaha Racing's wealth of experience can also be shared with tomorrow's road race stars. Six selected competitive riders who performed strongly in their National or International Championships will move up to participate in WSS300 class, on-board their Yamaha YZF-R3s' with a full bLU cRU rider package.

At the end of the 2017 season the 14 Masterclass attendees will comprise the two winners of the Italian and French R3 Challenge, joined by three riders from each of the Dutch, and Greece R3 Cups and a further two wildcard riders from both the Italian and French R3 Challenge.

The winners of the Italian and French R3 Challenge will automatically graduate from the Masterclass, joined by a further maximum six graduates to enter the 2018 WSS300 Class within the WorldSBK Championship.

These eigtht riders (2 winner + 6 Masterclass) will benefit from the R3 bLU cRU rider package, dedicated to supporting young riders in the international racing environment. Benefits will include Racing kit parts, a Race Service support at the track, a full paddock clothing kit and much more. The riders will participate in their own 'Challenge' within the Championship, with the top rider moving up the racing pyramid to join the Official Yamaha STK600 Team as their Official rider the following season!

Fans of racing will be able to follow the activities of the bLU cRU hopefuls throughout the season with regular updates on the Yamaha Racing digital channels, including Yamaha-racing.com plus the social media channels.

Valid for all markets

KTM is recalling 690 DUKE/R models of model year 2012 to 2016 to the workshops of authorized KTM dealers for a check of the ABS modulator´s wiring harness.

Following market investigations by KTM it has been determined that due to deviations in the assembly process, in isolated cases contact may occur between the wiring harness and the ABS modulator. Measurements have shown that an electrical connection may be created via the brake line between the ABS modulator and the vehicle ground. For this to occur, the wiring harness must be frayed and must be in contact with the ABS modulator and the brake line must be electrically conductive. This only occurs in very rare cases. A conductive brake line can overheat and ultimately melt which can result in failure of a brake system circuit. The routing of the wiring harness must therefore be checked and a ground wire must be mounted at the models mentioned below.

The following models are affected by the recall:

KTM 690 DUKE MY 2012-2016

KTM 690 DUKE R MY 2012-2016

Customers to whom the affected motorcycles have already been delivered are being informed by a personal letter and are asked to immediately contact an authorized KTM dealer to arrange an appointment for replacement. In addition, customers can check online in the “Service” area of the KTM website to determine if their motorcycle is affected by this recall.

The check and correction of the ABS modulator´s wiring harness will be carried out at no cost to motorcycle owners, but must be performed by authorized KTM dealers only.

www.ktm.com

The toughest challenges are not just the most difficult to conquer, but also the most satisfying.  Motul faces – and conquers – such challenges through its partnerships in competitive motorsport on a weekly basis, but the Dakar Rally is one of the most gruelling known to man and machine.

The 2017 edition of the world’s biggest motorsport event for off-road drivers and riders takes place from 2-14 January, travelling against the clock across Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina.  The entry list includes almost 30 Motul-supported entries in the two main categories of bikes and cars, representing 16 different markets from countries as diverse as Australia, to Estonia, to South America’s own Brazil and Argentina.

The route that will lead the 241 vehicles from the start in Asuncion, Paraguay – a country new to the rally raid, through to La Paz and finally end in Buenos Aires will cover nearly 9,000 kilometres split over 12 stages – 4,000 kms of special stages, 1 marathon stage and 6 at super-high altitude of up to 4000m.  

Technical know-how…

To succeed in such extreme conditions, competitors count 100% on the reliability and technical excellence of the lubricants used in their engines and gearboxes. 

They face extremes of temperature, from the heat of the desert to the ice of the mountains, the fine ‘fesh fesh’ sand which permeates every surface, and the endurance element of the very long stages over punishing terrains: there is no room for any mechanical weakness. 

The bikes will use Motul’s 300V Factory Line off-road 5W40 and 15W60 oils, and the cars will benefit from Motul’s 300V Motorsport Line Power 5W40 or Competition 15W50 – all products specially developed and successfully proven for such conditions.

Proudly wearing the red and white…

For the Motul-supported factory HRC Rally team, the Dakar is unfinished business and it is out for revenge!  The Honda squad is a major contender for victory, and will field a 5-strong international rider line up including such legendary names as Joan Barreda.  The Spaniard will be looking to avenge misfortune in the last two years – despite multiple stage wins – as will 2015 Dakar runner up Paulo Gonçalves of Portugal and the other talents in the squad.  A Motul technical expert from Latin America will be available to support all the Motul teams in the Dakar, and will be based with the Honda team throughout the whole 13-day event.

Another leading contender in the highly competitive Bike category is the Sherco TVS Rally Factory team, tackling its third Dakar Rally and including an Indian rider for the first time - Prabhakar Aravind.  Also supported by Motul is the Honda South America Rally Team, the Autonet Motorcycle Team, and the 10-strong HT Husqvarna Rally Raid team which will make its presence known through strength in numbers as well as experience.

The 2016 T3 Light class-winning Xtreme Plus Polaris Racing International factory team returns to the 2017 Dakar with a strong, multi-national squad of six vehicles representing Brazil, Russia, China and France, while the Toyota Auto Body team – multiple T2 category champions – is ready, as last year, to attack the rally with a vengeance with its Japanese and French entries.

The organisers are calling the 2017 Dakar “the mother of all rally-raids” and the competition will be fiercer than ever before. The heat, dust, rocky surfaces and, above all, altitude will be the toughest test yet and men, women and machines will be tested to the limit.  Will Honda beat KTM? The only thing that is certain is that Motul will be there for them – reliable, proven and successful.  Stay tuned for the action! 

Class: Pro Street

Qualified 13^th out the world’s fastest 33 PST bikes.

Ran my personal best time ever 7:03 @ 340kmh

The event started well but ended in tears, during pre-testing and qualifying I ran my personal best ET of 7.03 and in another run a top speed of 340kmh, moving me into the top 25 worlds fastest PST rankings and into P13 for the event ladder. A 6 second pass was only matter of time. The team from RMR Ronnie Mitchel Racing prepare the Anassis Racing Suzuki Turbo Hyabusa however the old 2011 Busa really needed some upgrades but only riding it once a year I could not justify the $20k spend so we had to do with what we had. Ronnie did a great job to ease the power in over the race weekend. Qualifying was held over two days, you get three runs. I rand 7.04, then 7.03 and in the last run had a huge wheelie so had to shut it off. the last run was well in the 6’s till half way so it was really frustrating to shut it off. Any I was very happy with P13.

Race day, 20 min before my run ‘Korry Hogen’ crashed in the left lane on the Top Fuel Bike, the bike threw a rod out so the track to be totally cleaned and re-done. First round I had the same lane and how ironic that I would crash as well. I hit the wall at 250kmh, the bike came out the blocks leaning over to the right this caused the bike to steer left in the change from 3^rd to 4^th gear it went violently left into the barrier wall. It catapulted my off, during the crash I was thinking this could not possibly be happening, everything was happening in slow motion, only after I slowed down sliding along the tar I realised I was crashing then when I tried to stand up while still travelling at quite a speed I roll over again and again. Eventually it all stopped, I stood up and the bike was still skidding down the road. I could not believe I crashed, it happened so fast there was nothing I do to save it.  

I was rushed to the track side emergency ward with a hole in my right hand. Later was dismissed with instructions to go to the local hospital. The bike was brought back to the pits and it really did not look to bad, the front BST wheel had shattered into a million pieces, the left had fairings were damaged, not other structural damage at all. What a sad way to end the event, but glad to have walked away from a 250kmh crash with no major injuries. From hospital I then drove 300km to Atalanta arrived at Midnight to catch a flight home the next morning. What all we do to go fast.

As preparations for the 39^th Dakar Rally near completion, the KTM Factory Rally Team opened its doors and gave a few journalists a rare chance to test the Factory Rally 450 machines…

A small industrial unit in the back streets of Igualada,  Spain, about an hour west of Barcelona near the Montserrat mountain range. It’s an anonymous-looking housing some of the most extraordinary motorcycles on this earth. Inside, the KTM Factory Rally 450s are sitting up on benches, still scuffed from KTM Rally Team riders Toby Price, Sam Sunderland, Mathias Walkner and Laia Sanz testing the previous day.

Designed solely with the purpose of winning the world’s toughest motorcycle race, the Dakar Rally, the Factory Rally 450 is as impressive a motorcycle as you will see. Compare them to factory motocross or enduro machines, stand them bar-end to bar-end with a MotoGP bike and the Rally bike easily hold its own.

Like few other manufacturers entering the Dakar, KTM’s Factory Rally 450 is a thoroughbred. From drawing board up it is tailor-made for the purpose of winning Dakar. Like no other race machine it has to capable of conquering every kind of terrain. Arguably that means the Factory Rally 450 can hold its head higher than a MotoGP or MXGP bike because of its unbelievable skill set. So much more is required than just buzzing round a track, railing berms or hopping over logs. A Rally bike must do it all and be as hard as nails too.

By design, KTM created a mechanically simple and robust machine in the Factory Rally 450 because the Dakar dishes out such a tough test. If a bike can’t cope with punishment it’s no use to the Factory, team or rider. At any pace of rider the Dakar is an immense test of a motorcycle, an unbelievably tough test mechanically at race winning speeds. For the 2017 Dakar that test will be 8188 kilometres in total, over 4000kms of which will be raced special stages. Rule changes in recent years means engine have to be fast but they have to go the distance reliably too or they won’t make that 12^th stage finish line in Buenos Aires. These are statistics no MX or MotoGP machine can match.

The chassis hasn’t changed much on KTM’s 450 Rally bike since conception in 2014. Though WP have made huge leaps and bounds in recent years it’s also true to say the 52mm Cone Valve forks and Trax suspension are not a million miles away from the parts you could fit to your bike. Sure, suspension is dialed in to individual rider’s needs and beefed-up to cope with the extra weight of the Rally bikes but there’s nothing too ‘Factory special’ about this WP kit.

Dakar terrain varies massively from hard pack, rocky desert to flour-like soft sand, so easy changes are increasingly important not just to make the life of enduro riders easier, but to make the job of winning races easier – put like this it is easy to see how racing feeds production bike development.

In a sport where the margins between riders is becoming seconds and not minutes being able to manually change the suspension via clicker adjusters it going in importance. On the move or at fuel stops riders can adjust the character of the bike as the fuel gets used up (weight bias changes dramatically as the 33 litres of fuel burns over 250kms or so).

Although it is awesome in so many ways, when you actually get to sit on a KTM Factory Rally 450 it actually feels pretty normal. The fuel to make the distance and navigation equipment to find the way are a huge part of Rally and therefore a huge part of a rally bike. Beyond the big fuel tanks and Nav tower however, the bike is not so unfamiliar as a dirt bike, at least not as much as you expect.

Stability is a key part of the KTM Factory Rally 450’s ability off-road. It’s a beast and obviously needs to go very fast, but it behaves itself too, encouraging rather than frightening the life out of you. As Antoine Meo puts it, “the first sensation in the beginning is strange, but quickly you’ll get a good feeling with the bike. She’s an animal, but she gives you a lot of confidence. She’s very stable, heavy yes, but when you’re close to the limit she’s super aggressive!”

Our test was mostly ridden on dry, dusty and rocky tracks – typical Spanish tracks you might say. Despite being given a full-factory and incredibly valuable machine to ride, the nerves you might expect to find were washed away quickly. Truly this is a bike that rewards confidence with surprising agility and delivers a fun-factor you don’t expect. Check out some of the official pre-Dakar press images of Toby Price laying down some full-on MX moves on his bike and you can easily see what we mean.

To cope with the unreal speeds and the enormous weight of the full fuel tanks the Rally 450 is also very stable. The steel trellis frame is closer to KTM adventure bikes than the back-bone type on KTM enduro and MX bikes, making it stronger and more stable naturally at speed.

That’s not to say it isn’t agile. Our testing route took us along many lanes learning the skills of navigation with roadbooks – no easy task it turns out. But if nothing else the navigation training (reading errors!) gave the journalists chance to practice their U-turn skills. Again, rather than be awkward or difficult to whip round in a tight space, the KTM Factory Rally 450 is eager you treat it just like any other dirt bike; stick a foot down, spin her round and crack on. It’s almost like it is pre-programmed to not waste time.

Factory race bikes are often difficult for normal humans like us to ride. Tony Cairoli’s KTM Factory motocross machine, for example is just that, awkward to ride because it is set up in such a specific way that only the very best in the world can live with. Of course, it is perfect if you are Tony and you want to win MXGP motos but for a mere mortal it feels too much.

You can’t say the same of the Factory Rally machines. Honestly it was a surprise how good they feel from the off. Before I’d left the Rally Team’s yard I’d grabbed a cheeky step jump off a footpath down the side of the industrial unit. It felt eager straight away, like the Rally 450 was saying, “come on, let’s go man!” After we hit the dirt and it was quickly clear this bike is way more user-friendly than you’d imagine.

The precision of controls helps constantly too. From the Brembo brake system pumping 300mm MotoMaster front brakes (240mm at the rear) to the throttle drawing on 42mm Keihin carbs, everything is pin-sharp and packed with feel. Good feel is exactly what you need when you’re doing 150kmh across a rocky desert of course. Consistency, precision and feel are also just as important when you’re picking your way down a rutted ravine or ducking your way through an overgrown riverbed too.

See a run of rolling jumps, climbing ahead of you up a lazy hillclimb? Wind her up and knock it through the gears and go for it, she’s ready. Turn the corner and find you’re heading up a narrow and rocky gully? Again, no problem, knock it down to first and pick your way through. Tall gearing? What tall gearing? Despite that and  the long wheelbase, it still takes on a trials-like gully with relative ease.

That’s not to say it is like riding a Freeride. It remains a big bike by most standards and that means you’ve got to be confident to get over any barriers of size, weight or of course power. The quicker you get over that barrier though and push a bit harder, the quicker and easier it is to get a taste of just how awesome these bikes can be in the right hands.

Relative Rally new boy (though five times World Enduro Champion), Antoine Meo, agrees: “The first sensation in the beginning is strange, but quickly you’ll get a good feeling with the bike. When you’re sliding, everything is moving together, she’s an animal, but she gives you a lot of confidence.”

The hand-made Akrapovic titanium exhaust system is a work of art. By comparison to other off-road exhausts it is a whopper, big enough to fit your arm inside it seems. The extra power (and noise) coming from this 449.3cc, 4v SOHC KTM motor is stark contrast to most other 450s you’ll ride. Almost 70hp and 52.5Nm are high numbers, peak power is high up the range too, around 7500rpm. That translates to a progressive delivery with no great steps of power, to put it simply that means the more you twist the more it goes and it keeps pulling strongly through all six gears. When you’re knocking between third and fifth gears, braking, sliding and power-sliding out of turns on a trail it is tractable power as well as an addictive pleasure.

The biggest positive from the rider’s point of view is the standing riding position. Natural as a walk in the park the position and bend of the Neken bars on the various bikes, plus the super-wide Raptor footpegs, make a standing riding position so good you feel, in principle at least, you too could ride for six or seven hours too just like the pros.

In the sport of Rally, at the Dakar especially, that kind of accommodation is incredibly important in terms of rider fatigue. The longest stage in the 2017 Dakar will be 977kilometres, the day before that 892km, of which just (just!) 492km are special test. It is no use to anyone having a difficult bike to ride when riders are being put through those distances.

KTM’s continued commitment to Rally is surely what other teams and manufacturers measure themselves against. To repeatedly come up with the goods and win the Dakar for the last 15 years speaks volumes about the Austrian factory’s commitment and dedication to the cause.

Step away from a few, tantalising and brilliant hours riding a Factory Rally 450 and you can’t help but want more. It’s big and we’re collectively glad (if not a little intrigued) not to have been riding the bikes full of fuel. But it is also a lot less daunting to ride than you’d expect.

Multi-skilled, multi-purpose you could imagine it being the best trail bike in the world, capable of taking you across a desert one day and not to proud to just be popping to the shops the next. Does that make it the best adventure bike in the world or the best dirt bike in the world? Quite likely the KTM 450 Factory Rally is the best bike in the world. 

Valid for all markets
KTM is recalling certain ADVENTURE models to the workshops of authorized KTM dealers for a check of the ABS modulator´s wiring harness.

Following market investigations by KTM it has been determined that due to deviations in the assembly process, in isolated cases contact may occur between the wiring harness and the ABS modulator. Measurements have shown that an electrical connection may be created via the brake line between the ABS modulator and the vehicle ground. For this to occur, the wiring harness must be frayed and must be in contact with the ABS modulator and the brake line must be electrically conductive. This only occurs in very rare cases. A conductive brake line can overheat and ultimately melt which can result in failure of a brake system circuit. The routing of the wiring harness must therefore be checked and if necessary corrected at the models mentioned below.

The following models are affected by the recall:
KTM 1190 ADVENTURE up to and including model year 2016
KTM 1190 ADVENTURE R up to and including model year 2016
KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE up to and including model year 2016

Customers to whom the affected motorcycles have already been delivered are being informed by a personal letter and are asked to immediately contact an authorized KTM dealer to arrange an appointment for replacement. In addition, customers can check online in the “Service” area of the KTM website to determine if their motorcycle is affected by this recall.

The check and correction of the ABS modulator´s wiring harness will be carried out at no cost to motorcycle owners, but must be performed by authorized KTM dealers only.
www.ktm.com

Maverick Viñales kicked off the 2017 MotoGP pre-season testing in Valencia on a positive note, finishing first in today's session timesheets, 0.020s ahead of Valentino Rossi in second place.

Though the main goal of today's outing for Viñales was to get a feel for his new bike, he didn't waste time to make a statement. The Spaniard started his test around eleven o'clock and only took half an hour to ride to second place and continued to be in the top six throughout his morning run. He kept the momentum going during his afternoon stint and showed his confidence posting a 1'30.930s on lap 55 to take over first place from Rossi. The 21-year-old completed 61 laps in total and wrapped up the day of testing leading the way.

Rossi had a mixed but ultimately successful day of testing. He was quickly on the pace in the morning on his 2016 bike and topped the standings after his 11th lap, clocking a 1'30.950s, which was only bettered by Viñales later in the afternoon when the temperatures rose. Despite suffering a crash on lap 32 in turn 10, he walked away unharmed and started the Valencia test with a positive feeling overall. The Italian spent his afternoon session preparing for next year's season. He completed 47 laps in total and finished in second place in today's testing results, just 0.020s off the front.

Tomorrow Movistar Yamaha MotoGP will be back at the Ricardo Tormo track to continue their testing programme.

Valentino Rossi

"It was a positive day, because I'm second and the lap time was not so bad, but I did it with the old bike. With the new chassis the first feeling was OK, but after unfortunately I crashed because I put the hard tyre on the front, which on the right side doesn't give enough grip for our bike. I damaged the bike and I didn't have enough time to try it again, so now the guys are working and I will try the new chassis some other time tomorrow and we will see."