Motorbike

After another crash in race one at Brno last weekend, the Kawasaki Racing Team rider suffered further damage to his right knee which was injured at Philip Island in the first round in February.  The former World Supersport champion missed the next two rounds.The Kawasaki team's website announced yesterday that he would now sit out the rest of the season while his knee recovers and he considers reconstructive surgery.  Vermeulen is signed for next year with the Kawasaki factory team.He has not yet made a statement.

Australian freestyle motorcross superstar Robbie Maddison has backflipped across London’s Tower Bridge.The Kiama motorsport hero – who already has a long list of similar stunts to his name – completed the jump at 3am on Monday (London time) morning to avoid traffic.He is the first to tackle the Tower Bridge, but did it with permission from UK authoritities.           

In Fort Worth, the Pearcedale-based rider became the first to pull off the outrageous double backflip in a full-length freestyle motocross contest.Sinclair was controversially beaten by Swiss defending champion Matt Rebeaud in the semi-finals in Texas. The crowd believed Sinclair's double flip was enough to earn a finals berth.Rebeaud advanced, but was no match for in-form American rider Nate Adams in the final.Sinclair was lucky to even make it to the semi after badly bruising his ankles while landing from a backflip and was in so much pain he couldn't kickstart his bike."During the double flip in the quarter finals, I landed with my feet not on the footpegs properly. I've had them checked out and there's nothing broken, they're just really sore!" Sinclair says.Suzuki rider Chad Reed still leads the 450cc AMA motocross series after a fourth in Colorado on the weekend.Reed struggled for pace and started from 11th, but had worked his way into third by the time the flag fell on the first race. He lost touch with the lead pack in the second outing and finished seventh."Each race is a real battle and it was good to come away from Thunder Valley with a fourth place and the championship lead," Reed says.The helmet worn by Reed at Thunder Valley, featuring indigenous artwork supporting the cause of Red Dust Role Models, is being auctioned online.To bid, go to www.teamvodafone.com

but it should be called a splashdown with all this rain we've been having.At the start of the year we had five new FG Falcons built for us and other race teams. Craig got the first and I got the second.Now we've built a new one for Craig which he will race at Tasmania next weekend. His car will then become our team spare.With any new race car you are allowed to do a shakedown test of 20 laps.That just means a systems check, not a performance test, so unless the track is totally under water, we should be going ahead.We don't have to do the shakedown, but it's highly advised to sort out any issues, warm everything up and check it all works, and that it's safe and balanced.In fact, it's probably better that it's raining so they can test things like the heated windscreen.Then the cars go straight on the truck to leave on Sunday for Melbourne and the ferry across to Tassie.It's been a massive break since the last round in Winton and I've been filling in my time renovating my house down the coast.In fact, it's taken up all my spare time but I will get a bit of a fun break next week when the team blows off some steam at Morgan Park circuit in Warwick on our bikes.Most of our team are bike nuts, including our boss Roland (Dane) who has a great collection of motorcycles.It won't be super-serious and I'll make sure I keep the rubber side down on my trusty KTM this time. I had a slight "off" the last time we had a team track day at Queensland Raceway.Speaking of motorcycles, I believe we were hoping to get Troy Bayliss in a race car this week for a test.However, being the current World Superbike champion, he still has commitments to Ducati — even though he's retired — so he's currently in Europe.Obviously it's going to be a big transition for him, but bikes and cars both have a throttle, brake and tyres and there's still the same concept of trying to get the most out of your machine and tyres.I think it is probably slightly easier for a bike guy to go to a car than for a race car driver to go to bike racing.Troy loves his cars and is really keen on a V8 trial. It's a thing that motorsport guys have common — if it has an engine, we love it.I also have to say, I love street circuits and I'm really excited about the new rounds in the streets of Townsville in July and Homebush (Sydney) in December - what a great finale to the season that will be.I'm really pleased for our far north Queensland fans who've been deprived of motorsport for a long time. I hope we can race in Townsville for many years to come.I always say we should have a good mix of permanent tracks and street circuits.This is the best motorsport championship in Australia so we have a huge responsibility to keep permanent circuits alive for things like driver training, road safety courses and track days.It's important that people who don't have an opportunity to race can still enjoy their cars in a safe environment rather than racing on the roads.

That makes him a major legend in the world of freestyle motocross, but he is also known around the world as the other half of Pink.Now the pair are joining forces with something special for Australia _ a series of free 'events' in major cities where Pink is performing on her latest music tour.There will be art, music and fashion but, best of all, a combination of cars and bikes and FMX action.Hart is currently recruiting a team of Australia's best aerial bike experts and they will join him at five local shows, in the Hart & Huntington Freestyle Tour, from Melbourne through to the Gold Coast from May 30 to June 20."We are all too aware of what Australian's have been enduring with the floods, fires and financial crisis so we decided it was time everyone there had the opportunity to have a good time," Hart says."Australia and its people have been so good to my wife and I over the years and we honestly feel like this is our home away from home. "We want this to be a real reward for fans of the sport and wider culture that has provided me with so many opportunities."The tour has backing from Holden and will kick off at Road Laver Arena on May 30, moving through Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast finale - the only event not part of the Pink tour - on June 20.

The event runs throughout the Easter long weekend, with Sydney’s Eastern Creek racetrack set to become a temporary shrine to help celebrate the life of Barry Sheene.It will also double as a mecca for lovers of all things two-wheeled with plenty of activities including a swap meet and trade and club displays.This year, the festival will feature four-time World Grand Prix champion Kork Ballington and two-time World TT Formula One champ Graeme Crosby, who will appear as guest riders in several parade laps over the weekend.Ballington will be riding either his Kawasaki H1RA 500cc or his KR250 GP motorcycles — bikes that helped him become one of only 16 riders to win consecutive double titles on 250/350cc machines in 1978 and 1979.On top of his World TT F1 win, his Isle of Mann Senior TT victory and several successful rides with Suzuki, Crosby will be riding the Suzuki GS1000R that netted him the Australian Swann series in 1980. 

It uses two wheels but they are positioned right next to each other, giving it the illusion of being a powered unicycle. Even better, it might help save the planet.Ben Gulak, from Ontario, Canada, has spent several years building the electric Uno, that uses gyroscopic technology — like the infamous Segway commuter device — to stay upright.It has only one switch, on or off, and is controlled entirely by body movement. The rider leans forwards to accelerate to speeds of 25mph and back to slow down.The Uno has been turning heads wherever it has been ridden.“I was inspired to make the bike after visiting China a few years ago and seeing all the smog,” said Ben.“They all drive little bikes that are really polluting and I wanted to make something to combat that.”The green machine is so small and light it can be taken indoors and carried into lifts - and is recharged by being plugged into the mains.The wheels are independent, allowing the bike to turn on a sixpence and the technology takes the balance and guesswork out of riding a unicycle.“The bike takes a bit of getting used to because you have to learn to trust it. But it doesn't take long,” said Ben.Its 18-year-old creator is now looking for investors to get the Uno into production and on to the streets.

It proved that a small V-twin motor was as sporting a proposition on the road as a high-revving in-line four-cylinder, at least in the hands of the average rider.Ten years on, the Suzi updates make it an even better ride.It's all about useable power, of which a V-twin running a well-sorted fuel-injection system has heaps.Available in half-faired and naked versions, the SV650 is the latest model in the Suzuki range to get Antilock Brake System (ABS).Both are powered with a 645cc, DOHC, 90-degree V-twin engine that has been developed over a decade.Now they have Suzuki's dual throttle valve (SDTV) digital fuel-injection system, with 39mm throttle bodies and a 8.5-litre airbox. It is a crucial part of the SV650's crisp, clean throttle delivery, which gets the best out of this engine's broad powerband.It responds vividly if you rev it hard or you can lug it around at low revs.Despite being designed to appeal to riders of all skills, the SV650 doesn't feel like a compromise.There's plenty of power for the experienced rider, with the ride hampered by the basic suspension. It kicks over bumps at speed but doesn't feel like it will turn into the dreaded steering head shake.The 41mm conventional front forks and progressive-link rear suspension have adjustable spring preload but at $10,000 that's to be expected.Twin 290mm floating-disc front brakes and a 220mm rear disc are quite adequate. The ABS is subtle and only the rear can be activated easily.Despite having clip-on handlebars, the half-faired SV650S model has a good riding position for long stints in the saddle. It is a short reach to the lowish handlebars and the 800mm seat height will suit a range of riders.A close look at the SV650 reveals an aluminium-alloy-truss frame, quality bodywork and full instrumentation.This is a practical motorcycle with a sturdy passenger grab bar, luggage tie-down hooks and 17-litre fuel tank.The naked SV650 sells for $9990, with the S model at $10,490. 

Five-time 500cc motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan labelled Valentino Rossi as good as any rider in history after the Italian's record-breaking triumph at the Indianapolis MotoGP yesterday.Rossi sped within a solitary point of an eighth world title in the rain-shortened race in which he surpassed compatriot Giacomo Agostini's record of 68 victories in the top category.“People sometimes ask who is the greatest rider of all time? It's hard to say because every era is different,” said Doohan, who sits third on the all-time list with 54.“That said, Valentino is probably as good as there has ever been, if not the best.“I'm sure he will win many more races, if he stays fit, and I'm looking forward to seeing him go head-to-head with Casey Stoner and the others at Phillip Island in a few weeks.”Rossi was declared the winner after 20 laps when the race — the first motorcycle event at the legendary Brickyard since 1909 — was stopped as heavy rain and gales, a legacy of Hurricane Ike, swept the circuit.Rossi's 69th victory in the top category handed him an 87-point lead over defending champion Stoner, who was fourth. With four races left, he can clinch the championship by picking up a point at Motegi in Japan in a fortnight.Rossi was pleased to grab two slices of motorcycling history.“To win the first race here at Indianapolis is a great emotion and to beat Agostini's record is also incredible. Now I hope my record will stand for 30 years like his,” Rossi said.“These were the worst conditions of my career. When the wind and rain came, it became very hard.“I think I could have kept going for another eight laps, but there were things flying through the air — beer cans, plastic glasses — so really I think it was the right decision to stop the race.“Sincerely I don't think I've ever ridden in conditions like these and I was lucky because I was far in front and didn't have to take any big risks.”Doohan said Rossi's strike rate was impressive.“To win as many races as he has in less than nine seasons shows how consistent he has been, and that's his strength, as well as his ability,” he said.“He's always ready to race, regardless of the circumstances. The weather was terrible, and since Valentino is leading the championship, he could have just cruised around and got some points.“Instead, he was the guy pushing it harder than the others. He just rode away from them and that's why he has achieved so much.“I was racing 500s when Valentino arrived on the grand prix scene in '96 in the 125s.“He's always been serious about his racing, but he's also been someone who enjoys himself off the track and that's why he's so popular with so many fans around the world.”Details, Page 82 TOPS ON TWO WHEELSMost Motorcycle Grand Prix wins in the top category.Wins Rider69* Valentino Rossi (Ita) 2000-08*68 Giacomo Agostini (Ita) 1965-197654 Mick Doohan (Aus) 1990-1998*Still competing