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Patriot Games - The British Grand Prix
By Bertie Simmonds on 16/06/2010 14:34:51
From the Isle of Man to Silverstone via Donington Park, the story and the thrilling races that make up the history of the British Grand Prix
in the country and after a concerted effort owner Tom Wheatcroft managed to secure the rights to the race.Popularity of the GP dipped in the 1990s. Britain needed a champ, and it had one – but in World Superbikes. Sadly, as gate figures topped 120,000 for Brands
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Icon - Todd Carty
By Bertie Simmonds on 28/11/2002 16:55:23
East-End Veg Man
Todd Carty has always been cool. Okay, so he's played miserable fruit and veg seller Mark Fowler for the last 12 years in BBC1's East Enders, but in most of the characters he's played on our TV screens he's ridden a bike. Oh, and go back to 1978
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Icon: Che Guevara
By Bertie Simmonds on 22/10/2010 16:52:09
A political icon from the Swinging 60s and owner of the second most famous beret in the world (after Frank Spencer's) it's little known that Che was a very keen motorcyclist and biking author. Good on him...
's minister of industry in 1961-65 following Castro's take over of Cuba in 1959. Bored of Government, he left Cuba in 1965 to foster revolution abroad and came unstuck in the jungles of Bolivia in 1967, when he was wounded, captured and then executed
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1985 Championship double - Freddie Spencer
By Bertie Simmonds on 26/02/2008 13:25:00
In 1985, 'Fast' Freddie Spencer did something unique in the motorcycle racing arena - the 250cc and 500cc World Championship double
was already a legend. Aged 10 he held titles in five US states; by 13 he was competing in 100 dirt-track races a year, winning the lion's share and learning the art of drifting the rear and going fast and loose. He turned pro at 16 and soon had Kanemoto by his
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Used Review: Triumph Sprint RS
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/04/2008 21:38:34
Quiet, unassuming and unpopular the Sprint RS may have been as a new buy, it now has a loyal following and makes a bargain sports tourer.
I was at the launch of the Sprint RS in southern Spain in 1999. Some muppet in the office thought it would be a good idea to ride back from there to the Midlands, in late December.But thanks to decent winter kit and the Sprint RS's solid attributes
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Used Review: Yamaha Fazer 600
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/04/2008 16:03:24
Cheaper than chips and more versatile than a Swiss Army knife, the Yamaha Fazer is one of the few bikes that really can be (nearly) all things to all men - and all for under two grand
Even medieval alchemists couldn't have managed what Yamaha did with the Fazer 600 back in 1998.They took the motor from a second-rate 600, bolted-on R1 brakes and stuck it all in a workmanlike chassis, wrapped in plastics of questionable aesthetic
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What's MotoGP ever done for us? Pt.2
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/05/2010 12:52:33
Following on from looking into how Grand Prix racing has revolutionised the very bikes we ride, here’s how the riding kit the fastest racers on the planet wear has shaped what we use today
covered in greased leather. The early steam locomotives in the late 1800 used to explode with alarming alacrity if too much pressure was allowed to build, and who can forget the American John Stapp, who in 1947 subjected himself to 46g on a rocket
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The story of Akrapovic
By Bertie Simmonds on 07/01/2011 13:06:52
From a shed in Slovenia, Igor Akrapovic's exhausts now dominate the world
In just 15 years Akrapovic has come from a one-man-band making exhausts in a shed to being the number one brand worldwide for road-riders and race teams alike.Stories like this generally start with a visionary, and this is no different. Ours is Igor
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Used Review: Yamaha YZF-R6
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/04/2008 16:08:21
Yamaha's feisty little R6 has deservedly gained a cult status amongst its fans, as a rev-happy, sharp-edged alternative to Honda's more easy-going CBR600.
'claimed' 120bhp (more like 105bhp at the rear wheel) and was also the first production bike to boast 200bhp per litre.But these figures only tell half the story. What did make the bike the success it became was its single-minded attitude to sports biking
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Used Test: Kawasaki ZZ-R600
By Bertie Simmonds on 09/04/2008 23:13:49
Like Barbara Windsor, it hasn't been considered sexy for years. So what's kept the ZZ-R600 on Kawasaki's books all this time? It's the fastest, squashiest, flying sofa has ever seen, that's why...
seat, vast, protective fairing and a 14,000rpm redline equalled raised eyebrows and the ring of cash tills.Right up until its demise in 2006, the ZZ-R600 confounded bikin fashion pundits by remaining popular despite their guffaws at its antiquated
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