as no speeding tickets drop through the post next week…I fitted an Akrapovic end can and an R+G hugger to my VFR1200 yesterday. It took a couple of hours. Panniers off, seat and sidepanel off (hidden fasteners - nice touch), rear wheel out (five bolts) and a bit

km away. I got to 2km before the petrol station when the Hornet started to stutter, I rolled from left to right to slosh the fuel around, slip-streamed a lorry in the slow lane but fell 500 metres short.I parked up then ran with all my bike gear

. So I decided to get away for a while. Far away. Far enough away to forget all the shit at home. So I rode to Moscow. Why Moscow? Russia sounded dangerous, a bit of a thrill, a challenge and I reckoned that would be just the ticket to clear my muddled

(£495) and, as I type this a week later, my forearm muscles tell me that this is probably enough for the inexperienced dirt bike rider, prone to carpal tunnel syndrome. The accommodation at Redtread is just the ticket. A lofty villa is separated from

the brakes expecting the inevitable ticket. But then, what must have been the only other vehicle in town, the driver decided to cross my path and get some fuel from the opposite side of the road. Maybe the vehicle interrupted the radar, I don't really know

for a 150 mile 'bedding in' trip up north to my rendezvous with a damp Donington Park and the TWO track day.145bhp mixed with a damp track and a ham-fisted editor would normally end up in an early gravel bath, but surprisingly this was not the case

making a major case breakthrough.I was tempted to ask if he wanted a medal for observation, but instead only managed to mumble something about someone reversing into the bike in a car park, and the Velcro being a temporary measure until I could get

, it was diluted to the Arctic Circle as there would not be enough time available to embark on such an epic journey. Even so, the Arctic Circle would be some challenge.Rob did a grand job organising ferry tickets and route. Whilst waiting on the dockside

's the 'Charley and Ewan' effect, which itself has helped sell over 800 GS Adventures in the UK last year alone. Owners like to look like they're setting off to conquer the wild plains of the Serengeti, even if the only thing they're likely to defeat is the ticket

from, really no idea. It was my first pole position for six years. 1996, Cadwell Park, British Championship was the last time before that. So I was pleased... The whole Brands Hatch race came down to tyres for me, with the heat the way it was