needed to do was set a benchmark lap time using a bike fresh from the shop with the standard fit rubber.  Original equipment tyres are designed to be a safe all-round compromise. This gave James a chance to get a feel for the conditions and to assess how

are clear with additional information such as a lap times avaialable. The carbon bits add the bikes image Weaknesses: The bike makes a great noise, especially with the non stock Arrow cans that were available as a special offer with the bike. The handling

Full Review: From Michelin:Proven multi-compound racing tyres for lightening lap-timesNo fewer than eight exclusive technologies -including MICHELIN Asymmetric Technology (AST)- have been fine-tuned, validated and incorporated into the tyres

. Last time out at Cadwell Park I had a 'get off' at The Goose Neck. 1st lap out on cold tyres on a very cold day the bike slipped out from under me at 60 plus MPH, I slid for many yards down the track including a full 360 degree roll followed by about

solid after 1 lap from tyre warmers. On a cooler day (7C & damp) they just took longer to get up to temp then felt good. Felt fine for a quick trip on the road at road pressures Weaknesses: Excellent grip, neutral handling, feel secure when hot. On a

were still as fresh as the day they were laid as I headed down the start / finish straight behind Slighty for the start of my second lap of the historic circuit. It was hard to take it all in, a new track to learn, following probably the greatest

capacity: 18L Tank range: 150 miles Full Review: It was my best lap of the day, no question.I came flying into the Catalunya circuit's stadium section, sliced through the final four right handers with Yamaha's exotic new YZF-R1 feeling as sharp as a

-cylinder competition from the east. Aussies can be a little rough around the edges at times, but they're normally pretty honest and tend to look after their own.My first few laps of Kyalami were quite tentative as I reacquainted myself with a circuit I hadn't ridden

).I'll admit it took a whole 40-mile lap of the off-road course to get in tune with the bike, its size and performance. But for the second lap we got into the groove. With knowledge of what was coming up corners could be attacked, not negotiated, and clearly

with the Pirelli technical staff they suggested lower tyre pressures would help and are usually advisable on cold days. Next up was my old mate the ZX-10R which, possibly down to more front end weight bias, felt much more planted after three warming up laps. Every