In short:Expensive, exclusive and a (steadily) moving work of art. Pros:Expensive, exclusive and a (steadily) moving work of art. Cons:Expensive, exclusive and a (steadily) moving work of art. Top speed: 120mph Engine capacity: 1078cc Power: 95bhp

usual track-based sportsbike launch. All new supersport bikes have impressive engine performance, plus they corner, steer and stop exceptionally well no matter what circuit you visit. It's only one's ability as a rider that defines how fast you circulate

, injectors have been changed slightly as has the rear spring for the better. Thousands of minor tweaks - Major improvement! Overall: Moving from an impressive 2009 R1 to the 2012 50th Anniversary model, I think Yamaha have improved this model further

, such is the transformation in the Suzuki V-twin power plant. This is thanks mainly to Bimota’s latest fuel injection system, which sees a servo motor actually move the injector nozzles up and down within the bodies for more efficient fuelling at all engine revs. The engine

, not uncomfortable next to other sporty machines anyway. If you're used to riding Japanese bikes the 1098's seating position will feel pretty natural, and if you ride a 916 it will feel identical!On the move the Ducati feels sharp and focused, like a well set

of the Japanese manufacturers should be envious of. Just moving it around on pit lane here at Portmão makes it feels like someone’s nicked the engine. BMW claim a dry weight of 190kgs and I wouldn’t dispute it, they’ve even managed to make that feel less than

ages, both sexes to ogle and ask about it. Handling, as you would expect with the top shelf componentry is very controlled and the ability to easily and effortlessly change line in a corner contradicts the weight of the beast. Once moving this bike

Superbikes in 2009. This move effectively makes the HP2 Sport redundant when it comes to racing. Well, all apart from a few ‘special interest’ classes. What would the point be in BMW racing this bike when they have a purpose-built race bike

compressed somehow. But it really isn’t so long ago since the best sportsbikes were of 750cc capacity. From the launch of the first GSX-R750 in 1985 to the debut of the first credible large capacity bike – the FireBlade – in ’92, 750cc four-stroke sportsbikes

the other Japanese bikes. It works fine but you have to be positive and changing gear takes more time, albeit 10ths of a second, but it’s noticeable. I reckon it could be that the solid gear lever moves away from your foot – the race team uses a linkage