cut in the wall of the juddering single-engine aircraft – besides the feeling of my stomach and I being instantly hundreds of feet apart – was silence. Yes, the wind rushed past my ears at the speed of gravity's relentless pull, but overall

into the fray, Bimota splash their cash on the launch of the DB5. Are you ready with yours? Full Review: If you had to pick a bike to ride at the relentlessly twisty Valencia circuit on a brutally hot Spanish summer day, a smart choice would be something light

, the huge fairing did not for a minute, stop me hoolying around like a teenage lottery winner doing his first track day on a new R1! Rufty: Unrelenting, Confidence inspiring, True do it all with a few niggles Strengths: Relentless engine, always has more

delivery. Smaller than my old GSXR600 Overall: Great bike, Very tractable Pulls cleanly and relentlessly upto silly speeds. The Gimp: TH MOST SURGICAL SPORTSBIKE I HAVE OWNED Strengths: Weaknesses: Overall: very fast and very good at what it does but a

is an effortless task. Even fully loaded with topbox and panniers it’ll batter its way on relentlessly. It does get a bit light on its suspension at speed though, with a gentle weave creeping in on fast sweepers. Nothing dramatic, just a lot of mass and kinetic

, relentless overtaking, day-for-night headlights carving through the pitch-black motorway darkness defying anyone to pull out. And all the while an uncomplaining seat, a buffet free helmet and all extremities alive and kicking. Perfect. And we made the boat

long the footpegs were regularly kissing the surface of the relentless hairpins. Charging hard like this for mile after mile with absolutely no dip in braking or engine performance emphatically confirmed the scratching credentials of this bike