The best test...

We make no apologies about the apparent lavishness of our main test this month. Sportsbike of the Year is an institution – and the most important test you’ll read anywhere this year (no change there) – and thus Portimao is a perfect destination for the planet’s eight most spectacular bikes.

We don’t undertake these things lightly. Two days on track doesn’t come cheap – nor does the logistics to get the men and machines to a track that’s a ferry ride away from Africa. Dynos, speed testing, tyre changing, set-up, data-logging – these crucial elements all combine to give you the most comprehensive test you’ll get on the cream of 2014’s crop. Anything less would be robbing you of the information you need – and we’re not having that…

We’re not alone in this massive endeavour, and we’re grateful to Bridgestone for supporting us in the test. Providing a level playing field is crucial to the independence of the test – and any opportunity to razz a set of R10s is a godsend in our books. But we also have to thank JHS Racing to the tyre changing and dynos, Portimao for the excellent support on track and Brittany Ferries for the, er, ferries.

So all this undertaking is for what? When the dust settles we pronounce a winner – the best sportsbike on the planet. Life thrives on competition, and winning this title means much to a manufacturer. It also means that you can be confident in buying the very best – whether that be next week, next month or in a few years time. Treat SBOTY as a resource, and over the course of running the test over 12 years we’ve built a huge body of evidence to use when you consider buying a bike. Because, after all, why settle for anything but the best.

We’ve had a great month making this mag, we hope you have a cracker too.