BM’S R1200 GS is Bike of the Year

MW’s new-generation R1200GS has been awarded South Africa’s inaugural Bike of the Year title.

The iconic all-terrainer topped the judges’ poll and beat 15 other finalists to scoop the competition, which was sponsored by Pirelli and is to become an annual event.

Second place went to the KTM 1190 Adventure and third to the Triumph Daytona 675R. The MV Agusta Brutale 800, Kawasaki Z800

Band Moto Guzzi California 1400 rounded out the top six. The announcement was made at the AMID Motorcycle Expo at Nasrec on the weekend. The competition, organised by Mat Durrans and Harry Fisher of The Bike Show and involving 13 members of the South African motorcycling media and professional motorcyclists, pitted 16 new-for-2013 bikes against each other for the overall title.

The judging process took part over two days in Gauteng recently, where the bikes were ridden on public roads and the Midvaal Raceway.

The winning R1200GS was launched in SA earlier this year as the latest generation of BMW’s strong-selling dual-purpose touring motorcycle.

Priced at R140 800, the twin-cylinder machine is capable on both tar and dirt and comes with standard ABS brakes and adjustable windscreen, while electronically-adjustable suspension and traction control are just some of the available options. NINE races down, nine to go, a rookie heading the standings and a huge 225 points still left on offer.

That’s the situation in MotoGP as the world’s premier motorcycle racing series heads to the historic Indianapolis circuit in the US this Sunday.

MotoGP has been visiting the iconic “Brickyard” since 2008 and this year it’s rookie Marc Marquez on a Repsol Honda who arrives there leading the standings ahead of his team mate Dani Pedrosa and the reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a works Yamaha.

Thanks to a month-long break following the Laguna Seca round on July 21, Pedrosa and Lorenzo should be back to improved fighting fitness after picking up recent injuries.

Laguna Seca was a weekend of damage limitation for the two Spaniards as both men suffered with left collarbone injuries, and they finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Valentino Rossi’s legions of fans will be hoping the multiple champion will continue his recent resurgence.

The nine-time title winner struggled following his rostrum finish in the season-opening Qatar round, but has made up ground since then and has ridden his works Yamaha to topthree results in the last three races.

The Italian has overtaken Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow for fourth in the standings, and with just 47 points covering the top five the title chase is still wide open.

Indy will also welcome back Pramac Ducati rider Ben Spies, the former World Superbike champion, who has missed the last seven MotoGP races due to a lingering shoulder injury.

Away from the race track, Crutchlow has signed a two- year contract with Ducati to replace 2006 champion Nicky Hayden from next year, to reunite with former teammate Andrea Dovizioso.

Crutchlow’s place alongside Bradley Smith on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 will be filled by Pol Espargaro.

The Indianapolis MotoGP will be broadcast live on DStv SuperSport at 7.45pm South African time.

Marc Marquez, SPA, Honda – 163 points

Dani Pedrosa, SPA, Honda – 147

Jorge Lorenzo, SPA, Yamaha – 137

Valentino Rossi, ITA, Yamaha – 117

Cal Crutchlow, GBR, Yamaha – 116