SPORTSBIKE OF THE YEAR
Ducati V4S, tackles rivals, on track, at Rockingham, with James Haydon.
REMEMBER THE DAYS when litre sportsbike tests were a bit predictable? The S1000RR would win while the Japanese scrabbled around playing electronic catch-up (or not actually bothering, in Honda’s case). How times have changed. This year we have six contenders, five with semi-active suspension, three new this year (ZX-10R SE, R1M, V4S), all with hugely sophisticated electronics and a red one with 214bhp… The Ducati is undoubtedly the pre-test favourite, but Rockingham’s National circuit is a tricky customer with no long straights and some awkward dips and bumps. It’s the sort of place where monumental power is not a monumental advantage. Also, we’re going to judge the bikes using a spectrum of pilot speeds, ranging from James Haydon (ex GP, WSB and BSB factory rider), to Peter Boast (TT and classic racer) to John Westlake (half-decent trackday rider). So a bike that James can do great lap times on but John finds impossible to enjoy is not going to win this test. Which is where dark horses such as the Fireblade SP and GSX-R1000R come in – they’re not as crazy-powerful as the Ducati (the Blade is 25bhp down), but we know they inspire huge confidence. Around Rockingham, that counts. And the S1000RR? Surely it’s not going to come last…