Bike Devil’s Week on Two-Wheels: 30 March 2020

We start with the obvious news – there’s no way you could have missed it – we’re all now in lockdown, with the request to stay in our homes for all but essential travel.

As a result of coronavirus, various things have been postponed – or in some cases, cancelled altogether. We’re talking rounds of the MotoGP, WSBK and BSB Championships, as well as road racing like the Isle of Man TT, North West 200 and the Ulster. Endurance races haven’t been let off either, with Le Mans being postponed until September. A number of manufacturers have halted production too including Yamaha, Ducati, KTM, Husqvarna, GASGAS and MV Agusta…

However, let’s talk about some good news, shall we?

While some manufacturers have held off on unveiling new models, one manufacturer who is actually making the most of all these people at home, running out of household tasks to do at home, is Ducati – who unveiled their new Streetfighter V4 via live stream last Wednesday evening.

And WHAT. A. MACHINE…. Effectively a naked Panigale V4 with higher, wider handlebars, the new V4 and V4S boast 208hp of power and 90.4 lb-ft of torque… with a dry weight of 180kg and 178kg respectively, these things are sure to fly. They both feature biplane wings, the key difference between the standard and ‘S’ version being the suspension components and wheels. Not only is the bike a beauty, but it will be interesting to see if any other manufacturers follow suit with unveiling their new models via live stream over the next few weeks or months…

It’s good news too if you’re a MotoGP fan – as at the weekend, there was the first ever virtual race, featuring the likes of Marc and Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartarao, Alex Rins and Aleix Espargaro. It’s available as a video on the MotoGP website, so we won’t ruin the surprise by telling you who wins! While you’re there, it’s worth taking a look around the site, as from today, they’re offering the MotoGP Video Pass for FREE. You’ll have access to the whole archive of historical races – from 1992 to Qatar 2020 – and exclusive interviews! It might be worth waiting until tonight, as you don’t need any distractions if you’re working from home…

Some more good news is that there is now a six-month exemption from MOT testing! Meaning all cars, vans and motorcycles that would usually need one from Monday 30th March – now won’t. Take a gander at the GOV.UK website for more info.

Hopefully our weekly update has made you smile for a few minutes. Keep your eyes peeled on our website too as we’ll be uploading an article this week, covering the things you CAN do during isolation.