Former Moto2 rider Kyle Smith ended his season on the ultimate high-note by taking his Honda CBR600RR to victory in last weekend’s final round of the 2013 FIM Superstock 600 European championship at Jerez in Spain.

It was almost a home race for the UK-born Smith, who has lived in Spain since the age of seven and who joined the Agro-On Racedays Honda team as a guest rider after splitting with the Avinta Blusens Moto2 team mid-season. After qualifying in fourth place at Jerez, Smith got a superb start in Saturday’s race, leading into the first right-hander. He was never headed and crossed the line 0.3s ahead of second-placed Franco Morbidelli, who secured the series title that was won a year ago by Pata Honda World Supersport rider Michael van der Mark.

Smith’s Agro-On Racedays Honda team-mate, Lukas Wimmer, finished in 18th place on his first visit to the 4.423km Jerez circuit in southern Spain.

“It was the perfect way to finish what’s been quite a difficult season,” said Smith afterwards. “I rode at Nurburgring as a guest rider for the Agro-On Racedays Honda team, who have been fantastic to work with. I managed to finish that race in sixth place,” continued the 22-year-old, “and then got seventh at Magny-Cours, but to win the last race of the year in Spain is just a dream for me.”

25th - 27th October

Celebrating this year's 75th anniversary of the cafe having originally opened in 1938, and teaming up with the 59 Club's official French Section, Ace Cafe London is privileged to be able to confirm attendance at the annual Salon Moto Legende Show, Parc Floral de Paris, Vincennes.    

The Ace presence and display at the show, will include  the 1958 Royal Enfield Constellation motorcycle that featured on the front page of the UK's national newspaper, The Daily Mirror, of Thursday 9th February 1961 together with an array of Ace Cafe, Rockers and StoMoCo items, alongside "Gear with Grit" from Red Torpedo, sponsors of the TT Red Riders (to include Guy Martin, Conor Cummins, John McGuinness and Maria Costello) together with the all new 132 page Ace Cafe London Bookazine and the critically acclaimed seminal, 312 page book, "Ace Times - Speed thrills and tea spills, a cafe and a culture", by author Mick Duckworth will also be available.    

For more information about the show and the French section of the 59 Club:

www.salon-moto-legende.fr

www.59legend.com

www.ace-cafe-london.com

2013 British Supersport champions Mar-Train Racing has confirmed that they will race in the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and have announced that up-and-coming International Road Racing talent Dean Harrison will represent them.

Team owner Tim Martin has long been a road-racing supporter and 24-year-old Harrison will ride the team’s R6 Yamaha at the TT as well as the other international meetings - The North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix.

Harrison recorded a tremendous victory at this year’s Southern 100 aboard an R6 Yamaha in one of the Supersport races, and his seventh place at the TT in the second middleweight encounter, as well as his first TT podium in the BikeSocial.co.uk Lightweight TT, sets him up well for a shot at a debut TT Supersport podium with Mar-Train in 2014.

Harrison was at Brands Hatch on Sunday to secure his deal and also watch Mar-Train Racing lift this year's British Supersport title with Stuart Easton. The affable Bradford man said of his new deal: “Yeah, it’s unreal to have tied up a contract with Tim and Sonya and the Mar-Train team for 2014."

Harrison added: “We had a good year on a 600 Yamaha this season, but hopefully we can do a better job on what is definitely a stronger package with the Mar-Train bike. I’ve always wanted to stick with the same bikes that I was on, so the Mar-Train deal is perfect for me as they have so much more data and experience. Yeah hopefully we can have a good season.”

Harrison will also take in the Southern 100 and Scarborough meetings with Mar-Train with some additional ad-hoc appearances to be discussed, and as soon as next week, the Northern Ireland team will be announcing his team-mate for 2014.

Team owner Tim Martin said of his acquisition: “The plan for 2014 was to spread our wings a little and get involved in the International Road Racing scene. We have dabbled before but with Dean on-board and another rider secured – who we will be announcing next week – I believe we can challenge at the sharp end next season on the roads with two very exciting and talented riders. It’s all about exposure and return for our sponsors, both old and new, and the road races that we have chosen will play an important supporting role to our 2014 British Supersport campaign as defending champions.”

TT and Motorsport Development Manager Paul Phillips commented: "Mar-Train are joining the TT paddock on the back of an excellent season and will be a welcome addition to the TT. It is another sign of the TT's growing strength that we are welcoming a current British Championship winning team. With Dean on board they will be right at the front of the pack and will contribute significantly to what is already building up to be hugely competitive Supersport races."

1 Go through a long tunnel on a bike with loud pipes

2 Ride over a suspension bridge

3 Attend a large Biker Rally, eg: Nabdness, Farmyard, Stormin' the Castle, etc...

4 Buy decent gear (to keep you warm/cool/safe)

5 Go on a trip abroad with your Motorcycle by ferry

6 Go on an large organised ride out

7 Attend a Motorcycle event abroad such as Daytona, Florida, Sturgis, FH-DCE Super Rally, Faro, etc...

8 Stay at the Bikers Loft in Belgium.

9 Ride (and own) different bikes, from Harleys to Hondas, Benelli to BMW. Embrace the machines, technology and the riding experince.

10 Get on your bike and ride!

The above is merely the meandering thoughts based on the experiences and thoughts of THE BIKER GUIDE team and visitors.

Put down the map and get wonderfully lost!

Many thanks for all those who are involved in this list and also to those who supplied us images which include;

Daytona Bike Week, David Norton, Jayne Wilkinson, John Booth, Kenny Rodger, Madelaine McLaughlin, Marcus Wallace, Mikey Gregg, Mr Creature, Phil McGladdery and Robin Head.

The recently presented all-new 1290 SUPER DUKE R is not only the most potent two-cylinder naked bike ever, it represents everything KTM stands for in riding enjoyment at the highest level.

After the successful launch of the 1190 ADVENTURE and 1190 ADVENTURE R and the presentation of the 390 DUKE during the course of the year, KTM has continued the street season with innovation number three and what is probably the highlight of the year. The production version of the 1290 SUPER DUKE R, which will be commercially available in December 2013, has been developed from the ground up and concludes the incredible KTM asphalt model range of sports inspired naked bikes. 

With its 180hp performance and 144Nm of torque, the typical weight-saving KTM construction of the 1290 SUPER DUKE R has more power than ever before, although the breathtaking data that is associated with KTM’s latest naked machine is not to be feared. With the best chassis components available (WP Suspension, Brembo Monobloc), accompanied with state-of-the-art electronic assistance systems (Bosch ABS, MTC, Keihin Ride-by-Wire), the use of KTM’s superb power has never been as usable as on the new 1290 SUPER DUKE R.

The impressive range of the unmistakably KISKA-designed naked bikes almost demand to be ridden on every imaginable asphalt option. KTM’s naked range is suitable for enjoyable riding in the city, on sweeping country roads, the Alpine pass, motorway riding, long distance, as well as on the racetrack. With its powerful engine, balanced chassis and easygoing ergonomics, the radical  ‘Beast’ is an exciting , durable bike that’s always ready for action.

With a range of specially developed PowerParts, the 1290 SUPER DUKE R can be easily adapted to suit individual requirements. The quality ‘Racing’, ‘Style’ and ‘Touring’ kits available make the chase on the racetrack, can refine the SUPER DUKE’s look for a racier appearance at the bike club or add comfort for the weekend tour.

After three years of intense development in Mattighofen, including thousands and thousands of test kilometers, many of them with ex-MotoGP racer and test icon Jeremy McWilliams, the time has come, the 1290 SUPER DUKE R had arrived.

Further information can be found on the microsite: www.1290superduker.com