Suzuki has confirmed its withdrawal from the British Superbike Championship, ahead of the 2023 season.

Aligning with its global racing strategy – which saw the termination of its MotoGP project as well as a scaling back of factory support in the Endurance World Championship – and following the departure of the current GSX-R1000R model from European markets, Suzuki has suspended its official involvement in the premier domestic superbike series.

Over the past six seasons – in partnership with Hawk Racing – the Suzuki GSX-R1000R has won superbike and superstock races with the likes of Bradley Ray, Richard Cooper, Sylvain Guintoli, Kyle Ryde, Gino Rea, Tim Neave, Billy McConnell, and Charlie Nesbitt behind the ‘bars. And in 2019 Cooper also helped steer Suzuki and Hawk Racing to the National Superstock 1000 Championship title.

There has also been success on the roads, with Cooper taking podium finishes at the North West 200, while Michael Dunlop raced the GSX-R to victory in the 2017 Senior TT, the bike’s first appearance at the prestigious Isle of Man TT races.

Suzuki would like to thank the riders and fans for their support, and especially Steve and Stuart Hicken and everyone at Hawk Racing for their hard work and dedication over the last six years, without which none of those historic results would have been possible. Everyone at Suzuki wishes the team well for the future.

Suzuki will continue to support racers campaigning GSX-R machinery at all levels via its Race Parts Programme.

There are some excellent cafes scattered around the UK, and some are better than others in terms of the meals they serve up and the general hospitality on offer. However, some cafes go the extra mile and not only welcome bikers but are geared towards groups of bikers stopping by. And we have the lowdown on the best of them below.

Super Sausage Café    

The Super Sausage Café, which is located on the A5 close to Potterspury, is the number one biker café in the whole of the UK in the eyes of many. You know a place means business when it wins awards, and this place has won multiple. For the owners, everything they do revolves around quality, from the equipment they use to the food they serve, as part of a process. The café’s hospitality is also great as visitors can tuck into a fantastic breakfast, read the paper, and even looking at the latest news for all the latest GP events at any of the trusted online sportsbetting sites.

The Old Brewery Cafe   

The Old Brewery Cafe is an interesting inclusion because it’s based at Moto Corsa in Gillingham, which is a state-of-the-art showroom described as “the home of rare & exceptional motorcycles.” Now, in our opinion, this place could very well be the stuff dreams are made of for bikers because not only can they check out some great rides, they can then head into The Old Brewery Cafe and enjoy some excellent food too. It’s essentially the perfect combination, especially for those who have to travel a bit of a way to get there or for bikers who are in the market to make a new purchase.

Harry’s Café  

We think The Old Brewery Cafe and the link-up with Moto Corsa is so fantastic that the next inclusion on this list follows suit.  
Harry’s Café is another place perfect for bikers to dine that is attached to a bike shop, and this time it’s Fowlers of Bristol where the magic occurs. At Fowler’s of Bristol, which is, of course, based in Bristol, there is everything a biker could ever want or need, from kit through to motorcycles themselves. And then, in what is an impressive building, there is Harry’s Café, where all the traditional biker fare is available to eat in or take away.  

Penny Garth Café     

Penny Garth Café is the final entry on this list, and in many ways, it takes somewhat of a different approach to the other inclusions, which makes it the perfect way to end. Penny Garth Café is in the ideal location of Hawes in North Yorkshire because those riding through the Yorkshire Dales will find it en route. It’s smaller than the other cafés listed in one sense , ut larger than a lot of cafés, with seating outdoors and plenty of bike parking available. Everything they serve, from breakfasts to cakes, is great, and the added touch of a 24-hour webcam allowing bikers to determine the weather before travelling is fantastic.

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FIRST TESTS FOR ALEIX, MAVERICK, AND THE NEW RS-GP: APRILIA’S WORK OVER THE WINTER BREAK PASSES WITH FLYING COLOURS

One of the most highly anticipated events of the year came to a close today with the chequered flag over the first of the 2023 MotoGP tests. Three days that riders and techs exploited to test and analyse the new technical solutions developed over the winter break.

All exams were passed in the Aprilia camp. Both Aleix and Maverick approved the new RS-GP, considering it a positive step in all the major areas. From the most visible aerodynamics – the feather in the Italian racing department’s cap – to equally fundamental details such as the engine, the chassis and the electronics package.

The information gathered during the six days of testing (if we also consider the three shakedown sessions done by tester Lorenzo Savadori), will be analysed and assessed ahead of the Portimão tests. Four weeks of intense work to introduce more new features and to confirm the technical package for the season start.

Aleix Espargaró
"I can consider myself satisfied with this first test, despite the weather costing us time yesterday. The new RS-GP is definitely faster than the previous version. It has improved a bit in every area and if we add up many small improvements, the end result is good. This doesn’t change the fact that it’s still too early to form a definitive opinion. The engineers will have a month before the next test in Portimão and much can still change."

Maverick Viñales
"I’m pleased. Aprilia did a lot of work over the winter and I already feel much more comfortable on the RS-GP. There are clearly still things to improve, also because in these first tests we tried a lot of different components without going in depth into the setting details. But overall, I think we have higher technical potential than we did at the end of last season and that is an outstanding sensation to have for the first test."

• Praga, the Czech Republic based manufacturing and engineering company behind the Praga Bohema hypercar, launches the Praga ZS 800 motorcycle
• A modern take on the iconic Praga BD 500, the reimagined model beautifully combines classic design with advanced production technology
• The Praga ZS 800 weighs just 142kg, with its chrome molybdenum steel frame supporting an air-cooled, 773cc four stroke parallel twin engine
• A limited run of 28 motorcycles, with a premium price point of £75,550 (€86,000) each, is now available to order with deliveries starting mid-2023
• To find out more, go to: www.pragaglobal.com

February 8, 2023, Prague: Praga, the Czech Republic based manufacturing and engineering company, has launched the Praga ZS 800 motorcycle – a modern reimagining of the iconic 1928 Praga BD 500.

Created by the same expert engineering team behind the acclaimed Praga Bohema hypercar, the new Praga ZS 800 combines a suite of advanced motor racing production processes and materials with the character and design details of its 1928 BD 500 ancestor.

Sporting a chrome molybdenum steel frame and titanium exhaust system, as well as unique woven carbon wheels, the ZS 800 weighs just 142kg dry (158kg wet) and with its air-cooled, 773cc four stroke parallel twin engine, delivers a riding experience certain to stir the soul.

Praga will produce just 28 of the ZS 800, which are now available to order with deliveries starting mid-2023, and the first of these heading to a client in Dubai.

Modern vision with a 100-year heritage
In 1928, the first Praga BD 500 rolled out of the Breitfeld-DanÄ›k factory in Prague. Seen as a modern motorcycle in its time, the design was initially conceived by the young aviation designer and passionate motorcyclist, Jaroslav František Koch.

Featuring one of the first ever four stroke DOHC engines designed by Koch, the BD 500 not only presented multiple innovative design features, but earnt its place in motorcycle history when Koch himself rode the bike from Rome to Prague, covering a distance of 1,480 kilometers in 35 hours and 40 minutes, setting a new endurance record.

Now, in 2023, history is repeating.

The brainchild of Jan Žuži, an engineer working on the lightweight 700 hp luxury Praga Bohema hypercar, the ZS 800 began life as a passion project to create a BD 500 remake.

Alongside fellow engineer Radek Šebesta, Jan developed the concept, combining engineering expertise and dedication with Praga’s exceptional production capabilities and racing technology. And, so, the Praga ZS 800 was born, a modern reimagining that retains the character and design of its ancestral BD 500.

The Praga ZS 800: Cutting-edge technology applied to classic design
The Praga ZS 800 is a masterclass in craftmanship. A combination of the very latest production processes and ultra-lightweight materials brings this motorcycle to life.

Within a chrome molybdenum steel frame rests the air-cooled 773cc four stroke parallel twin engine. The modern yet classically styled unit is lightweight and marries perfectly with the aesthetic of the ZS 800, offering beautiful architecture that resembles the original BD 500 engine structure, bevel gear cam drive, fuel efficiency, and complies with Euro 5 standards.

The ZS 800’s unique forged carbon wheels work in harmony with its hydraulic drum brake system – a system chosen to complement both the motorcycle’s style and performance. The hand-woven carbon rims are a complex artistic pattern of overlapping carbon fibre with intricate carbon tensioned spokes to emulate the look of the BD 500.

A sculpted front fork sits at the fore of the motorcycle; a structure only made possible through five-axis machining and chrome molybdenum steel. Nestled within the fork is fully adjustable Öhlins suspension with a titanium spring that effortlessly delivers a smooth and exclusive ride.

With its 11.5L fuel tank embellished with a forged carbon cover, the Praga ZS 800 has an incredible dry weight of just 142kg, complete with 50:50 weight distribution between the wheels – all of which culminates in a notably poised ride.

The Art of Engineering: Mastering materials
The Praga ZS 800 is a product of skilled engineering and true understanding of complex, high-grade materials.

Titanium is used throughout the design, with almost every screw, axle, nut and bolt of the chassis and engine made from the lightweight, high strength metal. The exhaust system is also fully titanium and weighs just 4.8kg as a result – with select elements constructed using state-of-the-art 3D printing.

Premium materials such as duralumin alloys, noble chrome molybdenum steel and forged carbon are also incorporated into the ZS 800’s design. Dedicated to achieving the perfect structure, the engineering team utilises the very latest production processes to manipulate the complex materials, including over 300 hours of five-axis machining.

The ZS 800’s Chief Designer, Jan Žuži, said: “Strong and extremely lightweight materials – such as carbon, titanium, chrome molybdenum steel and aviation duralumin – enabled us to reimagine the rigid rear wheel suspension, the front swingarm fork, and the hydraulic drum brakes.

“These futuristic materials and Praga sports division’s latest production facilities have enabled us to transfer those elegant historical design elements to the present day, and to build a motorcycle with contemporary driving characteristics and a unique feel.”

The premium price point of £75,550 (EUR 86,000 (excl. tax)) is testament to the intricate and tireless engineering that goes into every Praga creation, including the limited run, £1.1m Bohema hypercar. With deliveries arriving from mid-2023, the Praga ZS 800 is a machine for both collectors and motorcycle enthusiasts alike.

To find out more about the Praga ZS 800, go to: www.pragaglobal.com

Full specification
ENGINE

• Engine type: Four stroke parallel twin cylinder, SOHC, four valves per cylinder
• Bore & stroke: 77 mm x 83 mm
• Capacity: 773cc
• Compression ratio: 8.4:1
• Exhaust: Titanium alloy

TRANSMISSION

• Gearbox: 5-speed
• Clutch: Multi-plate wet, Manual

PERFORMANCE

• Power: 50hp
• Torque: 65Nm

BODYWORK

• Seat: Single seater with Öhlins fully adjustable suspension unit
• Fuel tank: 11.5 litre
• Mudguard: Forged carbon

CHASSIS

• Frame: Chrome molybdenum steel frame – Swedish steel called DOCOL 15CDV6
• Handlebars width: 800 mm
• Handlebar circumference: 28.6 mm
• Wheelbase: 1,435 mm
• Rake: 27º
• Trail: 100 mm
• Seat height: 795 mm

BRAKES

• Front brakes: Hydraulic double simplex drum 200 mm
• Rear brakes: Hydraulic simplex drum 200 mm

SUSPENSION

• Front suspension: Girder front fork with Öhlins suspension TTX22
• Rear suspension: Hard tail rear with Öhlins TTX air under seat suspension

WHEELS

• Front wheel: r18” x 2.5” forged carbon wheel with carbon tensioned spokes
• Rear wheel: r18” x 3.5” forged carbon wheel with carbon tensioned spokes
• Front tyre: Dunlop Roadmaster TT100 GP 100/90-18 56H F T TL
• Rear tyre: Dunlop Roadmaster TT110 GP 130/80-18 66H R TT