Other bike stories in brief
Kawasaki cleans up dirt bikes
Kawasaki has made some exciting and dramatic changes to their two popular dirt bikes for 2009, the KX450F and the KX250F.
The all-new 450F now has Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) operating without the weight of a battery. The engine is smaller and lighter, with revised intake and exhaust ports. The frame is 1.8 pounds lighter and slimmer and has a new rigidity balance to improve handling. The swingarm has a new pivot point 3mm higher than last year's model.
The 43mm throttle body takes off with the electricity generated through the kick-starter.
Changes to the suspension include friction-reducing coatings on fork tubes and the inside surface of the shock reservoir.
The engine has a new cylinder head with stronger titanium valves and larger radiators for extra cooling capacity.
Racing to the finish in Skerries
Skerries 100 Road Races kick off next weekend in Co Dublin, July 4th and 5th.
This year the races will go ahead without local hero Martin Finnegan who died in May. Martin was most popular around the Fingal track and he will be sadly missed. "This year simply will not be the same without this Road Racing King. And I have no doubt he will be looking down on his fellow riders making sure they get around safely," says George O'Connor, of the Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club.
Watch out for riders Derek and Keith Costello, Sean Leonard and David Lumsden who will be racing.
See: www.loughshinny motorcycleclub.com