All-Moto for May (from the web)

* (June 3) Rossi and Biaggi turned on the action for their home crowd at Mugello overnight, with the former coming out on top - again. Ukawa filled out the podium.

* (June 2) Rossi, Biaggi and Checa slugged it out for pole at Mugello overnight, with the former emerging the winner.

* (May 31) Ducati unveiled its V4 desmo 989cc MotoGP bike yesterday, in advance of this weekend's Mugello round of the series. The machine will be competing in 2003. See www.ducati.com

* (May 31) The current public liability insurance crisis, which has been crippling the ability of motorcycle clubs to run events, may not last forever. Some states have provide community insurance schemes, though these have generally locked out 'adventure' activities such as motorcycling. However an announcement in today's newspapers brings a little hope.

For example, in The Australian, "Thrillseekers will be allowed to sign contracts waiving their right to sue as part of a package of measures agreed by state and federal ministers to combat the public liability crisis. The deal, struck in Melbourne yesterday, will help community groups, councils, volunteers and adventure tourism operators, who are suffering from spiraling public liability insurance premiums."

It will involve some significant changes to law across the nation and may yet take some months to come into force.The general idea is that the indemnity waivers which people have been signing for years, before undertaking something with an associated risk, will be given real 'teeth'.

* (May 29) American company SmarTire has released a tyre pressure monitoring system for motorcycles in Europe this week. According to the blurb, "Each tire is equipped with a lightweight SmarTire sensor that constantly monitors tire pressure and temperature. The sensors transmit signals to a concealed receiver connected to an ultra-bright LED display in easy view of the rider. If there is a change in tire pressure, the rider will immediately be alerted by a warning light on the display. If tire pressure continues to decrease, the light will begin to flash, indicating that the pressure loss is at a serious level and the rider should take corrective measures. By identifying problems early, riders can take precautions to avoid accidents and the risk of being stranded on the roadside. The system can be fitted to all standard motorcycles and is scheduled for commercial release by year-end, 2002." The company can be found at

www.smartire.com.

* (May 26) Superbikes at Brands Hatch: World Champion Troy Bayliss salvaged a race win from an otherwise difficult race day at Silverstone, which saw him fall twice in the treacherous conditions of race one. Having to give best to Colin Edwards in the first 20-lapper, the Australian rider scored his ninth race win in 12 attempts in the second race.

In the Supersport World Championship, James Whitham's spirited ride through the field in the early laps delivered him the win at his home circuit, despite falling from his machine on the 14th lap. Casoli and Muggeridge filled out the podium.

* (May 24) The Managing Director at the motorcycle division of Honda Australia says new laws planned for Motorcycle Licenses in NSW will cost lives. Stuart Strickland said today, "The NSW RTA is planning to increase the capacity of motorcycles that learners can ride. Our experience as a rider training organisation owner is that learners must be kept on 250cc motorcycles or below until they gain the necessary experience to ride a larger motorcycle." Honda Australia owns and operates motorcycle rider training centres from three locations in Sydney and Melbourne and says it trains over 10,000 riders each year. Strickland said the RTA's move to increase capacities of up to 660cc for learners was a dangerous move and that rider training organisations hadn't been sufficiently consulted along the way.

He added, "Accident statistics show a decrease in the fatality rate for riders aged 17 to 25 years. This can be attributed to the novice rider restrictions and improved rider training. Yet during the same period the fatality rate for riders aged 40 to 60 years has doubled. The government seriously needs to focus on the age groups that are at an increased risk being involved in a fatality and not changing legislation that is being effective at reducing the road toll." Honda Australia has called on licensing authorities to review it's plans for motorcycle licenses and consult with industry and rider training experts.

AllMoto disagrees with this view of LAMs. But we agree with the call for consultation.

So what is LAMs? It's the acronym for Learner Approved Motorcycles. The gist is learners would be given a much bigger choice of bikes to ride on the road, limited by power to weight ratios rather than a 260cc engine capacity. The thinking of LAM supporters (in part) is that road learners get a wider choice of gear. Learners will actually ride their bike (instead of sitting out the P-plate period) and keep their skills up, because a mid-sized bike travels well, and users will be less tempted to make lunatic performance jumps with little road experience.

NSW is the largest state to try it (ACT has had it for a while), allowing learners on certain machines up to 660cc from July 1. Letters on the issue are welcome via [email protected]

* (May 22) Australian Garry McCoy's ongoing right leg injury has forced him out of the 2002 MotoGP Championship for the next six to eight weeks. Jean-Michel Bayle will replace him in the short term.

* (May 22) From a report by UK Motorcycle News at www.motorcyclenews.com: "The Government has banned cops from using covert cameras and hidden officers to catch speeding motorists. "Transport minister John Spellar has told chief police officers that from next week that Gatsos must be in plain view, all officers on mobile camera duty must wear high-visibility day glow bibs and that all manned camera units must be sited in the open in marked police vehicles. "New Gatsos will only be permitted on roads which are proven accident blackspots and signs which warn of phantom cameras will be banned."

* (May 20) MotoGP: Valentino Rossi today took his third victory of the year at a hard-fought Polini Grand Prix de France, which was ended seven laps early due to rain. The reigning World Champion now will take a thirty-four point lead to his home GP in Italy, but if this race is anything to go by he may find taking his fourth win not as easy after having been made to fight all the way with his colleague Tohru Ukawa and great rival Max Biaggi.

* (May 18) Regis Laconi will race in front of his home crowd this weekend aboard the Aprilia RS3 after a busy schedule this past week working at the Mugello circuit in Italy to continue the evolution of the Aprilia 4-stroke prototype.

* (May 17) Australian teenage motorcycling sensation Casey Stoner has signaled his intention to score a podium finish in his 250cc Grand Prix debut season after opening his world championship points account recently. Heading into round four of the championship at Le Mans in France this weekend, the 16-year-old from Kurri Kurri in New South Wales has 10 world championship points from his sixth place finish in the previous round at Jerez in Spain. The rising star has twice qualified in the top eight, making him the youngest rider to do so in 250cc GP races, but has said he won't be satisfied until he is on the podium.

* (May 13) Reigning champion Troy Bayliss took his Ducati to a double victory at yesterday's superbike round, with Edwards, Hodgson and Haga sharing the remaining podium positions over the two heats. Aussies scored well in Supersport. Foret won, followed by Australian Chris Vermuelen, Fujiwara and reigning champion Andrew Pitt. The latter lies third in the championship, just five points behind leader Chambon.

* (May 14) MotoGP series backer Skyy Vodka has been named as the primary sponsor of this year's Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island in October.

* (May 14) Congratulations to the organisers of the Melbourne protest yesterday against the new bike tax in Victoria. About 1000 folk in attendance, despite the very short notice. That they pulled in state opposition leader Dr Dennis Napthine as a speaker (along with a promise to dump the tax) was a coup. Wooden spoon to the state's third party insurer, TAC. It put a spokeswoman up in media, making a lot of very dodgy claims in a stupid effort to back what was always a political agenda to support the government's budget surprises and lack of consultation. It's worth noting the welcome support of Stuart Strickland, ringmaster at Honda MPE, and Steve Chiodo of Triumph/Peter Stevens, among many other trade folk.

* (May 12) US Changes Attitude to Motorcycle Safety – A new law has been passed in the United States which will see motorists lose their license for up to a year and be lumped with heavier fines if they kill a motorcyclist in a traffic incident. The new law, passed in the state of Virginia and effective after July 1 this year, has been applauded by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) after it drafted similar model legislation last year. Under the new law, a driver's license could be suspended for up to a year in addition to extra penalties such as fines. The legislation is part of the AMA's Motorcyclists Matter campaign, which has been initiated to reduce fatalities and raise public awareness, and is working towards introducing mandatory fines of at least $1000 if a driver at fault causes death in a traffic accident.

* (May 10) There's a nation-wide move by police and transport authorities to raise penalties for using a mobile phone while driving. The general thrust is to dock licence points along with the existing fines. Expect this to come into force soon. NSW and WA lead the charge, with Vic to follow soon.

* (May 10) We're sorry to report that Victorian MRA President Dr John Pigot has passed away suddenly.