Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/855895
IN THE WIND P40 New 2018 BMW S 1000 RR Spied In Testing T he BMW S 1000 RR looks like it'll be wearing a new dress to the 2018 new-model-year ball, if these spy pics from Europe are anything to go by. The S 1000 RR has been a standout performer for BMW by almost any measure since it debuted back in 2010. It's received a steady flow of up- dates in that time, but it has never seen anything like the ground-up redesign you see here. The most obvious change for 2018 is the remov- al of what made the original S 1000 RR so unique: the headlights. A major talking point whenever it comes to the BMW superbike, the headlights are now the same left and right and look rather like the Energica Ego electric superbike. The fairing looks smaller and narrower, the seat unit is narrower and sharper at the rear, and the exhaust is different, hinting at major changes within the motor. The swingarm is also different, as is the main chassis, and there'll likely be a revision of the S 1000 RR electronics via the Bosch Inertial Mea- surement Unit. Expect this new S 1000 RR to be released for the viewing public at EICMA this November. CN Joe Roberts to Moto2 T he U.S. will have a new rider on the grand prix grid with the announcement that Californian Joe Roberts will replace the AGR Team's rider Yonny Hernandez for the next five races in the Moto2 World Champion- ship. Roberts, who has been competing in the Spanish CEV Moto2 Championship for the same AGR Team, has enjoyed a stellar season to date with two podiums and currently sits fifth in the standings. "I was surprised to get this opportunity so soon," Roberts said. "It's been my dream ever since I was a little kid to race in the World Cham- pionship and I was hoping for next year to get an opportunity, so for me to get it this year is amaz- ing." Roberts is the 2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion and has previous knowledge of some of the European tracks he will compete on, having raced in the Red Bull Rookies Cup from 2011 to 2013. "My expectations are basically to keep learning as much as possible and hopefully make some big steps riding with these phenomenal riders; some of the best riders in the world," Roberts said. "If I can come in and learn some more and keep improving, that would be excellent." CN Joe Roberts and his wild hair will get their shot at the Moto2 World Championship, starting this weekend in Brno. The new S 1000 RR is the first major upgrade seen on BMW's flagship rocket since 2010.